Page 9 of Outside the Lines
Oh my God. “I . . . uh.” Never crossed my mind.
“No . . . Don’t fuck with me. You didn’t buy it because of that?”
“I didn’t! I got it because it’s cute and yellow and gets good gas mileage!”
We couldn’t stop laughing, and God, Simon was amazing. Dimples, laughlines, and a bright smile. His hair was disheveled and all I wanted to do was brush it out of his face.
Of course, we were still in his store, andof coursethat’s the moment when we weren’t alone anymore.
“Someone’s happy.” The woman who spoke was slightly shorter than me but elegant, unlike either of us, even in her jeans and plaid button-down. Long black hair that wasn’t at all like my short mess. She had a bohemian look to her.
We, on the other hand, looked like guys who’d spent the day painting a model.
“Hey!” Simon lit the fuck up when he saw her, more than he should for an employee. Or friend. “I thought you were working tonight?”
I swallowed my breath and my heart. Oh shit, no. I couldn’t have been wrong. No way.
“Oh, I am,” she said. “Still have about two hours left on the lettering job. But a girl’s gotta eat.” She peered at me, her smile warm and inviting. “And I wanted to meet your friend.”
I didn’t want to meet her, because she was acting like a girlfriend and I wanted to take Simon out for a beer. I didn’t want to know who she was, because I had to spend the next week working next to a man who moved like sin.
I must have hidden it well enough, because Simon’s toothy grin was aimed at me. “This is Ian Meyers, the miniaturist I was telling you about.”
At least he was talking about me? None of this felt right, though. My lungs were tight.
She reached out her hand and I took it. Warm fingers, but my blood was going cold.
“Ian, this is Lydia, my wife.”
Fuck. Fuckinghell. “Great to meet you,” I said, and it sounded pretty good, despite the tumble in my head.
“Likewise.” She was as charming as her husband. All good cheer and happiness.
We let go of each other’s hands.
Great. Just . . . great. I really picked winners, didn’t I?
After Simon and I cleaned ourselves up in the End o’ Earth’s tiny staff bathroom, the three of us headed down to Cougar Den, the nearest bar. Well, I shouldn’t say three. It was Mr. and Mrs. Derry and me, the gullible and foolish third wheel. But the tavern had a good beer selection and decent food, both of which I needed. Especially the beer.
Seems like everyone did. We ordered a round of local brew for one and all. I doubted either of them had the same thing running throughtheirminds.
Married. Fucking dude didn’t wear a ring! Lydia did, though. A silver band with some etching on the side. It wasn’t until the waitress brought us water that I recognized it. “Is that a Stargate?”
Lydia smiled as if she had no idea I’d spent part of the afternoon imagining her husband naked and under me. “Good eye.” She glanced at the ring. “Do you want to see it?”
I kinda did, and maybe she could tell, because she pulled the ring off and handed it to me. Yup. Little miniature Stargate wedding band. Nice detail and the symbol band even rotated. There was a date inscribed inside. Quick math told me they’d been married ten years, which made me wonder about Simon. Gay? Bi? Trapped? Happy? He’d sure gotten a boner a few times, flirted like he wanted my cock, and yet here we were at a bar with hiswife. I played with the spinning part of the ring. “Is this official merchandise?”
She coughed. “No. It was before the whole geek-ring trend became . . . well, a trend.” A little color came to her cheeks. “The guy who made them doesn’t anymore.”
“There are official ones now, if you ever need one.” Simon closed his menu. “Before Lydia was into—” He stopped and got this adorably sheepish expression. “Well, back when we met, Lydia was intoStargate.”
I handed the ring back to Lydia. “Before?”
Now theybothlooked sheepish. Huh. I wanted to prod, but the server came to drop off our beers and take our order. To top off the weirdness of the night, they both ordered bacon cheeseburgers, which I desperately wanted . . . so fuck it, I ordered one as well. They both ordered fries. At least I got mine with onion rings . . . wouldn’t be kissing anyone tonight.
I also wasn’t letting them off the hook for earlier. “Before?” I repeated.
Lydia’s face gained color, and she glanced around the bar. “Before I was intoWolf’s Landing.” Low voice. “Stargatewas my passion before that.”
