back.
âHow about that one over there?â She indicated to the left of a very full dance floor.
Now she was trying to get him laid? He glanced over to where she motioned. And realized she was not trying to get him laid. âA little old for me, donât you think, love?â
âFiftyâs not old.â
True, fifty wasnât old, but it had been at least twenty years since that particular woman had been fifty.
âI prefer them a wee bit closer to my own age.â Heâd dated older women, but never one old enough to be his mother.
âFair enough. How aboutââ
He cut her off, far more interested in what she was up to. âMay I ask why youâre trying to hook me up?â
âIs that what you think Iâm doing?â
âIsnât it?â
She smiled sheepishly. âNah, but I doubt you want to get shit faced on your friendâs wedding day.â
âAh, I see. This was a trick to pull me away from the bar. Clever. Look, Iâve had a miserable week and I wanted to relax.â
âAnd you figured that meant you could ruin your friendâs wedding? Nice. Where can I find a friend like you?â
âHaving a few drinks doesnât mean I was out to ruin anything.â Other than himself, perhaps.
âDrunk people do stupid things and this isnât a frat party. Itâs a wedding,â she said as if he was a child who needed that pointed out.
âWho put you in charge?â
âOne,â she held up her thumb, âme. Two,â and then her index finger, âmyself. And see that guy over there who looks like heâs got a stick up his ass?â She pointed to Maggieâs father, Reverend James Hopewell, with her other hand.
Blake nodded, wondering where she was going with this. âMaggieâs father. Yes, I know who he is.â
âAnd so do the press who are outside dying for a juicy story to embarrass him. So to recap: Who put me in charge? Me, myself, and three, I.â She closed her thumb and index finger and counted her last point with a very unlady-like finger.
âI would never do anything to embarrass Maggie or Christian.â
âYes, youâre special. Alcohol is no match for you.â She lightly punched him in the arm.
âFine, point taken. My apologies.â He didnât know why he was apologizing, but she was just looking out for Christian and Maggie.
âIâm sorry about your week,â she said, surprising him.
âWhat happened to the ball-buster, me, myself and I, who just put me in my place?â He kind of liked her. There werenât many women who stood up to him. Most were either sickly sweet or cloyingly offensive, scheming to get him into bed.
âSheâs done her job. Maggie said you were flying in last minute from a tough case. Is that why you needed the drinks?â she asked, sounding sympathetic.
âNo, I . . . I mean yes.â He scrubbed a hand over his face, regretting the last Scotch heâd downed. âYes to flying and yes to the case, but itâs more of a family matter thatâs ruined my mood. You know how it is. They want, they need, to hell with you. You love them. You hate them. They screw with your life etcetera, etcetera.â
From her odd expression, she either understood exactly what he was talking about or she thought him too drunk to make any sense. He quit while he was ahead. âWould you like to dance?â
âOnly if I get to lead.â
âWhy?â
âI like my toes, and if I let you lead I predict theyâll get stomped.â
He looked down at the silver-painted toes peeking through her shoes. âAnd very pretty toes they are, but Iâm not that drunk.â
She quirked an eyebrow, not buying his bullshit. He liked her more and more.
âFine, what the hell. A smart man knows when heâs beat.â
âA smart man wouldnât consume fifteen ounces of alcohol in