Page 29 of Undaunted

“What if they don’t like me?”

“Can you hear yourself right now?” she asks, incredulous. “Why on earth wouldn’t they like you?”

I sigh. “You know my track record with men.”

“Your previous track record with men is no one’s business but your own,” she says. “Besides, it’s ancient history.”

“You do know Trevor’s going to be ancient history soon, too. Right?”

Leigh looks at me, surprised. “But I thought you like him.”

“I do, but this was always supposed to be a temporary thing,” I say.

“He’s introducing you to his friends, Claudia,” Leigh says, frowning. “This doesn’t look temporary to me.”

I return the rest of my clothes to the closet, needing to change the subject. “I wish you were coming with me, Leigh. We’d have so much fun.”

Leigh starts to say something but stops herself. She shrugs. “I wasn’t invited.”

I slide the closet door closed. “Didn’t you and Bennett see each other last week?”

“We met for coffee but that was it,” Leigh replies. “We talked, caught up with what we’re doing these days, and now the ball’s in his court.”

“And he hasn’t called you since?”

Leigh shakes her head. “But he just got back from deployment so who knows? I’m not holding my breath. Whatever happens, happens.”

I sigh. “I’m sorry. I so wanted you two to hit it off again.”

“At least, we didn’t prolong it. If it’s not there, it’s not there,” she says. “Anyway, I’m meeting someone at the gym for racquetball, so I need to go. Have fun today.”

As soon as the front door closes, I look at my reflection in the mirror again. I shouldn’t be stressed but I can’t help it. To Trevor, it’s just another barbecue party with his friends, but to me, it’s as Leigh says, it’s finally meeting his family, his brothers.

Ten minutes later, Trevor knocks on the door and I open the door wearing a pink sundress. My ass may look good in jeans, but I can torment Trevor way better in this.

“You look delicious,” he says, pulling me to him and kissing me lightly on the lips. “You taste good, too.”

“You’re not bad yourself.” And he sure does look good in jeans and a navy-blue button-down collar shirt that showcases his broad chest.

“May I?” He leans in for another kiss but I press my finger against his lips.

“Not yet. We need to get going.” I step away, laughing. “It’ll be interesting to see how long you can last watching me today.”

“Can I touch, at least?”

“A little bit, but no tasting the merchandise.” I scamper away from him playfully, shaking my hips as I walk away. “Let me get the meat patties from the fridge and then we have to get going.”

Trevor’s eyes narrow. “You’ll pay for this later.”

I bat my eyelashes as he laughs. “Oh, I’m looking forward to it.”

* * *

“Where is she?” Quinn yells the moment we arrive at the home of Mark Dixon and his wife Charlie. It’s a beautiful colonial-style home with a gracious foyer and an extra-wide main hallway. I can hear the rest of the guests laughing and talking as we enter the front door and head toward the patio.

The wide grins, the yells, the teasing. You’d think they haven’t seen each other in months when he works with them. Still, the camaraderie between them is infectious.

“Here we go.” Trevor squeezes my hand as Quinn approaches followed by two other men, Bennett whom I met at Hot Tuna and a tall man with longish blond hair pushed back whom I don’t recognize.

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