the trouble still in the area, he wanted to make sure we were aware of you.”
“We?” Lexie asked.
“Nathan and me.”
Honor wrinkled her nose. “Because I’m a woman alone?”
“A block or so down, there are a few older widowed women who’ve been in the area for twenty years or more. But yeah, a woman like you...”
“Like me?”
“Younger, single and attractive.” He hitched a brow. “I think you’re the first. If you ever need anything, feel free to give me a yell.”
Lexie didn’t miss a thing, including the territorial way Jason moved closer to the pair. She shivered. Alpha guys were so hot. It also struck her that Honor was again her usual bubbly, friendly self.
But when around Jason, she was very different.
“Why, thank you. I appreciate that,” Honor said to Sullivan. “So far, so good, though. I think I’ve got it covered. And honestly I’m enjoying figuring out everything on my own.”
Keeping her plan in mind, Lexie said, “I brought some snacks and drinks. Why don’t you both stay and visit for a bit?”
Sullivan checked a thick black watch on his wrist. “I have thirty minutes before I need to take off.”
Before she thought better of it, Lexie asked, “Hot date?”
His slow smile sent a spike of heat through her core. “Actually, no.”
Lexie noted that her boldness didn’t throw him, but it did turn his gaze speculative.
“I have an evening class and won’t be back until late.”
“So we’ll make do with thirty.” She’d find out about the class stuff later. “What about you, Jason? Got a little free time?”
Honor made a point of studiously examining the leaves on the plant, so she missed the way Jason checked her out—specifically her behind in her snug jeans.
When he realized Lexie was watching him, he drew his attention away to ask, “What?”
Around a laugh, Lexie said, “I’m going to take that as a yes.”
His gaze went right back to Honor. “Yeah, do that.”
“Perfect. I’ll run out and grab the stuff from my trunk.”
“Need a hand?” Sullivan asked.
“I’ll take both, please.” Lexie hooked her arm through his, taking him with her while saying over her shoulder, “You two behave, now. We’ll be right back.”
Jason’s chuckles followed her out the door, but Honor just groaned.
Snickering, Lexie said, “She is so funny.”
Without making a big deal of it, Sullivan freed his arm but put his palm at the small of her back. “Your friend Honor?”
“Yes.” He had big hands. Even through her shirt she felt the heat of his palm. She wasn’t Honor; a single touch didn’t usually make her giddy.
But damn it, this time it did.
She looked up at his profile. “When Honor first showed up, you said ‘I see,’ as if you just understood something.”
He shrugged strong shoulders. “At first I thought you were her and it didn’t make sense.”
“What didn’t?”
“Jason’s interest.”
At her car, Lexie stopped and turned to face him. Hand on her hip, she pretended a show of attitude. “You can’t see him being interested in me?”
With his smile going cocky, Sullivan shook his head. “Not really, no.”
Why that disgruntled her, Lexie wasn’t sure. “Why ever not?”
He pinched her chin. “Let’s just say she’s better suited to Jason.”
“No, let’s don’t.” Lexie made a “bring it” gesture in the air. “Let’s hear it. Why am I so unsuitable?”
“Unsuitable for Jason,” he clarified, still all cocky and amused. “See, he’s the home-and-hearth type and I figure you for a one-and-done kind of girl. You party, you have fun, you get what you need and then you move on.”
Her jaw loosened. Wow. “You nailed me.”
“Not yet.” That hot blue gaze turned seductive. “But I’m not opposed to the idea.”
Lexie started to speak, realized she had no idea what to say and sighed instead. “We need to table this discussion for now, at least until I get my bearings.”
“All right. How about we get into it more next week? I can get out early one day.”
“Early from what?”
She could tell he thought twice about sharing, then gave a mental shrug.
“I have a studio where I teach martial arts.”
“That’s pretty cool.” And explained his shredded physique. Her thoughts jumped ahead and she asked, “Who can sign up? I mean, do you need previous training?”
“I do the training, so no. I have beginner classes up to pros.”
Yeah, she was starting to like this idea. “You could teach me to kick butt?”
More serious than her, he gave one nod. “Sure. But I also teach how to avoid being in situations where you need to physically engage. My school is as much about motivation and quiet confidence as it is life skills.”
Lexie daringly looked him over. “Bet you have a lot of ladies in your classes.”
He deliberately misunderstood that. “I train plenty of adults, but what I really enjoy is working with kids.” Changing the subject, Sullivan glanced back at the house. “I know Jason’s glad the place was bought, but your friend has a hell of a job ahead of her.”
“Honor is strong.” Too strong, in Lexie’s opinion, because she’d always had to be. “She’ll figure it out.”
“She looked a little overwhelmed to me.”
Lexie popped the trunk. “I think that was because of Jason. Honor’s not really shy, but around him...well, it’s like seeing her in high school again.”
“You’ve known each other that long?”
She lifted out the big bag of mixed munchies and left the cooler for Sullivan. “Since middle school. She was always superconscientious about things, but these days she spends all her time working and sorting out problems for her family. She never
