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earth. He was a football-watching, NASCAR-crazed, beer-guzzling, pizza-ordering man’s man from the word go and she didn’t even want to know how he’d react to Mr. Steele’s comment.
    “I’ll take that as a no?” Marcus asked.
    “Definitely a no. My friend is absolutely, positively not gay.”
    “Blind perhaps?” Marcus leaned closer and Ginny grinned at his obvious attempts at charm. Not that they wouldn’t have worked on a lesser woman, but Ginny Brooks had endured millions of Travers’ gorgeous, heart-stopping moves. Her immunity to such antics was almost perfect.
    “Not blind either,” she answered matter-of-factly. “He’s just not interested.”
    As soon as she spoke the words aloud, she felt an unfamiliar pang of disappointment. Travers hadn’t touched her in a sexual way since the night they’d gone 32
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    camping after graduating from high school. She’d harbored a small crush on him for about a year after that—until he’d come home the following summer and proceeded to cut a swath through all the hometown girls before returning to college. According to Anderson, his dating record at home was only surpassed by his dating record at college.
    At that point, she’d resigned herself to their continued friendship and it really didn’t take her long to recover from the crush and move on.
    She hadn’t thought of Travers as a man she could be attracted to for over a decade.
    However, if she was being honest with herself, he’d gotten under her skin tonight. His sweet words, his charisma, his charm. They’d all snuck under her defenses and struck a chord.
    Shit. What the hell was she thinking? There was no way she could actually desire Ryan Travers. He was her arrogant, immature, cocky friend and nothing more. That damn martini must have been more potent than she’d realized.
    “Well then, he’s a fool, because I can assure you it’s simply not possible for him to find a more attractive woman in this club.”
    “Ooh, very nice,” Ginny purred and she watched Marcus’ eyes narrow slightly. No doubt he expected her to be easily swayed by his empty flattery.
    “You’re an interesting woman, Ginny Brooks. Can I buy you a drink?” he asked.
    Ginny leaned closer and reveled in the feeling of seducing such a handsome man.
    Clearly he was accustomed to using his good looks and charm to win women over and she wondered if any woman had ever challenged the dominating edge she could sense beneath the surface. At last, the night seemed to be looking up.
    “I’d love a drink,” she whispered huskily.
    “What the fuck do you think you’re doing?”
    Ginny winced as Travers barked his question from behind her. She turned slowly, sighing loudly. Looks like the bouncer had arrived after all.
    “Hey, Travers,” she said lightly. “I didn’t think you’d still be here.”
    33
    Mari Carr
    “Ryan Travers?” Marcus’ voice drifted from behind her and she glanced back in time to see a trace of humor on his face as he looked at her. “Ryan Travers is your friend?”
    Ginny was confused by the question, but it didn’t matter. Travers didn’t give her time to answer.
    “Yeah, I’m her friend. What the fuck is going on, Brooks? I thought you were just going to the restroom.”
    “I got turned around, lost,” she lied.
    “Sure you did.” His answer was accompanied by a smirk that merely reinforced the sarcasm in his tone.
    “Listen, Travers, I don’t need a babysitter, so I relieve you of your duties. Why don’t you run along and do whatever it is you usually do in this place? I’ll be fine here with Marcus.”
    “Marcus?” Travers’ voice was laced with annoyance and anger.
    “I had no idea she was with you, Ryan,” Marcus said.
    “He’s not with me,” Ginny interjected, but neither man seemed to hear her.
    “Well, now you know she is,” Travers answered.
    “No, I’m not ,” Ginny insisted, but again she was ignored.
    “I’m surprised you left such a lovely woman