Page 11 of Illicit Heir

"I'm not defensive," she claims.

One of the girls giggles. Lauren snaps her head toward her, claiming, "I'm not."

"Ya kind of are," another lass argues.

Lauren groans. "Is everybody in this room against me? Even you, Alison?"

I tug her closer to me. "No, no, no. Ya just need to relax a little bit."

"I am relaxed."

I arch my eyebrows and stare at her until her cheeks turn redder than Jessica's. I move a pint in front of Lauren, then take a mouthful of mine. I nod at it. "Go on."

She takes a sip and cringes, but not as bad as with the whiskey.

"What do ya do for fun, Lauren?"

She singsongs, "Still none of your business."

"She works," a lass with dirty-blonde hair blurts out.

Brogan declares, "Cheers to Lauren's working pastime."

Lauren groans. "Not you too, Emily!"

Laughter erupts. Everybody holds their pints out, and clinks fill the air.

I turn back to Lauren, rubbing my thumb on her shoulder.

She eyes it, then turns her gaze on me. "You're awfully handsy."

"Are ya complaining?"

She stays quiet.

I state, "Surely ya do more than work. Tell me, what are your hobbies?"

She just stares at me.

I insist, "Ya must have something that ya like to do. Surely ya don't just work, work, work, and not have any fun. Not a girl like ya."

Her eyes turn to slits. "A girl like me? What does that mean?"

I assess her again, trying to keep a straight face. "Aye. A girl like ya."

She sighs in frustration. "You're annoying."

"So, I've been told."

As always, I can count on Jessica. She announces, "Lauren loves to ride horses. She used to compete too. She was an equestrian champion in show jumping."

"Are ya going to tell everyone my entire life?" Lauren accuses.

Jessica giggles again and takes another large mouthful of stout.

Emily laughs, nodding toward Jessica. "Ya know how she is. Sorry, cousin, you're in for it all night. Ya know there's no shutting her up."

"No, there isn't," Lauren agrees.

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