Argeneau Family 12. The Renegade Hunter(27)

"Hmm." Jo shifted uncomfortably, and then sighed, "Gina, honey, I'm the last person in the world you should be asking for advice from on relationships. I don't have them. Not lately anyway. Between work and study I just don't have time for men."

"Yeah, I suppose." Gina sighed, and then handed over her spare keys. "I fed Charlie last night and this morning and took him for a walk. He's been real good; no barking or tearing up the house while you were gone. He was sleeping at the foot of your bed when I checked on him earlier."

"Thanks," Jo said, taking the keys. "I owe you one."

"Nah." Gina grinned. "I love that dog. He's a sweetie."

"Yeah, he is," Jo agreed with a grin and started to turn away, but paused when Gina caught her arm.

"I forgot to ask, how was your sister's party?"

"Oh." Jo wrinkled her nose. "It was me, Sam, Alex, and a dozen good-looking guys, and it was boring as sin if you can imagine."

"No way," Gina said with amazement.

"Yes way," Jo said dryly. "I think they were all gay too… or most of them," she added, thinking Nicholas definitely hadn't been gay.

"They are not gay," Bricker suddenly exclaimed, drawing her attention to the fact that he was walking up the stairs toward them. "God, woman, what scandalous rumors are you spreading here?"

Jo grinned at his horrified expression. "It's not rumor if it's true. What are you—Oh," she murmured when he held up her backpack.

"You left it in the SUV," he said.

"Thanks." Jo took it from him, and when his gaze slid to Gina, said, "This is my neighbor, Gina. Gina, this is Justin Bricker. A friend of my sister's boyfriend. He and another friend brought me home."

"Hello." Gina smiled brightly and held out her hand. Her eyes were positively eating Bricker alive, Jo noted, and thought that if Dan didn't get his butt in gear and make some moves on the girl, he was definitely going to lose her to a more interested party. Fortunately for Dan, while Bricker eyed Gina appreciatively in her skimpy attire, his smile was polite and he—thankfully—didn't give Gina the same penis-eye look that he'd first given her up north and that all the men at the party had been trying on last night.

"So," he said, turning away from Gina to raise his eyebrows at Jo. "You're going in your apartment and I'm going back out to the SUV and you're going to signal us if Nicholas shows up, right?"

"Dream on, buddy," Jo said with a laugh as she slung the backpack over her shoulder. Glancing to Gina then she said, "Later, G."

"Later, Jo," Gina responded absently, her eyes still examining Bricker minutely.

"Oh, come on," Bricker said, following when Jo continued up the hall. "We're buddies. Practically family, and you hardly know Nicholas."

"True," Jo agreed with amusement as she paused to unlock her door. "But I didn't cut him loose last night just to turn around and help you catch him again. Besides…" she added, and then paused as she started to open the door.

"Besides, what?" Bricker prompted.

"Besides, you've never kissed me like he did last night," Jo admitted with a smile as she opened the door just enough to slide in. She turned to face him through the narrow opening then and added, "In fact, you've never kissed me at all. Tell the truth, all you boys that hang with Mortimer really are gay, right?"

Bricker's jaw dropped and Jo grinned and closed the door, calling, "Bye Bricker. Happy watching."

"Just a minute. Open the door. Hey, I'm not gay!" he shouted, knocking at the door. "Open the door and I'll kiss you to prove it. Come on, Jo."

"Sorry, not interested," she said on a laugh and started away from the door, only to jerk to a halt with a startled gasp when a dark shape came hurtling at her, nearly knocking her on her ass.

"Jo!" Bricker called, sounding worried now. He rattled the door. "Are you all right?"

"I'm fine," she said on a laugh as she managed to steady herself and began to pet the German shepherd who had greeted her so exuberantly. "It was just my dog, Charlie. Now go away, Bricker."

Charlie barked as if to sound his agreement. His tail was wagging frantically, his tongue trying to swipe at her face as he did.

Laughing, Jo petted Charlie with one hand and tried to push his head away to keep him from licking her with the other. "Did you miss your mama?" she asked in a coo. "Hmm? Were you lonely here by yourself?"

Charlie barked, his tail wagging becoming even more frantic, and Jo laughed and urged the dog down, "Come on, I'll get you a treat for being so good while I was gone."