Blood & Rust (Lock & Key #4) Read Online Free Page B

“I’m good.”
    “So, why do you look like you could use a drink?” he asked.
    I averted my gaze. “I could use some sugar actually.” I flagged down the waitress. “Could I have one of those brownies with a scoop of vanilla ice cream?”
    “Sure thing, hon,” said the waitress before darting off.
    “Thanks.”
    “Decisive and very determined.” He sipped on his coffee. “That can only mean one thing.”
    “Says the expert on womankind.”
    Butler chuckled. “Yeah, that’s me.” He leveled his bright blue eyes on me again, eyes that made it hard for me to look away. “Come on, let’s hear it. Maybe I can offer you some advice from my side of the high stone wall.”
    “I don’t need advice.”
    “How about a new perspective?”
    A new perspective?
    Butler was a neutral bystander. He didn’t really know me; he certainly didn’t know Kyle. And I knew that Butler, the Lord of Shameless wouldn’t judge me. He would be respectful of my confessions. I hadn’t been able to discuss this with anyone. I hadn’t even really wanted to discuss it with Grace in much depth, which surprised me.
    An objective opinion, and from a man, might be a relief.
    “Okay. I’m getting a divorce, and I went back to Racine to pick up the last of my stuff and check in with my lawyer, but I ended up staying longer than I’d expected.” I bit down on the side of my lip and took in a small breath. “We made this last-ditch effort to try again, but it didn’t work for me.”
    “I’m sorry.”
    “Don’t be sorry. It’s a good thing.”
    “Did he cheat on you?”
    “No. Not really.”
    “What does that mean?”
    “He slept with someone else after I’d left him, when my mom was in the hospital and I ended up staying in Meager for a couple of months with her and Jill. Kyle and I were officially separated, so…you know.” I shrugged.
    “Still sucks.”
    “Still sucks.”
    “Okay. Did he hit you?” he asked.
    “No, it’s not like that. We simply don’t mesh, don’t get along. We haven’t for a long time, but he’s not willing to admit it. We are the true definition of “irreconcilable differences.” He’s more than happy to keep rolling along. But it’s pretending, in my opinion. I can’t pretend anymore.”
    “That’s good.”
    I let out a dry laugh. “Oh, yeah? Which part?”
    “You not willing to pretend. There comes a time when you’ve got to stop and get some real air in your lungs.”
    My shoulders relaxed. “I pretended for a long while there. You figure, we’re human, and things ebb and flow. But he and I have deeper issues, and he’s just not willing to go there.”
    “To the deep?” he asked, his eyes pinned on me.
    Butler was getting this. He was open to this conversation.
    I leaned over the table. “Look, I’m not saying I need to be philosophical and intimate every second of every day, but it was enough for him to just be under the same roof. To exchange basic information. To get along. To keep house. Well, to keep house his way. After almost ten years, whatever spark had been there was no longer there.”
    A large fudge square with a mound of creamy vanilla ice cream slid before me on the table. “There you go.”
    A golden omelet with bacon and whole-wheat toast appeared in front of Butler. “Enjoy.”
    The waitress disappeared once more.
    “Ah, breakfast for dinner? I like that, too,” I said.
    “One of my faves.” He grinned as he moved his dish closer. “So, you’ve been putting in the effort with…”
    “Kyle.” I drove my fork into the large brownie.
    “Right.”
    “I know it takes two to make it work, but he’s content in his bubble. I’m not. Plus, I don’t fit in that bubble.”
    Butler dragged his fork through his omelet and glanced up at me. “I don’t suspect you’d fit into any kind of bubble, Tania. Or am I wrong?” He chewed his food as he watched me, a slow smile lighting his face.
    Warmth swept through me at the sight, and I ran my fork into the