Page 83 of The Troublemaker
She completely ignores him, placing the finished glass down and reaching for another one, using the same methodical motion as she wipes it down.
I bite back a smile.“Oh, I like her.”
“Don’t encourage her,” he mutters.
I lean against the bar.“So you’re the famous Ruby.”
Her eyes flick up to me, but there’s no welcoming smile.Her gaze is sharp and assessing.“So, you’re her?”
Easton shifts.“Yes, this is?—”
Ruby lifts a finger, and he shuts his mouth.
I press my lips together to stop myself from smiling because I have a feeling that wouldn’t go over well.“Hadley.”
Her gaze drags across my face, my hand on the stroller, and the ring for a long beat.“The wife?”
I nod.“I’m sorry that Easton didn’t bring me down here earlier.”
“You have two legs, don’t you?”
Easton sidles up next to me and wraps his arm around my waist.He’s so natural and casual with physical contact, whereas every time he touches me lately, I stiffen as if I were trying to get my body not to react to his touch.
“Come on, Rubes, be nice,” Easton says.“She’s good people.Be mad at me.”
“What do you drink?”she asks me.
Easton smiles as though that’s about as good as we’re going to get.
“I’ll just do a water right now.”
She puts the glass down, goes into the fridge under the counter, and hands me a bottle of water.“Smart decision since you have a baby to look after.”
“Thanks.”I unscrew the top and give Easton aha-ha, I got a drinksmile.
“You get nothing.”She points at Easton and walks down the length of the bar to help one of the men seated there.
“You really made her mad.”
He turns us away from the bar.“She can’t stay mad at me for long.No one can.”He winks, then wheels Tanner toward the backroom door that saysKeep Outon it.
I open it for him, and he goes to wheel Tanner inside.I start to follow, but he comes to an abrupt stop.
“Mom and Dad?”
“Surprise!”I hear two people say.
Easton glances at me, eyebrows in his hairline.
I think I’m gonna be sick.
ChapterThirty-One
Hadley
Easton walks into the backroom while I want to turn around and run.As if he predicts I’m ready to bolt, he grabs my hand.I widen my eyes and shake my head, but he tugs me forward.When I stumble into him, he catches me.
His parents are too enamored with Tanner to notice us.They’re crouched down, his mom tickling Tanner’s stomach, drawing a giggle and squeal from him.She’s got red hair and a paler complexion than Easton—maybe because he’s in the sun so much while playing.
