Butting In Read Online Free Page B

them back to above her hips.
    When the music was over, the reason to stand next to him was over, and she turned to go back to find a seat.
    Another man asked her for a dance, and there was no logic to refusing him. Grimly, she turned back to the dance floor and prepared to guard her butt and her toes.
    It was the beginning of a very long night.
     
    Gera finally managed to slink away from the crowd on the dance floor, and she crept up to the bar.
    Spike saw her coming and pulled out a bottle of water. “You look like you need this.”
    Gera edged herself onto a bar stool and drank the water in one long, thirsty session.
    “Can I get you anything else?”
    “Another bottle of water and Chuck made me something he called a Tropical Pirate. Could you make one of those?”
    Spike looked around and found a recipe box with index cards in it. She flicked around and finally fished out what she was looking for. “Got it!”
    Chuck was busy on the other side of the bar, so Spike got to work.
    Gera didn’t know what was in the drink, but the recipe had been right on the money. It tasted the same as the first one.
    She nursed the drink and kept her back to the men who were milling around in search of their mates. She had already gone through eight of them, four had asked her for another couple of dances, but there was no spark on her side of the embrace.
    Spike finished her round and lifted the empty water bottle. With a smile, she tapped the bottle with her fingertip and water swirled into it.
    Spike handed it over. “Here you go. A little fey magic can do wonders to glassware.”
    “This is water?”
    “Yes. Drawn from the air. We had an elemental in a few months ago, and she enchanted a few dozen bottles for us. We wash them when empty and make sure that they don’t collide in the dishwasher. They have been working out very well.”
    Gera enjoyed the moment of normal discussion of a new kitchen gadget. She and her sisters often discussed that exact kind of thing.
    She continued to hide at the bar as she drank her cocktail.
    Andy appeared next to her and asked, “Would you like to dance?”
    Gera slipped off her perch, wavered a little and smiled. “That sounds nice.”
    He extended his arm, and she wrapped her hands around it, leaning on him a little as they walked the few metres to the dance floor.
    She was laughing as they started to dance and collided a little.
    Andy grinned at her. “Have you had something to drink?”
    She nodded vigorously. “Spike makes stronger drinks than Chuck does.”
    They were swaying gently to the music.
    “Are you having a good time meeting new people?”
    She smiled and sighed happily. “I am. I don’t normally get out much.”
    “It only shows a little.” Andy twirled her.
    She shrieked and clapped a hand over her mouth when she slammed against him. “That was fun.”
    She was holding herself up using his shoulders, and he didn’t seem to mind. “You are a good dancer.”
    “Thank you. I practice when I can.”
    “I don’t. I am just really good at walking on tippy toes. I can walk a straight line anywhere, any time and any terrain.”
    He leaned in to whisper. “I can chew my way through a two by four in under a minute.”
    For some reason, she found it hilarious. She could see in his eyes that he was enjoying himself, but there was no heat to him. This was just a fun night out.
    When hands pried her away from him, she frowned. “Hey. I was busy laughing.”
    She was turned, and Riox held her against him. “Hello, little Gera.”
    She poked him in the chest with two fingers. “You were rude to Andy. Apologize.”
    He looked down at her in surprise and then over to her previous partner. “I apologize, Andy. I misread the situation.”
    “She is a lightweight. Make sure you take care of her tonight.”
    She frowned. “I am right here, guys. There is music, but I amn’t dancing. Is that a word? Amn’t? Am not? Yeah, am not dancing.”
    She looked from one to the other.