Free Night Games by Nina Bangs Page A

you’re going through. Innocent wife dumped by jerky husband. Wife now is thrown into the sex game where the rules have changed since she first played. It happens to a lot of women.”
    Oh God. Writing was her career. She couldn’t imagine doing anything else. But this . . . ? “Fine. I’ll find my sexually compatible man and write about my experience. Of course, if he’s sexually compatible he’ll probably also be a jerk.”
    â€œThen that’ll be another book, Ally. Look on the bright side. Dave will hate your book.”
    â€œWonderful. Can’t wait to write this one. Talk to you later, Mavis.” Sarcasm didn’t become her,and she really wasn’t being fair to Mavis. Her agent and editor had been instrumental in guiding her to where she was today. But what the heck was she going to do about this book?
    She leaned back in her chair and closed her eyes. “Sex games.” She wasn’t going to play. “Mavis is wrong. I can fake this.” But would she respect herself in the morning?
    The sound of soft laughter spun her attention to the open door where Brian Byrne stood holding her soap and towel.
    â€œMen who hunt never change, babe. You want to know about sex games? I can tell you about sex games.”

 
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Chapter Five
    â€œYe have the look of the Byrnes, lad.” Mr. Fitzpatrick paused with his spoonful of oatmeal halfway to his mouth as he studied Brian from the other end of the long table. “It’s in the eyes. All the Byrnes had the devil’s own eyes.”
    Brian smiled. Ironic, he knew more about his ancestors who’d lived five hundred years ago than he did his parents. Probably should thank his mother for at least leaving his history chip around his neck when she deserted him. She’d deleted everything about herself, but she’d left information about his father’s origins. Not his name, just his family’s history. Brian had tried to use the history to track down his father, but no luck. Good old Dad didn’t want to be found.
    â€œAye, and the Byrnes had the devil’s own way with the women. Scoundrels, every one.” Mrs.Fitzpatrick harrumphed her way around the table as she served everyone breakfast.
    Katy looked interested. “Any more of those Byrne men around here?”
    Mr. Fitzpatrick shook his head. “It’s been many a year since we’ve seen a one. Some said they’d all died, but I didn’t believe that at all. Ye’ve come in time to save the place, lad.”
    Brian frowned. All the Byrnes couldn’t be dead. If all the Byrnes were gone, then he wouldn’t exist.
    â€œI’ve never eaten this much for breakfast in my life.” Ally pushed the remnants of her meal around on her plate.
    â€œLooks pretty normal to me.” Brian glanced down at his half-eaten plate of eggs, sausage, ham, brown bread, and bowl of oatmeal.
    Ally stared at him. “You’re kidding.”
    â€œTeam breakfasts are twice this size.” He raised his gaze to a roomful of interested stares. Uh-oh. Better watch what he said. Guess he shouldn’t mention that in 2502 everyone ate twice as much as this. Gluttony was a way of life ever since scientists invented a stay-thin pill. Eat all you want and never gain weight. “When you train hard you have to eat enough to maintain your energy level.”
    â€œYe play a sport?” A heavyset man at the end of the table stopped eating long enough to ask the question.
    â€œI’m part of a—”
    â€œFootball team.” Ally looked desperate. “He plays football.”
    Even Cap seemed to feel a need to change the subject. “ ’Tis a fine meal ye serve. Me sainted Uncle Pat would have loved it.” He winked at Mrs. Fitzpatrick. “ ’Tis no blarney I speak.”
    The Fitzpatricks stared while Brian winced. As the conversation flowed around him, Brian glanced at the others