“I don’t know why the fuck I’m here,” Bear said as he grabbed a cupcake off the dessert table.

I slapped him on the back and he jolted forward. “Because City is your friend and it’s his kid’s birthday party, dumbass. Can’t you be a happy bastard one day in your life?”

He cracked a smile, barely visible behind all the facial hair. “I’m always happy.” He scraped the pink frosting off with his index finger, eyeing it with curiosity. “How was Brandy Friday night, you lucky bastard?” He stuck his finger in his mouth and closed his eyes.

I widened my stance, feeling my muscles tense. “I don’t kiss and tell, Bear.”

He waved me off. “You’re such a liar.” He looked ridiculous with a small dollop of pink frosting stuck in his beard.

“I didn’t see you leaving the bar alone. So don’t pretend you didn’t get a piece of ass.”

City cleared his throat behind us. “Can we watch our language? There are children around.”

I grimaced and knew better. Sunshine would’ve smacked me for such language. “Sorry, City. It won’t happen again.”

“I’m just fucking with you.”

“Great party, man,” Bear mumbled before he shoved the entire cupcake into his mouth.

City glanced around the yard and radiated confidence. “It turned out better than I thought.” He placed his hands on his hips, puffing out his chest as his eyes roamed the crowd. “Suzy pulled it off.”

The yard had been transformed into a pink princess wonderland. Round tables had baby-pink tablecloths with bright pink flowers as centerpieces. Pink lanterns, pink balloons, and pink streamers were tied everywhere. Pink threw up in City’s yard, but his daughter Gigi seemed to be ecstatic as she ran around the party squealing.

Bear whistled. “I thought you decorated this masterpiece.”

“Don’t be an asshole, Bear.”

There was a light tap on my shoulder. “Frisco,” Sunshine said from behind me in a soft voice. She was up to something. I’d known the woman long enough to know when her sweetness had a purpose or a victim.

I turned, giving her a smile. “Hey, babe.” I wrapped my arms around her. “Thanks for inviting me.”

Her tiny hands rubbed my back when she curled into my body. “You guys are like family.”

“The side we don’t talk about, of course,” City added.

“Dick,” Bear mumbled.

City smacked Bear on the shoulder. “Language, fucker.”

“What the—” Bear started, but City silenced him with a single look.

“Everything looks great, Sunshine,” I told her after I let her go.

“Thanks, Frisco. So, I wanted to ask you…” She clasped her hands in front of her as she started to shift on her feet, ready to hit me with her request. “I know things didn’t end that long ago with Jeanine, but I think—” She stopped talking and glanced at City.

He placed his arm around her shoulder. “Tell him, sugar.”

I tried like hell not to make a facial expression that would make her feel bad. I knew where this was going—the classic fix-up for the poor guy who couldn’t get a date.

Suzy Sunshine was always trying to fix everything. Sometimes the heart couldn’t be fixed; it needed to mend on its own…or never.

Sunshine peered up at me through her eyelashes. “I have a friend I’d love for you to meet.” There it was.

I had become everyone’s charity case.

I rubbed the back of my neck, trying to find the words that wouldn’t make me seem like a complete asshole. “I don’t know, Sunshine. I don’t know if I’m ready for anything yet.” I gave her a halfhearted smile as my hands dropped to my side.

She cocked her head, raising an eyebrow. “You were ready to go home with Brandy the other night.” Her foot tapped rapidly on the grass as she stared at me.

“Well, that was different,” I lied.

Sunshine poked me in the chest, her eyes piercing me. “It is not. Now, you listen to me, Frisco, and listen good.” She poked me harder and stepped closer. “Georgia is a lovely girl. I work with her, and I think you two would really hit it off.”

“Georgia?” Bear interrupted, bursting into laughter and regrouping. “She sounds hot.”

Sunshine turned slowly and glared at him. “Suck it, Bear.”

Bear repeated “Georgia, Georgia” over and over again quietly so only I could hear.

“Sunshine…” I shifted on my feet, trying to think of something brilliant to say. “I just don’t think it’s a good idea. I’m not really looking for a relationship right now.”

In all honesty, a girl with the name Georgia probably wasn’t my bag of chips. I liked Brandys, Candys, and Trixies right now. I knew what I was in for, they knew what I offered, and it kept shit simple.

Sunshine laid her hand on my chest, looking up at me with her big baby blues. “Will you at least meet her? Please,” she said, pleading with me.

“Give it up, man. She won’t stop until she gets what she wants,” City said.

I’d known her long enough to know that she wasn’t a quitter. “Fine,” I growled. I didn’t have a fucking choice in the matter, and I might as well get it over with.

“Yes!” she cheered, fist-pumping the air. “Stay right there.” She pointed to the ground with wide eyes before shuffling off. “I’m going to go get her.”

“Yay!” I chanted sarcastically and clapped my hands.

This wouldn’t end well.

Fix-ups never did.

Bear nudged me in the ribs. “Hope you and Georgia have fun.”

“Shut up,” I grumbled. Watching Suzy walk across the yard toward a giant group of women huddled under a tree, I held my breath.

City slapped my shoulder. “Dude, you’ll like her,” he promised before he walked away.

I couldn’t breathe. It felt like my throat was closing, like I was having an allergic reaction.

“I mean, she sounds hot,” Bear said, causing me to glance at him. “Probably a teacher like Suzy Sunshine and likes to sit home with her twenty cats on the weekend.” Bear wiped the tears away from his eyes.

“Fuckin’ great.” My gaze flickered upward before zeroing in on Sunshine. “Clusterfuck.”

“This is going to be fun.”

“Don’t you have somewhere to be?”

“I ain’t going anywhere now. Shit’s about to get good. You’ve never been able to say no to Sunshine.”

“Don’t act like you don’t have a soft spot for her too,” I snapped. Bear would take a bullet for Suzy. He’d kill for her if need be. Not because he wanted her, but because he loved her like family.

We all did. Hence why my dumbass hadn’t taken off. I stood here, waiting for her to introduce me to her friend and felt a sense of impending doom.

Staring across the yard, I watched as Suzy spoke to the group. Which one was she? They weren’t bad-lookin’ ladies, but none of them looked to be my type.

That was a lie.

I didn’t really have a type, other than a woman who could keep her legs closed for five damn seconds when out of my presence. I was game for just about anyone. Color didn’t matter, ethnicity didn’t factor, even size. I loved women who were comfortable with themselves above all else.

Dating a friend’s friend complicated shit. There was nothing in the world I’d want to do to fuck up the friendship I had with Sunshine and City.

Suzy glanced at me and I waved her over. I had to put a stop to this before it ended badly. I’d just have to tell her that I couldn’t meet Georgia.

“Yeah?” she asked as she approached, her sundress swaying as she tried to hold the hem from blowing up with the wind.

I peered over her shoulder, noticing the group of women staring in silence. “I don’t think this is a good idea.”

She recoiled, taking a step backward before recovering. “Oh no, you don’t, buddy. You’re going to meet her.” Her lips were set in a firm line when she grabbed my hand.

“Suzy.” I tried to pull away but failed. “It won’t end up well. I’m not made for a schoolteacher, babe.”

She rolled her eyes. “Frisco, she’s not a schoolteacher.”

“Oh?” My eyebrows shot up. I’d just assumed she was, not that it was a bad thing. Most teachers I knew were actually freaks in the sack, but being that she was Sunshine’s friend told me she had to be innocent like her.

“Stop being a baby. We aren’t all like her.” I loved that Sunshine referred to the cheating whore as her. She was like an outcast who didn’t deserve a name.

“I know,” I said, squeezing her hand gently.

“Come on.” She turned around and tugged me forward.

I dug my heels into the ground, but the woman didn’t listen. She pulled me forward, yanking me by the arm like a woman possessed, and I let her.

“Suzy,” I said.

“Have fun, man!” Bear called out.

“Don’t listen to him. You’re gonna love Georgia.”

“Georgia,” I whispered, choking on the word. I swallowed hard when ten sets of eyes swept over me.

“Everyone,” she said, releasing my hand and motioning toward me, “this is Frisco.”

I waved like a moron. “Hi, ladies.” I suddenly felt self-conscious when I noticed a few of them lick their lips.

“I’m going to borrow Georgia for a little bit.” Sunshine reached through the crowd, and my eyes followed her every movement, waiting to see her.

Everything seemed to stop.

Maybe it was the redhead with the glasses who looked like she hadn’t been fucked properly in her entire life. We’d never get past first base.

What was I thinking coming to this damn party?

A woman stepped through the crowd and waved. “Hey,” she said, sounding like an angel. Her look, on the other hand, was anything but heavenly. Don’t get me wrong. She was hot as hell, but she didn’t look an ounce of innocent.

My jaw dropped open and the air in my lungs disappeared. I closed my mouth, trying to find my words. Before I could speak, I reached out and brought her hand to my lips. “It’s nice to meet you, Georgia,” I whispered, peering into her rich, dark eyes.

She blushed and batted her eyelashes. “You too, Frisco.”

“Why don’t you two go sit and chat a while?” Sunshine suggested as she touched our arms and moved us forward. “Go spend some time learning about each other.”

“She’s bossy,” Georgia said before her shiny red lips turned up in a smile.

I laughed, nodding in agreement and mesmerized by her mouth. “You have no idea.”

Sunshine waved her hands dismissively at us. “Scoot, you two.”

I gave Sunshine a peck on the cheek before turning toward Georgia.

I held out my hand to her, trying to be a complete gentleman. “Can I get you a drink?” I asked.

She slid her fingers into my palm and took a step closer. “I’d love a drink.”

As we walked toward the makeshift patio bar, I caught a glimpse of Bear. His eyes were bulging out of his head and his jaw was almost touching the grass.

Eat your heart out, buddy. I smirked and gave him a chin lift.

“Fucker,” he mouthed. He shook his head and grabbed another cupcake, drowning his envy in desserts.

She leaned close and whispered, “Your friend?” She motioned toward Bear with her head, and her black locks shimmered in the sunlight.

“Some people call him that.” I held her hand, helping to stabilize her on the grass until our feet touched the concrete patio. “What would you like?” I asked and released her tiny hand.

“Hmmm.” She tapped her chin and stared at the bottles behind the bar while I watched her. “I’ll take a Bellini.”

I couldn’t stop my face from contorting. “A what?”

“A Bellini.”

“A Bellini…” I stammered as I spoke to the bartender. He nodded, and I was happy as hell that he knew what the hell it was, because I’d sure as fuck never heard of it. “And a beer for me, please.”

“Sure thing,” the man in the pink tuxedo said before he reached into the cooler and grabbed my drink.

“So, Georgia…” I rested one arm against the bar, thinking I looked calm, but inside I was anything but. “Do you work with Sunshine?”

Great, I already sounded like a douchebag.

“Sunshine?” She looked at me confused with the cutest tiny crinkles in her forehead. Actually there wasn’t a wrinkle on her face. Not one. Nothing even around her eyes when her face softened.

“Sorry,” I said. I needed to remember that only the guys at the Cowboy called her that. “Suzy.”

“Yeah,” she replied. She took the champagne flute off the bar and studied the liquid before turning her attention to me. “I just started working with her this year.”

“Are you a teacher?”

She grinned against the rim of her glass. “No.”

Just as I was about to take a sip, I paused with the glass in front of my lips. “I was going to say. Teachers have changed since I was a kid.”

As I gulped down the beer, she said, “Yeah. I’m a librarian.”

I choked, almost spitting all over the bar. “A librarian?” My eyes widened.

When the fuck did librarians become hot?

Georgia did not look like the woman who used to read me Charlotte’s Web when I was in school. I always thought of librarians as old ladies with gray hair and business suits.

That didn’t describe Georgia. She had on a hot little sundress, classic fifties style with a V-neckline, and shoes with skulls. Her cleavage wasn’t enormous, but her tits were enough to fit in my hands. Her long black hair and thick black eyeliner didn’t fit the bookworm type.

“You’re shitting me?” I tried not to eye-fuck her over my beer bottle.

She shook her head, blushing while she sipped her Bellini. “Nope. I’m a total nerd,” she admitted and looked away.

“The last thing I’d call you is a nerd.” Where in the hell had this girl come from, and why had Sunshine been holding out on me? “Want to sit down?” I asked, glancing at her shoes and noticing her heels had to easily be five inches.

She sighed and shifted on her feet. “I’d love to. My feet are killing me in this heat.”

We stole glances at each other as we walked toward an empty table.

She sat and crossed her ankles, holding the champagne glass in her lap. “So what do you do, Frisco?”

I turned my chair to face her, wanting to be closer. “I’m a private investigator.”

“Oh, that sounds like fun.”

“It can be.”

She fidgeted with the glass, turning it between her fingers. “My dad’s a retired police officer, which can be scary sometimes.”

I should’ve run away as soon as she mentioned her father being a retired cop.

I definitely wasn’t her type.

I wasn’t a criminal, never had been and never would be, but the people I associated with weren’t always cop-loving folks. “Being a PI isn’t scary. It’s mostly boring work and stakeouts to grab photos of cheating spouses or tracking down someone who doesn’t want to be found.”

“Suzy speaks very highly of you,” she said as she continued to fidget with her glass.

My back stiffened. “She does?”

Georgia’s bright white teeth gleamed against her cherry-red lipstick when she spoke. “Yep. She said you’re one of the good ones.”

My face heated. “I don’t know about that.”

“May I?” she asked as she hovered her hand above my arm.

“Yes.” I nodded, staring at her hand when it touched my skin.

Her fingertips slowly traced the ink on my forearm, following the lines. “This is amazing stuff. Where did you get it done?”

The feel of her against my skin was something I couldn’t describe, and my stomach did this odd flip-flop thing that threw me for a loop.

“Some of it at Inked and a few at Cherry Bomb.”

“Me too,” she said, her eyes flickering up at me.

“How old are you?” I couldn’t stop myself from asking the question.

I knew it was wrong.

A woman should never be asked her age, but I couldn’t help myself. She didn’t have the small lines near her eyes. I’d had them since I was twenty-five, and now that I was creeping up on thirty-one, they were almost caverns.

“Twenty-two.”

Fuck.

She was way too young for me. I shouldn’t even be talking to her. What the fuck was Sunshine thinking trying to hook us up?

My leg began to bounce uncontrollably. “Can you excuse me for a moment?” I asked.

“Surrre,” she drawled, pulling her hand away from my arm but keeping her eyes on me.

I set my beer down on the table and stood. “I’ll be right back.”

“’Kay,” she mumbled, frowning behind her Bellini.

I marched straight for Sunshine, needing her to explain her thinking. A twenty-two-year-old was a baby. Georgia had her entire life ahead of her, and I was used, older, and broken.

“Sunshine,” I whispered, and tapped her on the shoulder. “Can I speak to you?”

She turned around, giving me her full attention. “Don’t you just love Georgia?” she asked and bounced from foot to foot, her blond hair swaying.

“She’s a nice girl, babe. But that’s just it. She’s still a girl.” I blinked rapidly, trying to stop a weird twitch that had started in the corner of my eye.

She poked me square in the chest with her bony little finger and stood on her tiptoes. “Don’t call her that. She’s a grown woman, Frisco.”

Running my fingers through my hair, I groaned. “She’s twenty-two, for Christ’s sake.”

“Oh, shut up.” She rolled her eyes. “She’s legal. I wouldn’t have introduced you if you two weren’t perfect for each other. So just go over there and be the man I know you are.”

“What, a cradle robber?”

“A man who needs a loyal woman,” she shot back before slapping me on the arm.

“Fuck,” I muttered and rubbed the spot her hand had just hit. “I’m not looking for a girlfriend.”

She waved her hand in front of my face. “Neither was City when I met him, but here we are.”

“When shit goes bad, I’m blaming you.” I gritted my teeth and pointed at her with narrowed eyes.

“You’ll be thanking me.” She grabbed my sides and tried to turn my body around. “Go back over there before you look like a complete jerk.”

I cleared my throat. I had already made myself look like one when I walked away from Georgia. “I think I already fucked up.” I winced and glanced over my shoulder at her.

She sat in the same spot, sipping her drink and watching us. I waved, giving her a smile, and, much to my surprise, she reciprocated.

“Nah,” Suzy whispered and shook her head. “Go already.”

“Fine,” I muttered before I walked back toward the table. My eyes were glued to her. She looked like a vision, but a fucking young one. She’d be a perfect pinup model, and she came straight out of my wet dreams. “Sorry about that.” I took my seat, fidgeting with my shirt and averting my eyes.

She set her glass on the table and clasped her hands in her lap. “Everything okay?”

I nodded and dragged my eyes to her. “I just needed to tell Sunshine something.”

“Are you worried about my age?” she asked point-blank, and her gaze flickered toward me.

I sighed, pinching the bridge of my nose. “A little. I’m not really in the frame of mind for a relationship here, Georgia. My head’s all fucked up.”

She grabbed my hand, taking it away from my face, and placed it in her lap. “I’m not looking to get married.”

“You’d be shit out of luck, babe.”

She patted my hand before leaning back in her chair. “Suzy thought we could become friends.”

“That I can do,” I said and rubbed my free hand against my jeans.

“How old are you, Gramps?” She covered her mouth with the palm of her hand, hiding her grin.

“You’re a smartass.”

She nodded and laughed. “I am. So fess up. Are you forty?”

My mouth fell open and my eyes widened. Forty? Fuck me, I wasn’t even close. “No! Jesus, do I look that fuckin’ old?”

She nudged my knee with hers. “No. How old are you, really?”

“I’m thirty-one.” I closed my eyes, waiting for her to stalk off from my geezer ass.

“Well, you’re not my daddy’s age, so we’re golden.”

I slumped in my chair, thankful I wasn’t the same age as her father. That would be weird and fucked up. “Unbelievable.”

“Have you been a PI for a long time, or did you do something else before?” She tilted her head and studied me.

I grabbed my beer to have something to hold, because I felt off my game. I felt fidgety and a little unsure of the entire situation. “I haven’t been a PI for long. I used to be in the service. I served ten years.”

“What branch?”

“Navy,” I replied, using the opportunity to take a sip of my lukewarm beer and quell the dryness that had settled in my mouth.

“My dad was in the Marines.”

It just kept getting better and better. He’d hate me because I was a Navy man, plus, with my affiliation with the Neon Cowboy crew, I wouldn’t be an ideal match for his baby daughter.

“That’s nice,” I replied, trying to find a smile.

“Were you an officer?”

I lifted my chin, the familiar pride I’d always felt when I said the words settling inside me. “I was a SEAL.”

She gasped, leaning forward. “Wow. I wouldn’t have guessed it. You don’t look like what I picture as a SEAL.”

“’Cause I’m not built like The Rock?” I cocked an eyebrow and flexed my arms, showing her my muscles.

“You’re built, but yeah, just not as big as I thought.”

“I’ve been out for a couple years. I’ve slimmed down a bit. But Georgia—” I flexed my arms again “I can assure you, I’m all muscle.”

She giggled, throwing her head back.

City whistled. “It’s time to sing ‘Happy Birthday’!” He motioned toward the dessert table.

“We better go,” Georgia said, setting her glass on the table and standing. “Can you walk with all those muscles? I wouldn’t want you to tip over.”

“I can do a whole lot more than walk with all this awesomeness.”

She blushed. “You’re an interesting man.”

“More like a handful.” I smirked, waggling my eyebrows like an idiot as I stood.

“Well, I…” she stammered.

“Yeah,” I replied, knowing I threw her off. “Let’s get some cake.” I placed my hand on the small of her back and guided her toward the dessert table.

“Sure.” She looked up at me through her thick black eyelashes. “Cake.”

When we approached the table, her friends called her over and she excused herself. I couldn’t help but catch stolen glances as the crowd sang to Gigi. Georgia smiled as she listened to her friend whisper in her ear.

“You’re fucked.” Bear nudged me in the ribs and looked toward Georgia.

“I am not.” But I fucking was.

“So fucked,” he whispered.

We clapped as little Gigi blew out her candles. She’d grown so quickly, and I thought of her as a niece instead of as just my friend’s kid. She was a doll and meant the world to me.

“Gonna hook up with her?” Bear asked.

Georgia turned her back and I instantly missed her smile. “Nah, man. She’s just a kid.”

“Can’t handle her,” he teased, slapping me on the back.

“If she weren’t Sunshine’s friend, I wouldn’t have a problem getting a piece of ass and walking away, but I just can’t do it.”

“You’re losing your touch, dude.”

“Maybe so, or maybe I’m getting a conscience.”

“Fuck that. Who needs it?”

I motioned toward the bar with my head. “Want another?”

“Only if you do a shot with me.”

“I don’t think it’s that kind of party.”

“Kids,” he muttered and rolled his eyes.

“Frisco.” Thomas walked up to us but didn’t look me in the eye.

“Hey, T. What’s up?”

He peered around, looking uneasy. “I need you to meet Mrs. Green at the office.”

“Now?” I scratched my neck and searched for Georgia.

“Yes. She called in a panic. I’d go, but she’s your client and this is my niece’s party.”

I sighed. “It’s fine. I’ll go, man. No problem. I was getting ready to head out anyway. Tell Sunshine I’m sorry I had to leave.”

“I will. I’m sorry to do this to you on a weekend.”

“Work always comes first. I’ll take care of it,” I said as I rubbed the back of my neck. “Catch ya later, Bear.”

“Maybe I’ll go find Georgia.” Bear smirked and started searching the crowd.

“If you think you got a shot, knock yourself out.” I didn’t mean a word of it, but I wasn’t about to admit that she’d captured my attention and had me intrigued.

He rubbed his chin as his eyes stopped on her. “Dumbass, I’ll tell her you got called away on business.”

I wanted to poke him in the eyes to keep him from virtually fucking her in his mind.

This wasn’t good.

I needed to step away.

Staying at the party would only lead me back to Georgia. Being called in to work was probably for the better. She was too young for me. I was too broken for her, and in the end, it would be a complete clusterfuck.

“Don’t forget to tell Sunshine,” I called over my shoulder as I walked toward the front yard. Thomas gave me a thumbs-up and nodded.

Just as I was about to round the corner and disappear from view, I saw Georgia waving at me and the smile fell from her face.

I wanted to run to her and tell her she’d be better off, but instead I tucked my hands in my pockets and left without so much as a goodbye.