Well, fuck me, she’s jealous. “She just offered me the comfort I needed in a really difficult time in my life.”

Lo stiffens, and I cradle her face in my palm, tilt her head up to meet my gaze. “Cara is like my sister, Lauren. She’s never been in my bed, I’ve never had a romantic relationship with her.”

Lo deflates in my arms, but she says simply, “I didn’t ask.”

God, women are so fucking difficult. “Okay, well, I’m letting you know anyway.”

She nods and buries her face in my neck, hugging me tight. I wrap my arms around her, press my hands to her back, and hold her close to me.

Finally, she backs away and grins. She scurries off my lap and snatches my shirt up off the floor, slipping it over her head as she saunters back to her desk chair.

“Hey,” I protest. She can have the fucking shirt if she’ll wear it for me every time I’m here.

She’s sexy as hell in it.

“You need to stay naked, not me,” she smirks, and turns her attention to her computer.

“What if I’m cold?” I ask with a laugh.

“Man up, Sullivan,” she retorts.

My phone vibrates at my hip. “I’m right here, Lo. Seriously, you don’t have to text me.”

“I’m not.” She frowns.

I glance at my phone and see a text. “Speak of the devil, it’s Cara.”

Her eyes narrow on my face.

I just chuckle and open the message: Bring Lo out to the ranch tonight. Jill and I are having ’ritas on the deck. My eyes meet Lo’s across the room.

“What is it?”

“Do you feel up to going out to Josh and Cara’s tonight? Jill’s gonna be there, and the girls are planning to have drinks on the deck.”

Lo looks shocked at the invitation, and part of me softens. Does she never receive invitations to hang out with friends? Probably not, now that she’s finally cut that bitch Misty out of her life.

“Do you want to go?”

“Sure.” I shrug, trying not to sound too eager. I’d love for her to become friends with the people who mean the most to me. She means the world to me and I don’t ever plan to let her slip through my fingers. “But we don’t have to, if you’d rather not. Although I think you’ll have fun.”

“Where will you and Josh be?”

“There is plenty for us to get into trouble with out at the ranch, sweetness. I won’t be far.”

A shy smile moves across her face and she nods happily. “Yeah, let’s go.”

Chapter Nine

LAUREN

“You’re here!” Cara exclaims when she opens the front door of the ranch house she shares with Josh. “Come on in.”

We follow her into a large, open space. A large rock fireplace dominates one wall of the living area, with brown leather couches covered in brightly covered throw pillows arranged around it. The kitchen and the dining area are open to each other, giving the house a wide-open, inviting feel.

Cara leads us through to the kitchen, where Josh, his twin brother, Zack, and Jillian are all gathered.

“Hey, guys.” Jill greets us with a grin and a twinkle in her eye as she pulls me right into her arms for a big hug.

“Hi,” I murmur in return. The guys exchange their usual weird handshake-man-hug thing and a margarita glass full of blended deliciousness is shoved into my hand.

“We are about to kick the guys out so you and I can drill Jill about her date the other night, Lo,” Cara announces, and sips smugly on her drink.

“There’s nothing to tell,” Jill insists.

“I wanna stick around for this conversation,” Ty adds, glaring at Jill.

“I definitely do not want to be here for this,” Zack mutters, scowling at Jillian fiercely. She won’t meet his gaze.

Interesting.

“Come on.” Josh motions for the guys to follow him. “We can go down to the barn for a while. There are a couple new foals out there.”

“The girls get margaritas on the deck and I have to go hang out in your barn?” Ty asks in disgust as he follows the guys out the front door. “I’m getting the shaft.”

The door closes behind them.

“Finally, they’re gone!” Cara grabs a platter of chips with a bowl of salsa and leads us out to the deck, where it seems the party has already begun.

“You started drinking without me,” Jill accuses Cara.

“Josh and I had one drink before you all got here.” She grins and plops into a hanging porch swing.

Jill and I drop our handbags in a chair and join Cara.

“So, how are things with Ty?” Jill asks.

“God, you’re so subtle,” Cara mutters with a disapproving scowl.

“I’d like to hear about your date,” I reply before licking the salt on the rim of my glass.

“Yes, spill it!” Cara exclaims.

“Fine, but if I talk, you talk.” Jill points her white-tipped finger at me accusingly.

“Deal,” I agree with a nod.

“I went out with Brad.”

“The cop Brad?” Cara asks with wide hazel eyes.

“Yeah, that Brad.”

Cara looks at me and then back to Jill. “Why?”

“I like Brad,” I add. “What’s wrong with him?”

“Nothing.” Cara shakes her head. “I just had no idea that Jill was into him.”

“I don’t think we’ll go out again.” Jill growls in frustration and leans her head back against her chair. “I screwed it up.”