Before We Kiss (Fool's Gold #14)(7)

Dellina felt a little of Bailey’s tummy unease but it had nothing to do with being nervous. For a second she couldn’t place the cause.

“Because you’re interested in Sam?” Taryn asked, her eyebrows raised.

The second Taryn asked the question out loud, Dellina realized the cause of her anxiety and it didn’t make her happy. Why did she care if Larissa had a thing for Sam? She’d spent one evening with him and had a single conversation since. What did she care if he slept with the entire state of California?

“I’m not interested in Sam,” Larissa said with a sigh. “I meant I work with them, they’re sexy, handsome men. All of them. Equally. I’ve heard things in the media and from various women and I wondered if any of it was true.” She looked at Taryn. “You slept with Jack and you won’t give me any details. Maybe Dellina will be more forthcoming.”

“I was married to Jack,” Taryn said. “And no, I’m not talking about that part of our relationship.”

They both looked at Dellina expectantly.

She held up her hands. “Um, no. I’m not comfortable getting into specifics.”

“How about a gross generality?” Larissa offered. “Was he good?”

Dellina felt herself start to smile. “Yeah, he was good.”

Larissa squeezed Taryn’s hand. “Our little boy is all grown up.”

“You’re a freak,” Taryn told her. “You know that, right?” She turned to Dellina. “As Sam’s business partner, I would encourage you to have sex with Sam. I’m guessing it would improve his mood and I’m for that. As your friend, you probably want to think more than once about getting involved with a man who has that much bad luck with women.”

“Arguing each side equally,” Dellina murmured. “Impressive.”

“Isn’t she?” Larissa sat back in her chair. “What is it about sports guys that make them so appealing?”

“Their bodies,” Dellina said without hesitating, telling herself she was speaking in generalities and not talking about Sam at all.

“The danger,” Taryn added. “Remember during the Olympics when we couldn’t stop watching Kipling Gilmore? When he skied down that mountain, it was the sexiest thing ever.” She paused and grinned. “Except for Angel, of course.”

“Yes, don’t leave your fiancé out of it,” Larissa murmured. “I’m with you on Kipling. Yum and double yum.”

Larissa leaned toward them both. “So I heard from a friend of mine.”

Taryn groaned. “Run,” she told Dellina. “Run while you still can. Run and never take her calls.”

Larissa’s mouth turned into a pout. “You don’t know what I’m going to say.”

“Yes, I do. Some creature needs rescuing. It’s going to be weird and inconvenient.”

“Mostly to Jack,” Larissa reminded her.

Taryn perked up. “That’s right.” She looked at Dellina. “Jack is forever helping Larissa with her various projects. Whether he wants to or not.”

“It’s one of his best qualities,” Larissa said.

“Why doesn’t he just say no?” Dellina asked.

“It’s not in his nature,” Taryn said. “He’s a sucker for Larissa’s causes.” She picked up her latte again. “All right. What is it now?”

“There might be a lady in Barstow breeding chiweenies.”

Larissa paused dramatically. Dellina looked at Taryn. “What’s a chiweenie?”

“Hell if I know. And where’s Barstow?”

Larissa put her hands on the table. “They’re dogs. A Chihuahua-dachshund mix. There’s concern she has a puppy mill rather than a breeding program. We’re still investigating. But we might need to go in and rescue them.”

Taryn’s right eye twitched. “Save us all,” she murmured. “Fine. Go rescue your chiweenies, but don’t ask Dellina for help until after the party. I mean it. She’s working on a deadline.”

Larissa’s eyes widened. “But they’re puppies!”

Taryn looked at Dellina. “You see what I put up with?”

Dellina heard the love behind the frustration. Because for Taryn, the people at Score were her family. Dellina knew how important belonging could be. She would do anything for her sisters and her friends. Every now and then she wondered what it would be like to have a Mr. Right in her world. Then she told herself she was doing just fine and that a man would simply get in the way of that.

* * *

SAM ARRIVED AT Score a little before six in the morning. He stored his change of clothes in his locker, then headed outside.

While the days were warm in summer, the nights were still cool, as were the early mornings. The sun had just started to climb over the mountains when he walked onto the basketball court across the street from the company offices.

When he and Kenny and Jack had first come to Fool’s Gold for a charity event, they hadn’t been looking to leave Los Angeles. But something about the town had appealed to them. They’d come back individually over the next few weeks and had ultimately decided to relocate. When Taryn had gone looking for a building, they’d requested a space for a half basketball court. Ever the overachiever, she’d found one where they could put in a full court. Which meant three mornings a week there were pickup games with the guys in town.