He’d always known it, but seeing it, even if it was just a hint, didn’t feel great. They were his best friends, brothers in all ways but blood, but he wasn’t good enough for their sister. Hugh was right, of course. Still, it had the effect of being lopped off at the knees. It fucking cut.
Adam kept his mouth shut after that and got to work, anything to distract him from wanting to ask about Lucy, from thinking about her—wanting her.
It wasn’t working.
~ * ~
“Slow down, sunshine, or I’ll be carrying you out of here.”
Adam ignored Joe and finished off his whiskey, signaling the bartender for another.
“Okay. Time for a little girl talk.” Joe spun in his seat and rested his chin in his hand. “Talk to Uncle Joe. What’s going on?”
“I thought this was girl talk? Wouldn’t that make you Aunt Joe?”
“You’re not too pissy to backchat, which means this—whatever’s got your panties in a wad—can’t be that serious.” He tapped his chin.
“Why the fuck are you staring at me like that?” Adam snapped.
“I’m looking for clues.”
“On my face?”
“You have stress lines, and you’ve shooed away every chick that’s come circling. Not the usual for my skirt-chasing friend.”
Adam growled.
“You, ah…” He tilted his head, eyes dropping to Adam’s dick. “You pick something up?”
Adam was halfway drunk, so his mind wasn’t quite as quick as usual. “What?”
“You know, you got the clap?”
“The clap?”
Joe shrugged.
He thought Adam had an STI? Wow. No wonder Hugh nearly punched his lights out for just asking about Lucy. Did they truly think he was that irresponsible? Had he given them cause to think differently?
“No. I do not have the fucking clap,” he ground out. “Why the hell are you here again? Don’t you have a woman waiting for you at home? I’m sure she’s missing you.”
Joe shook his head. “Nope. I’m here for you, man. You were there for me when I was going through all my drama with Darcey. I’m here for you.”
“There’s nothing wrong with me.”
Joe sat up straighter, eyes narrowing like Hugh’s had this morning. “It’s a woman.”
“No—”
“It is. You like someone!”
“I like someone? You weren’t joking about the girl talk, were you?” He tried to play it off, but his heart started beating harder and his mouth was suddenly dry as a damn desert. “Can I get a drink?” he said to the barman when he walked by.
The drink was in front of him a minute later, and during those sixty seconds, Joe hadn’t said a word, just watched him like the main attraction at the zoo.
Finally, his friend said, “Where’d you go?”
“Pardon?” Adam knew exactly what he meant.
“You had a few days off. Where’d you go? Who went with you?”
“I went to visit my cousin, you know that.” He took a deep pull of his drink.
“Something happened to you when you went away. Come on, spill.” Joe spotted someone over Adam’s shoulder and lifted his hand. “Luce!”
Adam stiffened. “Lucy?”
Joe didn’t hear him because he was too busy hollering his sister’s name. Then Lucy was there, at Joe’s side.
“What the hell do you want?” she hissed. “This is only my second night. You’ll get me fired.”
She didn’t look at Adam. Didn’t acknowledge him at all. It pissed him off. He wanted her to fucking look at him.
“Congratulations on the new job,” he murmured, trying to get her to do just that.
Even though it was noisy, she heard him, like even though she pretended not to see him, she’d been fully aware, focused on him the whole time.
“Luce, look at Adam and tell me there isn’t something different about him,” Joe said before she could answer.
Her brows flew up. “You called me away from my tables for that? I don’t have time for this.”
Joe had his arm around his sister’s shoulders now and he tugged her closer, planting a sloppy kiss on her cheek. “Humor me.”
Her eyes darted Adam’s way then back to Joe. “He looks the same as he always does.”
Adam could see the vein in her neck fluttering like mad, could see her chest rise and fall rapidly. It was hard, but he kept his ass planted on the seat and didn’t stand up and yank her out of her brother’s arms and into his. He wanted to kiss her, feel those lush, soft lips under his one more time. Wanted to feel the heat of her skin burning him through his clothes, and out of them.