Page 196 of Those Who Are Bound

Jonah

“Sheesh,whenyoutwoare around each other!”

Jonah dragged his attention from the door Elliott had disappeared through and turned to face Lucy. She dramatically threw herself across the top of the tall table. He felt a bit dazed, but he frowned, questioning.

“Do you know how hard it is for mere mortals to be around you guys on anormalday? And when you’re doing… whatever it is you’re doing… hate-flirting? That chemistry blasts everyone around you.”

“There’s no hate.”

“That wasn’t a whole heap of love, either.”

Jonah stared at her. “There’s love.”

Lucy tilted her head and stuck out her bottom lip. “Oh, dufus, I know. I’m sorry. But whatever that was… it was tense. I imagine love to be…” She waved her hand around to indicate their surroundings. “This. This is love.”

Jonah looked around. “This is a celebration. Love can be messy. You heard Vanessa.”

She snorted. “Okay, forget it. You two deserve each other in your messy hate-love muckety-muck.”

He chuckled at her antics.

“I’m just saying, she’s been pretty clear.”

“No, she hasn’t. She’s been inconsistent.” He swirled his champagne in the flute.

“For a reason, maybe?” Lucy asked. Her inference was clear: their relationship was doomed, despite their obvious chemistry.

He nodded; acknowledgment rather than agreement. “I need to figure out why.”

“Ugh, you’re annoying when you’re in love,” she groused. She finished off her champagne, then reached over and swiped his out of his hand.

“Hey!”

“You have your motorcycle tonight,” she pointed out. “I’m helping you be safe.”

“Who says I’m going home tonight?”

Lucy gave him a mock glare. “My dress is pretty. Don’t make me vomit on it.”

Jonah relented, moving away from the table and reaching for her hand. “Your dress is very pretty. So pretty, it needs a dance floor, if I may?”

“You’re so weird, but I agree. I do look smashing.” Lucy looked down at herself, her expression sad.

“Luce,” he said. “Patience.”

“Easy for you to say. You have a freaky thing going on. I have no one and nothing.”

“Yet.” He put an end to the conversation by grabbing her up and whirling her out onto the makeshift dance floor. She shrieked in laughter and grabbed on to him.

He wasn’t shutting her down, but Lucy had a tendency to work herself into a depression; it wasn’t something he wanted for her, ever. If a small jolt and silly antics on his part could snap her out of it: small price. He’d been doing it since they were kids, and her laugh was a reward in itself.

She’d have her happy ending, he was certain. She was too smart and too kind not to.

He kept her moving for four songs; it was all she swore her feet could take. And she said she had to check on the almost-wedded couple; let him know that she’d meet him at the bar.

Jonah headed that way, his mood improving when he saw Elliott there. Of course, he’d known she was there. He’d spotted her the moment he and Lucy had entered the building. He knew when she’d gone into the kitchen, the bathroom, and had stopped to talk to one of the couples from the canoe trip.

Now she was leaning forward on her elbows, talking to Killion, ass sticking out invitingly to anyone who wanted to touch it. He wasn’t a violent man, but seeing a man touch her would quickly move him into that category. Despite their current questionable status, he considered that ass his alone to touch.

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