“Hey, no cahooting,” Payson argued, her eyesdarting across the screen as she searched for Aiden.
Chase laughed, “Cahooting?”
Maddy clarified for him, “As in, being incahoots.”
Focusing, almost to Aiden, Payson pulled outher sidearm. Just as she was about to take the shot, Ronan snuckhis hand under her shirt and tried to make his way under thebra.
Shrieking, she wiggled away. “Stop it,” sheyelled, eyes still focused on the game. Lowering his hand, hetickled her abdomen mercilessly. Unable to hold back the laughter,she tried to wriggle out of his arms.
It was too late.You have been killed byAIDENpopped up on the screen as her character’s bloodsplattered across her corner of the screen.
“Not fair,” she hollered between laughs asshe tried to throw the controller at Aiden. Ronan grabbed it fromher hand in the nick of time and tossed it on the couch, throwingher over his shoulder yet again. “Hey, I’m not a ragdoll,” sheprotested between giggle fits.
Aiden leaped off the couch and cheered, quitepleased that his plan had worked. Payson heard the laughter andcheers as Ronan carted her out of the room. She wiggled more,trying to break free. “Hold still, dammit,” he chuckled, reachingup and tickling her again until she gave up on trying to breakfree.
Tossing her on the bed as soon as theyreached their room, Ronan dove down and laid next to her on thebed. “I like your crazy.”
Giggling, she squirmed against him.“Crazy?”
Tracing his hand along her side, he gentlycaressed her side. “I heard you talking to Jen. You’re bossy in anice way. Competitive in a fun way that makes everyone else enjoythe game even more. I like that you can rock it equally well at thetavern or at an art gala.”
Touched, more than a little, Payson beamedand snuggled closer.
19
Exhausted, yet exhilarated from the afternoon romp,Payson slipped on her favorite jersey skirt with her pink t-shirtfrom this morning. She curled up on the couch facing the fire withher book, finally. Ronan headed back out, leaving her to herselffor a few hours.
Oddly, she missed him even for short timethey weren’t within touching distance. She was alone so often; sheusually craved solitude after spending too much time with others.Especially if she spent too much time with her sisters. Somehow,Ronan didn’t seem to fit into that ‘not-solitude’ category. Well,wasn’t that something?
With a stretch and a yawn, she slipped on thesneakers Maddy had packed for her and headed to the dining room afew minutes before six. Laura was waiting alone, sipping a glass ofwine and watching the dark, snowy sky. “Payson, I’m glad you’rehere early, too.”
Walking over to the makeshift bar with thehelp-yourself wine and beer, Payson poured herself a glass of wineand sat beside Laura at the table. What did one say to the womanwhose son she’d started sleeping with in the past 24 hours, thatshe was quickly becoming more than a little attached to? Wrackingher brain, nothing was coming.
Thankfully, Laura rescued her. “I have aproposal for you. You know I enjoy visiting you in your shop. Ifyou want some help so you can take some time off or just need anoccasional day off, I’ll be happy to pitch in where Natalie usedto. Not permanently, just until you find a replacement for Natalie.I’ll leave the deliveries to Ronan, or whoever I can rope intohelping if you’re not around.”
Payson was taken aback, grateful for theoffer. “That sounds fantastic, thank you. I would love to take youup on that offer. I was going to ask Ronan to watch the shop, butnow I’m wondering if… I don’t know.”
She hesitated, finding the right way to ask.“I have a business associate in France, a friend really. Anyway, Ibuy pieces from him on a regular basis, from his own family wineryor from his travels. He does some antique wholesaling, in a sense.He says he is selling some of the more valuable items from hisfamily’s collection and invited me to fly out and take firstdibs.
“I wasn’t picturing Ronan running the shopalone, so I’d hesitated.” Payson trailed off and took a sip of herwine. She heard the end of another very heated video game matchechoing down the hall.
Laura leaned back in her chair. “But, nowyou’re considering asking Ronan to come with you?”
Payson nodded hopefully, but sensed thelikely negative response.
Laura stopped as if to collect her thoughts,wondering how to proceed. “I’m not sure he’ll agree. I’d like himto get out and do something fun like that, but… I’m not sure he’llbe too eager to cross the pond again just yet. You should ask him,but I wouldn’t get my hopes up if I were you.”
Payson saw the worry on Laura’s face. “I canimagine. He worked over there a long time; he must have a lot ofmemories. I’m certain he’ll want to avoid the train, so if heagrees to go, I’ll be sure we avoid trains.” Laura nodded invigorous agreement, then took a big gulp of her wine.
Rowdy voices echoed down the hall as thegamers approached. Payson had never seen Ronan smile so much. Thegoofy grin he wore lit up his face, bringing a whole new light tohim. A happy, trouble-free version.
She was still getting used to the new look,too. The slick cut showed where he naturally had streaks of lighterbrown mixed with the darker. Wearing clothes that fit so nicelydidn’t hurt, either; Payson must have blushed like a virgin brideas she pictured that very fine body, naked and pressed up againsther. Ronan flashed her a smile, clearly reading her mind.
Rapid French could be heard bouncing back andforth in the kitchen; perhaps a quarrel between their hosts. Theyall sat for a moment and listened, hoping for even a brief lapseinto English to discover what the conversation was even about.Their hosts had been so kind as to extend their stay to fullservices, so Payson hoped they hadn’t done anything to wear outtheir welcome.
Ronan rose from his seat and walked silentlyto the kitchen, leaning casually against the open doorway. “Cava?” He inquired from the doorway. More conversing in French,but less heated now, Payson wondered what was happening.
Penny and Dariel had moved closer and couldbe seen in the doorway separating the kitchen and dining area tospeak with Ronan. Neither looked angry, but Penny had tears in hereyes. Dariel rested his arm on around her shoulders, pulling heragainst him.
