AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Duke scanned the crowd forward while Terry turned to cover our backs. Duke pointed discreetly when Katelyn turned.
Only then did I notice Constance for the first time this morning.
She hurried to where he pointed.
Katelyn looked left and right. “Saw who?”
Duke gave her the canned explanation. “Her dipshit ex.”
She waved a hand dismissively. “I never liked him.”
I nodded in agreement. George was milquetoast compared to Duke. “It must have been somebody else.”
“You two know each other?” Katelyn asked, pointing between the guys. It was the first time Duke had said anything to Terry.
I swallowed hard. This was bad.
“He trained me for a while,” Terry explained casually, lifting his arm to flex his biceps.
“Wow,” Grace cooed, playing her part as his date. She moved over to feel Terry’s muscles. “He must be a miracle worker if he can get this result with a guy like you.”
“It’s all because of the work I put in, darlin’,” Terry shot back.
Grace turned away. “Whatever you say, darlin’.”
“It is,” Terry insisted.
Katelyn rolled her eyes, and the question of Terry and Duke’s connection seemed forgotten.
We logged another ride before lunch. Then Nick suggested the Blue Bayou restaurant and got no complaints. I hadn’t had a Monte Cristo before, so Duke ordered that with fries for each of us. It was delicious, something between French toast and a grilled ham and cheese.
The others seemed oblivious that we were playing footsie under the table. Duke leaned across to wipe some ketchup off my lip. Once again, the light touch from someone so big and powerful undid me. How did I deserve a man so dreamy?
Nick and his girlfriend went to the bathroom, which I thought might be an excuse to be alone for a minute to make out.
Then Katelyn’s phone rang, and she excused herself to take it.
“Do you really think you saw him?” Terry asked, now that we didn’t have Katelyn listening in.
I shrugged. “It looked sort of like him, but with the distance, I could easily be mistaken. It might have been the jacket.”
Duke put his food down. “We should leave to err on the safe side.”
“No,” I insisted. “We’re not cutting this short. I’m not certain enough it was him for that.”
Katelyn returned before Nick and Allison did. “What’s next?”
“I think Serena and I might call it a day,” Duke blurted.
Katelyn looked as mortified as I felt. “We haven’t had a chance to talk.”
I gave Duke my signature punch in the shoulder. “No way. You can go home alone if you feel that way.”
“I drove,” he pointed out.
“If you stay, I’ll drive you back,” Katelyn offered.
“No need,” Duke said, tugging on my earlobe. “I’m not leaving my Snuggles alone.”
