Hold Me Close (Ryker Falls #5) - Wendy Vella Page 0,42

the first drinks.”

They all gave their orders to him.

“How will he remember all of them?” Piper asked when Ted didn’t write anything down.

“He never forgets anything.” Mandy sighed. “It’s really annoying.”

She looked good, Maggs thought. Happy, and it suited her. Confident too, which Mandy had never been. Life was a strange thing—it was like she and Mandy had switched places.

“I just noticed that sign.” Joe pointed to above the bar. “What the hell is that about, Teddy Bear?”

As one, they all turned, and there it was, a banner that said, A Dance From The Past.

Maggs looked back at Ted. He was uncomfortable, not a natural state for the powerhouse businessman.

“We’re trying a few themed nights. The guests and staff we’ve spoken to are excited,” Mandy said. “Ted’s not.”

“This is her idea,” Ted said.

“And you listened?” Jack whistled. “This place was the beacon of class and normality in this crazy town. You’ve just ruined it, bud.”

“It’ll be great.” Mandy looked excited, her man resigned. “Really.”

“So what’s the era? Do we have to dress up?” Luke asked.

“So far, the sixties has the most votes with the staff.” Ted looked like his shorts were too tight. “We’ll put up the details next week, as the night is two weeks from Saturday.”

Ted sighed.

“It will be great, you’ll see.” Mandy patted her man’s hand. He turned his over and grabbed hers, closing her fingers inside.

“We’ll see” was all he said.

“Lola’s here, Fin, and has her friends with her.”

Fin straightened. His eyes shot to where three women approached, then to Maggie.

“Who is Lola?” Bailey asked.

“Fin and Lola enjoy each other’s company whenever she’s in town,” Jack said with a smirk.

“Yes, thanks, Jack, I’m sure everyone needed to know that.” Fin glared at his friend.

Two blondes and a brunette were heading their way. The brunette looked familiar to Maggie.

Long dark hair framed a pretty oval face, and she wore a dress that hugged her curves. Maggie disliked her on sight and hated herself because she was jealous of the look the woman who she now believed was Lola, was throwing Fin.

“Are they joining us?” Piper asked with a sour look on her face.

“Play nice, sweetheart,” Dylan said.

“What? I didn’t do anything.”

Pip wore a silky white top tucked into black jeans. Her hair was up on top of her head, and she looked stunning. Genes, Maggs thought. The woman and her cousins were lookers.

“Hi, Fin.”

“Lola.” He shuffled sideways as she and her friends joined their group.

Everyone was introduced, and Nash, Maggs noticed, had stopped slumping and was now standing upright, shoulders back.

“You’re pathetic.”

He flashed her a smile. “I always look better at my full height.”

Moving around the table, she put some distance between herself and the single people, squeezing in next to Joe and Bailey.

“Hey, baby girl, looking hot as always.” Joe slung an arm around her shoulders.

“I don’t think I was ever like that,” Rory whispered to Jack, loud enough for her to hear. She was looking at Lola and her friends, who were now flirting right alongside Luke and Nash. Fin was frowning.

“Sexy, forceful, and someone who goes after what they want?” Jack asked her. “Sounds exactly like you, honey.”

Rory gave him a blinding smile.

“Nash seems happy.”

“She’s likely stroking his ego,” Maggs said to Bailey. “I’ve never watched him in action before. It’s intriguing to see the large, usually unemotive man transform. I’m sure he just smiled.”

“As long as that’s all she strokes in public.”

“Ewww, Jack, that’s gross!”

When the music got louder, it signaled time for Luke to ask one of the women to dance. Nash looked like he’d rather walk through fire but asked the woman next to him too.

“I’m not sure why he hates dancing so much,” Maggs mused to Bailey. “I taught him, and he’s not bad at it. I mean, how hard is it to shuffle from side to side while avoiding your partner’s feet?”

“Show him how it’s done then.”

“What?” Fin had come around the table and was standing behind Maggs.

“Dance with me.”

Her eyes shot to Lola, who looked seriously pissed off.

“You should dance with—”

“You.” He grabbed her hand and tugged. Maggs had to follow or she’d end up facedown on the floor.

“Do I get a say in this?”

“No. Now move your feet.” Fin placed her before him on the dance floor.

She did as he said, but only because she wanted to. Maggs loved music and dancing.

Fin moved well and even heard the beat, which a few of her friends couldn’t. He wasn’t one for big arm movements, but he looked good