Read Online House Of Payne: Scout by Stacy Gail - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Stacy Gail
Ads: Link
glasses. “Should I be jealous?”
“Maybe. I like to keep you guessing. A little mystery keeps you young, stud.”
“And on that note,” Scout announced, popping out of her seat and dragging Ivar up as well, “we’re going to get something to drink before hitting the dance floor. Can we bring you anything?”
“Thank you, honey. A couple of those fancy Kir Royales to toast putting up with each other for forty-four years would be lovely,” Mama Coco said.
“Forty-five,” Papa Bolo corrected, and his wife did a great job at pearl-clutching.
“Dear God, have we put up with each other for that long?”
Bolo lifted a shoulder. “How the hell should I know? The banner over the stage says forty-five years, so I’m going with that.”
“Two Kir Royales, coming right up,” Scout said before anyone could say another word, and made a swift getaway.
“Your former foster parents seem very comfortable with each other.”
Scout analyzed Ivar’s tone in an attempt to read between the lines, and decided he sounded vaguely wistful. After they’d dropped off the drinks, they’d been waylaid by one of the Panuzzi children and her spouse, then another. Then another. Each time she could sense the increasing tension in the man beside her, and while she understood he might be bored with meeting a party full of strangers, the tension had her baffled. Since she couldn’t figure out what had him so keyed up, she coaxed him out onto the dance floor—the only privacy to be had in the building—while another party favorite, “Jambalaya” played on.
“That’s just how they are,” she offered after a moment, trying not to be aware of his hand on her waist and the occasional brush of his thigh against hers. But something told her she’d have to be a marble statue not to be aware of every place their bodies touched. “They tease each other constantly.”
“I noticed.”
“When I first came to their house I was totally freaked out by their play-bickering. I thought they were fighting. It took me a while to realize they were best friends, and best friends have the freedom to say anything to each other and still be safe and loved.”
“I see.” For a moment his thoughts seemed far away, and he glanced back at where the elderly couple still sat, their heads close as they touched their glasses in an obvious toast. “I have never seen a husband and wife act in such a manner.”
There was a softness in his eyes that intrigued her. “Is that a good thing or a bad thing?”
That softness remained as he turned his attention back to her. “The best thing, I think.”
“Ah.” She didn’t fully understand, but at least he seemed to like her former foster family, so that was good. “How do husbands and wives usually act in your family?”
“Very appropriately.”
Scout almost blasted him that there was nothing inappropriate about the Panuzzis, when she realized he was merely speaking a truth. “I don’t understand.”
“For this, I am glad. I suspect your foster family knows the key to living a good life—they find fun and laughter in everything. Fun and laughter rarely have anything to do with being appropriate .”
“Okay, I’ll give you that.”
“And no matter what great age is reached, there is still excitement to be had in the opposite sex.” A wicked smile suddenly flashed. “I am still reeling from the shock of your Mama Coco flirting with me.”
“How could she not, cutie?” Before she thought better of it, she winked at him. “You’re a dish.”
“A what?”
“A dish. A looker. Eye-candy. A choice piece of beefcake. Mayor of Playerville. A hummina-hummina hottie. Take your pick.”
“I believe I prefer hummina-hummina hottie.” To her surprise, he suddenly twirled her around before bringing her back hard up against him. The jolt of feeling his body—as hard as a brick wall but contoured in all the right places—flashed through her like lightning. The heat of it sizzled in
“Maybe. I like to keep you guessing. A little mystery keeps you young, stud.”
“And on that note,” Scout announced, popping out of her seat and dragging Ivar up as well, “we’re going to get something to drink before hitting the dance floor. Can we bring you anything?”
“Thank you, honey. A couple of those fancy Kir Royales to toast putting up with each other for forty-four years would be lovely,” Mama Coco said.
“Forty-five,” Papa Bolo corrected, and his wife did a great job at pearl-clutching.
“Dear God, have we put up with each other for that long?”
Bolo lifted a shoulder. “How the hell should I know? The banner over the stage says forty-five years, so I’m going with that.”
“Two Kir Royales, coming right up,” Scout said before anyone could say another word, and made a swift getaway.
“Your former foster parents seem very comfortable with each other.”
Scout analyzed Ivar’s tone in an attempt to read between the lines, and decided he sounded vaguely wistful. After they’d dropped off the drinks, they’d been waylaid by one of the Panuzzi children and her spouse, then another. Then another. Each time she could sense the increasing tension in the man beside her, and while she understood he might be bored with meeting a party full of strangers, the tension had her baffled. Since she couldn’t figure out what had him so keyed up, she coaxed him out onto the dance floor—the only privacy to be had in the building—while another party favorite, “Jambalaya” played on.
“That’s just how they are,” she offered after a moment, trying not to be aware of his hand on her waist and the occasional brush of his thigh against hers. But something told her she’d have to be a marble statue not to be aware of every place their bodies touched. “They tease each other constantly.”
“I noticed.”
“When I first came to their house I was totally freaked out by their play-bickering. I thought they were fighting. It took me a while to realize they were best friends, and best friends have the freedom to say anything to each other and still be safe and loved.”
“I see.” For a moment his thoughts seemed far away, and he glanced back at where the elderly couple still sat, their heads close as they touched their glasses in an obvious toast. “I have never seen a husband and wife act in such a manner.”
There was a softness in his eyes that intrigued her. “Is that a good thing or a bad thing?”
That softness remained as he turned his attention back to her. “The best thing, I think.”
“Ah.” She didn’t fully understand, but at least he seemed to like her former foster family, so that was good. “How do husbands and wives usually act in your family?”
“Very appropriately.”
Scout almost blasted him that there was nothing inappropriate about the Panuzzis, when she realized he was merely speaking a truth. “I don’t understand.”
“For this, I am glad. I suspect your foster family knows the key to living a good life—they find fun and laughter in everything. Fun and laughter rarely have anything to do with being appropriate .”
“Okay, I’ll give you that.”
“And no matter what great age is reached, there is still excitement to be had in the opposite sex.” A wicked smile suddenly flashed. “I am still reeling from the shock of your Mama Coco flirting with me.”
“How could she not, cutie?” Before she thought better of it, she winked at him. “You’re a dish.”
“A what?”
“A dish. A looker. Eye-candy. A choice piece of beefcake. Mayor of Playerville. A hummina-hummina hottie. Take your pick.”
“I believe I prefer hummina-hummina hottie.” To her surprise, he suddenly twirled her around before bringing her back hard up against him. The jolt of feeling his body—as hard as a brick wall but contoured in all the right places—flashed through her like lightning. The heat of it sizzled in
Similar Books
