Read Online Boston Avant-Garde: Impetuous by Kaitlin Maitland - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Kaitlin Maitland
Tags: Erotic Contemporary
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maker, refilled the container with water, and replaced the pot to make more. “Want a cup?”
Her mouth watered at the rich coffee smell. “That would be fantastic.”
“Better drink up and grab a muffin or something before the group gets here and sucks it all down.”
“Group?” For the first time she noticed the bar was loaded with muffins, bagels, and pastries. Carafes of orange juice sat beside the steaming coffeepots.
Flynn’s expression sobered. “He didn’t tell you?”
“I haven’t seen Nicolai this morning.”
“Every Sunday morning there’s a Gamblers Anonymous meeting here at the bar.”
She lifted the coffee mug to her lips to give her brain time to process Flynn’s announcement. “That’s nice of him to let them use his building, I guess.”
Flynn’s guarded expression didn’t instill confidence.
“So why do they meet here?”
He rubbed the back of his neck, looking uncomfortable. “Well, love…”
“Because I’m part of the group.” Nicolai strode into the bar from the front entrance. “I’m a recovering gambling addict.”
This wasn’t the same man she’d spent the night with. This wasn’t the man she’d straddled on the piano bench after he’d played such a beautiful melody on the keys. This Nicolai was cold and hard. She wanted to go to him, wrap her arms around his neck, and kiss his lips, but she knew instinctively it wouldn’t be welcomed.
“There’s a cab waiting outside, Desiree.” His words were like ice water. “It’ll take you wherever you need to go.”
Years of perfecting her debutante face kept her from showing him just how much his words tore her apart. She set the mug on the bar and walked away. The sun threw brilliant patterns of light and shadows on the stone floor as she walked with her head held high. She might not be well versed in the world of casual sex, but she damn well knew when she was being dismissed.
“ARE YOU OUT of your mind, Nicolai?”
He had to give Flynn credit. The guy had managed to wait until the front door closed behind her.
“Women like that one do not walk through that door every night. I mean, she’s sexy as hell, but she’s more than just tits and an ass. You’ve been mooning after her like some kind of lovesick teenager.”
“That’s not a flattering description.”
Flynn threw the towel in his hands to the bar top. “You know what I mean, dammit!”
“She’s Erik’s sister.”
“Erik who?” Nicolai knew the precise moment it sank in. Flynn deflated, looking just a tad shell-shocked. “Well, shit, it took you two days to figure that out?”
“She never told me her name, remember? Until last night.”
“But you didn’t send her packing until this morning.”
Oh, he should have. He knew he should’ve called Erik right at that moment and asked him to come down and pick her up. But he hadn’t. He’d wanted just a little more time. Even if it meant he was putting off the inevitable, he wanted to pretend there was some kind of future possible for the two of them.
“Erik isn’t one of those high society guys, Nicolai. He loves you like a brother.”
“I slept with his sister. Hell, you gave him a play-by-play of that first meeting. One word of this and he’ll probably keep the bar and throw me out on my ass.”
Flynn swept his hand wide, encompassing the food on the bar and the tables arranged for the meeting. “Is that why you let her stumble down here without even explaining what was going on? You were trying to chase her away by convincing her that you’re less than you are?”
“Less than I am? That’s a load of shit. I am less.” He turned away, staring at the piano. Now covered, it was a reminder that good only served to disguise the bad. “Even without her family ties, I can’t take the chance of dragging someone like her into all this. I’m recovering. There’s no cure. When I was gambling, I destroyed whatever I touched. I hurt the only people in my life who meant
Her mouth watered at the rich coffee smell. “That would be fantastic.”
“Better drink up and grab a muffin or something before the group gets here and sucks it all down.”
“Group?” For the first time she noticed the bar was loaded with muffins, bagels, and pastries. Carafes of orange juice sat beside the steaming coffeepots.
Flynn’s expression sobered. “He didn’t tell you?”
“I haven’t seen Nicolai this morning.”
“Every Sunday morning there’s a Gamblers Anonymous meeting here at the bar.”
She lifted the coffee mug to her lips to give her brain time to process Flynn’s announcement. “That’s nice of him to let them use his building, I guess.”
Flynn’s guarded expression didn’t instill confidence.
“So why do they meet here?”
He rubbed the back of his neck, looking uncomfortable. “Well, love…”
“Because I’m part of the group.” Nicolai strode into the bar from the front entrance. “I’m a recovering gambling addict.”
This wasn’t the same man she’d spent the night with. This wasn’t the man she’d straddled on the piano bench after he’d played such a beautiful melody on the keys. This Nicolai was cold and hard. She wanted to go to him, wrap her arms around his neck, and kiss his lips, but she knew instinctively it wouldn’t be welcomed.
“There’s a cab waiting outside, Desiree.” His words were like ice water. “It’ll take you wherever you need to go.”
Years of perfecting her debutante face kept her from showing him just how much his words tore her apart. She set the mug on the bar and walked away. The sun threw brilliant patterns of light and shadows on the stone floor as she walked with her head held high. She might not be well versed in the world of casual sex, but she damn well knew when she was being dismissed.
“ARE YOU OUT of your mind, Nicolai?”
He had to give Flynn credit. The guy had managed to wait until the front door closed behind her.
“Women like that one do not walk through that door every night. I mean, she’s sexy as hell, but she’s more than just tits and an ass. You’ve been mooning after her like some kind of lovesick teenager.”
“That’s not a flattering description.”
Flynn threw the towel in his hands to the bar top. “You know what I mean, dammit!”
“She’s Erik’s sister.”
“Erik who?” Nicolai knew the precise moment it sank in. Flynn deflated, looking just a tad shell-shocked. “Well, shit, it took you two days to figure that out?”
“She never told me her name, remember? Until last night.”
“But you didn’t send her packing until this morning.”
Oh, he should have. He knew he should’ve called Erik right at that moment and asked him to come down and pick her up. But he hadn’t. He’d wanted just a little more time. Even if it meant he was putting off the inevitable, he wanted to pretend there was some kind of future possible for the two of them.
“Erik isn’t one of those high society guys, Nicolai. He loves you like a brother.”
“I slept with his sister. Hell, you gave him a play-by-play of that first meeting. One word of this and he’ll probably keep the bar and throw me out on my ass.”
Flynn swept his hand wide, encompassing the food on the bar and the tables arranged for the meeting. “Is that why you let her stumble down here without even explaining what was going on? You were trying to chase her away by convincing her that you’re less than you are?”
“Less than I am? That’s a load of shit. I am less.” He turned away, staring at the piano. Now covered, it was a reminder that good only served to disguise the bad. “Even without her family ties, I can’t take the chance of dragging someone like her into all this. I’m recovering. There’s no cure. When I was gambling, I destroyed whatever I touched. I hurt the only people in my life who meant
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