Page 18 of Possessing Paisley
“You’re beautiful, Paisley,” I repeat.
A small sound escapes her when I reluctantly pull away. Keeping my eyes locked on hers, I bring my thumb up to my mouth and suck on it. Her eyes go round.
“Who are you, and what did you do with Kieran?”
I chuckle and hold out my arm. “It’s me, lass. I’m not always a big brute. Sometimes, I can be civil. Let’s find some food.”
She slides her arm around mine and lets me lead the way. “I don’t want snails. They’re yucky.”
I pause and look down at her, a smile pulling at my lips. That was adorable.
“Yucky?”
Her cheeks turn a light shade of pink as she tilts her head back to meet my gaze. “Yep. Yucky. It’s the official term for snails. Look it up. I’m pretty sure it’s in the encyclopedia.”
Holy shit. She’s funny. I’m used to her being a smartass and back-talking me, but I’m not used to this playfulness. I like it. And I shouldn’t.
“Okay. What about whatever that is?” I wave to a platter a waiter is carrying around.
Scrunching her face, Paisley shakes her head. “Looks suspicious to me. Like a snail or fish egg might be hidden in it.”
Actually, I agree with her. All this fancy shit isn’t to my taste. I can put on the suit, but that doesn’t change the man, and the man likes red meat and potatoes.
“I’m not really that hungry. I do need to use the ladies’ room, though. I’ll be right back.” She turns and starts off in the direction of the bathroom.
We’re halfway through the ballroom when she notices me right behind her.
“What are you doing?”
I take her elbow and weave through the crowd with her. “I’m taking you to the ladies’ room.”
She pinches her eyebrows together. “I can find it myself. I don’t need an escort.”
“I’d never allow my girl to go to the bathroom without me, and since you’re my girl this evening, I’m going with you.”
As soon as we enter a wide hallway away from everyone, she stops and tilts her head slightly. “Yeah, but it’s all pretend.”
Using my fist, I rub the center of my chest.Is this heartburn? It kind of feels like it is, but it also feels like an ache.
“I don’t do pretend.”
She shoots me an exasperated look. “You know what I mean.”
Yeah. And I don’t like it.
Paisley shuffles her feet slightly. Right, bathroom.
“Come on, baby girl. Let’s get you to the toilet.”
We get to the ladies’ room, and as I’m following her in, she lets out a squeak and tries to push me back.
“Kieran! What are you doing? You can’t come in here.”
I narrow my eyes and pin her with my stare. “Why the fuck not?”
She pinches the bridge of her nose and takes a deep breath. “Because there could be other women in here, and also because you’re not coming in while I pee.”
I don’t know why she’s so hung up about this, but instead of arguing, I stomp out to the hall and stand a few feet from the door with my arms crossed over my chest.