Annabeth shook her head. “You? What do you want?”
“I’m not sure.” She swallowed, then leaned forward. “I’m scared. Okay?”
“Please don’t start with that I’m-my-mom crap, okay?”
“Eli hates me.” And it killed her.
“But Hunter doesn’t.” Annabeth’s eyebrows went up. “We went out once, did you know that? We talked about you the whole time. He’s kept up with you, proud of you.” She shook her head. “Whatever. Enough about love and your need to throw it away. I want a man. Can you find me one?”
Josie laughed. “No. Don’t have a lot of single men in my contacts list.”
“Well, that gorgeous Ryder Boone is staring at us. I’m hoping he’s checking me out and not you. That wouldn’t be fair.”
Josie glanced across the room. Sitting at the bar was a way-too-good-looking, smoldering-dark-and-dangerous type watching them.
“He looks annoyed.” Josie tipped her beer back but realized it was empty. “So he’s probably looking at me.”
Annabeth rolled her eyes. “Oh, please. You don’t annoy Hunter.”
“You’re right. Annoy isn’t the right word.”
“Arouse? Turn on?” Annabeth teased. “He just wants to jump your bones and make lots of babies with you.”
“He does not,” Josie argued, laughing. “Stop.”
“What? What’s wrong with intimacy? Seriously, Josie, you can’t tell me you don’t miss sex.”
Josie leaned forward. “I didn’t say I didn’t, but—”
“So do it, have sex. Forget about the whole emotional baggage and focus on lots of good old wear-you-out, leave-you-smiling, rock-your-world, wake-your-neighbors sex.”
“I’ll drink to that.” Ryder appeared, putting new beers on the table in front of them and making them both jump.
Josie stared at him. “God, Ryder, you’re all grown-up—”
“And hot,” Annabeth added. “I said that out loud, didn’t I?”
Ryder looked at Annabeth, his heavy-lidded pale blue eyes smoldering. “I’ll drink to that, too.” He tipped his longneck, clinking it with Annabeth’s.
“Please.” Annabeth giggled, then rolled her eyes.
“Good to see you, Josie.” Ryder was looking at her again. “Thought I’d get you ladies another round before heading out.”
“Oh,” Josie said. “Well, thanks for the beer.”
“Thanks for the laugh.” He smiled at her. “And have fun.” He glanced at Annabeth. “You’ve got my number.” He nodded at them both and made his way out of Shots.
Once he was gone, they both burst out laughing.
“I know I don’t have the best field record at dating, but I think that was a not-so-subtle cue for you to call the bad-boy Boone.”
Josie couldn’t help but notice the very thoughtful way Annabeth watched Ryder Boone climb on his motorcycle.
* * *
HUNTER SAT ON one of the rocking chairs on the front porch. He should go. Everything was done.
Sprinkles was doing better, but the diapers weren’t ready to come off. The baby locks were installed and his tools packed away. While he’d worked on that, Eli and Lola had made a fridge full of gingerbread dough. Once Lola had retreated to a recliner to knit, he’d called Fisher to take Eli home. Lola dozed in the living room with Carl, so he managed to make a few more batches of gingerbread. Then cleaned up the kitchen.