The 50,000 SilverDollar Bar was hopping at lunchtime on a Wednesday, and a trickle of snowmobiles had started arriving outside. I sat with Thelma and Georgiana to the far side of the bar, happily eating a club sandwich. I’d always loved the atmosphere of the place, and the food was incredible. Both ladies had hung their trench coats over their chairs and put their hats on the free chair at the table. “If we have time, let’s hit the gift shop on the way out,” I said, finishing my fries.
Thelma wiped her hands on a napkin. “What did you buy Aiden?”
“I’m still working on that,” I admitted. “Any ideas?”
Georgiana paused in eating her burger. “Gun?”
I shook my head. “I think he likes to choose his own guns. I do have a cute leprechaun tie I bought the other day.”
Thelma snorted. “No, unless you’re trying to ditch him. Truth be told, I have been worried about you two.”
I jolted, surprised. “I thought you liked him.”
“I do,” she said, leaning toward me and lowering her voice. “But no man that handsome can be good in bed. They just don’t have to be, and I think you probably are good.”
I coughed out some of my soda. “Um, huh.” Was there a way to answer that?
Thelma snatched one of Georgiana’s onion rings. “I was right? That’s sad.”
“No.” I tossed my napkin on my empty plate. My very empty plate. “You’re not right. He’s a god in bed and that’s all I’m going to say.” I felt the oddest responsibility to defend his honor, even while knowing that he’d rather I just didn’t say anything to her.
Thelma brightened. “A god? Well, that’s lovely.” She ate the onion ring, staring at the varied bottles of alcohol stacked on glass shelves behind the bar. “Well then, how about a new leather jacket? He does look good in leather.”
“I think he likes the jackets he already has right now,” I said, my hopes sinking. I sucked as a girlfriend.
“Chaps?” she asked.
Georgina, normally the quiet one, nodded. “He does have a nice caboose.”
I shouldn’t have brought up the subject. What had I been thinking? Snowmobilers began striding inside, tearing off gloves and hats and dropping snow on the way to the bar. “All right. Let me know when you see her.”
Thelma stood and moved her chair next to mine so she could see the door as well. “We don’t know what she looks like.”
I sighed, barely keeping from allowing my chin to drop. “You don’t?”
“Nope,” Thelma said agreeably. “But I know who she’s with.”
I perked up. “Who?”
“Should we tell her?” Thelma leaned forward and twisted her stick-thin body to better see Georgiana.
“Sure.” Georgiana chewed thoughtfully on an onion ring, watching the doorway carefully.
A group of men stomped inside, and I smiled. “Hey, Bos!”
Bosco turned, spotted me, and made a beeline. In a second, he’d plucked me from the chair in a strong hug.
I chuckled and swatted at his riding jacket. “Your jacket is wet, dummy.”
He set me down. “Sorry.” Like most of the Albertini brothers, he was over six feet tall with light brown eyes, and his brown hair was thick and wavy. He was the youngest, like me, and we had commiserated through the years. “You’re looking good, Anna Banana.”
I grasped his hand, feeling lighter than I had in ages. Bos was home and was safe. I introduced him to Thelma and Georgiana, and I swear, Thelma fluttered her eyelashes and pushed her sunken boobs out under her knitted sweater.
Bosco winked at her, and that was it. I hoped he knew what he’d just done.
“Are you home for a while?” I asked. While he was stationed at Fairchild, he did a good amount of traveling. Something about refueling jets in the air.
He shrugged. “Dunno. I’m staying with Vince for a few days and then will head over to my apartment in Timber City. Rumor has it you’re dating Aiden Devlin, and I’d like to have a nice dinner with him.”
