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It wasn’t crossing the line to send Hannah a drink. They were friends. They’d been friends for the last nine years or so. Most importantly, it was her birthday.
The fact that he considered her to be one of the most beautiful women to walk the planet had absolutely nothing to do with it.
The blood in his veins quickened and he clutched his beer a little tighter.
How many times had he found himself staring at his best friend’s girl? With her petite frame, light-brown skin, and long black hair, she was absolutely striking.
But it was her dark eyes, usually sparkling with warmth and kindness, which made people take notice. She wasn’t just hot, she was fun. Not to mention friendly with everyone. People loved Hannah.
As he watched her, she accepted the drink with surprise. Her gaze darted across the crowded room to him and a bright smile curled her lips. She lifted the martini glass and mouthed a thank-you.
God, that smile. It wasn’t like the forced one she’d given him when he’d first approached. This one was the genuine one that lit up her face. The one he was used to that made his breath catch.
He gave a small nod and lifted his beer in a silent you’re welcome.
“So where do you know her from?” Ted, his coworker at the bank, asked.
“She’s, ah, my roommate’s ex-girlfriend.”
“Ex?” Ted’s grin widened. “So she’s on the market?”
“No. You don’t date your friend’s ex.” It was almost a reminder to himself.
Hannah Jeong, single or otherwise, was off-limits. She was James’s ex. And if he went by the Bro Code, as a dude did, you didn’t touch your friend’s ex.
“Oh, right. There’s that rule, I suppose.” Ted nodded. “Good call. Well, her friend is hot too.”
“She’s practically engaged.”
“Damn. Hard to find a gal nowadays, I guess.”
Was it? Eric didn’t have that issue. He just hadn’t found the right girl, and life was too short to waste time with the wrong one.
“I’m just lucky I met Gina when I did.” Ted’s tone was tinged with fondness as he glanced at his phone. “Speaking of, I’ve got about ten minutes more before I should haul ass out of here and head home. She asked me to pick up chicken teriyaki on the way.”
“No worries.” Eric was used to these little post-work ‘grab-a-drink’ runs being quick. His co-workers were all married with kids, or had kids on the way. “I should head out soon too.”
Fifteen minutes later, Ted was gone and Eric was settling his tab when a female voice asked, “Eric, can you do me a favor?”
He glanced up from scrawling his signature on the bill, spotted Kristen, and smiled. “Sure. What’s up?”
“Blake got attacked while out on a call. Someone high on meth.” Kristen’s tone barely held back the franticness.
“Jesus.” He dropped the pen. Besides James, Blake was his other closest friend. His job as a paramedic sometimes put him in dicey situations. “Is he okay?”
“He’s fine. Minor head injury, they’re saying, but they’re sending him to Harborview to get checked out anyway. I need to meet him there.”
“Do you need a ride? I can take you—”
“I have my car. But Hannah rode with me.”
It sank in what she was asking. His blood pumped a little quicker. “Got it. I’ll take her home.”
“Oh, thank you.” She shifted her weight, fidgeting with her keys and shooting looks at the door. “She’s trying to call an Uber, but I don’t want her to have to do that.”
“Go be with Blake. I’ll get Hannah home safely.”
“Thanks, Eric.” She threw the reply over her shoulder as she ran toward the door.
