As her friends talked about weddings, babies, and businesses—all the ways in which their lives were moving forward—Tracey’s thoughts trickled back to having something more for herself. Her heart belonged to Diesel, but she wasn’t ready to think about a wedding, much less babies. She still had parts of her life to figure out before she could make a lifelong commitment to someone else. She tried not to worry about whether Diesel could ever really settle down in one place, or if he’d get restless and end up resenting her. He was a bounty hunter and a nomad, after all. She wondered if he missed the excitement of the work, the open road, or the freedom of his single life. He didn’t act like he did, and he’d been there for two years, so she hoped he would have felt the urge to take off before now. But still, those worries lingered in the background, cushioned by all the wonderful feelings she had for him and the belief and trust between them. Only time would tell with Diesel, but maybe it was time for her to start thinking about a real career for herself, finding a way to make a difference in other people’s lives the way her friends were.

“Earth to Tracey.” Josie waved her hand in front of her. “Daydreaming about Diesel again?”

“He is delicious to think about,” Tracey admitted.

“I knew he’d give earplug-worthy orgasms,” Dixie said with a smirk.

Tracey looked imploringly at Izzy.

“What? It’s true,” Izzy insisted. “I came home the other night, and I could hear y’all as I walked up to the front door.”

“You could not,” Tracey said with a laugh.

Izzy gave her a deadpan look.

“Okay, fine. It’s true. Geez.” Tracey looked around the quiet room. “Where are all the brides-to-be when I need them?”

DIESEL CLIMBED OFF his bike late Sunday afternoon, missing Tracey like he hadn’t seen her in a month. That was messed up, but hell if he could do anything about it. The crazy thing was, he didn’t want to. He liked the way she made him feel, the way he longed for her to be warming his back when he was on his bike and in his arms every night. But today he was tied in knots. He’d finally gotten a solid lead on her mother and had driven to Annapolis to check out the information. He’d found the petite brunette with whom Tracey shared a perky nose and pointy chin. Only Michelle Kline was now Michelle Kline-Braham, with a new family and a seemingly perfect life.

One that didn’t include Tracey.