Winter's Gamble (16 page)
Rose waved a hand to Neo. “All right, Neo, you’re on. Say what you gotta say.” She moved aside but stayed there to hear what would transpire.
Neo looked at Phil. Phil took a deep breath. He wasn’t ready for this. Wasn’t ready to get yelled at again. Not by Neo after what had happened with Mike. But he’d take it and keep moving. It was what he always did.
Neo steeled himself as though he had something huge to reveal. It should be Phil steeling himself, but he couldn’t bring himself to. Whatever Neo said was going to bring him to his knees regardless of what it was, no matter how much he prepared himself.
“I love you.”
Phil froze. Had he heard right? There was no way. This would bring him to his knees, but for a different reason than he’d anticipated. “What?” He needed it repeated so he could decide if he’d heard it correctly.
Rose chimed in, “I believe Neo said, ‘I lo—”
“I got this, Rose.” Neo came to Phil’s side. He looked into Phil’s eyes with a gaze that spoke volumes. It was as if Rose had been dismissed or wasn’t even there. And that was a feat in itself.
“Yeah, do what you gotta do.” Rose was beaming a proud-mama smile like she’d caused all this. And she had by pushing them to get together to work out what was between them. They might never have tied the loose ends back together without her interference.
“How? What?” Phil still couldn’t believe it.
“When you were going to walk away, I realized I love you, Phil. I do. I didn’t want you to leave me. I want to make this work.”
They were words that Phil never thought he would hear. And then Neo was kissing him, lips on his in a tight lock that drove away any and all conscious thought, especially as Neo’s body wrapped around his.
Neo patted his back, and Phil’s own arm crooked around Neo and held him close. It was like holding heaven in his arms. It was like coming home. He’d never felt the like. He kissed Neo back for all he was worth. He managed to grind out, “I love you too,” before the kiss deepened even further.
Rose and everyone else watched and then whooped.
Ward tapped Phil on the shoulder, and the kissing stopped, though Phil didn’t let go of Neo. “You’re not quitting, I guess. But Brad is going to work tonight for you. I insist.”
Like Phil would argue.
Carl stood at the edge of the spectators. He was smiling at Rose. He shook his head and mimed,
You won
.
Rose beamed and mouthed to him,
One down. And I win this one.
And then she moved to his side and kissed him strongly. “You’re going to have to marry me.”
Phil didn’t have time to ponder what that was about because Neo mumbled, “Good.” And he propelled Phil toward the door. They walked out of the bar arm in arm.
As they reached the corner near Phil’s car, he stopped. He reached over and pulled Neo in for a kiss.
“What was that for?” Neo beamed. And squeezed Phil’s ass for good measure, causing Phil’s ass to clench.
“Complaining?”
“Hell, no. Just curious.”
Phil leaned in to plant his lips on Neo’s again. He reveled in the public display of affection. In his brother’s city. Neo was his, and he was Neo’s. He might have lost his family, but at least he had this. And who knew? His brother and sister-in-law might come around after a while. Anything could happen, especially with Neo by his side. “Because I can.”
“Damn straight. Anytime you want to.” Neo blew out a breath. “I do have to ask something.”
“What’s that?” It didn’t grip Phil’s heart the way it once would have. He felt like he was walking on air. Didn’t matter what happened long as Neo loved him.
“Do you know anyone with a truck? I have to move. In two days.” Neo’s mouth drew in a huge frown.
Phil couldn’t help but start laughing. And real guffaws, not little chuckles. He wasn’t sure why, but he did.
Neo glared at him, so he sobered up. Apparently whatever Phil found funny, Neo didn’t. Best fix that, or Neo would make him pay. On the other hand, punishments from Neo would be epic.
Another look from Neo, and Phil stood up straighter. “I do. I know a man with a truck. And after we…”
“Fuck.”
“Yeah.” Leave it to Neo to put it so succinctly. “We’ll start packing up your stuff. You can come stay with me as long as you need. If you want to. You don’t have to.” But the offer there, Phil wouldn’t worry if he went somewhere else. After all, he had forever to work on things with Neo because Neo loved him. He’d never get tired of the words.
“Okay.”
“Then you’ll stay with me? Move into my place?” Forever. Though that hadn’t been voiced.
“Since you offered.” Neo looked at him and grinned.
He looked at Neo and knew. Taking the chance had been the best thing he’d ever done.
Loose Id Titles by Mechele Armstrong
Another Dream, Another Reality
Another Night, Another Dream
Be My Moon
Desert Surrender
Dinah’s Christmas Desire
Dinah’s Dark Desire
I Heart That City: Body Shots
Solstice Spell
Veterans: Nothing to Lose
Winter’s Gamble
* * * * *
The BLOOD LINES Series
Blood Kiss
Conduit
Crimson’s Rose
Night’s Journey
Bitter Love
Surge
Currents
* * * * *
The FIRE RIDERS Series
Taming the Fire
The Fire Within
Beyond the Fire
* * * * *
The SETTLER’S MINE Series
The Rivals
The Lovers
The Woman
The Wolf
The Man
The Rogue
* * * * *
The SIX CURSES Series
Six Curses of Christmas
The Sixth Curse of Spring
The Sixth Cursed Halloween
Mechele Armstrong
Mechele Armstrong lives in Virginia and writes while technoing with a computer geek hubby, chauffeuring two girls, ball throwing to a spaz cat, playing psychiatrist to a neurotic dog, and serving one diva kitty. She loves open bedroom doors and things that go bump in the night, which is why she probably writes what she does. She's always looking for new worlds to play in so she never knows what will come up next. Her world is where sensuality and wonder collide.
Find out what’s new with Mechele at
http://www.mechelearmstrong.com/
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