Mick put his arm around Tara. “She needs to meet with the manager of her place here in San Francisco. And we get a couple of date nights out of it, too. Have to keep that romance alive.”

   Tara grinned. “Romance is vital.”

   Amelia could feel the love between the two of them. “Yes, it definitely is.”

   “They’re really sickening, those two,” Flynn said, though he smiled as he said it.

   Amelia realized Flynn was alone. “Where’s Jameson?”

   “I ordered a car for her and sent her back to her hotel.”

   “Oh. Did she have an early flight to catch?”

   “No.”

   She supposed from his disgruntled expression that she shouldn’t ask any more questions about Jameson.

   “She was a little fond of the cameras, wasn’t she, Flynn?” Tara asked.

   “Yeah. I have a knack for finding women who are camera magnets.”

   “You should let me fix you up with someone,” Tara said. “I know a lot of nice women.”

   “No, thanks. After tonight’s disaster I think I’ll just take a break from women right now.”

   Mick snorted.

   Flynn glared at him. “What?”

   “Take a break from women. Like you could do that.”

   “I could.”

   “No, you couldn’t.” Mick gestured with his hands. “It’s like the buffet here. You can’t resist taking a taste of everything.”

   Flynn lifted his chin and Amelia noticed the firm line of his lips. “I’m not like that with women.”

   “Aren’t you? You always seem to have one around.”

   Flynn narrowed his gaze. “Yeah, and you were such a saint before you met Tara.”

   “Hey, I never claimed to be. But I didn’t lie to myself about taking a break.”

   Amelia wondered if the two of them were going to shove the chairs back and start throwing punches. She glanced over at Tara, who didn’t seem at all concerned about the argument.

   Then, suddenly, Flynn laughed. “Okay, fine. Maybe I won’t take a break. But, Christ, I’d sure as hell like to find a woman who prefers me over the cameras.”

   Mick slapped him on the back. “I know exactly what that’s like, buddy.”

   Tension diffused. If there actually had ever been any tension. Maybe it had all been in her mind.

   “Are you two always like this?” Amelia asked.

   Flynn looked over at her. “Like what?”

   “Arguing with each other one second, then laughing the next.”

   Mick grinned. “We give each other shit all the time. Flynn knows I was just joking with him.”

   Flynn laid his hand on her arm. “Were you worried about me?”

   “No. Not at all. I was just wondering if I should move out of the way before one of you went flying over the table. But then I noticed Tara didn’t seem worried.”

   Tara shrugged and took a sip of her wine. “I’m used to them. They’re like small boys in large bodies.”

   Mick leaned over and kissed her cheek. “I’m going to take that as a compliment.”

   “You do that. In the meantime, we should find a decent woman for Flynn to go out with before he chooses another disaster like Jameson.”

   “Thanks, but I can find my own woman.”

   “Oh, right,” Amelia said. “Because you’re doing such a winning job on that front so far.”

   Flynn’s focus landed on Amelia. “Hey. Now you’re joining the fray?”

   “Now that I know you’re not going to punch anyone at the table, I thought I might.”

   “Yes, Amelia told me about some of your non-success stories earlier,” Tara said.

   Flynn pinned Amelia with a look. “Traitor.”

   Amelia’s lips lifted. “Sorry. I was using them in reference to Jameson, who I hoped at the time would be different.”

   “Now that we know you can’t possibly select your own woman, Amelia and I should act as matchmakers for you.”

   Mick looked at them in horror. “That’s got train wreck written all over it.”

   “How so?” Amelia asked.

   “I don’t know, but I’ve never been fond of the fix-up.”

   “Let me give it a try,” Tara said. “I’m having a dinner party next Tuesday at our place for friends as well as a few of the guys on the team.”

   “Offense,” Mick said to Flynn.

   Flynn grimaced and Mick laughed.

   “Why don’t you come, Flynn, and I’ll fix you up with someone?” Tara asked. “Amelia, you come, too.”

   “Thank you, but I’ll be working,” Amelia said.

   “If I have to go, so do you,” Flynn said. “So you get the night off.”

   She was about to object, but it might be fun to see how Flynn managed being fixed up with one of Tara’s friends. So she nodded. “Thank you, Tara. I’d love to.”

   “And this way it’ll give you a chance to meet some new people, too, Amelia.”

   “Why don’t you fix her up with someone, too, Tara?” Flynn asked. “She doesn’t know that many people here.”

   Amelia glared at Flynn before turning a gentle smile on Tara. “Oh, that’s not necessary.”

   But Tara cast a bright smile in Amelia’s direction. “That’s actually a great idea. Dates for both of you at the party on Tuesday.”

   She couldn’t very well say no since she’d just shoved Flynn into this. “Great. Thank you.”

   But she did send a withering look at Flynn, who only smiled knowingly at her.

   Bastard.

 

 

SIX

 

   Amelia was in the midst of prepping boeuf bourguignon when the doorbell rang. She grabbed the towel to wipe her hands and went to the door. It was Laura.

   “Hey, come on in. I thought you were working today.”

   “I switched shifts with one of my coworkers who didn’t want to miss her daughter’s dance recital. So I’m on later, instead.”

   “That means no wine for you. Too bad.” She took a sip from her glass and laid it on the island.

   “What in the world are you making? Is that boeuf bourguignon?”