There isn’t enough alcohol in Kenza to make me forget what I’ve just done. I can’t even explain what made me leave without saying a word.
I was enjoying her touch more than I’ll ever be able to admit to her, not that she’d listen anyway. But that won’t happen with what I’ve just done.
She didn’t deserve that.
“Congratulations, brother. About damn time you decided to turn your life around.”
I grunt at his words.
“You pissed she’s pregnant? Mom said she doesn’t remember seeing you as happy.”
“I’m happy about the baby.”
Ruben slouches on the bar to my side with his eyes burning a hole in my bowed head while messing with his phone.
“Burying your head in Mr Daniels isn’t going to solve anything, brother.”
I choose to ignore him.
“I’m not going anywhere.” He drops onto a barstool.
“If you didn’t want me to see you, you would have chosen a different bar. So quit with the attitude and tell me what you’ve done now.”
Lifting my head, I meet his gaze. “How do you know I’ve done something?”
He laughs.
“You’re a McKenzie. All McKenzie men screw up and come here to drown their sorrows. So I’ll ask again. What have you done?”
“Walked out on Sabrina.”
He shakes his head. “When are you going to stop hurting her? And yourself?”
“It’s complicated.”
“No it isn’t. You want her and she wants you. What’s complicated about that?”
“You’re an ass. If I recall, not too long ago you had it bad for Rosie and acted like a dick. What makes you the expert?”
“Love,” he replies giving me a smug look while still playing with his cell.
“I’m not going there. Let’s just say that we were on the sofa and her hands…started to dip onto my back and I froze.” I empty my glass down my throat. “I’m a bastard. I knew it hurt her when I pulled away, which made me angry. I left without a word.”
“So she has no idea where you are. You didn’t even tell her you needed space. If that’s the case, then you are a bastard.”
Well, at least we agree on something.
“Can we talk about something else?”
I hold his gaze as he studies me.
He nods. “Ramon tells me you’re having problems on the site.”
Sighing in relief that I’m going to have my mind distracted for a short while at least, I admit I’ve brought reinforcements in. “I’ve asked Dante for help. He’s agreed to ask his brothers, but says it will more than likely be Eric as he has more experience on a building site than the others. Plus Eric is on leave for a while and driving everyone crazy. So Dante said Eric would jump at the chance to help so he’d have something to do. He did mention Diego at first, but he’s started back at the firehouse, plus Dante said he’d become a bit of a hothead.” I shake my head thinking about my brothers and me being hotheads. I’m not sure how our mother coped with us.
“Isn’t Diego’s twin out of the country? Studying or something,” Ruben asks with a frown.
“She is, Emelia. They were inseparable when she was home, and kept him tame, but now that she isn’t around, he seems to be spreading his wings a bit too far. If you get my drift.”
Ruben laughs. “It’s been a heck of a long time since both families came together. Perhaps that’s something we need to think about. When the next wedding takes place, maybe.”
“We’ve been invited to a wedding.” He raises an eyebrow in question. “Mateo is getting hitched and he’s invited us all to Montana for the event. According to Dante, he doesn’t sound like a man about to get married. So I’m more curious now than anything.”
“You thinking of going?”
“Yeah. It would be great if everyone else would also. Especially Mom and Dad.”
Ruben takes a drink and looks thoughtful. “I’ll talk to Mom,” he smiles, “and let her talk to Dad.”
I grin. Dad’s a hard nut to crack.
Ruben pauses. “Let’s get back on track. When’s Eric arriving?”
“Soon. When he gets here, we need to make sure the relationship doesn’t get out. He’s going in as one of the workers. See if he hears anything. I’m hesitant about him going in on his own. These bastards have been screwing with us for a while now.”
“He’s a marine. He’ll be fine.” Ruben pours himself a drink.
“Since when do you drink the hard stuff?”
“Since I looked at you.”
I pause then start laughing at him.
There isn’t any way he would have walked past me. He may have not wanted to get involved, but the brother connection is strong with us McKenzies. It always has been and no matter how much we might piss each other off, we’re loyal to a fault.
“So, Ruben tells me you’ve screwed up again.” Ramon grins obviously just arrived at the club.
“For fuck’s sake, Ramon,” Ruben cusses.