Ryan clicked his fingers in front of my eyes. "Earth to Blaise. Are you in there?"
I batted his hand away. "What the hell, bro?"
"I asked you a question, bro." He poked me in the chest. "Are you finished?"
"Finished…" I glanced down at my half-eaten bowl of ice cream, which was now a mostly melted, smear of white against the dark blue porcelain. "Yeah, I guess so." I pushed it away from me.
"Good, let's get out of here." Ryan pulled out his wallet and slapped a couple of notes on the table.
Morgan and I did the same before he caught Paisley's wrist and shook his head. "This is on us, right guys?"
"Yep," I said simply. I'd pay for all her meals if I could get my cock into her pussy. I knew Ryan well enough to know he was thinking the same thing. He wasn't quite as single-minded about getting laid as I was, but I knew when he was hot for someone and he was hot for her.
"I really don't mind paying for my own," she protested.
I made a mental note of it. We'd already told her how things would be, and she was arguing anyway. For that, I'd slap her ass. Or I'd fuck her mouth until she gagged more than she was used to.
On the other hand, I doubted anyone had fucked this woman's mouth until she gagged. I got the impression her ex hadn't cared enough to do it.
His loss.
My gain.
"I said we've got it," I said, managing not to growl. I'd save that for later.
"Blaise is right," Ryan said. "You've had a rough day, it's our treat." He stood and offered her his hand. "Let's see we can convince Morgan to do a set next door."
She brightened up at that. "Will you?" She looked at him hopefully.
If it was me she was asking, I'd suggest she suck my cock, then I'd sing. Morgan, being Morgan, gave her a lopsided smile.
"I might be convinced," which was his way of saying he'd already decided to perform for her.
"That would be amazing." Her smile took my breath away. Whoever this ex of hers was, he was a dickhead. If she was my fiancée, I wouldn't let her walk away from me. I'd make it so she wouldn't want to.
"Let's go, then," I said.
I arranged all of the money in a neat pile before leading the way out the door. I didn't look back to see if they were following me, they would.
I stepped into the Frosty Brew and headed for a table off to the side, in a darker corner of the pub. One where we could sit and no one would pay us any attention.
Ryan gave me a look before manoeuvring Paisley to sit between us, our backs against the wall. Morgan headed to the front of the pub to relieve Kayden and his band, much to the delight of the crowd. No offence to Kayden, but he wasn't as famous as Morgan Hardwick.
Yet.
"Would you like a drink?" Ryan asked both of us.
I responded with a short nod. He knew what I liked.
"I'd love a glass of wine," Paisley said. "But you have to let me buy a round." She started to get up out of her seat, but I grabbed her wrist and pulled her back down.
"Not the first one." That was two arguments. Two slaps. I was looking forward to being alone with this woman.
"What Blaise said," Ryan agreed. "If any. Us mountain men look after our women."
Before she could argue with him or even let his words sink in, he was up out of his chair and gone to the bar.
"I guess this is a bit more rustic than you're used to," I remarked, letting my arm rest on the back of her chair, my fingers a centimetre from her shoulder.
