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The yacht had just set sail as we made it to the bar, and when the bartender stopped in front of us, Daire shocked the shit of me by ordering “two shots of your best tequila and a gin and dubonnet.”
Daire knows what I drink? Huh, guess I’m not the only one who watches.
I wasn’t going to call him out, though. He’d only get defensive, and that would get us nowhere.
“So,” I said as the bartender slid our drinks to us. “What did Preston bribe you with to get you in that suit?”
Daire smirked. “Not Preston. Archer.” He opened his suit jacket, where a couple of Cuban cigars were neatly stashed in his inner pocket.
I laughed, despite myself. “Archergave you those?”
“Yep. Hell, maybe I should be the one dating an older guy.”
When I scrunched up my nose, Daire noticed.
“What?”
“I don’t see you dating an older guy.”
He waited for a reason, then, when I didn’t answer, added, “Because?”
“You’re a little too alpha for that.”
“Probably.” Daire threw back one of his shots, and my gaze fell to the way his Adam’s apple moved as he swallowed. I had the insane thought of wondering what his tanned skin would feel like under my lips. “Do you like that?”
I blinked, dragging my eyes back up to Daire’s, confused by the question. “Do I like the idea of dating an older guy?”
Daire shook his head and reached for his second shot. “Forget it.”
I shrugged, then turned to face the dance floor where people had started to gather, the music throbbing through the speakers in time with the flashing lights. As the song mixed into a faster one, I felt the urge to go join in.
“I love this song.” I took a long draw of my drink, my hips already swaying. Daire watched me, a silent but overwhelming presence as he rested an elbow on the bar. Something about him made me want to grab him by the lapels and drag him out onto the dance floor.
Maybe I’d ask first.
“Want to join me?” I said, inclining my head toward the crowd.
“No.”
Even though I’d known that would be the answer, the immediate rejection still stung. “Why not?”
“You know I don’t dance.”
“Oh, come on, you can make an exception.”
“I said no,” he snapped.
I held a palm up. “Okay. Then excuse me while I go find someone who will.”
Jesus, I was in a constant state of whiplash dealing with this guy. One minute he was hot, then he was cold. I never knew where I stood. But for now, I was happy to go and stand somewhere else.
I DIDN’T KNOW how long I’d been out on the dance floor. An hour? Two? And never left wanting for a partner, even as Daire brooded near the bow of the boat. I’d catch myself looking his way every now and then to see him staring out into the city lights as the yacht sailed up the river. It didn’t surprise me he’d chosena spot away from the rest of the crowd—that was the way he liked it. A lone island, even in a sea of people. That was Daire.
It’d always fascinated me, that someone as closed off and uncaring of status or social climbing as he had ended up in our crowd. In all fairness, he’d been part of the group even before I came along. But when I did finally show up, I’d felt a strange sort of solidarity with the introvert of the group. Neither of us had really fit in. We were just there because of circumstances, even if I didn’t know what his were.
But whatever kinship I’d had with him felt strained now. I was trying to move on, though. I’d tried to offer an olive branch yesterday, but in usual Daire fashion, he’d snapped it clean in half and continued to do so every time I made an effort.
He was such an ass.
