Page 8 of Only You

“No. I think lesbians think about women.”

She sighed. “Rowan. That’s inappropriate.” She knew he wasn’t a sexist; it was just that sometimes he said things before he could think them through.

“I mean, I think about women a lot. Like, look at this.” He waved his hands down his outfit. “I did this because I want to impress women.”

“You dressed like that because I threatened you.”

“Well, that too, but I would have done it anyway. Also, Mrs. Santini will be there. She kind of scares me.”

She laughed. Joey Santiniwaskind of scary, but in a good way. The woman loved her family, and if she thought you should be part of it, she would do everything she could to get you there. “Join the club. Come on, cuz, we’re running late.”

He offered her his arm, and she took it. She did love Rowan. He was a total golden retriever kind of guy, but since he’d entered the military and then got on teams, he had been different. There was a bit of an edge to him. He’d also put on about twenty pounds of pure muscle. Still, the two of them had grown up together. Only three months separated them in age. They went to school together and often hung out all through high school. And she missed him a lot.

Once they were on their way, Rowan decided to play interrogator.

“Is there a reason you didn’t want to go alone? Because, while I’m thrilled to be going, you’re not the kind of person who has to have a plus one.”

She took a right turn off her street. She actually didn’t live that far from where Declan’s establishment was. “I just didn’t want to go alone.”

“Nope, not buying it. I think you needed one of two things.”

She slanted him a look. “What would those be?”

“One, you want a wingman, and let me tell you, I am an excellent wingman.”

He would be. She was pretty sure his dimples and personality put a lot of women at ease.

“And the second one?”

“You need a buffer. There’s someone there you’re trying to resist. It’s not someone bothering you because you would kick them in the nuts.” He chuckled. “Ritchie Manso learned that the hard way.”

“That creep deserved it.”

“He did. But you didn’t go to your brothers or any of your multitude of male cousins. Instead, you kneed him so hard, I don’t think that bastard will ever have kids.”

She smiled at the memory. “Ritchie has been married twice and has six kids.”

“What? Why? How?”

“Use your words, Rowan.”

“Why would anyone marry him?”

She shrugged. “Not sure.”

“Oh, wait, there is a third option.”

“What would that be?”

“You’re trying to make him jealous.”

She blinked, then started laughing.

“What?”

“Dude, I was taking my brother first, and you’re my cousin. If I wanted to make a guy jealous, which is so not me, I could get someone from work to go with me. I definitely don’t want to go all inbreeder on a guy. The guys interested in that would not be my cup of tea.”

There was a beat of silence, then he cracked up. “Okay, I didn’t think that last one out. I’m betting on the second option.”

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