McKenna shrugged. “Grant was my boss. Things happen.”

“You and Grant are not me and Gabe. Gabe and I are not...” She squinted. “Relationship people.”

“Are you sure about that?” Bea asked, her tone soft and careful. She had that look in her eye like she often got when she was looking at wounded animals.

“I am sure,” Jamie said. “Anyway, Beatrix.” She very carefully enunciated Bea’s full name. “You sat in this very bar and told me all about how fun sex with Dane was. Now you’re being prudish about me?”

“How did we get from a kiss to sex?” Bea asked.

Well, they hadn’t. But that was the next step on this particular path. It would have to be, really. Otherwise, it would always feel like a loose end.

“I would think you’d know all about how a kiss goes to sex,” she said. “I thought I was the one who didn’t know anything.”

“Someone has to worry about you, Jamie,” Bea said. “You think you’re bulletproof, and I’d rather you didn’t go testing that.”

“I just want...the fun thing you were talking about. I like him. I think he’s hot. Why shouldn’t I do it? Anyway, he’s the last man on earth I’d ever want to...end up with. I’m very realistic about cowboys.”

Bea laughed hollowly. “The problem, Jamie, which I learned, is that what starts as fun can turn into other things. And that’s the real problem.”

Jamie took a breath. She could see she wasn’t going to convince Bea unless Bea knew Jamie had a plan. “I want to go compete in the rodeo. I have some work to do before I can get myself into competition shape, but that’s what I want to do. I’m not even close to wanting to settle down. I doubt I ever will. So...”

McKenna shrugged. “Well, why not? Have some fun.”

Jamie gestured wildly toward McKenna. “See? Fun.”

“Yes. You know, you’ve been telling us both for ages that you know all about rodeo cowboys. And you’re a rodeo cowgirl anyway, so you don’t want a relationship. You know that he doesn’t. He’s a good-looking guy.”

Jamie couldn’t say she was thrilled to be in this conversation. She didn’t want her feelings for Gabe talked about like it was simple and easy. And this was way too public.

But that just made her feel contrary. Because she had been annoyed when they’d all been talking about something she hadn’t had access to. And now that she had some, it felt too personal to have a conversation about it all.

And that was just one kiss.

“I kissed him. That’s it. I don’t know if it will be anything more.” But the thought of it not being made her feel hollow and sad.

“Okay,” McKenna said, shrugging. “I don’t need to know if you had a fight. I need to know what spurred the kiss!”

“I might have made commentary on...that woman.”

“Jamie,” Bea said. “Are you jealous?”

Jamie felt magnified all of a sudden. Like she’d grown large in her seat. “I was a little. But I got better. I am better.”