“Ah, there you are,” Nolan said. “I wondered where you’d disappeared. I was just telling Tyler and Yvonne about Mr. Blue.” His lips quivered while he fought his amusement.
“Did you have to?”
“I can’t believe she went through your stuff,” Tyler said, indignant on Susan’s behalf.
“You’re lucky Mum didn’t decide to follow Susan on her walks,” Nolan said. “Yvonne, would you like to dance?” He held out his hand when she hesitated while Susan stared at him in horror.
Had Nolan seen them together?
Susan waited until Nolan and Yvonne were safely on the dance floor before leaning toward Tyler. “What did he mean? Do you think he knows something?”
“He would have said,” Tyler said.
“I keep telling you he’s not interested in me. He displayed more interest in Yvonne than he shows to me.”
“They dated a couple of times.”
“So she said.” But maybe Nolan was playing games with everyone. She turned on her seat to search out Nolan on the dance floor. “Those two are more than friends.”
“They’re not even touching each other.”
“Tyler, we don’t touch each other when we’re together in a public place. It’s what they’re not doing that tells the story.” And the way Nolan looked at the blonde woman when he didn’t think anyone was watching. She recognized the quick glance for what it was because that was how she studied Tyler.
“Maybe.” He stood. “Dance with me.” He leaned closer under the pretext of not having to shout against the music. “Give me a reason to touch you.”
“You’re always touching me.”
“Not enough for my liking,” he whispered and drew her to the crowded dance floor.
At first she struggled to keep a respectable distance from Tyler. Impossible with the force of the bodies, all seeking to squeeze into the limited space. Finally, she gave up, plastered a friendly grin on her lips and rested against him. Like most people around them, they swayed on the spot.
“Stop copping a feel.”
His hands whisked over her butt again, drawing their lower bodies together. “But it’s so much fun.” His warm breath tickled her ear, transmitting hot, lustful messages where they had no business traveling—especially in a public place.
When the song ended, she pulled away and fought fluster. “Thank you for the dance.” If all else failed, she’d resort to the polite niceties drummed into her by her mother.
“My pleasure.” A wicked light shone in his eyes, the curve of his mouth lifting in an uptick of amusement. “Any time.”
“Susan, it’s time to head to the function room.” Nolan stood with Yvonne at his side, both studiously ignoring the other.
“It was lovely to meet you, Yvonne,” Susan said.
“Drop by the bookstore. I’ll buy you a coffee,” Yvonne said.
Susan didn’t think she’d still be here to visit Yvonne. Despite her doubt, she smiled and nodded. “I’d like that.”
Nolan trailed Susan as she wove through the crowd to the function room.
“Good luck, Susan,” one of the guys from the Clare rugby team shouted.
“Yeah!” another man called.
Nolan caught his mother’s glare and grinned inwardly. She’d rung him earlier. He’d taken great pleasure in hanging up on her. Then he’d left the phone off the hook and switched off his cell.
Ignoring his mother had felt really good.
He spotted his father standing with his friends and stopped to say hello. “Hey, Dad.”
