tipped her head. “Screwy Louie’s? Is that a local place?”
“It’s a bar and grill a few blocks down in the commercial area. You haven’t been?”
“No.”
“We’ll definitely have to remedy that. Anytime you need a bump up from fast food, go to Screwy Louie’s. Best food around.”
“They have takeout?”
“Sure.”
Still holding hands? “Sounds fun,” Lexie said, making sure she wouldn’t get left out. “Maybe we could all meet up there sometime.”
“Since we go every week,” Jason rumbled in a low voice, “I’m sure we could make it happen.”
“Definitely.” Sullivan finally let her go.
“So...” Honor shot a glance at Jason, then turned back to Sullivan. “You said Jason mentioned me?”
“With 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
