“No. Nothing like that. Just, well, they seem to be aware that there’s something between us.”
“How? What did you say at girls’ night?”
I raised my eyebrows. “Me? You think this is because of me?”
“Isn’t it?”
I let out a laugh. “You arrogant bastard,” I said without any heat. “They told me you look at my ass every chance you get. If anyone should be accused of being a shitty actor, it’s you.”
His eyes sparkled with humor. “I’ll try to keep my eyes off of your arse—when you’re working.”
“Thanks,” I said dryly. “I’d appreciate that.”
Flynn signaled to the waiter for our check, and I busied myself by gathering my belongings.
“Barrett?”
I looked up and grinned. “Jack!”
Where Ash was blond, her brother had inherited their father’s looks with dark hair and intelligent brown eyes. Jack was average height, yet like all powerful lawyers, he knew how to command the space around him and appeared much taller.
I got out of the booth and hugged him.
“How you doing, Imp?” he asked.
“Can you not, with the nickname?”
“It reminds me of a simpler time,” he teased, his gaze straying to Flynn who had risen from his seat. “Jack Rhodes.”
Flynn clasped Jack’s outstretched hand. “Flynn Campbell.”
Jack raised his eyebrows, glanced at me and then back at Flynn. “Owner of The Rex.”
“Aye,” Flynn said, his brogue thickening.
The two men continued to exchange a look, and then Jack all but dismissed Flynn and turned his attention to me. “Have you seen Ash since she’s been back?”
“Uh, yeah.”
“Do you have any idea what’s going on with her? She’s avoiding my calls.”
I shook my head, refusing to divulge what I knew about Ash. “I’ll pass along that you’re worried about her.”
“Do that,” he said. With a final hug he left, but not before throwing a measuring look at Flynn.
While we’d had our interlude with Jack, the waiter had dropped off the check. Flynn put down a few bills and then handed it to him with a smile and a thanks.
“So,” he said to me.
“So.”
“Who’s Ash?”
“Ashby Rhodes. My best friend and Jack’s sister.”
He nodded thoughtfully. “He’s protective of you.”
“I guess. A little. I’ve been friends with Ash since we were eighteen. Jack still sees me as the best friend of his younger sister in need of protecting.”
