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“I do not,” Merry denied. “And even if I did, you have nothing to worry about. He didn’t even remember who I was. I doubt he’s currently concocting a plan to seduce me and steal my virginity as a trophy.”
Grace snorted. “What virginity?”
“The one I regrew after two years of celibacy.”
“A good sex toy should take care of that.”
“I don’t want to talk about it,” Merry groaned. “I’m pitiful.”
“No, you’re not. You’re safe and picky which is exactly how I want you to be.”
“I’m not picky. I’m just not on the radar. Anyone’s radar. I’m the government’s top-secret stealth snatch project.”
Grace burst into an uncharacteristically hearty laugh. Merry just stuck her tongue out and flounced out of the bathroom.
“I’m serious about Shane,” Grace said, following her to the living room. She pulled on a pair of black boots that would have looked clunky and mannish on Merry, but somehow looked both tough and adorable on Grace. “Watch out for him. He can be charming.” She drew the word out like it was a smear. “And take off that eyeliner. You look too cute.”
“You can scrub this liner off my cold, dead body. Actually that won’t be necessary, because it’ll melt off within the hour.”
“Use that primer I gave you.”
“Sure,” Merry said, instead of telling her friend that she’d tried the primer and somehow she couldn’t get it blended right and ended up looking like she was wearing sparkly white goggles.
“Don’t get charmed,” Grace warned, pointing a finger at Merry’s chest. “I’m serious. I don’t want to have to murder my boyfriend’s best friend. Okay?”
A knock interrupted their conversation. Merry went out to say hello to Cole, but for a moment he was overwhelmingly distracted by Grace’s hair.
“Hi, Merry,” he said, his gaze locked on his girlfriend with an intensity no man had ever had for Merry.
“Hi, Cole. Grace’s hair looks great, huh?”
“Hell, yeah, it does.” Grace kicked him, and for a moment his gaze only got more intense. Then he blinked and visibly shook it off. His easy smile appeared and he turned to Merry. “How’s the ghost town, darlin’?” he asked, leaning in to kiss her cheek. “I still don’t like you out there on your own.”
“I studied all the wildlife guides you gave me. If a rattlesnake comes near, I can identify it in less than two seconds, I swear.”
He winked. “Good.”
“You know, you two are actually worse than having parents. My mom was never this overprotective.”
Cole patted her arm. “I’ve never had a little sister.”
“I’m not your sister! Jeez. Now go show your girlfriend how much you like the new red hair. I’ll see you later.”
Cole dragged his woman out the door, but Grace leaned back in for one last warning. “Watch out for that guy.”
“I promise it won’t be a problem!” she huffed.
It never was. Men were always disappointingly respectful of her. She locked the door behind Grace and then wandered back to the bathroom to put on some lip gloss and brush out her hair. Thanks to Grace’s professional skills with the eye makeup, Merry looked almost nice. And the Oscar the Grouch T-shirt really set off her complexion.
Just as she was thinking of changing, there was another knock on the door, which helpfully saved her from the decision of which Darth Vader T-shirt she was going to choose.
She opened the door with a wide smile that she felt freeze on her face when she saw Shane Harcourt.
He’d definitely taken that shower. The thick stubble that had shadowed his face had been shaved off to reveal his hard jaw, and his dark hair was still pressed to his nape in damp strands.
“Hi, Merry,” he said, and she had the distinct feeling he was proving that he remembered her name this time. Not very flattering. When she’d visited Jackson last fall, they’d spent three hours together at Grace’s birthday party. Not enough time to make an impression on him, apparently.
“You look like you’re feeling a lot better,” she said, waving him in.
