Sunshine peered up at me through her eyelashes. “I have a friend I’d love for you to meet.” There it was.

I had become everyone’s charity case.

I rubbed the back of my neck, trying to find the words that wouldn’t make me seem like a complete asshole. “I don’t know, Sunshine. I don’t know if I’m ready for anything yet.” I gave her a halfhearted smile as my hands dropped to my side.

She cocked her head, raising an eyebrow. “You were ready to go home with Brandy the other night.” Her foot tapped rapidly on the grass as she stared at me.

“Well, that was different,” I lied.

Sunshine poked me in the chest, her eyes piercing me. “It is not. Now, you listen to me, Frisco, and listen good.” She poked me harder and stepped closer. “Georgia is a lovely girl. I work with her, and I think you two would really hit it off.”

“Georgia?” Bear interrupted, bursting into laughter and regrouping. “She sounds hot.”

Sunshine turned slowly and glared at him. “Suck it, Bear.”

Bear repeated “Georgia, Georgia” over and over again quietly so only I could hear.

“Sunshine…” I shifted on my feet, trying to think of something brilliant to say. “I just don’t think it’s a good idea. I’m not really looking for a relationship right now.”

In all honesty, a girl with the name Georgia probably wasn’t my bag of chips. I liked Brandys, Candys, and Trixies right now. I knew what I was in for, they knew what I offered, and it kept shit simple.

Sunshine laid her hand on my chest, looking up at me with her big baby blues. “Will you at least meet her? Please,” she said, pleading with me.

“Give it up, man. She won’t stop until she gets what she wants,” City said.

I’d known her long enough to know that she wasn’t a quitter. “Fine,” I growled. I didn’t have a fucking choice in the matter, and I might as well get it over with.

“Yes!” she cheered, fist-pumping the air. “Stay right there.” She pointed to the ground with wide eyes before shuffling off. “I’m going to go get her.”

“Yay!” I chanted sarcastically and clapped my hands.

This wouldn’t end well.

Fix-ups never did.

Bear nudged me in the ribs. “Hope you and Georgia have fun.”

“Shut up,” I grumbled. Watching Suzy walk across the yard toward a giant group of women huddled under a tree, I held my breath.

City slapped my shoulder. “Dude, you’ll like her,” he promised before he walked away.

I couldn’t breathe. It felt like my throat was closing, like I was having an allergic reaction.

“I mean, she sounds hot,” Bear said, causing me to glance at him. “Probably a teacher like Suzy Sunshine and likes to sit home with her twenty cats on the weekend.” Bear wiped the tears away from his eyes.

“Fuckin’ great.” My gaze flickered upward before zeroing in on Sunshine. “Clusterfuck.”

“This is going to be fun.”

“Don’t you have somewhere to be?”

“I ain’t going anywhere now. Shit’s about to get good. You’ve never been able to say no to Sunshine.”

“Don’t act like you don’t have a soft spot for her too,” I snapped. Bear would take a bullet for Suzy. He’d kill for her if need be. Not because he wanted her, but because he loved her like family.

We all did. Hence why my dumbass hadn’t taken off. I stood here, waiting for her to introduce me to her friend and felt a sense of impending doom.

Staring across the yard, I watched as Suzy spoke to the group. Which one was she? They weren’t bad-lookin’ ladies, but none of them looked to be my type.

That was a lie.

I didn’t really have a type, other than a woman who could keep her legs closed for five damn seconds when out of my presence. I was game for just about anyone. Color didn’t matter, ethnicity didn’t factor, even size. I loved women who were comfortable with themselves above all else.

Dating a friend’s friend complicated shit. There was nothing in the world I’d want to do to fuck up the friendship I had with Sunshine and City.

Suzy glanced at me and I waved her over. I had to put a stop to this before it ended badly. I’d just have to tell her that I couldn’t meet Georgia.

“Yeah?” she asked as she approached, her sundress swaying as she tried to hold the hem from blowing up with the wind.

I peered over her shoulder, noticing the group of women staring in silence. “I don’t think this is a good idea.”

She recoiled, taking a step backward before recovering. “Oh no, you don’t, buddy. You’re going to meet her.” Her lips were set in a firm line when she grabbed my hand.

“Suzy.” I tried to pull away but failed. “It won’t end up well. I’m not made for a schoolteacher, babe.”

She rolled her eyes. “Frisco, she’s not a schoolteacher.”

“Oh?” My eyebrows shot up. I’d just assumed she was, not that it was a bad thing. Most teachers I knew were actually freaks in the sack, but being that she was Sunshine’s friend told me she had to be innocent like her.

“Stop being a baby. We aren’t all like her.” I loved that Sunshine referred to the cheating whore as her. She was like an outcast who didn’t deserve a name.

“I know,” I said, squeezing her hand gently.

“Come on.” She turned around and tugged me forward.

I dug my heels into the ground, but the woman didn’t listen. She pulled me forward, yanking me by the arm like a woman possessed, and I let her.

“Suzy,” I said.

“Have fun, man!” Bear called out.

“Don’t listen to him. You’re gonna love Georgia.”

“Georgia,” I whispered, choking on the word. I swallowed hard when ten sets of eyes swept over me.

“Everyone,” she said, releasing my hand and motioning toward me, “this is Frisco.”

I waved like a moron. “Hi, ladies.” I suddenly felt self-conscious when I noticed a few of them lick their lips.

“I’m going to borrow Georgia for a little bit.” Sunshine reached through the crowd, and my eyes followed her every movement, waiting to see her.

Everything seemed to stop.

Maybe it was the redhead with the glasses who looked like she hadn’t been fucked properly in her entire life. We’d never get past first base.

What was I thinking coming to this damn party?

A woman stepped through the crowd and waved. “Hey,” she said, sounding like an angel. Her look, on the other hand, was anything but heavenly. Don’t get me wrong. She was hot as hell, but she didn’t look an ounce of innocent.

My jaw dropped open and the air in my lungs disappeared. I closed my mouth, trying to find my words. Before I could speak, I reached out and brought her hand to my lips. “It’s nice to meet you, Georgia,” I whispered, peering into her rich, dark eyes.

She blushed and batted her eyelashes. “You too, Frisco.”

“Why don’t you two go sit and chat a while?” Sunshine suggested as she touched our arms and moved us forward. “Go spend some time learning about each other.”

“She’s bossy,” Georgia said before her shiny red lips turned up in a smile.

I laughed, nodding in agreement and mesmerized by her mouth. “You have no idea.”

Sunshine waved her hands dismissively at us. “Scoot, you two.”

I gave Sunshine a peck on the cheek before turning toward Georgia.

I held out my hand to her, trying to be a complete gentleman. “Can I get you a drink?” I asked.

She slid her fingers into my palm and took a step closer. “I’d love a drink.”

As we walked toward the makeshift patio bar, I caught a glimpse of Bear. His eyes were bulging out of his head and his jaw was almost touching the grass.

Eat your heart out, buddy. I smirked and gave him a chin lift.

“Fucker,” he mouthed. He shook his head and grabbed another cupcake, drowning his envy in desserts.

She leaned close and whispered, “Your friend?” She motioned toward Bear with her head, and her black locks shimmered in the sunlight.

“Some people call him that.” I held her hand, helping to stabilize her on the grass until our feet touched the concrete patio. “What would you like?” I asked and released her tiny hand.