Solitary Man(3)
Author: Carly Phillips

Janine’s laughter took him by surprise. “Is that what you think you did?” She sobered suddenly and studied his face. “Life went on, Kevin. But not the way you think.”

“Meaning?”

Janine’s arm swept the expanse of the bar, to where Nikki maneuvered between customers, taking orders and serving drinks. “Need I say more?” Janine asked.

“What happened to her degree? She had one semester left of student teaching.”

“You want information, I suggest you ask her for yourself.”

He paused then, realizing for the first time he had no idea how Nikki or Janine had gotten on since Tony’s death. Janine had Tony’s pension, but was it enough?

And where did that leave Nikki? Her parents’ savings at the time of their death had been minimal. The farm had been mortgaged twice and he remembered Tony telling him the creditors had taken nearly everything, including insurance from the fire. With her brother, her only family and source of support gone, what choices had Nikki been forced to make? Kevin wondered. For a change, he hadn’t thought of anyone, taken care of anyone, but himself.

His old man’s favorite words came back to haunt him. Mannings were no good at taking care of anyone but themselves. His dead partner had been his first wake-up call, Nikki his second.

His gaze wandered to the woman he couldn’t forget. She stood, leaning over a male customer. The surge of jealousy was so strong and so foreign to him, Kevin barely heard Janine as she spoke. “She needs you.”

Nikki laughed at something the guy said and his hand cupped her waist in an too-familiar grip. She didn’t seem inclined to walk away. Kevin forced his gaze off Nikki’s waist and back to Janine. “Seems to me she’s doing just fine on her own,” he said.

Janine shot him a disbelieving stare. “I doubt Tony would agree.”

“Cheap shot,” he muttered.

“But true.” As she spoke, Nikki returned.

Despite the smoke, despite the distinct odor of alcohol, Kevin was aware of her. Her unique scent had lingered in his dreams and as she circled their seats, pausing only to slam down their drinks before moving on, he could swear she still wore the same perfume.

He watched her in action. She served neighboring tables, pausing to talk at some, flirt at others, and avoid wandering hands as she worked. From the easy way she maneuvered, he’d guess she’d been doing this for more than just a few nights. He looked to Janine for answers, but after having set him up, his companion disappeared.

He exhaled a groan. Nikki had a new look, a new job. From all outward appearances, she had a whole new life. One he was damn sure her brother wouldn’t approve of, one that put Kevin in a position he didn’t want to be in.

He’d left the morning after, believing that Nikki would be better off going on with her life without him around. After all, if his partner couldn’t count on him, what could he offer Nikki? She deserved better than him. He glanced around the crowded bar. Better than this, too. Kevin knew all about these places firsthand. He’d grown up hanging around the sleazier bars, tagging after his drunken father.

Knowing Nikki was subjecting herself to the leers and come-ons he’d seen his father make… Even if the guys wore suits instead of an out-of-work plumber’s overalls, they were after the same thing. From Nikki. The thought made him sick and Kevin refused to dwell on it any longer. Instead he settled in.

Throughout the night, Nikki glared at him plenty and refilled his drink once, but she didn’t stop to talk. Obviously she planned to ignore him until he decided to leave. With his track record, she probably figured it was only a matter of time. He wished he could oblige. Watching Nikki had aroused more than his curiosity and he didn’t like the feeling. He’d prefer to put it, and her, behind him as soon as possible.

And he would, as soon as he fulfilled his promise to Tony. Last time he left, he did so based on the assumption that Nikki would be fine without him. He’d been so wrapped up in himself and his mistakes that he’d made another one.

He’d left without checking facts, a damn stupid move for an ex-cop. He’d promised Tony that he’d make sure his family was okay. Before he dropped out of sight again, he intended to make sure he accomplished his goal.

* * *

Nikki Welles grabbed her fake fur coat from the hook in the back hall and glanced around the empty bar once more. Not a customer or ex-lover in sight. Apparently things hadn’t changed. He still made his getaway before facing her one-on-one. She fought back the recurring wave of nausea that threatened to overtake her. For a change, she hadn’t taken the time to eat before work and the greasy food at the bar didn’t appeal to her weak stomach.

Ever since her brother’s death, she was lightheaded and woozy most of the time. Similar to when her parents had died, but much, much worse. She and Tony had been very close… and now she had no one but Janine. At one time she thought she’d have Kevin, but he hadn’t cared enough to stick around, and obviously that hadn’t changed.

His generous tip didn’t ease the insult; it merely heightened it, especially since she hadn’t earned the money. He’d taken up space at her station and paid her for nothing. As if he felt sorry for her. The thought brought back painful memories she believed she’d put behind her. Of the morning she’d woken up in his apartment, alone in his bed.

At first she’d thought he was somewhere around. Then, not wanting to believe the worst, she convinced herself he’d gone down to pick up breakfast for them both. She’d even set the table, pulled on the shirt he’d left near the bed and curled up to wait. Only after an embarrassing amount of time had passed did she accept the truth. He considered her a mistake and he’d left her in his apartment rather than face her the morning after, probably giving her time to gather her things and leave before he returned. Just the memory brought back the rush of shame she’d felt at the time, but only for a moment. Because Kevin Manning wasn’t worth it… even if he still looked sexy enough to knock her off her feet. She’d never go there again.

She wrapped her coat around her and headed for the door. “Sure you don’t want to wait five?” one of the bartenders asked as she passed.

“No, thanks. I’ll be fine.” She waved good night and ducked into the cool night air before he could argue. The taxi routinely picked her up on the corner of the one way street. Most nights one of the guys kept her company on her walk, but tonight she wanted to be alone. She needed to think about what Kevin’s return meant for her future and what form of revenge would work best on the sister-in-law who had betrayed her.