Their gaze met and held. She raised her slice in perfect timing with him. They squeezed, sipped, swallowed in unison.
His brain completely shut down as he fought back an impulse to lick the salt off her lips. He downed the rest of the shot and slapped it back onto the bar.
She copied him, returning her glass as well. They stood there for a moment, not speaking, not looking at each other.
A movement at the door of the ballroom caught his eye. He growled, “Your friend is here.”
Joanna expelled an audible breath. “Oh, good. And she’s with Daphne. Claire asked us to help her feel comfortable here.” She waved them over.
The appearance of her friends created an easy out for him. “I should—”
She touched his forearm. “Stay. We’re all at the same table. This is your chance to get to know them.”
Bradford looked down at her hand on his arm then raised his eyes to hers. He didn’t pull away this time. His heart was beating wildly in his chest and he couldn’t get his feet to move.
“Please.” Joanna shot a persuasive smile at Bradford and warmth spread through him as he caved to her charm.
“Sure.”
Joanna had never been into the “bad boy” type, but she had to admit she had a growing affection for the man beside her. If people took the time to get to know him, she bet they’d see there was a lot of good beneath Bradford’s tough exterior.
Aly and Daphne were making their way across the room. Aly looked stunning in her deep blue gown. Head held high, she drew attention. More than one man turned to watch her stroll past.
Daphne’s eyes were round, and although she looked beautiful in her gown as well, she appeared ready to bolt out of the room. Aly said something to her and she stood taller, but still afraid.
“I’m so glad you bought that dress. You look awesome,” Aly said as she joined Joanna and Bradford. She hugged Joanna.
When Joanna stepped back, she said, “You do too. We’ll have to go shopping together again. That was fun. I had no idea you knew so much about fashion.”
Aly laughed. “Daphne, this is one of my closest friends, Joanna. She meant to say I always dress impeccably, so she was not shocked at all by my good taste in gowns.”
Joanna laughed. “Yes, that’s exactly what I meant.” Daphne held out her hand for Joanna to shake. Giving in to an impulse, Joanna said, “I’m a big hugger. May I?”
Daphne nodded and Joanna kept her hug brief. She felt stiff at first, then relaxed. Some people had very clear physical boundaries they did not like crossed, but Joanna had discovered over the years that the more technology distanced people, the more they were hungry for human connection. Never underestimate the healing power of a warm hug.
Aly nodded toward Bradford in greeting. There was a distinct chill between the two of them that saddened Joanna. When it came to diagnosing ailments, Aly was definitely the pro. When it came to things of the heart, though, Joanna liked to think she had a slight advantage.
Aly was a great friend, a wonderful doctor, and normally kind to everyone—which was why Claire had apparently entrusted her with Daphne. It was difficult to watch her with Bradford.
“Daphne, this is Bradford.”
Daphne didn’t offer her hand in greeting.
Nor did Bradford.
She looked afraid of him.
He looked annoyed.
More tequila anyone? “Bradford and I just did a tequila shot to ease our way into the event. Aly? Daphne? Want to join us?”
Daphne shook her head. “I d-don’t. I’m not a drinker.”
“Tequila,” Aly cringed then turned to the bartender and asked for white wine and ginger ale. “I guess I know who I’ll be driving home later.”
“She thinks I can’t hold my liquor.” Joanna gave Bradford an elbow to the ribs. “In a drink off I would have mopped the floor with you.”
“In your dreams,” Bradford said in a harsh tone.
Joanna tipped her head so she could look up at him. He wasn’t upset with her, so what was with the tone? He was a tough read. Was anger all he knew? “Oh, really?” She turned to the bartender. “Another round, please.”
Aly intervened, “Joanna, are you sure you—?”
“I grew up sipping my grandmother’s moonshine out of a teacup.” Joanna picked up a shot glass, then handed one to Bradford and winked. “That’s a little family secret she took to the grave, so if you ever meet my parents don’t say anything.”
He raised his glass as if in agreement. They both bit into their salted limes, took a sip, bit into the lime again then finished the shot. It felt like a dance of sorts that ended with her smiling up at him and him frowning down at her.
“Bradford,” a male voice called from across the room. Clay Landon was walking toward them with his wife, Lexi.
“Shit,” Bradford said without even turning his head in the direction of the voice.
Joanna looked back and forth between the man people said was rich enough to buy and sell the Barringtons and a seemingly irritated Bradford. “Everything okay?” Joanna asked in a low voice she hoped only he could hear.
“Yeah.” Bradford flexed his shoulders then turned to face the approaching couple—smile-free, but that was expected from him.
Clay gave Bradford a back-slapping hug. “I had to pull a few strings to arrange for us to sit together. Ian’s under the impression that you don’t like me. I told him you don’t like anyone so I don’t take it personally.”
At Clay’s side, Lexi was beautiful, confident, and amused. “Bradford, just go with it. He hasn’t come back to earth since Sophie complimented him on his success as Connor’s fairy godfather.”
“I can see how that might go to a man’s head,” Bradford said dryly.
Joanna was fascinated by the exchange. Money apparently didn’t impress Bradford nor did Clay. Clay, on the other hand, seemed to genuinely like Bradford. His endorsement was another tally in the column of why Aly’s take on Bradford was inaccurate.
Clay wrapped his arm around his wife’s waist. “It’s all your fault, Lexi. If you didn’t make me so happy, I wouldn’t want to help others find their own happily ever after.”
“Now that is something I don’t mind taking the blame for.” Lexi laid a hand on the side of his face. “You keep doing you, Clay. It’s kind of sexy that you want to help people find love.”
“Kind of?” Clay wiggled his eyebrows. “Like tell the nanny we won’t be home tonight sexy?”
She whispered something in his ear that brought a flush to his face. In the awkward silence that followed everyone temporarily looked away.
“Clay and Lexi,” Bradford said, “I’m sure you remember Joanna and Aly. And this is their—friend, Daphne.”
Joanna put both hands over her heart and said, “I have heard wonderful things about you from Angelina and Connor. You have every right to celebrate that win.”
Clay’s chest puffed. “Thank you. See, Lexi, I was wonderful.”
Lexi laughed. “You’re not helping, Joanna. Compliments go straight to his head.”
Clay leaned down slightly in Joanna’s direction. “Lexi thinks it was a fluke—that they would have gotten together regardless. She doesn’t understand the magic in what I did.”