“It’s still about you,” Andrew argued, leaning forward and resting his elbows on the table as he stared Sharon down, his expression earnest. “I care about you. I want you to be happy. I don’t want you to be hurt.”

The sincerity in his voice was undeniable and Jake could practically feel Sharon soften beside him. Andrew’s little speech even touched him.

“I’m going to do my best to make her happy,” he reassured Andrew, who lifted his gaze to meet Jake’s. Something indefinable passed through the air between them, a kind of recognition. Jake got it, he really did, especially after talking to Patrick. Andrew saw himself as being somewhat responsible for Sharon, even if she didn’t see it that way.

Realizing that his warning had been heard and understood, Andrew straightened up and nodded at Jake. Both of the women looked back and forth between them, Kate appearing amused, while Sharon was a bit disbelieving.

She shook her head and groaned. “You two are Neanderthals.”

Jake winked at her. “Isn’t that why I’m Captain Caveman?”

Of course they couldn’t have a nice, normal night at Stronghold without ribbing from their friends. They were all standing around at their usual bar table, except Angel and Adam who were at home with baby Melody, and Luke and Olivia who were at Marquis.

“What was that about you and Jake not getting together just because you’re the last two single people in our group of friends, again?” Ellie teased her quietly. Not quietly enough though – both Maria and Hilary overheard her and started cracking up. Dammit. She knew she shouldn’t have helped Ellie become more outspoken.

“I know, I know,” Sharon said with a resigned sigh. “I’m a walking cliché. But can you blame me? I mean, look at this.” She reached over and yanked up Jake’s shirt to show off his abs.

“What are you doing?” he yelped, pulling it back down. Since he’d been in the middle of talking to Liam and Jared, he had missed the parallel conversation. Sharon giggled as the others cracked up and Jake glared at her like an affronted virgin.

Suddenly his glare changed, turning a little darker and a little more dangerous and the urge to giggle dried up real fast. He lifted one dark brow, his blue eyes glittering as he focused on her and Sharon found herself squeezing her thighs together.

It was like he’d flipped on a Dom switch – even if he would deny it – and her body responded immediately.