Pushing the accumulated frost into the shapeof an arrow on the glass, he debated how to respond. Maybe theyweren’t as awful for each other as he imagined. Payson loved old,beautiful things. She was thoughtful, positive despite his recentlyadopted surly attitude. No doubt she’d be great for him, but hewould drag her into his personal pit of despair. “I seem to crushher optimism with one wrong word; I would be terrible for her.”
Maddy stilled his fidgeting. “She’s never letanyone get close enough to affect her imperturbably perky mood; thefact that you can rile her tells me you’ll be equally able to raiseher up further than anyone else.”
Ronan snorted in disbelief.
Before Maddy could push further, the pairreturned with a full pitcher of beer and a plate of nachos. Paysonslid back in next to Ronan. Aiden tore into the nachos, talkingthrough a huge mouthful of cheese and salsa, “I missed dinner. Toobusy rocking the legal world of Seaview.” Aiden flexed his muscles,ego inflated after what had clearly been a successful day incourt.
Payson nudged him, “Uh-huh, way to go Mr.Hot-Stuff.”
Grabbing herself a cheesy bite of chip, Maddyinterrupted, “Speaking of hot-stuff, Payson, when’s your next datewith your new boyfriend, Mr. Fancy-Pants Neurologist? How arethings going with him?” With a meaningful nod to Ronan, his sisterseemed to imply he needed to move fast.
Aiden leaped in before Payson could respond,swallowing another huge bite, “Wait, boyfriend? Way to goPace.”
Maddy’s question had the opposite effect. Aboyfriend ought to help Ronan keep his mind off her. Well, it wasat least a deterrent. He didn’t poach.
Maybe. Not that he wanted anything to do withher romantically. She wasn’t at all his type. Too damn stuffy.
Wasn’t she? She had really been trying to befriendly the last day or two, which was slowly breaking down hiswell-constructed emotional walls.
Payson rolled her eyes as she directed herattention to Maddy, “Thanks for asking. I’m supposed to see himnext week. He's driving up here again. But, I think I'm going tocancel. He's so self-absorbed. I'm not putting up with one moreasshole that doesn't see me for who I am.”
Swallowing a mouthful of chips, Aiden teased,“Just take him golfing or something. If he doesn't appreciate youwhen you throw the club because you missed a good shot, then he'snot a keeper.”
Shocked at that one, Ronan actually foundhimself joining in, “Wait, throw the club? Weren’t you just tellingme how mild-mannered she is?” He raised his eyebrows playfully atMaddy and nudged Payson’s knee under the table.
Laughing, Maddy scooped a huge pile of salsaonto her chip, “I said perky mood, not mild mannered. She’s a bit…competitive.”
Words defensive, but tone completely at ease,Payson nudged him back, “I enjoy healthy competition.”
Aiden teased her again, “Is that what youcall it? What happened to my tennis racket, again?”
Dodging Payson’s under-the-table kick, Aidenleaped out of the booth in self-preservation. All attitude, andvery maturely, she stuck her tongue out at him. Arms up, Aiden slidback into the booth.
Huh. Again, not what he was expecting. Shewas definitely not an elegant lady as he’d assumed.
“Children,” Maddy interrupted, “Let’s settledown. We're here to have a good time.” She topped off glasses forthose who weren’t driving tonight.
Good thing he’d driven himself, didn’t wantto explain that he didn’t drink to excess. Ever. Wasn’t safe in hisline of work. Or, what had been his line of work. Still, hecouldn’t risk a loose tongue.
~
Ronan threw a very drunk Payson over hisshoulder. His shoulder still hurt like hell, but at least shewasn’t wiggling too much. Just giggling. Maddy was too.
Aiden stumbled along behind, singing aboutShaking YouAll Night Longin his horrendous ACDCimpression, having decided to catch a lift home with Chase andimbibing along with Payson and Maddy. Chase didn’t drink mucheither, having been raised by a raging alcoholic, so at least thetwo of them had stayed sober.
It had been funny, watching the three becomeincreasingly silly as the night wore on. They’d attempted a fewrounds at billiards, but that quickly became a bit dangerous whenPayson and Maddy decided to try their hands at kendo.
Easily distracted, the tipsy trio had madefor the dance floor as soon as Winter dimmed the lights and turnedon the oh-so-classy disco ball. With no dancing clubs for miles,the turnout was great. Ronan was grateful, however, that it hadn’tbeen karaoke night.
Despite the night of surprises where Paysonwas concerned, he was not surprised to discover that she enjoyeddancing. A lot. She, Maddy, and Aiden had rocked a few tunes solowhile Ronan kicked Chase’s ass at darts, until Maddy decided todrag Chase to the dance floor when the music turned romantic.Payson had initially made do with the equally inebriated Aiden asher dancing partner, but the pair looked downright awkward.
Quickly ditching her inadequate dancepartner, she’d roped in Ronan. And danced with him very differentlythan with his brother, which his libido had accepted as a smallvictory, despite his better judgment. He rarely danced, but he hadgood rhythm. He’d actually learned to dance for a mission a fewyears back.
However, he wasn’t trained for the kind ofdancing Payson had in mind. The slow dance was sweet, her armsdraped over his shoulders, her head leaned affectionately on hischest. Despite his better judgment, he let his arms wrap around herand let down his guard as they swayed together.
When the rhythm picked up, moving on to morecontemporary, club-style music, she was all over him. Her handswere everywhere. Fuck, she had some incredible moves. He wascertain she’d be mortified when she sobered up and realized she’ddanced so… intimately with him. Like she wasn’t disgusted byhim.
If he wasn’t convinced that sober-Paysonfound him to be a revolting dickwad, he would have thought she waslooking for a booty call. He should have ended the dance as soon asshe’d started grinding up against him, but… well… he hadn’t. Thatass pressed up against him, he’d been helpless against her wilesand pulled her tighter against him, letting his hands wrap aroundher hips.
