Rush

figured
     out from gossip and bits and pieces of overheard conversations was that Lisa got a
     very healthy divorce settlement. Nothing that would cripple Gabe, of course, but Lisa
     had walked away with enough to last someone a lifetime. Or at least a normal person.
    “I have a pretty good idea after placing a few calls after she left the office.”
    Whoa, that was interesting. First, that Lisa was having financial issues and second,
     that Jace had been so quick to check into the matter. Not that it should have surprised
     her. Gabe, Jace and Ash were tight. And they had each other’s backs. Always.
    Jace and Ash had closed ranks around Gabe after the divorce and while it seemed ludicrous
     that Gabe would need any sort of support, she knew that an unbreakable bond existed
     among the men. She only hoped to hell it was unbreakable enough to survive the fallout
     if Jace ever found out about her relationship with Gabe.
    And then she remembered Caro’s plight.
    “Hey, speaking of,” Mia said, leaning up to stick her head between the front seats.
     “Can you do a background check on a guy named Brandon Sullivan? He’s a bouncer who
     works at a clubcalled Vibe. Just general info. You know, like whether he’s married, shacked up with
     someone or has a criminal record.”
    Jace braked for the red light and then both he and Ash turned to stare at her, deep
     frowns on their faces.
    “Is this someone you’re seeing?” Jace demanded.
    “A bouncer, Mia? You can do much better than that, sweetheart,” Ash chided.
    Mia shook her head. “Not me. Caroline. I told her I’d ask you to check. She’s paranoid
     after what happened with the last guy she was involved with.”
    Jace’s expression became thoughtful as he accelerated down the street. “Oh yeah, wasn’t
     she involved with a married guy a while back? I remember you saying something about
     that.”
    “Yeah, that’s the one,” Mia said with a sigh. “It messed her up pretty bad. Caro’s
     not like that. I mean she would have never gotten involved with a married man. She’s
     so sweet and trusting and this guy screwed her over royally. I just don’t want to
     see that happen to her again.”
    “I’ll take care of it,” Jace said. “Tell Caro not to worry. I’ll have him checked
     out first thing tomorrow morning.”
    “You’re the best,” she said.
    Jace smiled indulgently at her in the rearview mirror. “I’ve missed you, baby girl.
     We haven’t spent much time together lately.”
    “I’ve missed you too,” she said softly. And she had. Lately, though, it seemed they’d
     gone their separate ways, even before the thing with Gabe. Jace had been busier than
     ever with work. It was why she’d purposely gone to his grand opening. A night that
     had changed the course of her life. Looking back, she’d never have imagined how the
     decision to go to something as innocuous as a boring cocktail party would change everything
     so dramatically.
    They had to park a block away from the pub, and Ash opened her door, offering his
     hand to help her out. Jace and Ash flankedher as they made their way down the busy street as dusk settled around them.
    The pub was still relatively quiet. It was early to eat yet, and the pub wouldn’t
     fill to capacity until later in the night. Ash directed them to a corner booth that
     overlooked the cross street, and a peppy waitress was extremely fast to pick up their
     table. She eyed Ash and Jace like they were her next meal and she was about to dig
     in.
    She was younger than Mia. She had to be. She looked to be maybe twenty. Probably a
     college student waiting tables for extra money. Which meant there was an even bigger
     age gap between her and Jace and Ash. Eighteen years? Not that it was that much more
     than the difference between her and Gabe, but it just seemed creepy to watch as someone
     who looked like a teenager flirted with her brother and his best friend.
    They managed to get their food ordered after the flirt session. Mia was in the mood
     to indulge. Since fudge was waiting for her at home, why not just let it all hang
     out? While she may eat a salad with Gabe, she had no reservations with Jace and Ash
     and she ordered nachos fully loaded.
    That didn’t stop her from mooching off Jace’s and Ash’s plates.
    They laughed and joked and talked about everything and nothing. After she’d shoved
     her plate forward, so stuffed she could barely breathe, she impulsively leaned over
     and