Page 108 of Deadwood
I faced her fully in my seat. “What does ‘hm’ mean?”
Behind me, Flynt said, “Bowen doesn’t get attached to women.”
I spun on the stool, facing him now. Was he insinuating he went from woman to woman, unabashed?
“Never had a woman worth getting attached to,” Siara muttered.
I turned back to her. I was going to get whiplash. “What are you two trying to say?”
Siara shrugged, turning her attention to her ale with a flick of her hand. “You probably don’t care. As you said, you don’t flirt with him, so it likely doesn’t matter to you.”
I grabbed my ale, scrunching my nose in an attempt to plug it as I chugged the liquid. I didn’t stop until the last drop passed my lips, then slammed it on the bar. This was not my idea of getting my mind off things—not when Siara and Flynt were throwing Bowen’s name around like some sort of carefully laid bait. I didn’t have enough alcohol in my system to deal with this.
“Maybe we can talk about a man you do like, then,” Siara said as Lux grabbed my glass, refilling it.
I tossed three more coin onto the bar, a snort escaping me. “Who might that be?”
Siara stared at me, raising both brows. “Your fiancé, maybe?”
Lux slid the glass back to me, and I cradled it with both hands, watching as the liquid sloshed. “Oh. Right.”
Flynt belted out a laugh, slapping a hand on the bar as he leaned closer. “Did you truly just forget about your fiancé?”
“It’s a forced marriage.” The explanation fell out of my mouth, and I instantly wished I could take it back. The alcohol was making my tongue loose.
Siara perched an elbow on the bar, her knees brushing the cushion on my stool. “Well, we all knewthat.”
“You did?” As far as the other kingdoms were aware, we were marrying to return the peace. Our union was to show that Torbernite and Amosite were coming together in an attempt to restore trade, and it was supposed to be believable. That was the whole point of this trip.
“You’re never with him,” she said simply.
“That, and you two rarely smile together. Or even frown, for that matter. Two people who like one another usually get under each other’s skin,” Flynt added.
“I hardly think that’s the basis of a healthy relationship.” I went in for another gulp of ale, needing the alcohol to work its magic far quicker than it was.
“So, is he good in bed?” Siara asked.
Ale flew out of my mouth in a spray, resulting in a glare from Lux.
“Gods, Siara,” Flynt mumbled, shaking his head before sipping his drink. He needed the buzz as much as I did now.
She shrugged. “I’m only curious. He’s attractive.”
“We’re friends,” I choked out after my coughing fit.
“Who said friends couldn’t have fun?” she asked innocently.
“Please never say that around me or the guys again,” Flynt groaned.
“Life’s boring if you don’t get a quickie in now and then,” Siara added, as if that defended her statement.
Flynt’s face twisted in disgust. “We’re practically your brothers, Siara.”
She reached around me to smack him lightly on the back of the head. “I don’t meanyou, idiot. You three aren’t the only men in this world. And even if you were, I would never sleep with any of you.”
Flynt rubbed at the back of his head. “Thank the gods. I love you like family, Siara, but?—”
“Flynt, hate to cut you off, but this isn’t about you. I hear about you enough.” Siara turned her gaze back on me. “About the fiancé.”
