Even though my heart did have a thick layer of scar tissue built up around it, I could tell she immediately felt sorry for saying it. She’d witnessed firsthand how that stupid muscle had received most of its scars. Still, I wasn’t above using the guilt against her if it meant I could get her to stay, rather than walking out that door with a man who wanted nothing more than to take her to bed.
“You’ve hit me dead center several times tonight,” I said. “I’m not sure my ego can stand it.”
Seeing our debate was just getting started, Andie and Sweeney wavedand made their way out of the bar before Maisey had even realized they’d left.
“Your ego could use a bit of trimming.”
I waggled my brows, lowered my voice, and said, “I promise, there’s nothing on me that needs trimming.”
She flushed, her pale skin turning a fiery red in that delightful way that suddenly tempted me to chase it with fingers and tongue.
“It’s always the ones who talk up their penises who are the biggest disappointment.”
I leaned over the bar, grabbed one of the plastic swords Dee used for cocktails, and plunged it at my heart. Dee growled at me to get my hands off her supplies while Maisey laughed.
The delightful sound was still reverberating through the air when Delilah slid into the stool Fallon had vacated beside me. I barely bit back a groan.
Del’s Saturday night outfit was the complete opposite of the business wear she wore during the week. The slouchy blue tank put her cleavage on display, tight black shorts barely covered the curve of her ass, and spiked cowboy boots added a few more inches to her height, putting her at nearly six feet. Her makeup was perfect, if a bit overdone for my taste, and her dark hair, dyed a deep mahogany, was teased and styled to accentuate her best feature—a pair of royal-blue eyes.
She was classically pretty, and once upon a time, I’d fallen for it. But I wasn’t a thirteen-year-old boy with hormones raging any longer, regardless of the lack of self-control I’d had around Maisey tonight. Well over a decade had passed since I’d allowed myself to actually date Delilah, but the way she talked and acted, you’d think we’d just broken up last week.
I always handled her cautiously because I’d seen in brutal clarity what my rejection could do to her, which meant I was continually walking a fine line, keeping her at bay while trying not to wound her further.
“If you’d needed a third person for trivia, I would have happily played,” Delilah said, a small pout forming over her heavily glossed lips. “You didn’t need to pull Cornlette from her senior-citizen bedtime.”
From the corner of my eye, I saw Maisey stiffen, and when I turned my head slightly, I watched all the lightness disappear from her.
“You know, funnily enough, Delilah,” Maisey replied dryly, “most senior citizens sleep less than the average adult, which means midnight is pretty normal for them. You must have meant to say toddler bedtime. But then again, you were never known for your ability to land an insult.”
My dick went semi-hard all over again. I loved it when Maisey defended herself. The rarity of it happening didn’t make it any lesspowerful.
Delilah’s mouth popped open before snapping shut again, and I had to fight back my laugh.
Maisey slid off the stool. “And with that, I really will call it a night.”
I reached into my pocket, grabbed some cash, and threw it on the counter to cover our tab. I called after Maisey, “Hold on. I’ll walk you home.”
“I’m good. No need for you to leave.”
As I started after her, Delilah put a hand on my arm, halting me. “Let her go. I have important news to share. News you’ve been waiting for.”
“I’m not letting her walk home alone.”
“What about me? Who’s going to walk me home?”
My stomach clenched, and that line I balanced on warred with me. “I don’t know, Del. Maybe your boyfriend.”
“Carter isn’t my boyfriend. You know that. We just use each other to scratch an itch now and then.”
She paused, as if waiting for a reaction she’d never get from me. I couldn't care less who she scratched her itches with, as long as it wasn’t me.
My eyes were still on Maisey, who was already at the door. I’d have to sprint to catch up with her, but there was no way I was letting her walk home alone in the dark with a few drinks in her and the tourists flooding the streets.
“Daddy is retiring.” Delilah’s words did precisely what she’d hoped, ripping my gaze away from Maisey and back to her.
“What? When?”
She smiled coyly. “Well, that is what I wanted to talk to you about.” She patted the stool I’d vacated. “Come on. I’ll buy you another shot.”