Page 58 of Arse Over Irish Teacup
Aidan smiled. “Stop sucking up. I’m not buying you another coffee maker.”
“Come on! Please?”
“You already lost two in your divorces.”
“It is a really nice coffee maker, you can’t blame them for wanting it.” Heather looked around Aidan’s chest to Beth. “Beth, don’t you think a big brother should give his baby sister a gift for her wedding?”
“Absolutely they should!” Beth said.
He was outnumbered. Aidan looked at Beth, then his sister, and relented. He’d already bought her the stupid coffee maker anyway.
Victory! “Beth, if you’re still in Ireland when I get back from my honeymoon, I’d like to take you to lunch! And make sure you line up when I throw my bouquet! I want you to catch it!” With a glint in her eyes, Heather pecked her brother on the cheek again. “And Beth, watch out he doesn’t try anything. You’re just his type.” She may have said it in a mischievous tone but she meant every word. On that note she left, swishing her way through the crowd, kissing everyone’s cheek.
“So, that’s your sister?”
“Yep, that’s Heather.”
“She seems nice. You know, when she’s not defending your honor.”
“Sometimes I wonder if she’s just here on this earth to torment me.” Having never left the dance floor, he pulled her hand, turning her into him. “Now, I believe, before we were rudely interrupted, we were sealing our truce with a friendly dance.”
She nearly said no but those bright blue Irish eyes—the ones she couldn’t stop staring at since the first time they met—were pleading. And they had called a truce after all. “Fine, all right.”
He grinned in triumph and wrapped his arm around her waist. “So, are you enjoying the wedding so far?”
“It’s a good thing I’m going home tomorrow. I seem to cause you trouble every time we meet.”
Aidan stumbled on her feet. “I’m sorry, I have two left feet.”
“I know the feeling.”
Aidan wanted to say something. Anything. But nothing came out.
“Sorry about that, Beth. I didn’t mean to be so long.” Roan appeared beside them. “It was my sister on the phone.”
Aidan and Beth stopped dancing and he released her. “I hope everything is all right?” Beth asked.
“Yes, thanks. It’s nearly time to sit for dinner. How about we find our table?”
Beth smiled and nodded, saying goodbye to Aidan and thanking him for the dance.
Aidan half turned to walk away. Beth was leaving tomorrow. She was Roan’s date. They had made a truce and could now part on at least friendly terms.
That was enough.
He wasn’t looking for anything more so why prolong the inevitable?
But holding her had been so damn nice.
He turned back but she was already being guided to a table by Roan’s hand on the small of her back. Roan was good guy. He would watch out for her and be good and generous.
Yes, it was enough.
ChapterTwenty-Four
Like hell,it was enough! The thousand-yard stare had nothing on Aidan. Throughout the delicious six-course meal Aidan had tried and failed to not look at Beth. Thanks in part to the fact that she was directly in his line of sight. He would have switched seats if it wouldn’t have placed him beside the maid of honor who never kept her hands to herself.
Aidan sat and ate and drank and observed Beth smiling, laughing, nodding—then laughed himself when she pulled the wrong napkin off the table and flung silverware all over the table. She was relaxed, enjoying herself. And he was stuck kicking away a roaming high-heeled silver shoe. Exactly how long were that maid of honor’s legs anyway?
