Second Chance Summer Read online

  Gray.

  “Sneaked out of the house,” his brother whispered. “Penny’s engrossed in a Supernatural marathon and a tub of popcorn. It’ll be hours before she surfaces.”

  Aidan broke eye contact with his mom only to have his eyes lock in on Lily like she was a homing beacon. “I said I’d handle it,” he whispered back.

  “Yeah,” Gray said. “And it looks like you’re doing a bang-up job of it just standing here too. You going to make a move or keep pretending you’re invisible?”

  One of the bartenders came up to them, smiling sweetly at Gray and completely ignoring Aidan.

  Shelly.

  Ah, so the night could get worse.

  “What can I get for you?” she asked Gray.

  He ordered a beer and then looked at Aidan. “The same for you?”

  “Yeah, thanks.”

  “Oh, I’m not serving him,” Shelly said to Gray.

  Gray grinned at her.

  Shelly winked at him and sauntered off.

  “A real fan of yours, I see,” Lily noted dryly.

  Gray laughed, fully enjoying the show, the ass. “Don’t worry, man, she’ll bring you a beer. She likes her tips too much not to.”

  Aidan could only hope that was true.

  “But she’ll probably spit in it first.”

  Aidan sighed. “Yeah. Thanks.”

  At the other end of the bar, Char stood up. She pointed two fingers at her own eyes and then at her boys before heading down the back hall toward the restrooms.

  Her date, Marcus Dolby, was looking both relaxed and amused as he sipped his beer.

  “Go,” Gray said. “Make our move.”

  Aidan slid his brother an incredulous look. “Are you crazy? She just let us know she’s onto us.”

  “Just do it,” Gray said in his annoying big brother voice.

  “Do what?” Jonathan wanted to know.

  “It’s about her date,” Gray said. “He’s gotta go.”

  “You’re going to try to scare him off?” Jonathan asked. “I know Marcus. He’s not scared of much.”

  “Not scare exactly,” Gray said, and paused. “Maybe intimidate. Just a little bit.”

  “That’s … horrible,” Lily said.

  “She’s not in a dating place,” Aidan said. “She’s … healing.”

  “She’s fine,” Lily said, and when Aidan and Gray just stared at her she said, “She is! I did her hair for tonight and she’s great, actually.”

  Shelly snorted as she walked by on the other side of the bar. “You gotta keep in mind that these two geniuses think their dear mama’s too old and feeble to do the nasty. A bad hip is a setback not a deterrent.”

  Aidan shuddered.

  Gray looked … well, gray. He gave Aidan a little push. “Get on with it. I gotta get back before Penny runs out of popcorn.”

  Aidan walked the length of the bar and sat down on the empty barstool next to Marcus.

  Marcus nodded at him.

  Aidan nodded back.

  “What happened?” Marcus asked. “You lose at rockpaper-scissors?”

  Aidan’s gaze slid to Gray. “Uh—”

  Gray jerked his chin as if to say, Go on, do it.

  Lily rolled her eyes.

  Marcus grinned and leaned back. “Well, let’s hear it already.”

  “Hear what?”

  “All the reasons why you think I shouldn’t date your mom. Does it have anything to do with the fact that I work for you?”

  “No.”

  “What then?” Marcus asked.

  “She’s not up for it, for one thing,” Aidan said. “You shouldn’t have asked her out. You—”

  “First of all, she asked me.” Marcus smiled when Aidan just stared at him slack-jawed. “That’s right. And I jumped on the chance. She’s funny, she’s warm and wonderful, and if you want the truth, she’s sexy as hell.”

  Aidan scrubbed a hand over his face.

  Marcus laughed softly as he leaned in closer. “Things don’t shrivel up just because you turn the big five-oh, you know. In fact, some things just get better with time. Your mama is one of them.”

  Aidan closed his eyes. “I will pay you to stop talking.”

  Marcus laughed again. “And I’ll pay you to still be sitting right here when she comes back from the restroom, because we both know she’s going to be pissed as hell at you.” He just grinned when Aidan made a sound of frustration. “Tell you what,” Marcus told Aidan. “You walk away right now and I won’t mention this to her.”

  “Mention what?”

  They both stilled at Char’s voice and then turned in unison to face her.

  She stood, hands on her hips, glaring at Aidan. “Son,” she said evenly in that mom voice that mothers the world over have perfected.

  “Hi, Mom.”

  “Let me guess,” she said. “You’re here to say, ‘Have a good evening, love you, Mom,’ right?”

  “Yes,” Marcus said, before Aidan uttered a word. “That’s exactly what he told me he was here to tell you.” Then he set his big hand in the middle of Aidan’s back and shoved him off the stool.

  Aidan stood, towering over his mom but still feeling like he was two feet tall.

  “Aw,” his mom said, softening, enveloping Aidan in a warm hug. “That’s sweet of you, baby.” Then she put her mouth to his ear. “Now I know that you and your brother are so full of poo your eyes are brown, so you listen up good. If you screw this night up for me, I’m going to put an ad in the paper saying you’re ready to get married and have kids and that all singles should apply. Especially the criers, the stage-five clingers, and poetry lovers.”

  Aidan shook his head. “Been awhile since I’ve seen the ruthless side of you.”

  “I know. So in case you’ve forgotten, I’ll remind you that you should be afraid, very afraid.” She cupped his cheek lightly and then tapped it—not so lightly. “Now go away, baby. The adults want to get back to their date.”

  “Fine. Have it your way. But be careful, Mom, okay?” He leaned down to brush her cheek with a kiss and knew he didn’t imagine the way she clung to his arm just a moment longer than necessary.

  Aidan made his way back to Gray. Lily and Jonathan were still there, as was Shelly, all of them watching him like he was better than a sitcom.

  “Well?” Gray asked. “Did she understand—” He broke off, staring over Aidan’s shoulder across the bar. “What the—Aidan, why is Marcus putting his arm around Mom? And now he’s leaning in and— Shit, he’s going to kiss her! He is kissing her! What the hell did you say?”

  Aidan just shook his head and looked at Shelly. “I really need a drink.”

  She smiled evilly and produced two beers. Aidan reached to take one.

  She slapped his hand away from it. “Not that one. That one’s Gray’s.” She handed it to his brother. Then she held out the second.

  Aidan stared at it. “Do I even want to know what you’ve done to this one?” he asked.

  She smiled. “Nope.”

  Shit. He set the beer down.

  Lily stood and kissed Jonathan on the cheek. “Well, this has been enlightening, but I’m out.”

  Aidan started to follow her, but Gray stood up and got in his way.

  “What are you doing?” Aidan asked.

  “Stopping you from making your second mistake for the evening.”

  “Hey, talking to Mom was your bright idea,” Aidan said.

  “Yeah but you’re the one who screwed it up.”

  Aidan blew out a breath. “Whatever, man. Get out of my way.”

  “Fine.” Gray lifted his hands in surrender. “Apparently you haven’t gotten in enough trouble tonight. You need more. Go for it.”

  Aidan shoulder-checked him on his way toward the front door and then was stopped again. He turned, ready to rumble, but it wasn’t his brother, it was Jonathan. “Listen, about Lily,” he started.

  Shit. Aidan liked Jonathan, he really did. But if the guy was about to try to