Page 287 of Steamy Ever After

He wasn’t sure what he’d do with it yet. Maybe he’d throw it off the Golden Gate Bridge and finally close that chapter of Kade’s life.

“Hey, brother,” Naughton said as he was about to get in the car. “Headed to Peyton’s?”

“Nope.” Brodie glanced up and saw his ma on the porch.

“Come sit with me, Brodie,” she said when he approached.

“I can’t, Ma. I wanted to see how you were feeling, but then I have to leave.”

“What’s happened?”

“Nothing. I rescheduled several sales meetings due to Peyton’s son’s accident, so I’ll be out on the road for a few days.” He looked into his mother’s eyes. “But if you need me, call, or have Da, Mad, or Naught do it, and I’ll come right back. Okay?”

“What about Peyton?”

“She was Kade’s girlfriend, Ma. She has her own life, now that he’s gone.”

“Brodie?”

He leaned down and kissed his mother’s cheek. “I’ll call from the road.”

He checked into the hotel that felt like a second home to him. Nestled in Japantown, Kabuki was a world-away departure from his life in the Paso Robles wine country. Whenever he was in the Bay Area, he booked the same suite. It had a Japanese style, deep soaking tub, en-suite sauna, and king-size bed he and Dominique made good use of.

He had everything off but his jeans when he heard a knock at the door. He opened it without looking to see who it was, and Dominique fell into his arms.

“You don’t know how badly I need this.” She had her fingers on the button of his jeans before the door closed behind her.

An hour later, she rolled away from him. “What’s her name?”

“Dom, don’t go there.”

“Come on, Brodie. In all the years I’ve known you, the sex between us has been mind-blowing. We don’t talk, Brode. We fuck. I didn’t come here to talk.”

“It was a long drive?—”

Dominique smiled. “I don’t care, Brodie. If you’ve found someone, I’m happy for you. There is no reason to lie to me. It wasn’t the drive that turned you off.”

“You didn’t turn me off.”

“I didn’t say I did. I just didn’t turn you on.”

Brodie rubbed her shoulders, but even that simple act reminded him of having his hands on Peyton.

“I gotta go.” Dominique turned and kissed his cheek. “Dinner later?”

“Sure, sweetheart. Thanks.”

“Don’t thank me. Apologize to me.”

When he started to, she put her fingers on his lips. “It was a joke, Brodie. I’m fine. A little sexually frustrated, but fine.”

“Dom—”

“Seriously, honey, you don’t think you’re the only one who knows how to scratch my itch?”

“I know.”

“There is a sous-chef at Dom Nom I can’t stop thinking about. Maybe it’s time I gave him a performance review.”

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