Page 31 of Hank

"Iwhat?"

"Oh, yes, she does," Faith chimed in, nodding her head furiously, while Colleen added, her tone serious, "She’s desperate to leave, but we want to stay."

"I told you, you should have driven," Magdalena added, quite matter of fact, while her other friends voiced their agreement.

"Have you guys lost your minds?" Jo groused.

"Nope." Magdalena stood—was she pregnant—and grabbed Jo’s hand and tugged her from her seat. "Now, you have a ride," she said, spinning Jo around and shoving her into his arms. He caught Jo easily and smiled over head at the table of women. If he had themandher son on his side, that might be half the battle.

"Get your answer," Magdalena said.

"Remember," Faith said, "you deserve it."

"Rawr," Colleen added, and did some kind of clawing motion with her hand that might have been a little disturbing.

"Should I?—"

"No, don’t ask," Jo grumbled, pushing against his chest until he loosened his hold, but not by much. Meaning, he gave her just enough room to tilt her head up at him. Aggravation shown from her hazel gaze. "Myfriendsare obviously getting back at me for…" She ______ "Well several things by trying to throw us together."

"They’ve succeeded." Her response was to give him a pretty decent glower that softened before she grimaced and turned in his arms.

"Donotencourage them." If she was truly irritated, she could have tried sounding more convincing. "And don’t look so innocent," she groused at her friends.

"Oh, I plan on doing nothing elsebutencourage them." He couldn’t help but smile down at the top of her curly head, and at the fact she hadn’t stepped out of his hold. "At every opportunity."

"I like him," Faith piped up.

"Me too," Colleen added. "Can we keep him?"

"I think we should," Mags finally said, nodding at Colleen and Faith.

"And I don’t needyou guysencouraginghim." She let out a loud huff, while her friends smirked at her. He could onlyassume she was giving them a glower too. "If I go with him, will that make all of you happy?"

"Absolutely…"

"Yes…"

"Of course…"

"Fine." She huffed again. And did she just stomp her foot? "Let’s go."

With that, she grabbed his hand and led him away, weaving through the crowd. Of course, he followed after her. What else would he do?

"Don’t get any ideas," she said over her shoulder as they exited the bar.

"I can’t guarantee that." Ideas had already started forming. The most prevalent being how to have a repeat of the last time they’d walked out of the bar together.

"The only thing happening in your truck, is you driving me home."

"If you say so."

"Are you even going the speed limit?"

In Hank’s side vision, Jo strained against her seatbelt to lean over the middle console.

"Yes." He glanced at the speedometer. "Thirty-five."

"Youcouldgo a little faster," she grumbled, sitting back and crossing her arms.

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