Page 2 of Found Forever

There were just too many head games in the dating world. Too much fakeness. Too much putting on airs. He also didn’t like the idea of casual sex. Never had.

When he got with a woman, he wanted to take his time learning every inch of her body. There was no such thing aswham bam thank you, ma’am.In his world, he wanted to make sure his partner was satisfied more than once and that she never felt rushed or left hanging.

Even though he and Ryker were identical twins and best friends, they couldn’t be more different in so many ways.

And relationships were one of them.

A solid hand landed on his right shoulder and gave a hard, affectionate squeeze. “Two left feet, or too drunk?” came Pete Callaghan’s voice. His name was Pete, but everyone called him Cal.

“Never been a dancer,” Decker said with a shrug as Cal took a seat beside him at the table. Hannah danced with Triss and Mieka, her arms in the air, and a big grin stretching from ear to ear. Cal’s face brightened when he locked eyes with his woman. She gave him a cheeky, sexy smile, then a wink.

“You two met and hooked up over Christmas last year, right?” Decker asked. “When she house and animal sat for Ash and Nate?”

Cal nodded. “Yeah. I came over to help and even though she was stubborn as hell, saying she didn’t need my help, eventually, she realized that many hands make light work.” He snorted. “After that, she was stuck with me.”

Decker grunted and his head bobbed before he lifted his low ball and took another sip. The smooth whiskey slid down his throat like liquid silk, warming his chest and belly.

“How’d you know Hannah was the one?” he asked, keeping his voice low as he tracked Joanna across the dance floor, laughing with Mieka.

Cal followed Decker’s gaze and snickered. “Ms. Fernsby is very pretty. You talk to her?”

Decker swung his gaze at Cal and glared at his friend. “Answer the question.”

Cal’s lip twitched as he tried to smother his smile. “I just knew. I felt it in here.” He knocked a fist lightly against his chest. “I saw her, and I just had this crazy, tingly feeling in my belly … and my balls,” he snorted, “and I just knew. She didn’t make it easy on me, though. I had to work for it.”

Decker grunted, then found Joanna back on the dance floor. She had a new glass of booze in one hand and her other hand in the air as she swayed, closed her eyes and sung with her soul toLiving on a Prayer.

“Now answer my question,” Cal said with mirth. “Have you spoken to Joanie?”

Decker shook his head stiffly. “No.”

“Well, you should. She’s very nice. Very loud.” He chuckled. “And swears like a British sailor … because sheisBritish.”

Hannah wandered over, her cheeks rosy and amber eyes bright. She swung herself into Cal’s lap and looped her arm around his shoulder. “Hey, lover.”

Cal rested his hand on her thigh, chuckling. “Well, hello there.”

“What’s a fine ginger piece of ass like you sitting in the corner for? Don’t you know nobody puts baby in the corner?” She swiveled around to beam at Decker. “You want to come dance, too?”

“I’ll pass,” Decker said. “Thanks.”

Hannah shrugged and bounced out of Cal’s lap, grabbing his hand and pulling him to stand. Her dark curls jostled as she started to wiggle in time to the music, tugging her man out to the dance floor with her.

“You’re missing out,” Cal hollered over the bass just before the rhythm possessed him and he wrapped an arm around Hannah and the two started to dance.

Deck brought his low ball to his lips, but frowned when he realized it was empty.

With a groan and a sigh, he pried himself out of the chair. A few things creaked and cracked in his back and his knee did an annoying twinge thing. It was his body’s way of reminding him that he was not a spry, green behind thegills twenty-year-old anymore with a rubber body and endless stamina. He’d also put his body through the fucking wringer for the last twenty-odd years, and it was finally catching up on him. Joe Blow off the street would have died a thousand times over if he’d done some of the shit Decker and his brothers had done.

He made his way over to the bar.

“Whiskey, neat,” he grunted to the bartender.

The bartender nodded and poured him a double. He’d been drinking doubles all night, so the guy didn’t even have to ask. He took his glass and stuffed five bucks into the tip jar. It was an open bar, but that didn’t mean he couldn’t thank the man in the black dress shirt for his speedy service.

Turning around, he leaned back against the bar and took a sip.

He wasn’t a big drinker, but when he did drink, he drank good stuff.

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