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“And?”
“And it was innocent, and she was a friend when I needed one. We lost touch after she left, and I never saw or heard from her until she returned to Ryker.”
Jack studied him. “I don’t remember her.”
“I do,” Joe said slowly as he got to his feet. “And now I’m going to talk to her.”
He made his way to where Bailey stood.
“Here’s my handsome cousin.” Piper wrapped an arm around his waist. “Hey, Joe.”
“Hey.” He kissed the top of her head. “You seem happy.”
“We are. Me, Maggs, and Bailey have been drinking and eating chocolate.”
“Who dumped who?” Joe knew the ritual. Pip had cried all over him enough during breakups, while Jack or Luke went and got her a supply of wine and chocolate.
“Ben of the flaccid dick dumped me,” Maggie said as loudly as she could.
Joe looked around, but didn’t see her ex. He wouldn’t mind bumping into him and giving him a lesson in manners.
“He was a loser, Maggs. A hot woman like you doesn’t need someone like that in her life. You’re worth ten of him.”
“I love you, Joe.” Maggie walked into his arms after he’d released Pip.
He hugged her hard. “He seriously doesn’t deserve you, sweetheart.”
“I know,” she sighed. “But it still hurts.”
He kissed the top of her head.
“Want to come and dance with us?”
“Sure.”
Bailey hadn’t looked at him yet.
“But I get to partner the pretty pianist first.”
“Good move,” Maggs whispered loudly, releasing him.
“And I’ll take the angry redhead.” Fin arrived. He then wrapped an arm around Maggs’s waist and nudged her through the people.
Joe clamped his fingers around Bailey’s wrist and followed.
“Joe, I don’t think—”
“Don’t think.” He leaned in and kissed her, just a brief brush of his lips over hers.
“Wh-what are you doing?”
“Shutting you up, which will give me a chance to apologize for being an asshole earlier.”
“We both behaved badly, which tells me we should keep our distance. This… you and me, it’s too complicated, and I can’t do complicated right now.”
He’d like to do her, but kept those words to himself.
“I don’t buy that. We have a connection, Bailey. You know it, just as I do.”
