“Why ever not?”

“Because when I get you back to my bed later, I’m going to make love to you for hours, and you will not only be awake for it, you’ll have full use of your beautiful brain.” He takes my hand in his, links our fingers and kisses my knuckles. “I mean it, Meg, no alcohol. Please.”

How can I refuse that?

“Okay, no alcohol,” I agree and my stomach twists and turns nervously. He smiles softly and kisses my hand again before I pull into the bowling alley parking lot. I find a parking spot and kill the engine and take a deep, deep breath.

“Thank you for letting me drive your car,” I murmur over to him with a big smile on my face.

“You’re welcome. You look hot driving this car.”

“It’s the car. Anyone would look hot while driving it.”

“Can I have my keys back now?” he asks.

We find the whole gang already in the bowling alley, putting on their shoes and choosing balls. The alley is small, in an out-of-the-way neighborhood of Seattle, and I’m sure it was chosen on purpose to minimize the chance of Luke and Will being recognized. The lanes are dark, the pins and artwork lit up with black light and pop music is playing loudly. This is obviously techno-bowl night.

Will and I approach the counter.

“Rental shoes,” He smiles down at me, and I grimace.

“And rental foot-disease.”

He laughs loudly and kisses the top of my head. “They disinfect them, I think.”

“With what, Aquanet?” I eye the spray can on the countertop and the guy behind the counter gives me the stink eye.

“Size?” the big guy asks.

“Eight,” I mutter.

“Fourteen,” Will responds and I giggle.

“What?” he asks.

“You know what they say about men with big feet…” I giggle again as he glares at me, and if I’m not mistaken, actually blushes.

“Behave.”

“What did I say?” I ask innocently.

“Yeah, you’re not innocent, babe. You just had to wear that outfit, didn’t you?”

I look down at my red, thigh-length sun dress, and brown shrug and frown up at him.

“What’s wrong with my dress?”

“Are you wearing underwear?” he murmurs into my ear so only I can hear.

“Of course not.”

“That’s what’s wrong with your dress.”

“Hey, let’s get this game going!” Jules yells from our lane and we join them.

Natalie and Jules pull me into big hugs. I’m so excited to see them. I’ve really missed them over the past few years.

“Hey, guys.” Will shakes hands with his brothers, kisses the girls on the cheek and puts his shoes on.

“Hey, Meg, how are you?” Stacy asks from her chair by the ball chute. Will wasn’t kidding when he said she’s incredibly pregnant.

“I’m good, thanks. How are you feeling, little mama?”

Stacy laughs and rubs her belly. “Oh! He’s kicking! Here.” She grabs my hand, jerks me down to squat in front of her and lays my hand over her belly, and sure enough, the baby is pushing against my palm.

“He’s a strong little sucker.” I smile up at her and she chuckles.

“My ribs would agree. He’s going to be a soccer player.”

“Football,” all of the men correct her at once and we laugh.

“I’m Brynna,” a pretty, brown-haired woman with the darkest eyes I’ve ever seen smiles at me from her seat next to Stacy. “We met at the party, but I didn’t really get to talk to you.”

“Hi, Brynna. Meg.” I shake her hand and stand.

“Really? We just got here. God, you guys!” Jules exclaims. Nat and Luke are making out, again.

“Ignore them,” Nate murmurs in her ear and Jules grins up at him. Wow, she loves him. The Jules I used to know never would have looked at a man like that.

Of course, Nate is a fine specimen of man. That tattoo he’s sporting on his right arm is bad-ass.

“Stop ogling my soon-to-be brother-in-law,” Will growls in my ear.

“I’m not. I’m appreciating the art on his arm.”

“Speaking of art, what song is that on your arm, Meg?” Matt asks, referring to the tattoo on my inner bicep.

“Oh, just a song,” I wave him off, and search my head for a conversation changer. I’d rather not discuss the song, or what it means to me.

Not yet.

“Okay, c’mere, sweetheart, I’ll show you how to throw the ball.”

“Oh, you don’t have to…” Jules starts but I shake my head at her, halting her. She smiles sweetly at her brother. “You don’t have to wait. Go ahead and show her.”

“Are you the man for the job?” I ask him sarcastically.

“I know my way around balls, babe,” he winks at me and all the guys snicker. “I work with balls for a living.”

“Oh dear God, please don’t talk about your balls all night. I’ll be sick.” Jules scowls at him and Will smirks.

Will chooses a ball and backs up onto the lane, crooking his finger at me with a knowing smile on his sexy lips.

“Oh, thank goodness you’re here to show me how to handle the balls,” I announce sarcastically, earning laughter from our friends.

“Come on, smart ass.” I step up to him and he folds his large body behind me, wraps his arms around mine and places the ball in my hands. To torture him, just a little, I wiggle my butt against him and lean into him. He growls low in his throat and swears under his breath before he begins his instructions. “You have to be gentle with the ball. Respect the ball. Visualize in your head where you want the ball to land.”