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“Oh, yeah. I do. I actually love golf. And getting paid to be out of the office to play while supporting the women and children’s charities is a total win.”

He nods. “Are you good?”

“I’d say I play pretty well, but I don’t have an official handicap.” I shrug. “What about you?”

“Oh, I’m decidedly terrible.” He laughs. “But I love it. And I figure that if it’s for charity, no one can get mad if I suck, right?”

Before I can answer him, Henry is back with a set of keys in one hand and my go-to grapefruit summer shandy in the other. A mischievous curl of his lips raises a flag of concern.

“I didn’t order this,” I say, confused.

Henry makes a point to look over Joshua’s head. “I know.”

I swallow, following his stare to the back corner of the room.

Finn’s smirk is delicious—and dangerous—as he tips his beer toward me when our eyes meet.

He’s beyond gorgeous in a black shirt that hugs his torso and the black baseball hat that I bought him for Christmas. He watches me with curiosity but also irritation, and it’s the second part of that equation that pulls me back to reality.

And allows me to notice his teammate Chauncey sitting across from him with a grin like the cat who ate the canary.

I narrow my gaze briefly, getting a lifted brow from Finn, before turning my attention back to Joshua.

Shit.

My pulse quickens as I try to figure out what to do about this. Finn must think I’m up to no good, and he’s clearly bothered by it, too. While I’d normally be annoyed at his aggravation because I’m here helping a friend, we aren’t operating under normal circumstances. The last thing I want him to think is that I’m here with another guy in his place.

Like that’s possible.

I turn in time to catch Henry’s smirk.

“Joshua, can you give me a second?” I ask. “I need to talk to … a friend for a second.”

Henry jams a thumb over his shoulder. “I can show you the room now, if you don’t want to wait on her.”

“If you don’t mind, I will go ahead and check it out,” Joshua says to me. “I have an appointment in an hour across the city and can’t stick around long.”

“Then let me go with you and then I’ll⁠—”

He leans toward me. “If your friend is the guy sitting in the back looking like he wants to devour you, you won’t be going anywhere but toward him if I have anything to say about it.” He lifts a brow, pulling away. “I refuse to stand in the way of that.”

“Trust me,” I say as we get to our feet. “You aren’t the one getting in the way.” I glance at Henry. “Remember how much you love me when you give him a quote, okay?”

“Yeah, whatever,” he says, grinning.

“I’ll see you on Monday,” Joshua says. “Thanks for coming down here with me.”

I sigh. “Of course. Any time. I hope you find the right spot for the party.”

He follows Henry, and I pick up my shandy, take a long drink, and then pivot on my heel. Finn’s gaze collides with mine, nearly knocking me over. He practically sees through me as he searches my eyes, halfway ignoring Chauncey as he says goodbye.

My body comes alive as I grow closer to Finn. The beer is stronger on my tongue, and the air swirling around the room warms my skin. The lights are brighter, the smell of Finn’s cologne muskier—and the ache in my core nearly throbbing out of control.

He sits back, one arm draped along the top of the booth, narrowing his eyes.

“Hey,” I say, sliding onto the seat beside him.

He doesn’t move. Doesn’t budge. There’s not even a twitch in his jaw.