Toni sized her up and decided she looked more like the sort of woman who preferred a fussy umbrella drink than swilling something out of a longneck bottle. “Lemon drop sounds good. Another Talisker for me, too.”
Once the bartender left, Toni tucked her foot under the bottom rung of Adelaine’s chair and pulled the chair closer.
Startled, Adelaine put a hand on Toni’s knee and let out a squeak of sound that shouldn’t be as adorable as it was.
Toni took a breath before reminding herself that whatever else was happening, Adelaine would be here in Scotland next week, and Toni would be back in her condo in Northern Virginia.
“So, first time here?”
“Yes.” Adelaine’s voice was quiet. “Is it obvious?”
Toni reached forward and put a finger under her chin, tilting her head upward so she was looking at Toni again. “Hey? Everyone was a baby gay once. First time going out like this can be scary as fuck.…”
Adelaine gasped, hand covering her mouth.
Toni had a flicker of a suspicion that there was a part of this persona that was actually true. Gently, she said, “You’re safe with me. Unless you’re looking for something unsafe, but if that’s the case, you need to tell me that, Adelaine.”
“Addie. You may call me Addie.”
“Addie.” Toni smiled. “Tell me about you.”
“American in Scotland. I’m working on a local stage production.…” She shrugged. “Terrible impulse control. You?”
“American in Scotland for the week. I teach.” Toni caught her eye before adding, “I’m a fan of beautiful women with bad impulse control.”
Addie giggled.
“Your drinks,” said the voice behind Toni.
Without hesitation, Addie smiled up at the returning bartender. She lifted her drink as soon as it was released and drained half the glass.
The teal-haired bartender exchanged a surprised look with Toni before shaking her head and walking away. Either Addie was a heavy drinker or would be soon on her way to tipsy. Toni wasn’t sure which was worse.
Toni shook her head at what she was about to say. She wasn’t in the business of policing other people’s bad habits, but she wasn’t interested in either leaving a vulnerable woman alone or handling a drunk. All she said was, “If you need liquid courage for whatever you’re thinking… maybe you should reconsider doing it.”
“Did you ever want something so badly that you wanted to ignore reason?” Addie asked. “Sometimes it’s easier to play a role or toss back a drink.…”
Toni took a swallow of her single malt and eyed her companion. “So play a role, Miss Stewart. I’m game. Tell me about yourcharacter.Married? Job?”
Addie visibly straightened, lowered her gaze demurely, and slipped into her role again. “I live with a relative. He is my chaperone, but I stole away while he was indisposed.” Addie took another drink. “No job, obviously. I’m not that sort of woman. Doyouwork?”
Toni nodded. “I teach.”
“And your employer lets you dress so…”
Toni quirked her brow. “So?”
“Provocatively,” Addie whispered.
Whatever else Addie was, she was bolder than she looked.
Toni took another look at the curves outlined by thin cotton. “No more so than a damsel in her nightdress.”
When Addie said nothing, Toni asked, “So, Miss Stewart, what are looking for tonight? You’re in your nightdress in a pub. That’s a dangerous move.”
Toni watched her, wondering exactly how committed she was to her playacting and deciding after a brief moment that she needed to know that answer.
Addie stared at Toni with a boldness that Toni wasn’t going to ignore. “I’m an innocent in a vampire play where the lead finds herself seduced by another woman. My character wants to be a little bit debauched before she’s married off or put on a shelf for being unmarriageable.”
