Page 21 of Hard to Score

“So it is a client.”

“Does it matter?”

“Simply trying to narrow down the field so I can figure out who the mystery man is.”

“He’s not a client. That’s all I’m going to give you.”

“Why the secrecy, then?” Her brows narrow and I can see the cogs of her mind turning as she tries to figure it out.

“Because you guys are assholes,” I say. I’m more than used to their ribbing about the revolving door of my love life. The sad thing? I wouldn’t want it any other way.

Not that I’m ever going to admit that to her.

“And your point is?” She grins.

“I stopped telling you about love interests years ago. The teasing got old.”

“Oh, come on. It was all in good fun. I mean, can you blame us? Your love life is like a soap opera.”

“Like you’ve ever watched one.”

“You know what I mean.” She waves a hand my way. “You love to be in love.”

“Who doesn’t?”

“Me. Lennox. Chase,” she says, naming my sisters.

“Don’t be a hypocrite, Miss-Madly-In-Love.” Sarcasm owns my tone.

“It’s different.”

“Of course, it’s different. Is this when you pull the first-born card?” I tease, hating how rules always seem different for her than they do for me since I’m younger.

“I’m not pulling any card. I’m simply saying you’re just built differently from us so we don’t understand it.”

“No need to try to understand seeing as I’ve sworn off men.”

“Doesn’t seem like it by the topic of this conversation and the supposed Mystery Man.”

“Well, I have. I’m sick of getting hurt.” I give a resolute nod as if that’s going to convince both my sister and my heart of the oath.

Dekker’s expression softens and she leans forward in her chair. “You and Micah ended things over four months ago. Are you still upset over—”

“Yeah, well . . .unlike the rest of you cold-hearted bitches, I ended up with the soft one.”

“Cold-hearted?” She laughs the words out. “I’ll remind you of that the next time you’re looking for a sympathetic ear.” But as soon as the words are out her smile softens, her voice even more so, as she kicks into big-sister and chief-consoler mode. “Are you going to see him again?”

My sigh fills the room as I meet her eyes. “That’s the real question, isn’t it?”

“This is the part where I remind you that you swore off men.”

“I did. I have. Completely,” I admit, knowing she’s right. I did swear off them. I now need to forget that silly crush I once had on a man I don’t really know anymore. “So obviously the answer to that question is a moot point.”

“I bet it is.” She shrugs and offers a coy smile. “Maybe you should invite him to the McMasters’ wedding. You replied with a plus-one for Micah and now there is no plus-one.”

“Not even remotely funny.”

“Why not? There’ll be fancy suits and alcohol and a romantic atmosphere. I mean—”