Wine and Whiskey (Surviving Absolution #1) by Nikki Belaire

us, but I know that’s not
true.”
    A throbbing ache fills her chest listening to his words and
remembering his concern about her bruises when they first met. No wonder he was
so upset.
    “He was shot. He’s in a coma, and machines are keeping him
alive. But, to me, he’s already dead. Whatever happens to him happens to him. I
don’t give a damn.”
    They sit quietly for a minute. He swirls the wine in his glass
before taking a long drink. Lost at how to console him from bitterness wrapped
in grief, she grips his fingers tighter. “I’m so sorry. I can’t imagine what
you’ve gone through, but I know how hard it is to lose your mother. I know how
much you must miss her.”
    “I’m sorry too. It’s a shame that one of the things we have in
common is we both lost our mothers.” He entwines her other hand in his. “Is
there anything else you want to ask me?”
    Her face flushes with embarrassment, and she sits back, pulling
away from his touch. “I shouldn’t have asked you those questions. It isn’t my
business. I didn’t mean to be so rude.”
    He climbs out of his chair and kneels down next to her. “Don’t
apologize. It is your business, because I want you to be part of my life. You
can ask me anything.” He caresses her cheek, lines of worry creasing his
forehead. “Please don’t give up on me because of my job and my family.”
    She meets his gaze, her stomach dropping at his earnest request.
“I don’t want to, but I’m scared.”
    His eyes never leave hers as he leans closer, their faces only a
whisper apart. “I meant what I said yesterday. I swear to God I’ll never hurt
you.”
    Without any proof or reason to accept it, she believes him.
Illogical. Naïve. Foolish. But somehow, she knows it’s true.
    After standing up, he walks over to push a button on the wall
panel by the door. Soft music fills the cool evening air as he comes back and
holds out his hand. “Dance with me.”
    The large full moon reflects across the black water, wiggling on
the surface as the waves break and roll toward the sand. A few stars faintly
glisten in the usually light-polluted sky. She leans her head on his chest and
closes her eyes, pushing everything out of her mind and enjoying the peace of
being in his arms.
    He tips his head down and whispers in her ear, “Thank you for
staying.”
    When she looks up, he kisses her on the forehead. “I’m glad I
did.”
    As the temperature starts to drop, they clear the table and
carry everything inside. He sits the tray of dirty dishes on the kitchen table,
the only clean spot in the room, and smiles at her. “How about I wash and you
dry?”
    She hops up on the counter next to the sink and picks up the
dish towel. As they work, he asks her about Carrie.
    “We’ve been best friends since kindergarten. She’s always been artistic
and creative, and now she’s my stylist.”
    She laughs at his frown of confusion. Her lifestyle is foreign
to him too. “She does my hair and makeup for my concerts, photo shoots, and stuff
like that. She helps me pick out my clothes. She knows about the good designers
and who I should wear. Somehow, that kind of stuff is important in our world.”
    He raises his eyebrows and smiles. “Good to know.”
    “Her parents are disappointed she didn’t ‘do more’ with her
life, but I don’t think they appreciate how talented she is. I’m very lucky to
have her. According to her mom, the only saving grace is she’s engaged to
Nathan. He’s an emergency room physician. I guess in her mind, a doctor for a
son-in-law is a real coup.”
    “How did you end up living together?”
    “I bought a house for my mom, but I was lonely living there by
myself after she died. So, Carrie moved in with me until she gets married. She
and Nathan have sworn off sex until their wedding night to make it more
special, but it hasn’t worked even with them living apart. They keep giving
in.”
    He laughs deep from his belly at her comment. “I don’t