“Shit, Kenny.” He jerked my ponytail and headed back into his office. “That’s exactly what I’m going to do.”
“We don’t have to discuss it!” I called after him. “I finally got those images out of my head.”
He was gone a few minutes later, and Mariska fell on me laughing. “You’ve got balls the size of Texas, girl!”
We both laughed harder. “What’s the point of catching them twice if I can’t give him a hard time about it?”
My gorgeous guy appeared around the corner then. “You two kittens are having way too much fun. What’s up?”
“You are very sexist.” I leaned forward to capture his lips.
“Thanks,” he smiled, kissing me back. Then he frowned. “Oh, wait, you said sex-ist? I thought you said sexy.”
“You’re that too, Spinal Tap.” I dropped back off the bar. “How’s it going out there?”
“Overcrowded, but we can handle it.” He took my hand and placed our palms together. I loved it. “I’m going to have to clean the locker room twice.”
I didn’t like the sound of that. “Want me to help you?”
“I would never want you to do that.” He laced our fingers, and I thought about the two little hearts mirroring each other.
“I don’t mind,” I said softly. Never in my life had I been so completely and fully blissed out with happiness. It radiated in my toes.
Just then Pete called Slayde, and he kissed my hand before heading back to the weight room. “We’re going to talk tonight.”
“Okay,” I nodded, anticipation hot in my chest.
“I’m trying not to hate you two,” Mariska said once he was gone, but her giggle gave her away.
“You’ve got a lot of room—” I ducked out from behind the bar, but my words were cut off as two men strode through the glass doors.
It took me a second to register Patrick and Derek standing in the lobby of The Jungle Gym, completely out of context.
“Patrick?” I was confused, and I was pretty sure Mariska fainted.
“Hey, babe.” Patrick caught me in his usual rough hug, but he wasn’t sm
iling.
Derek waited, hands on his hips. He was a mountain of intimidating sex on two legs, blue eyes like steel. In typical form, I had no clue what to say to him. They were obviously here on a job. All at once, the realization of what it had to be slammed into me like a medicine ball.
“I need to know if you were working about a week ago,” he said. “I think it was a Wednesday afternoon?”
“Oh, Patrick.” I cringed with the guilt. I’d given up trying to call him about Stuart at Mariska’s urging, but if something had happened to his brother... “I’m so sorry.”
Patrick’s expression grew more serious. “Why are you sorry? What happened?”
Mariska charged ahead, gripping the counter and practically crawling across it. “Is he okay? Tell me he’s okay!”
Patrick’s confused eyes moved to my friend. “I’m pretty sure he’s okay—are we all talking about Stuart?”
I started to breathe again. “Oh, thank God. Yes.”
Mariska collapsed against the wall as well, but Derek was impatient. “I’ll step out and call Nikki, let her know he was here. Looks like we’re only getting started.”
He disappeared out the double-glass doors just as a voice I loved joined us. “Kenny? What’s going on?” Slayde stopped beside me, but his eyes were on Patrick.
“Slayde,” I said quickly, “This is Patrick. Lane’s dad.” Just as fast, I completed the circle. “Patrick, this is Slayde Bennett.”