Page 28 of Fallen Hearts

“Obviously.”

“Right. Glad we’re on the same page.”

Pia was more upset than she let on. I could read facial expressions and body language well, and had been trained to do both. I had a mind to invite Richard Sterling to the inn just to punch the fucker in the face. He was the kind of dickhead that gave men a bad name.

“I’m sorry that happened to you,” I said, noticing she was empty. “Another drink?”

“Sure. Should we go back to the bar?”

“No.” I said it much too quickly. “We should stay here,” I amended, “so I can get you back on the dance floor. You’re pretty good.”

“You are too. I have to say I’m surprised.”

“We’ll talk about your low expectations of me when I get back.”

For the second time, I headed to the bar without Pia. Ignoring both Cole and Parker’s ribbing, I asked Beck for two more drinks.

“We don’t bite, you know,” he said, handing me a beer and making Pia’s vodka soda.

“That’s not actually true,” I said.

“The last time I saw you dance like that,” Parker began.

I shut him down with a look.

He smartly didn’t continue.

“You know where to find us,” Cole said dryly as I walked back toward Pia.

“Thanks,” she said, putting her old drink on the counter and taking a sip of the new one. “So, you asked a question. Is it my turn?”

If I didn’t know better, I’d think that sounded almost flirty. “Shoot.”

“In my office today, we were talking about Beck asking me out.”

“Aw shit, what did he do now?”

Pia’s laugh crept into my very soul. “Nothing, I swear. But I could totally tell you were going to say something more about it.”

Yep, she was flirting. There was no way Pia would bring up this particular topic unless she already suspected the answer. And this was where I should shut it down. Stop this very dangerous dance.

“You said, ‘You think?’” I quoted her.

“Of course, I was teasing. I know he would.” She laughed. It was a nervous laughter, and Pia seemed to regret having brought up this discussion. She wouldn’t look me in the eyes.

I waited until she finally did. And responded. “Iwasgoing to say something more.”

Pia waited.

I hesitated.

It would be the shot across the proverbial bow. Saying this might have repercussions. But she blinked at me in a way that tempted me to continue.

So I did.

“I was going to say, I know so because any guy in his right mind would want to go out with you.”

Yet Pia already knew that. Or at least suspected.

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