“Well, I’m glad one of us is,” I responded without thinking. Shit. My mouth was going to get me into trouble. That familiar pressure rose in my chest, and I knew this was not going to end well. Too bad I didn’t give a shit enough to stop it from happening.
“What does that mean?” Paisley shot at me, her eyes narrowing.
I gave her my best mocking smile. “Well, Carter has a pretty girl in his lap. I’m feeling like I might need the same kind of treatment.” I winked at the prettier of the girls at the bar, the one with her tits hanging out, and she giggled. That was more like it. I turned to Paisley. “That a problem for you?”
Her jaw flexed twice. “Nope. Why would it be?”
“Oh, this is priceless,” Masters muttered under his breath and finished his drink. “Another?”
“That’d be great.”
He stood as the busty little brunette swayed over to us, her hips arriving before the rest of her. “Hi there,” she said with a breathless southern accent and a slow, sultry smile.
“Hi there yourself,” I answered with the grin I knew could drop her panties before we hit the parking lot.
“Mind if I take a seat? I was gettin’ all sorts of lonely over there.” She batted her eyelashes, and Paisley made a sound that was half snort, half growl.
“Not at all. I’m Jagger, and you’re…?”
She smiled, her makeup cracking at the corners of her mouth. “I’m Marjorie.” She moved to take Masters’s seat.
“I’m sorry, Marje, but that’s Masters’s seat. Seems to be a full house tonight.” Paisley’s sweet drawl had a distinct, intriguing bite. How far could I push her before she reacted?
“Oh, Paisley Donovan. I didn’t barely see you there all snuggled up on…Will Carter, is that you?” Marjorie’s smile didn’t reach her eyes, which matched Paisley’s.
Carter lifted his beer in greeting. “Marje.”
I scooted my chair back as Masters handed me a fresh beer. “Small towns are fascinating.”
Marje took the opening and sat in my lap, her skirt riding over her thighs to where my jeans were the only barrier between us. “You don’t mind, do you? Those chairs are a little cold.” She threw puppy-dog eyes at me.
“I wouldn’t get too comfortable. Jagger’s sworn off women,” Paisley drawled.
Marjorie sent me a sly smile. “Jagger doesn’t seem to mind me. Do you, darlin’?”
“Not in the least.” Not if it forced Paisley into some sort of dialogue. Anything was better than radio silence.
“Maybe he’s just sworn off the pale, boring ones. How is life in that little…library of yours, anyway?”
Paisley’s smile could have sweetened Grayson’s tea. “Still full of books. We’ve got some you might like, pictures and all.”
Josh whistled, and I took a deep drink of my beer, my eyes boring into Paisley. “I think that’s southern for ‘the claws just came out,’” Josh whispered.
I turned my cap backward. “I’d have to agree.”
Carter leaned away from Paisley. “Play nice, Lee.”
Fucking Carter.
“So you’re a flyboy?” Marjorie asked, turning to look at me.
“I’m in flight school,” I answered, tipping my glass toward Carter. “I’m actually Carter’s stick buddy.”
Carter blanched, and Paisley whipped her head, whispering something I couldn’t make out. From the look on Carter’s face, it wasn’t pleasant. “I was going to tell you,” he answered.
“Will Carter, a pilot! All those times we snuck out to…watch those helicopters take off at night, and now you’re flying one. Imagine that!” Marjorie’s voice dripped sugar. “And of course you’re first in your class, right?” She turned to me. “He always was.”
I leaned my head to the side and arched my eyebrow at Carter, whose glare could have sunk the Titanic. “There’s one prick in my way,” he answered, and then grunted in pain. Paisley’s elbow reappeared on the table.
Marjorie giggled, a high-pitched sound that more resembled a helium-sucking donkey. “Where on earth did you lose your accent to, Will Carter?”
Paisley bit back a smile, catching her lower lip in her teeth. Damn, I wanted to suck it free. My hand clenched, catching Marje’s thigh in the process. “Oh, you can do that again.” Marjorie smiled over her shoulder and rotated her hips across my groin. Paisley’s smile vanished.
“I spent a few years in New York. I think I left the accent there,” Will answered.
“Maybe you should fetch it,” Paisley muttered.
Marjorie picked up my beer and drank the last quarter of it. I was too busy watching the changes on Paisley’s face to give a shit. “Imagine. You two together!” She sighed. “Isn’t that just perfect? Who would have ever thought?” Paisley’s eyes narrowed. “I mean, sure, we all knew Will would end up with a Donovan girl, all right…” Paisley sucked in her breath. “Just had him pegged for the pretty one. Shame about your sister, God rest her soul.”
Paisley motioned to stand, but Carter locked his arm around her waist, keeping her firmly in his lap. “Relax, Lee-Lee.”
“Well, I’m empty,” I said, standing quickly. Marjorie slid off my lap, barely catching herself on the edge of the table. “Paisley, can I get you a drink?”