"He came to a stop for a red light. "That explains a lot."
I shrugged. "So don't judge her. And don't judge me for helping her. It seems like fun and games, but it's more than that."
He reached for my shoulder and squeezed it. "You're a great friend, but don't put your life on hold just to make sure she lives hers."
I sucked in a breath. He was wrong. Totally wrong. "I'm not. Not at all. Look at me with you here tonight, trying to wrangle up a date." I swiped a stray tear off my cheek and put my defensive humor back in full protection mode. I hadn't told too many people the story I'd just told Brady. But now it was time to change the topic. "So, who are the lucky fellows today, anyway?"
The car behind us beeped, and he pulled his hand away from me and started driving. "Some friends from college. Good bunch of guys, and they'll love you."
"Where did you go to college?'
"U Mass."
"For their fabulous bartending program?"
"Ouch, that almost hurt. No, I got the most useless degree in the world-political science-and here I am, wondering what to do next."
"Besides counseling dateless women."
"Soon to be formerly dateless women."
"Could be your new calling: matchmaker to the hopeless."
"His friend Jack had a fabulous house with a big back yard and a beautiful wife who laid out a spread of food that should've been photographed and put on a magazine cover. I would have been happy dating her just for the food. But Brady was right, a few interesting friends were there as well, and he made it clear when he introduced me that I was just his pal.
"Go get 'em champ," he whispered to me. He went into the house, leaving me outside with Brett the dentist, Tony the roofer, and Zach, who owned a store. We wandered over to a horseshoe pit. I was just glad no real horses were involved. That would certainly have had an ugly outcome.
"Jane's on my team," Tony announced. His big, black dog"
"barked his approval and ran over to us.
That made me smile. He was my pick of the bunch, with long, dark hair, a killer tan and muscles to match. And he brought his dog along? I'm in, I thought. I grinned at him. "Confession time, before you tap me for your team."
"Oh, no. You don't play for my team?" He tried to look serious.
I playfully whacked him. "I've never played horseshoes."
"Never too late to learn. Let me show you." He handed me a horseshoe and stood behind me, gripping my hand and showing me how to pull my arm back and throw it toward the pin. I'm certain he could've gotten across the points of the game without the up-close-and-personal demonstration, but that was the most man action I'd had in months.
I threw the first shoe and it clanged against the stake and spun around, dropping to the grass.
He high-fived me. "Holy crap, total natural! Knew I was right about you."
"I smacked my hand to my forehead. "All these years neglecting this inborn talent. I could've been on my school's horseshoe team."
Brady wandered out with beers for us all and watched while Tony and I totally creamed the other team. Tony scooped me up and spun me around. "You're awesome." His dog leapt and barked, hoping to join the fun. "Even Winston thinks so." He patted his dog's head.
I looked over at Brady, but he wasn't smiling.
Tony sat next to me at dinner, and we had a competition to
