Page 54 of Arse Over Irish Teacup
And just like that, Roan was caught up. They had met on the plane!
“Everything, I think. Why?”
“Does Patsy Cline ring any bells?” Aidan asked, nodding.
She stared at the floor and thought but nothing sprang to mind. “I didn’t sing.”
“I’m telling the story and I’m telling you, you used an empty bottle of Jameson as a microphone.”
Jeez Louise! That was something she only did when she was alone! Beth cringed. “Sorry. I tend to do that when I’m really nervous or drunk.”
“One guess, you were both.”
She thought hard but didn’t remember singing. She must have been more drunk than she realized. No wonder he’d asked how much she remembered. She cringed again. “I’m sorry. That really was a harsh flight for you, wasn’t it? But you were so kind.”
“I wasn’t kind, I was an asshole.”
Yeah, Roan thought that sounded more like Aidan. Aidan used to be the nicest guy anyone could know but ever since he was dumped that nice guy showed up less and less.
Beth laid her free hand on Aidan’s arm and gently squeezed. “I don’t remember that. I remember a stranger listening when I needed an ear and who offered his sympathy, made me laugh, and who tucked me in so I wouldn’t get cold.”
“He did all that?” Roan asked but wasn’t heard. Or he’d been ignored. He wasn’t sure which.
Beth and Aidan only looked at each other and she still hadn’t taken her hand off his arm and Aidan didn’t exactly look like he was hating the tender gesture. Being overlooked, Roan decided it best to remain a quiet observer.
“I did all that?” asked Aidan.
“I probably wouldn’t have gotten off the plane if it hadn’t been for you.”
“Sure, you would’ve. You were brave enough to get on. Why wouldn’t you see it through after coming that far?”
He’d paid her a compliment. That was suspicious. There had to be an insult in there somewhere but he’d said it so easily. “You think I’m brave?”
“Yes, I do.” Aidan held Beth’s stare for a long moment. Those twinkling eyes of hers were so ... Nope! Not going there! Eyes left, Turner! Look what an attractive spray of flowers. Were those lights in those roses?
Suddenly, Aidan couldn’t decide what to do with his free hand: Stuff it in his pocket? Hold his lapel? Run it through his hair? Beth quickly took back her hand, then spun the ice in her glass, staring at it as if it were a hypnotist’s pocket watch.
What exactly happened between these two on the plane? It was hard to tell if they liked or despised each other and Roan knew all too well, there’s a fine line between love and hate.
Beth was about to say something when her phone vibrated inside her purse. Knowing it would be Lauren, she excused herself and went outside to take the call.
Roan watched Beth walk away while Aidan struggled not to. After all, those really were little lights weaved through those roses and how clever was that?
Perhaps now that Beth was gone, Roan could get some answers. He gestured to the empty table nearby and they both sat. Roan looked around the room. Heather always knew how to throw a grand party. “So, you’re the author Bethany was telling me about?”
“Her favorite author?”
“No, the one who wrote a book filled with, how did she put it? “Oh, yeah, ‘A flim-flam patty, sandwiched between lies and more lies, topped with deceit, and served with a side of fraud.’”
“Ouch. Yeah, that’s me.” That seemed harsh and out of character for Beth. Her trip must have been worse than she’d made out. Not that he’d given her a chance to explain before running out on her. “She really said that?”
“Yeah.” Roan watched Aidan’s jaw clench. So, her opinion of him mattered. The question was: how much? “But I suspect it’s because she’d had a little too much to drink and all.”
Aidan shook his head with a chuckle. “Yeah, she’s a chatty one when she’s had too much to drink.”
Roan lowered his glass from his mouth. “She is?”
“What?”
