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“It’s not bad. More now that I’m a trained medic.” Blake gave his friend a sidelong look. The athletic and strong type. Ran marathons for fun. “You know, you could always give up that law-school stuff and come to the dark side.”
“Nah, my passion is for arguing.” James grinned and took a swig of beer. “How are things? You dating anyone?”
Blake’s smile faded. “Nah. Single and cool with it.”
Surprisingly, the memory of last night and a cute blonde lingered at the forefront of his mind. Kristen’s parting words still left him a little irritated and shocked.
Let it go, Blake.
Changing the subject, Blake cast his friend a sidelong look. “How about you? Things still going good with Hannah?”
“Yeah. It’s going all right.” James turned to lean against the porch rail. “I feel kind of bad. We don’t see each other as much as we should.”
“Dude, you’re in law school and working at your cousin’s firm. You’re super busy and she gets it.” Blake shrugged. “And she loves the hell out of you. You’ve been together since eighth grade, right? I’m sure she’s cool.”
“Yeah. I’m sure you’re right.”
“She coming today?”
“Yeah, she should be.” James grabbed the packet of cheese next to the grill and began laying slices on a handful of burgers.
The sounds of female laughter came from inside, and James glanced back into the house. “That’s probably her now.”
Blake watched his friend disappear inside and turned his attention back to the group playing cornhole.
The weather was actually somewhat nice, which was never a given this time of year. Low sixties, which meant shorts weather in Seattle. No one could complain about that.
“Blake,” Eric, their other friend and former housemate, called out from the yard, “get down here and join us for a game.”
“Grill duty.” Blake lifted his giant spatula. “Once these burgers are done, I’ll be down there to kick some ass.”
The sound of female laughter came again, but this time it was closer. A husky sound that made the hairs on the back of his neck lift.
“I don’t think I’ve ever seen you in that much makeup,” James’s voice carried from inside the house. “What’s the deal?”
The woman’s response wasn’t audible.
James stepped out on the porch a second later, seeming to be alone. But the moment his body cleared the door, a smaller frame filled the entryway.
The soda in Blake’s hand slid free, and he lurched to grab it before it hit the ground. Sticky root beer coated his hand as he crushed the aluminum with his fingers.
Blake blinked, certain he was imagining the woman in front of him. Maybe he was transposing her face onto someone else who looked kind of like her.
Nope. It was her. Kristen from last night. And instead of the fresh-faced, girl-next-door look, she had a little bit more of a vampy makeup thing going on now.
Her face was completely made up. Her eyes were lined and lashes extra-long looking; her lips were pink and glossy. Stick-straight hair hung halfway down her back. Had she ironed it?
He swept his glance down her body. Despite the fancy makeup and hair, she was dressed casually in black leggings and a loose, white top over it.
What the fuck is happening?
Blake turned his back to them, needing a few seconds to get the damn shock off his face before she recognized him.
Who the hell was she? And what was her connection to the people at this barbecue?
“Hey, buddy.” James’s clapped a hand down on his shoulder. “There’s someone I want you to meet.”
Poker face, keep your damn poker face on.
Blake wiped all emotion off his face, gritted his teeth, and turned around to face them.
Kristen’s laid-back smile froze as she made a nearly inaudible choking noise. Her eyes rounded, and he was pretty sure she was silently using the same curses he was.
“Not sure if you guys have ever met,” James continued, oblivious to any tension, “but this is Kris. My little sister.”
