He sighed. “Just making sure you’re safe. You’re new in town, and I hadn’t realized you’d already met people.”
Rory snorted and then reached for the darts. “Are we ready for another game? I can throw left-handed this time.”
Bosco hip-butted him. “I won last time, jackass. How about we play for something interesting? Say that new snowmobile you just bought. It’s a beauty.”
“Not in a million,” Rory said easily, grinning and looking around. Then he sobered. “Jennie is here.”
Bosco’s smile remained in place, but his eyes hardened and then veiled. “I guess I should go say hello. Is anybody with her?”
Rory’s gaze didn’t seem to move from Bosco’s face. “A couple of girlfriends. You don’t need to go say hi. Let her come to you.”
Marlie’s heart rate picked up. She shifted uneasily on her chair. Was this why Bosco had been allfriends with benefitswith her? She partially turned to see three women walking inside, all wearing heavy coats covered in snow.
Bosco leaned toward her. “Would you excuse me for a minute?”
She turned and looked him right in the eye. “Why wouldn’t I?” They weren’t on a date.
His pupils narrowed in a way that made her lungs feel funny. Or maybe that sensation slid a little south of her lungs. “Agreed, but I did bring you here, and that makes you my responsibility.”
Sweet and old-fashioned…and just a friend—no matter how quickly her nipples had just hardened. She leaned in, appreciating the further narrowing of his eyes. “I’m a big girl and more than capable of taking care of myself, Bosco Albertini. However…” She let her voice soften. “If I ever need somebody to guard my chastity, I know just where to find you.”
Rory burst out laughing but quickly recovered by coughing and taking a big swig of beer.
“You’re a moron,” Bosco muttered to him. “I’ll be right back.” He turned and walked away.
Chapter3
Bosco wound through the bar, keeping a bead on the blond chugging tequila like sugar water. The guy had winked at Marlie more than once, and he was rapidly becoming stupid drunk if his rising decibels were any indication.
Then, he reached Jennie. “Hi.”
She blinked, her eyes widening. They were a clear green that contrasted nicely with her dark blond hair. “Hi. I didn’t know you were home on leave.” She sounded apologetic.
Her two friends shifted uneasily.
He looked at them. “Hi, Mandy. Hi, Louise. It’s good to see you two.”
It was the right tone because they both visibly relaxed. “Hi,” they said in unison.
He forced a smile, taking note that he no longer felt as if he’d been kicked in the balls when he stood this close to Jennie. “Anyway, I saw you here and wanted to just say hi and that I hope everything is going well.”
She blushed and unzipped her coat. “It is. Work is great, and we’ve been really busy with so many clients.” She worked as a physical therapist in a small clinic on the Idaho and Washington border and was good at her job. “Um, how about you?”
He helped her with the coat and hung it on one of the myriad free hooks near the door. “I’m good.”
Her gaze ate up his face, narrowing at the cuts near his eye. “Looks like air refueling of planes is as dangerous as ever.”
That was one of their problems. He could never give her the whole truth about his job, although hewasan expert in air refueling. “Yeah, well, we all know how dangerous a paper cut can be.”
She laughed, as he’d meant her to.
Then he patted her arm. “Anyway, it’s good to see you. I have to get back to Rory. He thinks he’s the king of darts.” He turned and bit back the reminder that the roads were icy and to be careful. She wasn’t his to worry about any longer.
Then he made his way through the throng to reach his brother, who was making Marlie laugh with a story about Knox when he’d come home with Fabio.
“You good?” Rory asked, his stance still casual.
“Yep.” Bosco reached for his beer, surprise filtering through him that it was the truth.
