“Are you defending Marcie?”He shook his head. “I don’t need to. She handled herself. You, on the other hand…”I pointed at the door. “Out.”

“He propped his hands on his hips, shook his head slightly and turned his gaze from the front of the building to meet her eyes, dead on. “It sounds ridiculous, but I want you to have dinner with me. Since we have an early night.”Those truths clamored louder. She shook her head.“Why not?”“I don’t have time, Rogan.” [...]“You don’t have time to eat?” he asked.Kennedy blew out a breath. “I don’t have time for dating games.”“Good, neither do I.”“Then what’s this?”He let go of her and lifted his shoulders, hands out. “Flirtation?”Something intangible popped, and the tension faded. She smiled. “I expected you to say foreplay.”

“Don’t start. I saw Marcie climb inside your Jeep.”“She needed a ride.”I adopted a hands-on-hips pose. “What kind of ride?”“Not that kind of ride,” he said slowly.”

“He shook his head in mock sympathy. "I tell you, Sage. Sometimes I think I am the one who needs to take out the restraining order on you.”

“When everyone just shook their heads, he unbuttoned his shirt and,oh good Lord, shrugged out of it, bunching it up to slip beneath herhead like a pillow.Don’t look at him, she told herself. Don’t look—She looked.Sweet Jesus.”

“Lucas Delos,” he said, holding out his hand.“Don’t you hate this kid?” Jerry asked Helen candidly as he shook the offered hand.”