“Focused hotness is the best kind. Especially in bed.” As Sierra gasped and laughed, Mollie turned her back to Flynn. “Youknow, he hasn’t taken his eyes off of you since I came over here.”
“Really?” Sierra had to force herself not to look. Luckily, Carlos came over with Mollie’s burger, providing a less embarrassingfocal point.
Mollie grabbed a sweet potato fry before he set down the plate. “Yep. There’s so many sparks flying between you two, it’samazing the bar hasn’t caught fire.”
“He hasn’t made a move.” Aside from the flirty texts. And the simmering stares. But the texts might just be an extension ofthe friendship they’d built up over the past month. The stares could be those of a concerned colleague who knew how much extraweight he’d be lifting with a waitress off the schedule. “I’m not sure that he sees me ‘that way.’” Sierra made air quoteswith her fingers.
“Oh, he sees you, alright. That man sees nothing but you. It’s only a matter of time before he makes a move. Trust me on that.”
“I’d like to . . .” Sierra got caught up in the sheer fun of sharing her what-ifs about Flynn. “I’ve learned not to get my hopes up.”
“About men?”
“About life.” Growing up in foster care, the biggest lesson learned was that dreams rarely came true. Sierra had gotten themiracle of a full ride scholarship to college. That probably used up all the luck and dreams-come-true allocated to her byFate. “If you set a low bar on expectations, there’s a better chance of not being disappointed.”
Mollie frowned. Hard, with a wrinkled nose and brows almost touching. “You sound like a hardened fifty-year-old with threedivorces in their rearview mirror. When, in fact, you’re just at the start of a big adventure.”
“I don’t want a big adventure.” There’d been enough unintended adventure over the past year. Honestly, Sierra just wanted to be happy. Period.
Burger halfway to her mouth, Mollie froze. Her eyebrows arched upward in surprise. “Sounds like there’s a story there. MaybeI can get it out of you if I ply you with liquor.”
“There’s no story. No need to get me drunk, either.”
“Sure there is—just for the fun of it. I’m having a birthday party Wednesday night. Nothing outrageous. Just an excuse, really,to drink wine and eat cake with my girlfriends, guilt-free. I want you to come.”
“I couldn’t possibly intrude on your birthday. We basically just met.”
“Please. You’ve asked me how I like my meal dozens of times. That makes us practically besties. And the point is that I want to get to know you better. This’ll be the perfect opportunity for you to hang with all of us under-forty, unmarried peepsand have fun. In fact, as your doctor, that’s my prescription. One night of fun. On me. Well, on my bestie whose family ownsSunset Shoals Resort. Because we’re doing it at their spa. The warm water of a pedicure will soothe your stretched ligamentsand muscles.”
Sierra was torn. Mollie seemed awesome. From stealthy eavesdropping on their girls’ nights, all her friends seemed great,too. Sierra hadn’t indulged herself in forever. The invitation was an amazing gift. Maybe she could enjoy this one night anddecide what to do next later.
Because Sierra couldn’t just ignore the danger of making friends. Of getting comfortable and slipping up. Telling them thingsthat could bring Rick and/or the police straight to her. That could bring danger into their circle. Or how she was supposedto keep lying to people that she could grow to care about. Like that mom with the toddler banging the spoon gleefully againstthe plate. What if Rick tracked her down, came into the Gorse, and did something unimaginable that might hurt that littletot?
Geez. She wished it was unimaginable. There she went, zipping right to the horrible again.
No. She wouldn’t let panic steal her fun.
Her phone skittered away, buzzing repeatedly. Sierra ignored it for a moment, knowing that Mollie deserved a response to hergenerous offer. “I’d love to come and meet everyone officially.” She stood, keeping most of her weight on one foot, and gaveMollie a swift hug. “Thank you so much.”
Sierra limped around behind the bar to start cutting limes into wedges. It was one of the few bartender tasks she could dowithout thinking, and she wanted to bask in the possibility of new friends for a little bit. But her phone buzzed again andthis time, she picked it up.
F: Did the doc say you’ll live?
Sierra pushed through the swinging door to the back hallway with the staff lockers. It felt easier to text-talk with Flynnwithout seeing him across the room. Huh. I forgot to ask her that.
F: You think you’re funny?
S: Occasionally.
She grabbed her half apron from her locker so her trip away from the bar looked necessary.
F: Doesn’t matter what Mollie said. I’m still taking you home tonight.
Her heartbeat picked up the pace. Another car ride. More time alone. Time to get to know him even better. Everything she shouldn’twant, but did.
S: Is that a threat or a promise?
F: It’s me laying down the law. You’re going to let me take care of you. End of discussion.
It was authoritative and demanding and thoughtful and downright hot.
Evidently Sierra’s worry about the danger of getting close to Mollie and the girls? That danger wasn’t the biggest risk inher new life, after all.
Flynn was way more dangerous.
To her heart, anyway.
Chapter Five
Ignorance is bliss.
Whoever said that had been a frickin’ genius. Flynn could ask Kellan who said it. His brother knew tons of useless trivia.But then Kellan would give him a look that inferred he was stupider than dirt, and he’d need to beat him senseless for it.So Flynn would just offer up a salute to Mr. Nameless.
When he hadn’t known how good Sierra smelled up close, how soft her skin was? Flynn had been a happy man. Okay, not at alltrue. He’d been a miserable son of a bitch. But he’d been content
