Page 6 of Hank

"I’m taking my own advice."

"What advice?" Magdalena’s frown wasn’t unexpected. Her best friend usually gave her that look when she thought Jo was doing something crazy.

Jo having a one-night stand?

Yep, crazy.

"The same advice I gave you several weeks back."

"You like to give advice.A lot," Mags said, her brows raised. "So that could be anything."

"Let’s just say,myrickety garage door needs some attention." She’d encouraged Mags to do the same thing when Renner had first shown his interest.

"Huh?" Then realization obviously hit her friend, with her, "Ohhh," as her eyes flicked to where Hank stood close behind her, then back while leaning into her and murmuring, "Are you sure?"

"Absolutely."

A shuddering breath left her when Hank’s presence loomed closer, pressing into her back, as his hands went to her waist and hot breath bent to her ear, whispering, "You ready?"

She held Mags’ concerned stare. "I am."

Her best friend nodded her understanding, though her eyes still remained uncertain. Then Jo turned into Hank’s hold andallowed him to guide her out, but hollered over her shoulder, "I’ll call you later," at her friends. Her last look of them before they disappeared behind the crowd showed three women giving a good impression of a set of bodyguards who’d just lost their principal.

"You have good friends."

"I know."

"Should I expect torches and pitchforks at my house in the morning?"

Jo had to laugh at that image as they left the bar and walked out into the chilly night air. She could just see her three friends doing their best impression of storming the castle. Of course, Mags would be leading the way.

"No, I don’t think so."

His house…

"Um, so, we’re going to your house?" They were headed across the parking lot, and he hadn’t asked wherehercar was parked. So, they must be on their way to his.

Maybe she should have thought this through a little more. Because, seriously, how was this going to happen? No way could she go to his house and stay the night.

Suggestingherhouse wasn’t an option. Collin was out with friends but would be home soon. Meaning mom had to be home too. Alone. That didn’t consider how in the morning she had to drive him to school, then herself to the office…

His steps slowed—not that he was rushing.

"We don’t have to." He pulled her to a stop and turned her into his hold, before his eyes searched hers in the dim illumination offered by the parking lot lights. "We don’t have to do anything you don’t want to do."

"I’ve never done anything like this before." So much for evenconsideringshe was ready for this, orany, one-night stand. His eyes softened where he stared down at her. "I’m a little nervous."

"If it makes you feel any better, I don’t make a habit of, well, of…" He scrubbed a hand over the back of his head.

"Picking up women in bars?"

"Let’s just say this, I can count on one finger the number of times I’ve done it." He glanced over her head then back at her. "My truck is right over there. What if we just sit and talk?"

"You’d be okay with that?"

"More than okay."

For whatever reason, she believed him as he took her by the hand and led her to a white, oversized, dual cab truck with darkly tinted windows. The truck beeped as his front and back lights flashed to show he’d unlocked it, then it rumbled to life from what must have been a remote starter. It was probably pretty roomy. And with those dark windows, it offered a lot of privacy.

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