Page 54 of Sterling Heat

“It’s nothing,” I lie.

“You seem grumpier than usual,” Clay adds, lifting his beer and eyeing me as he drinks.

“More curmudgeon than your typical curmudgeon.” Knox wiggles a brow.

“What? Are you a fucking poet tonight or something?”

“Not sure how that rhymes,” Clay mutters, setting down his beer.

Knox squeezes my shoulder with his thick hand. “I have a way with words.” He winks. For a man who acts like he’s a ladies’ man, he isn’t. He’s a flirt, but I can’t remember the last time he got laid. Not that I need to know when my brothers do such a thing, but Knox hasn’t had a consistent woman in his life for a long, long time.

For that fact, I can’t remember the last time I got laid and maybe that’s what I need to rid my head of one brunette, single mom living in a house that haunts me.

I’ll give the place credit. It hardly looks the same, but ghosts lingered within the updates. I don’t like Enya living so far outside of town and without neighbors who can keep watch over her home a little better. However, none of it should be my concern.

“Seriously, what’s weighing heavy in that big head, little brother?” Clay’s tone isn’t patronizing. As second in command after Stone, he took up where Stone left off. As in, Clay played the role of older brother more than father-substitute like Stone did.

I shrug, lifting my non-alcoholic beer and taking a deep pull from the bottle.

“Trouble with the missus?” Knox arches a brow, but Clay watches me, apprehension in his expression.

“Enya moved out.” They both know this. “My home is now blissfully quiet and free of disruption.”

“Was she really a disruption?” Clay studies me.

“I’m back to doing what I want, when I want,” I continue, avoiding a direct answer.

“Didn’t know you’d ever stopped,” Knox mumbles, tipping his head in greeting to someone across the bar.

“Knox,” Clay hisses, low and disappointed.

If anyone should know about being a free-spirit, or at least strong-willed, it would be Knox. He left for the military, practically sprinting to get out of this town and leaving behind his high school sweetheart when we all thought they’d get married.

“Fuck off,” I mumble to Knox.

“There he is.” Knox perks up, smiling too wide, and egging me on. “Heard you were getting friendly with the nurses at the hospital. Ever play doctor with one of them? Show her your stethoscope?”

Knox is such a nosy fucker.

“No.” I huff. After my run in with Sedona and Trinity Haven, I kept to myself. Plus, I was there for Adara, not picking up dates.

“Heard Halle Reynolds is back in town.” Clay’s teasing puts the attention back on Knox.

His head whips so fast, he could clear the table with the jet-stream left behind. “Halle?”

Speaking of that high school sweetheart.

“Although, I guess it’s not Reynolds anymore.” Clay tips up his beer again and drinks.

Did Knox just growl? My eyes widen as Knox’s narrow at Clay. Clay only chuckles, knowing Halle is a sore spot for Knox. He doesn’t like to talk about her. Then again, their puppy-love was almost twenty years ago. And for a nosy man, how did he not know this nugget of information?

“Look who’s a bear now.” I poke his arm. Jab. Jab. Jab. Like he does to me.

“Can never breach the Brick,” Clay jokes of Knox’s nickname. He’s impenetrable, or so he thinks.

Knox swats at my hand and I chuckle deep at his failed attempt to swish me away. Clay gives me a smile and I feel myself relaxing for the first time in weeks.

“Rena’s over there.” Knox tips his head in the direction of my employee.