Suz made a rude noise but didn’t say anything, instead sipping her margarita and trying to look innocent.
“Billy? He and I have gone out a few times, but no, he’s not the issue.” Pepper wasn’t quite sure what to think of the guy. She might have intended on jumping his hot bod in the beginning, but something had held her back that first date. And the longer they saw each other, the less interested she was in crawling into the sack with him. “Decent kisser, though.”
“Decent?” Kendra wrinkled her nose. Pepper’s friend was far too cute in a polka-dot sundress. With her hair up in pigtails she looked like one of those perky models for a high-fashion magazine. “That doesn’t sound very thrilling.”
“We’re just getting to know each other. Maybe it’ll get better with time.” If Pepper didn’t give up completely in the next week or so.
Lynn wouldn’t let it drop. “So if it’s not Billy the decent kisser, which guy’s been bothering you?”
It seemed like whining, but Lynn was so easy to talk to, Pepper found herself confessing. “Old problem. One of the guys Kendra and I drove cross-country with is having a hard time taking no for an answer. He’s not doing anything dangerous. He’s just a pain in my butt.”
“Really?” Kendra said in concern. “That rat bastard. I told him to leave you alone.”
“Don’t make a big deal over it,” Pepper insisted. There was one thing though. She lowered her voice. “I have the strangest feeling he went through my suitcases before you gave them back to me.”
“Ick.” Lynn made a gagging noise. “Okay, that’s officially creepy.”
“I’m not one hundred percent sure, but I think I’m missing a few things. You know, like a T-shirt, and…underwear.” She didn’t want to outright accuse Adam, but it did make her feel uneasy.
Suz patted her on the knee. “Maybe he’s into cross-dressing.”
Kendra nearly spat out her mouthful of drink, choking momentarily before she managed to swallow. “You’re nasty.”
“Why, thank you,” Suz replied, lifting her drink in the air. “As long as the creeper is out of the picture, I’d much prefer to talk about how to get Pepper someone better than a decent kisser.”
“Oh, no, I don’t need anyone’s help matchmaking.” Pepper raised a hand in protest.
“If you want to do any matchmaking—” Kendra twisted toward them and leaned forward conspiratorially, “—I’d love a formal introduction to Jack.”
A shot of something dark and not very friendly tingled over Pepper’s nerves. She glanced back toward the deck and caught Jack staring at them, his gaze drifting over the ladies in the group. The instant his eyes met hers, though, he jerked away, deliberately turning his back.
Oh my God, had he been checking out Kendra?
Pepper took another sip of her margarita, but it wasn’t nearly as refreshing as she remembered. Or maybe that was the bitter taste in her mouth as she admitted to herself that the thought of Jack and Kendra together made her uneasy.
And that was a load of crap. How low of her to not want the guy but not want anybody else to have him either.
Lynn and Suz had spent the last ten seconds since Kendra’s announcement exchanging glances. “Jack might be a little too much of a flirt for you, hon,” Suz said earnestly.
“I don’t want to keep him,” Kendra insisted. “Just to take him for a test drive. Because holy moly, Jack Hunter is one fine man.” Coughing and hastily stifled laughter broke out from the deck area, and Kendra pressed her hands against her cheeks. “Crap. How loud did I say that?”
Suz stretched her neck to look around Kendra. “I think loud enough that the people on the deck next door heard as well.”
“I’m going to die.” Kendra twisted her chair so her back was towards the deck, her cheeks flaming red.
Pepper snuck another glance at the guys. They seemed to have settled down, but it was obvious Jack was still stealing furtive glances at them. Perhaps now that he knew for sure Kendra was interested, he was planning to do something about it?
Dammit anyway. Pepper reached for the pitcher of margaritas and topped up her glass. Maybe her homecoming barbecue wasn’t the right place to get absolutely pissed, but this was no longer drinking—it was therapy.
It was a damn good thing the creep who was “decently” kissing Pepper wasn’t in attendance today, because Jack would have cheerfully murdered him. Barehanded, too.