As usual, he got lost for a second in her mesmerizing eyes. They were the palest blue he’d ever seen, like the sun hitting ice deep inside a glacier. But there was nothing icy cold about the woman. Every time he saw her, he felt like patting his buddy on the back for a job well done. Plus, Lynn wasn’t only gorgeous. She was also smart and compassionate.
And incredibly intuitive. She took one look at Jack’s face and headed for the doorway leading to the corridor. “I’ll give you boys some privacy so you can talk.”
The second she was gone, Parker advanced on Jack like a predator stalking its prey.
Or like a man who’d just been royally cock-blocked.
“Seriously?” Parker demanded. “You show up on a Friday night without calling first? When you know that Fridays are reserved for Lynn—”
“I like Pepper,” Jack blurted out.
Followed by more silence.
Then Parker narrowed his eyes. “Jack. I sincerely hope you’re talking about food. As in, you like pepper in your eggs, or on your steak, or maybe in a salad. I mean, I’ll still kick your ass for interrupting me just to talk about something that inane.” His face turned to stone. “But not as hard as I’d kick your ass if you’re talking about my sister.”
Jack met his friend’s heated gaze. “You knew we’d have this talk eventually. We already started it the other day.” He sighed. “We’re finishing it now.”
Parker’s stiff body language didn’t bode well for their impending discussion. He marched to the couch but didn’t lower his rigid frame onto it. Instead, he pointed at the cushions and snapped, “Sit.”
Jack arched a brow. “You’ve got to be kidding me.”
“Sit the fuck down.”
He decided to humor his friend. Flopping down on the plush cushions, he rested both hands on his thighs and loosely crossed his ankles. Parker stood in front of him. No, he loomed. Arms folded, jaw tight, mouth twisted. Like an overprotective father interrogating his daughter’s prom date. Only thing missing was the shotgun.
Another sigh slipped out of Jack’s throat. “I swear to God, if you ask me what my intentions are, I’ll kick you.”
“No need. I already know what your intentions are.” Parker’s frown deepened. “I’m not stupid enough to try to talk you out of it, either, because we both know what a stubborn son of a bitch you are.”
Jack’s lips twitched.
“And my sister’s a hundred times more mule-headed. Which means I won’t bother talking her out of it, either. You wouldn’t be here if she wasn’t on board, and I’m not in the mood to have Pepper rip my throat out.” Parker paused, shooting Jack that terrifying look he’d seen the guy direct at enemy soldiers. “I need to know two things. One—that this isn’t one of your love-’em-and-leave-’em hookups. You won’t be sneaking out the window the morning after you…” Parker blanched. “You know.”
Talk about awkward.
Jack shifted in discomfort, but when he spoke, his tone rang with assurance. “It’s not, and I won’t.”
His friend nodded. “Two—tell me you won’t break her heart.”
“I don’t plan on it,” Jack said quietly. “But I also can’t be certain where this will go. It might not lead to forever. But I promise, whatever happens, I won’t hurt her, at least not deliberately.”
“Good.” Parker pursed his lips, then slanted his head. “Face, ribs, or balls?”
Jack blinked. “Huh?”
“Where would you like my fist to go if you don’t keep your promise?” Parker asked pleasantly.
“Wait—what?” a feminine voice exclaimed.
Lynn suddenly appeared in the doorway, clad in black yoga pants and a blue tank top, and displeasure flashed across her face as she caught the tail end of the conversation. She turned to her boyfriend in suspicion. “Why is your fist going anywhere near Jack?”
Parker held up a hand. “One sec, sweetheart. We’re in the middle of something.” He glanced back at the couch. “Well?”
Jack thought it over for a moment. “Face.”
That earned him a nod from Parker, and a gasp from Lynn. “Jack, no. You have such a pretty face. You picked wrong.”
He flashed her a grin. “Don’t worry. It won’t ever reach that point. I always keep my promises.”
A knowing smile lifted her lips as she came up beside Parker. “So. You and Pepper, huh?”
Parker swiveled his head to glower at her. “You knew?”
“No. I just had a feeling.” She rolled her eyes at Jack. “You weren’t being very subtle at the barbecue, you know. Stomping around like a caveman, staring at her when you thought no one was looking.” Lynn clapped her hands in delight. “Oh gosh, this is so exciting. I’ve gotta tell Suz.”
She dashed off before either man could respond, causing both of them to stare at the empty doorway. Parker’s expression became bemused. “Christ, women are weird. I swear, she calls Suz about the most trivial shit, and then they talk about it for a good hour, picking apart every last detail.”
“Don’t try to make sense of it, P. You’ll break your brain.”
Parker sighed. “I know, right?”
Then again… Jack snickered. “Maybe it’s not just women. I seem to remember you and I having detailed conversations about the stupidest shit, too.”