Page 55 of The Last Close Call

Skyler’s jaw dropped open. “Why the hell did she go out with him?”

Lila shrugged. “Because he was hot?”

“Not that hot.”

“No?” Lila looked at Rowan. “What did you think?”

“He was okay.”

“Hey, speaking of hot guys.” Skyler nudged Rowan with her foot. “I want to hear about Jack.”

“What? I did a project for him.”

Skyler grinned. “What else did you do for him?”

Rowan reached for her mojito. “Nothing.”

“Right.”

“Oh, come on.” Skyler looked at Lila. “Now, that man I’d do in a heartbeat.”

“Sky!”

“What? Wouldn’t you?”

Lila looked at Rowan. “Maybe.”

“Look, we’re pissing her off.” Skyler poked Rowan with her foot again. “I knew there was something going on there.”

Rowan got up and grabbed the Cheetos bowl. “Anyone want a refill?”

Skyler laughed. “I told you. Did you see her face?”

Shaking her head, Rowan retreated into the kitchen, where she opened the fridge and stared at the contents. She didn’t mind the teasing, but she wasn’t ready to talk about Jack yet, even to her closest friends. She was too confused.

So far, she liked everything she knew about Jack. Except for his job. It was a major sticking point. She’d worked with cops for years and even dated one once, and she’d made a promise to herself—never again.

Of course, she hadn’t been thinking about that promise when she kissed him in the middle of the Duck parking lot.

“Hey.”

She turned around, and Skyler was standing in the doorway with Oscar in her arms. “You know I’m kidding, right?”

Rowan closed the fridge.

“I would never do your boyfriend.”

“Yeah, duh. But he’s not my boyfriend.” Rowan refilled the Cheetos bowl and returned to the den.

Lila looked up from the phone on the table. “Sky, what’s this? Are you getting a new tattoo?”

“I’m thinking about it.” She put Oscar down on the rug. “What do you think?” She picked up her phone and showed Rowan an intricate tattoo of a cross.

“Hmm.”

“What?”

“I don’t know.” Rowan tilted her head, studying the picture. “Too Celtic.”