Marcus took her hand first. “Marcus Bareden, happily married, but still glad to help if I can. In fact, my wife would be the first to insist.”
“He’s a cop,” Bray said, taking her hand next. “I’m Bray Barlow, fortunately married though it wasn’t easy.” They all laughed because, seriously, Bray had fought hard to win over Karen, and now they were both delirious about being together. “Also glad to lend a hand.”
“He’s an MMA fighter,” Knox explained. “Plenty of muscle if you like that sort of thing.”
“Which my wife does,” Bray said with satisfaction.
“Wow, a fighter, a cop.” Skye looked at them with awe. “You guys are impressive.”
“I’m Knox Nial, just a roofer, but ditto on what the others said.” He slung his arm around Ford. “I take it you know Ford Caruso, the one who lives here?”
She gave him a wary glance. “We’ve met.”
“He’s a pharmaceutical rep,” Knox explained—very unnecessarily. “A little too slick, too quick to schmooze, but still an okay guy.”
“There’s nojustto it.” Ford nudged Knox, hoping to deflect attention away from himself. “Knox has worked in his dad’s company since he was a kid. Don’t let him fool you. He’s strong as an ox.”
Skye’s attention went back and forth between Knox and Ford. “So I was right? You two are a couple?”
Ford sputtered. “You’ve lived next door to me for a year now!”
“Has it been a year?”
She knew damn well it had. “You’ve seen me bring women here.”
Her nose lifted. “I don’t make note of your comings and goings.”
He took great pleasure in pointing out the obvious. “You just said you noticed me coming and going.”
“To work and such. I don’t pay attention to your dates.”
What bull. They each had nice yards, but there wasn’t that much space between their houses. “There’s no way you’ve missed every woman.”
She lifted a shoulder. “I’ve seen you with a few. So? You didn’t seem as close to any of them as you are with him.” She nodded at Knox.
With a totally different attitude, Knox slung his heavy arm around Ford’s shoulders again. “You don’t think I could do better than him?”
Ford ignored his grin. “You wish.”
“I know all his worst habits, and believe me, he has plenty. I would never live with him. As a friend, though, he’s not a bad guy.”
“Gee, thanks for the glowing endorsement.” Ford shoved him away. “I’m not into guys. How about you?”
“Sure,” Skye said. “But not my ex, and not you guys, either.”
Clutching his heart, Knox lamented, “Damned by association.”
“I’m glad you’re finding this all so amusing.” To Ford, it was just confusing. “He’s a friend—though that could end at any moment.”
“You two bicker like a married couple.”
Loving it, Knox hauled Ford nearer again, practically crushing him into his side. “How women put up with him, I have no idea.”
Again, Ford freed himself. His brain was working overtime trying to figure out Skye’s motivation. In all the time she’d lived next door, never, not once, had she just moseyed over for a favor, much less a “single guy” favor. To him, it felt suspicious.
Apparently, Knox had a different take, because he rubbed his hands together in anticipation. “So who’s it to be? One of us going to help her out?”
“As a cop,” Marcus said, “I should only get involved in an official capacity, but she doesn’t want that.”
