Her dimples flashed. “Does the big, bad Ranger need protection from a bunch of gossipy old biddies?”
“Damned straight. They’re terrifying.” He was man enough to admit it.
Her big, bawdy laughter rolled out, loosening something in his chest. God, he hadn’t realized how much he’d missed the sound of it all these years.
“Is that why we came out tonight? To try to put a stop to the matchmaking attempts?”
That hadn’t been on his mind at all. He’d been busy trying to figure out how to act and wondering how the hell could they do this causal thing when they’d once been so much more. The idea of it didn’t sit well with him, no matter what he’d agreed to when they’d reconnected in Nashville. Paisley deserved respect and decency and just…more. Even if he couldn’t give her promises, he could do better than treating her like the insignificant wedding fling he’d led Sebastian to believe she was. Guilt over his prevarication had driven him to suggest dinner out.
And even though he’d just spotted Marilyn Kincaid, his boss’s mom, and Essie Vaughn, the Sheriff’s Department dispatcher, ensconced in a booth across the bar, he couldn’t regret it. Whatever hell got dished up over the water cooler come Monday would be worth it. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d been around someone who’d known him before he was broken, and he wasn’t above admitting that the feeling was its own special drug.
“We came out because I wanted to spend time with you.” It was the truth, but it skated well beyond the boundaries of the casual thing she’d asked for. Because he didn’t want to make her balk, he lightened his tone. “And because you were always a fun date. You did promise to add more of that to my life.”
“So I did.” She leaned forward, eyes sultry, smile devilish. “In that case, let’s give them something to talk about.”
Before he could close the distance between them, someone clapped him on the shoulder.
Damn it.
“Well, if it isn’t Miss Brunette from the wedding.” Sebastian stuck his hand into the space between the kiss he’d interrupted. The jackass. “I’m Sebastian Donnelly, one of this one’s Army buddies. And you are?”
After a moment’s hesitation, she sat back in her seat, releasing Ty’s hand. “Paisley Parish. You were one of the other groomsmen.”
“I was, indeed.” Sebastian seemed pleased she’d remembered him.
Not fighting the scowl, Ty glared at him. “What are you doing here?”
“Picking up takeout for dinner. Laurel had meetings in Knoxville today.”
“Then I’m sure she’d appreciate you hurrying up with it.”
“Oh, the kitchen’s not quite done with our order. I’ve got a few minutes.” Sebastian turned his attention back to Paisley, flashing the friendly smile that his fiancée seemed to find charming. “And where has our Ty been hiding you?”
Ty bristled. He wasn’t hiding her. They were here, weren’t they? But as Sebastian waited for her answer as if he had all the time in the world, Ty wished they’d stayed in.
“I live in Nashville.” She flicked a questioning gaze to Ty, then back to Sebastian. “I’m a friend of Ivy’s.”
God love the woman for knowing he didn’t want to get into their past. If Sebastian got a whiff of that, there’d be no getting rid of him.
“Ah. Since she’s still on her honeymoon, I’m guessing you must be in town to check out the spa.”
Smiling sweetly, she lifted her beer. “You must have failed interrogation tactics.”
Ty managed to hold in the bark of laughter—barely. “Sebastian is recently engaged and falls into that category we were discussing earlier.”
“Ah.” Paisley offered a sage nod.
Already looking vaguely insulted, Sebastian narrowed his eyes. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
“Subtle you are not. Whatever’s going on between me and Ty is between me and Ty, and you’ll just have to wait until he’s ready to tell you himself.”
His mouth opened and closed a couple of times. “Well. That’ll teach me.”
“Hope springs eternal,” Ty muttered.
A waitress swooped in with a to-go bag. “Here’s your order, Sebastian.”
The bastard actually looked disappointed. “Thanks, Staci.” He reluctantly accepted the bag and turned back to their table. “Well, seems I’ve got food to deliver to my lady. Paisley, so nice to meet you. I hope to see you again sometime.”
She nodded. “Nice to meet you, Sebastian.”
With a significant look at Ty, he gave a nod and headed for the door.
Paisley sipped at her beer. “I get the feeling that was a problem.”
“Not a problem.” He didn’t want her to think he was trying to keep her from his friends. “It just means I’m the one who’ll be interrogated later. It’s payback for what I dished out when he met Laurel. Besides, he saw us at the wedding, so it was only a matter of time. I trust Sebastian with my life. He’s saved it often enough. But with the details of my love life…hell no. He gossips like an old woman.”
She pursed her lips. “So, what I’m hearing is that it’s to your benefit if I keep you occupied and unavailable for comment?”
The sparkle in her eye had his blood beginning to simmer. “I mean, I’m perfectly capable of telling him to fuck off, but I like your way better.”
Paisley grinned up at Trish as she arrived with a tray on one shoulder. “Can we get our order boxed up to go?”
Damn, he was in serious danger of remembering all the reasons he’d been ass over teakettle in love with this woman all those years ago.
He lifted his own hand. “Check please.”
Chapter 4
Paisley felt the eyes on them as they left Elvira’s Tavern. Curiosity. Jealousy. Nothing she hadn’t faced before, but in light of recent events, they made her paranoid. She’d come to Eden’s Ridge—to Ty—to escape all that for a little while. There was no reason to believe her stalker had followed her here. This was just typical small-town nosiness. But for those few
