Page 26 of Play With Me

“Oh my gosh, yes, of course,” she pulls it open. “Let’s go!”

I guess she’s joining us now. I get a little too much amusement from knowing Nora’s gritting her teeth. She doesn’t like being around people when she’s having feelings.

“Oh wow.” Sasha loops her arm through Nora’s, and this time when she looks at me, it’s with unveiled appraisal.

“There you go,” she says to Nora, pausing at the door at the end of the hall.

As Nora jams her hand in her pocket and pulls out her keys, Sasha looks back at me. “Are you two staying here?” she asks, bubbly as soda.

But before I can answer, the woman sucks up a breath. “Omigosh, you can come to my party this Saturday!” she squeals. “This is a fantastic development! Jude, I have a lot—and I mean alot—of single girlfr—”

There’s a loud clink as Nora drops her keys on the wooden floor.

“I’ve got them,” I volunteer.

“It’s fine,” Nora says.

But I’ve already shifted Cap onto one arm and squatted down to pick them up.

“Girlfriends, huh?” I ask Sasha as I press the keys into Nora’s hand.

Nora plucks the keys from me, a little too quickly.

“Yes,” Sasha says with a coy smile. “Lots of them.

The keys crunch in Nora’s fingers.

Is she jealous? For a moment I’m too surprised to do anything. I silently addseeing her all worked upto my list of new Nora traits I deeply enjoy.

“I mean, it’ll be a bit late for Cap, but his mom did want to spend the night with him. So, yeah, I think that could work?” I return my gaze down to Nora. “Unless you have plans, Nor?”

Set.

Nora looks like she’s going to explode. “Nope,” she squeaks. “Not at all. In fact, Sasha was going to introduce me to her brother.”

Match.

Damn, didn’t see that one coming. My neck prickles with heat. “Oh yeah?” If he looks anything like his sister, he’s going to be some kind of handsome blond All-American type.

I can practically hear my sisters rolling their eyes from across the ocean. Fine, some people would say that’s me, too. Still, I don’t like it.

Sasha’s eyes are darting between the two of us. “I mean, I won’t if you two are like…a thing.”

“What?” Nora says sharply. “No! Please, introduce all your girlfriends to Jude. He could have a little fun while he’s here.”

All right. If she wants to play it like that, damn straight I’m coming to this party, and she can see how she likes it when I’m there standing between her and whatever red-blooded American or Brit who tries to come near her.

“Thank you so much for the invite, Sasha. I’m looking forward to it.” I lay on the Jude Kelly charm as thick as I can with a kid on my back. I give her the full sparkling smile, adding on a little wink for good measure.

Sasha giggles.

Nora rolls her eyes so hard I’m surprised her head doesn’t go along with them. “Sasha, do not humor him, please.”

I almost laugh. That’s why I was first drawn to Nora—why we went from being a librarian and a patron to acquaintances to best friends. She’s always been immune to my nonsense.

“Yeah,” I agree. “You really shouldn’t.”

Nora struggles with her keys once more and I shift Cap onto one arm again and reach forward, covering Nora’s hands with mine and guiding the key to the door.

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