Page 45 of Hard to Lose

“And the truth.” She waves her hand at me. “So, dish.”

“It’s connected. I promise,” I explain and she levels me with a glare. “Gunner volunteers as a mentor at a sports program for kids who’ve lost their parents in combat. He asked me if I wanted to help with the registration for the sports league. I agreed. No big deal. It might be fun.”

“Did you just say being with kids might be fun?” she teases, knowing damn well I’ve yet to decide if I actually want kids or not.

“No, what I said was I’m volunteering because one, it will make me feel good. Two, Gunner. Need I say more? And three, maybe it will get me closer to finding this Ryan guy.”

“I always know when you count out your lists like that, that you’re serious.”

“You’re being annoying,” I groan.

“I know. It’s fun.” She grins. “I’m just . . . impressed is all.”

“Aren’t you the one who gave me the goal to find a cause—”

“That was Lennox who told you to find a cause. I told you to find some dates.”

“See? I killed two birds with one stone and nailed both.”

“Of course you did,” she says with a shake of her head. “Only you.”

“I have to go now.”

“Wait.”

“What?”

“You never gave me the down and dirty details.”

I bite my bottom lip as I contemplate what to say. For a woman who’s never shy talking about sex, for some reason this time, I am. “Let’s just say that I’m anxiously awaiting my first chance for more.”

Dekker mock shivers and grins. “You go, girl . . . but uh, what happens when you find the letter guy and you have to leave Netflix town?”

“Netflix town?”

“Brex told me the name but we both agree it sounds like a town on a sappy Netflix romance show.”

“You two are ridiculous.”

“What happens, Chase?”

“Nothing happens. I’ve been upfront with him. He knows I’m only here temporarily. Besides, you know me, I’m never with a guy that long.”

“Uh-huh.”

“Stop it.”

“One, you’re volunteering with him,” she mocks. “Two, he’s a hot bartender and hero. Three, you just said you can’t wait to have deliciously hot monkey sex with him again.”

“Hot, monkey sex? Jesus!”

“You know exactly the kind I’m talking about.” She mock shivers with a grin so wide I’m surprised her cheeks aren’t cracking. “Sounds to me like little Chase-y might be getting an affinity for Hot Bartender Boy.”

“An affinity. Not love. Stop implying shit that’s asinine.”

“So you say now. Check back with me in a few weeks when it’s time for you to come home.”

“I have too many things to tick off my list before love will ever be written down to achieve.”