Page 73 of Before and After

“Hmm,” was all I could manage.

“Oh, they’ve progressed way past kissing.” Sierra’s face was smug.

Tessa gasped.

“You’ve been holding out.” Jazz waved a finger at me.

“Tall, dark, and broody is quite talented, I hear,” Sierra said. “Allie’s had non-self-induced orgasms in the shadows of the Bluff Bar and on her front doorstep.”

There were lots of gasps.

“The man has a good mouth.” I fought off an uncharacteristic blush and sipped more of my cocktail.

“He must really like you,” Piper said.

I pulled a face. “It’s hard to tell.”

She nodded. “He doesn’t say much, but before he worked at Langston Hotels?—”

“He was in the military.”

Piper nodded. “From what I can tell, coming home wasn’t easy.”

I didn’t tell her that he’d shared some of that with me. An ache bloomed in my chest.

“He’s big and strong, but tread carefully with him,” Piper added.

I nodded in acknowledgement. “We’re having dinner tomorrow night.”

Sierra let out a happy squeal.

I held up a hand. “Remember, he’s not staying in Windward forever.”

Tessa waved a hand. “Pfft, Ro said that, too.”

“Guys, I have a kid. My life’s a mess. I have no idea what this is…”

“Just enjoy yourself,” Sierra said.

“I second that,” Tessa said. “You deserve some fun.”

I nodded. “I’ll try.”

“Okay, I have another recipe to test out,” Sierra said. “We need a special cocktail to celebrate Allie hopefully getting laid soon.”

Piper groaned. “I do not want hear sex details about Caden.” She pinned Tessa with a look. “Or Ro.”

Soon I was stuffed full of brie and dip. My second cocktail had left me with a pleasant buzz. I was laughing hard at a story that Tessa was telling about Coral.

“She caught Ro and me kissing.” Tessa rolled her eyes. “God, the lecture was tart. She called me a hussy.”

“Everyone’s caught you two kissing,” Jazz said dryly.

“I want to catch Allie and Caden next,” Sierra said. Then she pouted. “I need a guy to kiss.”

“No potential prospects?” Piper asked, twirling her glass around.

“No one who ignites any sparks.” Sierra grinned. “I like muscles. Lots of muscles. There’s nothing hotter than a big, fit guy.”