Page 30 of Hank

"He issonice," Faith said, her eyes following after him.

"And single," Colleen added. "And handsome." She waggled her brows. "Anda younger man. Rawr."

Of course she did an air-claw again.

I’ve completely lost control of the situation.

"Yeah," Mags said, kind of distractedly, her eyes flashing toward where he’d disappeared into the crowd. "But from what I’ve heard, you’d have to take on all three of them." Her confused, though slightly intrigued, gaze met Jo’s. "At the same time."

"Hmm…" Colleen’s speculative stare went toward where the bar was located. "That’d be a whole lot of d?—"

"Uh-oh," Faith cut in, peering past Jo’s head. "Someone’s headed this way."

"Who?" Mag’s asked, looking the same way, her eyes going wide. "Uh-oh is right."

"Oh boy," Colleen muttered, as Jo was about to turn in her seat.

"What are you guys?—"

"Hello, Jo."

11

I have Collin’s blessing.

That litany had followed him the rest of the day until he’d found himself here…

Laverty’s.

As usual, it was loud, and crowded, and he was probably wasting his time. Collin might have thought his mom was coming here tonight, but that was no guarantee. None at all. But he figured it wouldn’t hurt to take a look around as he made his way through groups of people congregated here and there. If she wasn’t here, he’d have a beer and…

"There she is," he whispered, as he found his steps quickening toward her. And her friends had noticed him. He couldn’t hear what they were saying, of course, but the interesting expressions on their faces as he drew closer told their own story.

"What are you guys?—"

"Hello, Jo."

A heavy silence—a strange thing with all the other sounds hitting him from every angle—had him regretting the impulse to seek her out.

Almost.

"Hello,Hank," the redhead finally said, a toothy smile on her face.

From that smile and the knowing looks directed straight his way, he had the distinct suspicion he’d been the topic of conversation. How much had she told them?

"Hello, um…"

"Colleen," she said, then indicated the blond. "And this is Faith."

Faith gave him a slight wave.

"Colleen, Faith…" He gave them the smile he’d perfected in high school—the one he’d reserved for a girl’s parents when he first met them. It usually worked to set their minds at ease that he wasn’t going to ravish their daughter. "Nice to meet you… Officially. Good to see you again, Magdalena," he said to the woman frowning at Jo and mouthing,turn around.

Jo shook her head as Magdalena lifted her gaze to his. "Hi, Hank." Then she pressed her lips together and cast her gaze around the table, before focusing back on him. "You know what," she said, "you have great timing."

"I do?" He didn’t know this woman, but if she was friends with Jo, there was no telling what she was up to. And she wasdefinitelyup to something.

"Absolutely." She gave Jo a smirky kind of smile, her eyes never leaving her friend as she said, "Jo was just saying she needs a way to get home."

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