Page 17 of Hank

It wasn’t going to do any good to gloss over everything, so she told her friend what had happened from the time she and Hank had walked out of the bar to the point where he’d said they could just talk.

"Oh, that’s so sweet. So?—"

"He had his hand on the front handle, but I stopped him and asked him something like…" This was where it got all tangled up. "What if I don’t want to talk?"

"And that’s how you ended up in the back of the truck," Mags said, nodding, then kind of grinned. "You little hussy, you."

"Really?"

"I owe you for all the grief you gave me over Renner."

"Fair enough." Jo’s heart rate kicked up as she went back to being in Hank’s arms. "Mags, Hank was wonderful. Tender and patient after he’d found out how long it had been for me. After that, he got all growly and kind of…" A zap of remembered awareness hit her at how that had felt. "Possessive." The secret thoughts she’d had about how it had sounded like she was his, ran through her mind again. But those were crazy thoughts. "Then he almost stopped us completely when he could still taste tequila on me."

"My friend," Mags said, sitting forward, her eyes full of understanding, and maybe even a little sympathy. "He sounds like a really up and up kinda guy."

"I think you’re right." Who was she kidding? Magswasright. "You know I’d only ever been with Ash?" Mags nodded. "And it wasn’t so great. But Hank…" She let out a shuddering breath. "He wasn’t only tender, but completely thorough. It’s hard to explain how that made me feel."

"I think I know," Mags said, a little smile playing over her lips. Her friend probably did understand. Renner had been the same for her.

"It had just been such a long time for me." Heat crept up her neck. "I’m still a little sore. But, oh, in such a good way. He made sure I came—twice—before he let himself go."

"And you walked away?"

"I did. I had to."

"Why?" Her friend frowned at her. "And don’t use Collin again. I’m sure at fifteen, he’s old enough, andmatureenough, to understand his mom has needs."

"God, I hope not." That wasn’t something she wanted to think about, and she said as much to Mags. "I have no desire for my little boy to have those kinds of thoughts where I’m concerned."

"I’m not saying he actuallythinksabout you having sex." A visible shudder shook her friend. "Thatwouldbe skeevey." Then she turned her sincere, golden-brown gaze on her. "But he loves you, and I know he’d be upset if he thought you were steering clear of relationships because of him." The smile Mags gave her almost made her smile too. "And from the sound of things, Hank could be that relationship."

"I don’t know how. When I walked away, I was pretty clear it meant nothing to me."

"Oh, Jo, you didn’t."

"I know. Mags, he wanted to see me again. And the look on his face…"

"Maybe he’ll still call you." Jo was about to torpedo that look of encouragement.

"He won’t."

"How can you be so sure?"

"Because I wouldn’t let him tell me his last name, and I didn’t tell him mine." Mags’ eyes widened as Jo made that little confession.

"What?"

"He has no idea who I am."

6

Your destination ison your right.

"Two ninety-five…" Hank murmured, checking the Russell Street number at the mailbox, before taking a good look at the house. "Nice." The dark gray, one-story, craftsman home with cream shutters and columns was a far cry from the tiny rental home he lived in.

"Maybe one day," he said on a sigh, while giving a quick glance at his dash clock, then back at the house. He was a few minutes early, but…

The front door flew open and Collin came barreling out, then raced down the front walkway. He gave the young man a grin as he opened the door, hopped inside, then slammed the door shut.

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