She was trying. And succeeding, it appeared.

“He seems to be looking at you now,” Bea said, her tone such a false kind of casual that Jamie didn’t even think she was trying too hard to fake it.

So Jamie didn’t bother to pretend she wasn’t interested in what Gabe was doing. She glanced over again, and saw that Gabe actually was looking at her.

The blonde was looking at him, and Jamie could see that she was a little bit irritated to have lost some of his attention.

Something uncoiled in Jamie’s stomach that she didn’t have a name for.

The woman grabbed hold of Gabe’s face and redirected his focus back to her. And immediately following that, pressed her lips to his.

Jamie felt like someone had struck a match on her scalp and then thrown the lit flame into her hair.

The kiss only lasted a moment, and when it was over, the woman looked at Jamie. Right in the eyes. And she had a little smile on her glossed lips that said she knew she’d scored a point in a game Jamie didn’t know the rules to.

And before Jamie could even think about what she was doing, she stood up.

“Jamie...” But Bea’s voice faded into the background as Jamie squared her shoulders and strode across the bar.

Jamie Dodge didn’t run scared. It wasn’t in her. And she sure as hell didn’t let women in high heels think they could intimidate her with a wink and a little bit of lip gloss.

“Hi,” Jamie said, crossing her arms and standing squarely between the two of them. “How’s Gem?” She directed the question at him, ignoring his companion completely.

Gabe blinked twice and looked her up and down. “Good.”

“Good,” Jamie said. “Just wanted to make sure. You know, since we haven’t talked for a couple of hours. My hip is fine, by the way. Thanks for all the...all the attention you gave it.”

“Good to know,” Gabe said, tension biting off the end of every word. The woman was looking at Jamie now, and suddenly Jamie felt like she’d scored a point.

A point in a game she didn’t know the rules for, but a point was a point.

She wasn’t exactly sure what it was about what she’d said that had perturbed the other woman, but she wanted to chase that.

“I took her temperature,” Jamie said. “Gem. Before you came down earlier. Just to let you know. I know Beatrix said she gave her a veterinary check, but I just wanted to make sure everything was good.” She nodded, mostly to herself. “It is.”

The other woman blinked, clearly unsure of what to make of Jamie at this point. Jamie wasn’t quite sure why that comment didn’t land the same as the other one.

“Jamie,” Gabe said, his lips curving upward. “Can I talk to you for a second?”

“We’re talking,” Jamie said, planting her feet firmly on the wood floor and widening her stance.