Jenna laughed but wasn’t deterred from taking in the closest table to the bar, where three guys sat drinking and talking.

“Don’t you dare.”

“Who here is single?” Jenna asked the table.

Two of the guys pointed to the third.

“You?” Jenna asked him, clearly wanting confirmation.

He took a beat to check Jenna out. She was channeling Beach Barbie tonight, with her wild blond hair rioting around her pretty face, her athletic build emphasized by tightly fitted fancy yoga gear.

“Yeah,” the guy said. “I’m most definitely single.”

“Good. Because it’s my friend’s birthday.” She turned to gesture at Piper, who froze in the act of trying to sneak off.

“Why is she hiding in the corner writing in a book?” Single Guy wanted to know.

Jenna looked at Piper. “Well, we’re not all perfect. But she’s got a lot going for her. She’s friendly . . . ish. And she’s got all her shots, and is potty-trained to boot. I mean, yeah, okay, sometimes she hides out in bars writing in her diary. But hey, who doesn’t, am I right?”

Looking alarmed, Single Guy turned back to his friends.

“Gee,” Piper said dryly. “And you made me sound like such a catch too.”

Jenna shrugged. “Maybe he’s not a diary fan.”

“Yeah. That’s definitely it. And it’s a journal.”

“Don’t you worry,” Jenna said. “I’m not done.”

“Please be done.”

But Jenna was now eyeballing the man who’d just taken a barstool a few seats down. Ohmygod, she mouthed. That’s him. That’s New Hot Guy!

He was in military green cargoes and a black Henley that hugged his long, leanly muscled body. He had dark hair, dark eyes, and dark scruff, all of which went with his quietly dark expression that said not feeling social.

Jenna started to stand up for round two of Let’s Embarrass Piper.

“Don’t you dare!”

“Hey,” Jenna said to the man, who nodded in return. “So . . . you’re a guy.”

“Last time I checked,” he said.

Jenna jerked a thumb toward Piper. “It’s my best friend’s birthday.”

Hot Guy’s gaze locked on Piper, who was wishing for an invisibility cloak.

“She’s made herself a list,” Jenna said, and helpfully turned the journal his way.

Honest to God, Piper had no idea why she loved this woman.

Hot Guy read the list, rubbed the sexy scruff on his jaw, and then spoke to Piper. “Is this for you or your grandma?”

Jenna snorted. “That’s actually her nickname. Grandma.”

“Some wingman you are.” Piper snatched up the journal and closed it.

“What does the ‘me time’ entail?” Hot Guy asked.

“Pretty sure it involves batteries,” Jenna said.

“Okay.” Piper pointed at her. “You know what? You’re cut off.”

“Notice that she didn’t answer the question,” Jenna muttered.