Page 36 of Housebroke

She deserved to fulfill them.

You deserve it.

Linc’s earlier words rang in her ears.

You deserve it.

Hell yes, she deserved it.

And he definitely made her tingle—merely by those hot looks he was sending her way.

So she supposed the question of the night was...

Was she brave enough to go for it?

CHAPTER TWELVE

Do you think the dogs would be okay if we stayed out for a while longer?” Linc asked as he drove them away from the restaurant.

“They’re fine. Why?”

“I’d like to take you somewhere else.”

“Really? I’m curious.”

Linc couldn’t remember ever enjoying a night out more than he had tonight. He wasn’t ready for it to end. Besides, Hazel looked amazing, and he wanted her to live it up a little bit longer. He got the idea she didn’t get to go out and party very often, at least lately, though he didn’t know what her social life had been when she was married.

“Did you and your ex go out much?”

“Not really. He wasn’t much for hanging out with people. He liked staying home and preferred I do the same.”

“But you had friends to go do things with, right?”

She shifted in her seat, and he caught a glimpse of her tanned and toned legs. “For a while. But Andrew slowly whittled them down until I only had one or two close friends left. Ginger was one of them. Now she’s moved out of state.”

“That’s too bad. It’s important to have friends.”

“How about you? Do you still have good friends or is it hard to maintain those friendships since you’re always traveling?”

He let out a laugh. “Guys don’t need to be in touch all the time. We can be separated for a year or more, then get together and grab a beer and catch up like no time has passed.”

She stayed silent.

“Why?” he asked. “Is it different for women?”

“It doesn’t have to be.”

“But it was for you.”

“I guess. It shouldn’t be.”

“No, it shouldn’t. Not if you make the right friends. If a year goes by and you meet up with your friends for drinks, you should be able to pick up right where you left off. Or at least catch up, knowing that your friends will always welcome you back into their circle no matter where you’ve wandered or for how long.”

“You obviously have a good group of friends.”

He smiled. “I do.” Then he looked over at her. “And you?”

“I suppose I do have that. There’s Ginger, and I know I can call her anytime, show up on her doorstep no matter where she lives. And I have Sandy—she runs the foster organization. We’re not lifelong friends or anything, but she’s been there for me during some rough times. And we get each other. We’re both divorced and we both love animals.”

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