Murphy's Law. Lori Foster

he added, “And I’m not working for Elton.”

      Denny’s fingers tapped on the tabletop. “I might do a background check anyway.”

      Ashley groaned.

      Quinton merely stared him down. “I might do the same.” His eyes narrowed in what Ashley now recognized as determination. “For a mere friend, you’re awfully involved in her welfare.”

      Denny’s jaw tightened. “Now don’t go speculating on things, boy. I won’t like it.”

      “And I don’t like being threatened.”

      Both men rose from their seats, but damn it, Ashley didn’t want Quinton mauled before she could enjoy him.

      She elbowed Denny in the ribs. “Don’t even think it.” He was so involved in his intimidation tactics that she caught him off guard and he stumbled.

      “Brat,” Denny complained, rubbing where her pointed elbow had landed.

      “Bully,” she countered right back.

      Quinton looked from one to the other before coming to some private conclusion. “All right, children, play nice.”

      Denny huffed at him, but Quinton extended his hand as an olive branch. “I like Ashley,” he admitted, and even though she’d already heard it, Ashley’s heart fluttered. “I’ve asked her out but she keeps turning me down.”

      Denny took his hand. “Yep, that’s our Ashley. Stubborn to the bone.”

      “I finally managed to finagle an invitation to the wedding as her escort, but I had no idea it was Jude Jamison’s wedding. I’ll understand if the security is tight and you’d rather no strangers be there.”

      Odd, how the idea that he might not accompany her deflated Ashley. She didn’t want to go alone. “Denny,” she said with cool insistence, “tell him that it’s fine.”

      Denny grudgingly did just that. “If she vouches for you, then I’m sure you’re okay. Ashley’s no dummy. Just pigheaded and prickly and strong enough to carry around a mighty big chip on her shoulder.”

      “I noticed.” Quinton turned to her while digging a business card out of his pocket. “Here’s my number. Call anytime, okay?”

      “I’ll be busy.”

      He gave a sigh of annoyance. “Come on, Ash, you’ve worn that line out. How busy can one woman be?”

      Denny opened his mouth, but Ashley slapped her hand over it. “Busy enough, okay?”

      Quinton quirked a brow. “More secrets, huh?”

      Denny, with his mouth still covered, managed a shrug.

      Left-handed, Ashley tucked the card away in her back pocket. “Don’t push your luck, Murphy.”

      Openly pleased with the exchange, Denny pried her hand away and said, “Don’t worry. I’ll see that she gets home safely.”

      Ashley’s jaw dropped. He had to be kidding. She’d be on a busy road, headed to her busy apartment complex. No way would Elton try something out in the open. “I don’t need—”

      “Thank you.” Quinton returned her feral expression with one of his own. “I agreed to your terms, now agree to mine.”

      Relationships sure were troublesome. She waved a hand at him. “Let’s hear it.”

      “Promise you’ll call me if anything even remotely suspicious happens or if anything spooks you.”

      Denny took exception to that. “She can call me.”

      In a magnanimous concession, Quinton nodded. “If you can’t reach me, by all means, call Denny.”

      “Or Jude,” Denny added.

      “Call someone—but me first. Promise me, Ashley.”

      Denny started to object, and Ashley put the back of her hand to her forehead. “First no men, now two are fighting over me. How dramatic.”

      Quinton leaned across the table, caught her shoulders, and pulled her up. Ashley thought he was about to curl her toes again, but he only put an affectionate peck on her forehead. “Promise?”

      “Yeah, sure. I’ll put you on speed dial.”

      “Thank you.” He kissed her once more. “Be very careful, and we’ll talk soon.”

      With that, he left.

      Slowly, Ashley sank back in her seat. “I need some ice water.”

      “All that growling give you a dry throat?”

      “No. I think I have a fever.”

      Denny eyed her while switching over to Quinton’s side of the booth. “So you like your new beau, huh?”

      “He’s not a beau.”

      “I think he’d tell it differently.” Denny signaled the waitress in a request for coffee.

      She hustled over, her smile too bright, her eyes dreamy. After she’d produced another cup and filled it, Denny thanked her with more affection than necessary, and she floated away on a sigh.

      Another woman smitten. Amazing. Denny made the whole woman/man game look so easy. If only she didn’t struggle so badly with it. “For an ornery old codger, you sure rack up the babes.”

      “It’s my charm.”

      “It’s something, all right.” Ashley considered him, then asked, “So what about Zara?”

      “What about her?”

      “You still seeing her?”

      “Here and there. She won’t be at the wedding, if you’re worried about Quinton running into her.”

      That made her laugh. “After seeing her with you, I haven’t given it another thought. I figured you’d ruined her for all other men.”

      “I’m sure you’re right.”

      Grinning, Ashley glanced at the clock on the wall. “I wonder where he’s going so early.”

      “Who? Quinton?”

      “He’s dressed all casual when he usually wears suits, and it’s too early for him to be going to the office.”

      “Want me to find out?” When she just stared at him, Denny said, “Well, I can, you know.”

      “Don’t even think about actually checking up on him.” Her order didn’t faze Denny one bit. “I mean it, old man. He’s driving me nuts, but—”

      “He’s bothering you?” And then in a growl, “Maybe I don’t like him after all.”

      “Oh God, don’t start cracking your knuckles. It’s not like that.” Quinton was a handful all on his own. She didn’t need to juggle Denny now, too.

      “Then how is it?”

      “You’ve got gonads. Put it together.”

      “Ah.” Denny’s ears actually lifted, he smiled so big. “He’s bothering you that way. I get it.”

      In that moment Denny seemed like a damn fine confidante. She didn’t have anyone else to talk to except May, and May had an upcoming wedding to deal with. She was euphoric, and Ashley didn’t want to bring her down with her petty concerns. “If you stop grinning like the village idiot, I’d like to get your thoughts on this mess.”

      “Mess?”

      “Exactly.” She propped her head in both hands. “Before meeting Quinton, I liked my life just fine.”

      “No, you didn’t. You just accepted it.”

      Because she’d never envisioned anything