MICK AND HIS BROTHER WEREN’T THE CLOSEST AS FAR as siblings went, but Gavin knew what he’d been through. He needed someone to talk to, and since Gavin was in town for a game, he figured this was a good time to take his brother out for a late-night meal.
They met at a bar overlooking the city. Mick walked in and surveyed the panoramic view of the Bay Bridge and downtown San Francisco before skirting his gaze to the bar. He located his brother, who was surrounded by three women. It figured.
As soon as Gavin spotted Mick, he signaled him over.
“Sorry, ladies,” Gavin said. “I have some business to do with my brother tonight.”
“Oh. My. God,” the tall blonde said. “It’s Mick Riley the football player.”
The brunette standing next to the blonde sized Mick up with a head-to-toe glance, then offered up a sexy smile that said she was all his for the taking. A couple months ago he might have been interested. Now ... not so much.
“See you later,” Gavin said, taking his beer and moving to the other end of the bar, much to the disappointment of all the women, who pouted and flounced off.
“Hearts are breaking,” Mick said.
“Yeah, yeah.” Gavin took a seat. “Didn’t figure you for the sight-seeing type, but the view is nice, both outside and inside the bar.”
“What? You don’t want me to take you down the world’s crookedest street?”
Gavin smirked. “I’ll pass.”
“Good game today.”
“I would have sent you tickets.”
Mick laughed. “I see you play plenty. Caught some of the game on TV, though. Nice homer.”
Gavin grinned and tipped the bottle of beer to his lips. “Thanks. Your hometown fans didn’t seem to care too much for it, since it was the winning run.”
“San Francisco will get you next time.”
“I wouldn’t bet on it.”
The hostess called them to their table, so they headed into the restaurant. Mick had asked for a booth with some privacy, so Casey had given them the small private room. After their waiter took their orders, he shut the door.
“We having a party here tonight? And if we are, please tell me those three gorgeous women we met in the bar earlier are somehow involved.”
Mick shook his head. “No, I just didn’t want to be overheard.”
“Oh, yeah?” Gavin laid his beer on the table and leaned forward. “If it’s illegal, immoral, and naked women are involved, I’m all in.”
“It’s kind of serious, Gavin.”
His smile died. “Okay. What do you want to talk about?
“A few things. I really didn’t know who to talk to about this stuff.”
“Look, I realize I’m full of shit most of the time, Mick, but you know if you ever need me, I’m here to listen. No judgment.”
And that’s what he needed to hear. “It’s a lot of things. Tara and me, Liz, football.”
Gavin leaned back. “Start talkin’. You have me all night.”
Mick inhaled and blew out a breath. “I told Tara I was an alcoholic.”
Gavin’s eyebrows rose. “Really. So you trust her that much?”
“I do. Something happened with Nathan, and I wanted to show her, and him, what could happen if a kid got too involved with alcohol.”
Gavin leaned forward. “So wait. The kid knows, too?”
“Yeah. I took him to a meeting with me.”
“Jesus, Gavin. I can maybe understand you telling Tara. But the kid? You know how volatile they are. What if he spills? You’ve taken a lot of care to keep your secret out of the hands of the media.”
“I know. I don’t think Nathan will say anything. He understands it’s important to me to keep it a secret.”
Gavin snorted and took a long pull of his beer. “Yeah. Best intentions and all that. What if you dump his mother or hurt her in some way? You know the first thing he’s going to do is spread the word across the Internet that you’re a drunk.”
Mick shrugged. “I took the gamble. Now I have to trust them both.”
“Well, that’s your risk to take, I guess. Me, I don’t trust anybody. All my skeletons stay in the closet where they belong.”
“Hell, Gavin, you publicize all your skeletons. You’re the bad boy of baseball, and you love it that way. That’s why women flock to you like you’ve been sprayed with some kind of goddamned aphrodisiac.”
Gavin waggled his eyebrows. “What can I say? I’m irresistible.”
“Don’t make me sick before dinner, okay?”
“Hey, you’re the one who’s gone all one woman, so don’t blame me if you’re jealous.”
Mick rolled his eyes. “I can’t believe I invited you to dinner.”
“You can read all about me in the magazines, brother. And remember the good times you used to have.” Gavin grabbed his bottle and leaned back in his chair.
Mick laughed and shook his head. This was just what he needed. The playful teasing of his brother to help lighten his mood and lift some of the seriousness.