Jenny’s mind was spinning as she listened to the conversation while Evan and Owen played “Cool Change” by the Little River Band. What was wrong with his mother? Was that what he’d meant by female problems, but not the kind she thought? She startled when she realized Linc was talking to her.

“Excuse me. What did you say?”

“I was asking where you’d gone off to.”

“Sorry, just daydreaming.”

Alex sent the round of drinks to the table with one of the waitresses, but he remained at the bar, his back to it, as he stared at her across the crowded venue.

Jenny felt his stare on her as intimately as she’d felt his fingers on her and in her the night before. She shifted in her seat, suddenly aware of a deep throb between her legs. How was that possible? How was he able to do that to her with merely a look, when a perfectly wonderful guy sat next to her, actually touching her, and she didn’t feel a damned thing?

The worst part was the small, satisfied smile on his handsome face that told her he knew exactly what he was doing to her. So she decided to ignore him. She focused her attention on Evan and Owen, who were now playing “Ho Hey” by the Lumineers. As usual, their performance was full of energy and awesome music.

Half an hour later, she was still focused intently on the stage as well as the friends at their table, but she desperately needed to use the restroom, which would mean walking past Alex’s post at the bar. Which was worse? Walking by him or wetting her pants? Right then, she couldn’t say.

“I’m going to hit the restroom,” Jenny said to Linc, charmed when he rose to help her from her chair. “Be right back.”

Focused on not actually wetting her pants, she made a beeline for the bathroom and was proud of herself for not so much as glancing in Alex’s direction as she went by him. She took care of business—with tremendous relief—and then gave herself a minute to calm down and get control of her ridiculous emotions.

Why did she react so strongly to him? What was it about him that made him different from other guys? Why couldn’t she garner the same level of interest in Linc, who was a great guy?

Laura, Sydney and Tiffany came into the bathroom, looking for her.

“Okay, girlfriend, spill the beans!” Tiffany said. “Linc seems really into you! Are you into him?”

“He’s a really nice guy,” Jenny said, frantically trying to offer the level of enthusiasm they were hoping for.

Sydney took a closer look. “Oh no.”

“What?” Grace asked, looking at Jenny for insight.

“She doesn’t like him,” Syd said.

“I never said that!”