Irished (The Invincibles Book 7) by Heather Slade (the top 100 crime novels of all time txt) 📕

playing when we walked into the barn. I was surprised to see so many people dancing.

“What first?” I asked. “Drink or a dance?”

“Do you really want to dance?”

I pointed in the direction of the couples. “I don’t know how to do fancy stuff like that, but I would like to dance with you.”

We were headed in that direction when another man approached us.

“Flynn?” he said, looking her up and down.

Her eyes scrunched, and she shook her head as though she didn’t want him to say anything else.

“Where did you get that dress—”

“Porter, have you met Paxon Warrick? He’s a guest at the Roaring Fork. Paxon, this is my brother Porter.”

“Nice to meet you,” I said, holding my hand out.

“Nice to meet you too.” Porter looked at his sister and then at me.

“We were headed out to the dance floor, if you’ll excuse us.”

I put my hand on the small of Flynn’s back, and she flinched. When we were far enough away from her brother, I asked her about it. “If you’d rather not dance, it’s okay.”

“Would you rather not?”

I looked into her eyes and smiled. “I asked you to, which means I’d very much like to.”

Flynn was stiff as a board in my arms, but that wouldn’t stop me from holding her. I kept my grip loose and, as she relaxed, gradually pulled her closer to me. We didn’t do much more than step from side to side, even when the song went from slow to fast.

“Did you want to get a drink?” she asked when we were on our third song.

“Not as much as I want to keep dancing.”

“Oh. Uh. Okay.”

I chuckled, took her hand in mine, and led her over to the bar.

We were getting close when another man—based on how much he resembled the first one, I guessed he was another brother—approached us. “Flynn?”

“Yes, it’s me. God, do you really have to make such a big deal out of how I’m dressed? Cord, this is Paxon Warrick. Paxon, this is my brother Cord.” She pointed toward the stage. “The guy with the red shirt is my brother Holt. I’m sure if the band takes a break, he’ll be equally shocked by my attire as Cord and Porter were. Oh, and Buck will be too.” She spun on her heel and stalked off, but I was right behind her.

“Hey, what about our drink?”

“I’m sorry. I think it would be best if I just went home. This was a terrible idea.”

I took Flynn’s hand in mine and led her outside. I waited until I was sure we didn’t have an audience before speaking.

“I don’t know what the deal is with your brothers being surprised by your attire, but as I said earlier, I think you look really pretty.”

“I don’t usually wear stuff like this.” Flynn waved her hand in front of her dress. “In fact, I never do.”

“I wouldn’t have guessed it.” I took her hand and twirled her in a circle. The dress she wore looked like any I’d expect to see on a girl who was also wearing cowboy boots.

She played with one of the ringlets in her hair. “I don’t ever do anything with my hair either.”

“Now you’re just teasing me.”

Flynn shook her head. “I’m not. I’m the least girly-girl you’ll ever meet.”

I raised my eyebrows and shook my head. “I work for the CIA, sweetheart. I can guarantee you I’ve met plenty of women less ‘girly’ than you.”

She looked away. “I had to go buy this dress today. I didn’t have one.”

“Flynn?”

“Yeah?”

“Let’s go back in, get something to drink, and dance some more.”

“I should just go home. I have to get up really early to start breakfast.”

“One more dance. Please.”

22

Flynn

I flopped down on the bed, unable to wipe the silly grin off my face. Tonight had been magical. The giddy feeling that warmed my body from head to toe would probably keep me awake all night, but I didn’t care. Tomorrow I’d be floating on air.

For the first time in my life, a man noticed me, paid attention to me, held my hand, held me in his arms. While I’d hoped he might try to kiss me at some point, the fact that he hadn’t, didn’t damper my happiness.

The only thing that might’ve, if I’d allowed it to, were my brothers Porter and Cord. Was it really necessary for them to be so outwardly shocked that I was wearing a dress and comment on it no less?

Thankfully, all Holt did was find us to say hello in between his sets. And Buck—he was too distracted by Stella to even notice me.

The other thing I wouldn’t allow to creep in was my insecurity. Paxon was probably just being nice, without any idea that tonight marked a kind of milestone for me, beyond what I’d told him about having to shop for something to wear. I’d never admit all the other things that had been firsts for me.

I ran my hands down the dress I didn’t want to take off. The woman at the Gunnison Western Wear Store had been so kind to me. When I explained what I was looking for, she picked out several pieces for me to try on, and even though I was skeptical they’d fit when she showed me to the dressing room, every one had.

“Let me see,” she’d said, smiling when I opened the door. “That one brings out the blue in your eyes. Try another one.”

“Don’t you have other customers you need to help?” I’d asked.

“Nope. We’re slow today.”

As much as I’d been tempted to buy them all, I left the store with only one. The saleslady said she’d keep the others in the back in case I changed my mind.

After the dress, she’d helped me pick out a new pair of boots, ones with embroidered flowers. “These are not work boots, young lady,” she’d said with a wink.

I was getting ready to leave after I’d paid the bill when I heard her call out to me to