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She nodded. “And do you know what she did?”

“What?”

“She hugged me and then squeezed my shoulders like this.” She gripped his shoulders and leveled him with a look. “And she said, I promise you, your animal will come back. You’ll just have to get to know her all over again because you will both be different.” Jess’s lip trembled and she released his shoulders and leaned on the bar top. “And do you know the best part?”

“She was telling the truth?”

“She was telling the truth,” she said through an emotional smile. “A stranger. A stranger gave me more clarity in the first few minutes of knowing me than any of the females in Sister’s Edge were ever able to.”

Fuck, he was going to send Harley a freaking cookie bouquet or something. Atta girl. Good job, Harley.

“What can I get you?” the bartender, a guy in his mid-twenties, asked from the other side of the bar top.

“Another round of Happy Hooker beers for that table over there, and some fruity margaritas,” he said, doing a quick headcount. “Four…wait.” One of Harley’s friends had just come in the door. Tammy was a bartender at another spot but must’ve had the night off. Harley probably texted her. “Five.” He turned to Jess. “Do you want a margarita too?”

“Yes, but look,” she said, pointing to a chalkboard with specials written in neon colored chalk behind the bar. “They have a special on margarita flights.”

“Good eye,” the bartender said as he was pouring beers. “You can pick four flavors.”

“We need six flights,” Jess said. “Mango, strawberry, raspberry, and plain,” she said. Turning to Kade, she asked, “Do you mind if I get this round?”

“What? No, it’s expensive.”

“I have savings,” she said, waving him off. “Plus, I won the bet tonight.” She pulled her wallet from her purse and set her card on the countertop, waiting. “It’s the least I can do. Tonight is probably my favorite night ever. I feel so freaking normal right now. Let me do something for your Crew.”

It didn’t feel right not to take care of her, but he did understand. She wanted to contribute to the fun, so okay. He would find a way to get her back, and cover the next round, but he respected her wanting to be a part of the night and taking care of their group.

He smiled and let her card stay on the bar top, just waiting to be swiped. He respected the hell out of this woman.

That little cactus sure has a sweet center.

Chapter Twelve

Jess didn’t want to get out of the truck.

Kade had his elbow resting on the console, and he was leaning toward her. They’d been talking here for fifteen minutes already. Outside, the neighborhood was quiet, but that was too be expected at two in the morning.

“You’re going to be tired for work tomorrow.”

“Today,” he said with a snort. “My boss will be super understanding, I’m sure.”

“Really?”

“Hell no.”

“Oh.” She giggled and fidgeted with the hem of her tank top.

“Has your hand been tingling?” he asked.

Illuminated in the gold-hued porch lighting, Kade looked so handsome. His eyes were a piercing blue, and his smile was so easy. He’d stopped drinking hours ago, and she’d stopped after that first margarita flight, but she still felt buzzed just being this close to him.

She considered his question and studied the old scar on her palm. “Sometimes. I almost had two scars.” She inhaled deeply and forced a smile. “Thanks for swooping in and putting a stop to that.”

“You aren’t angry with me anymore?”

Jess shook her head. “No. I think you poisoned me though.”

A slight frown drew his dark eyebrows down. “What do you mean?”