Reyona picked up her drink as she refused to analyse her feelings. She shut off the restless thoughts in her mind and concentrated on the musicians in front. One of them had started singing while the harmony of drums, bass, and guitar blended with the smooth, rich voice.
Grams would indeed approve. Reyona had no idea what the song was. Something about how love snuck up on the singer when he least expected it. Reyona did not think much of love or it sneaking up on anyone these days, but she liked the sound of the tune and how it washed over her. She closed her eyes and let out a soft sigh as she decided to leave behind everything she knew she would have to deal with when she left this place and let the music wash over her. Even if she didn't believe a word of it,.
She did not know that a smile curled her lips, nor did she have any idea of the man sitting opposite her who seemed enraptured with her expressions and movements. Not until she heard his voice did she realise that she had an audience.
"That good?" She heard his lilting voice, which sounded musical for a man.
Reyona opened her eyes slowly and looked at him with a slight arch of her brow. She was sure he was referring to her, as he had his eyes on hers with a touch of a smile on his sensuous lips.
He inclined his head towards the band. "I mean them. Is the music that good? You seemed to be in a world of your own and one you loved so much if one could judge by the smile on your face," he said with that smile still in place.
She knew his type. The cocky grin. The self-assured stance. Yes, she knew his type, and she did not care for the look in his eyes as he looked at her. No, she did not.
*****************
Reyona shrugged as she placed her hands around her glass without lifting the drink to her mouth. "Their music is good," she said so quietly that he had to strain his ear to catch her words.
The fleeting content look that had been on her face was gone, and Maxwell was sorry for that. What he was not sorry about, though, was the fact that he had seen her hazel eyes when she had looked directly at him before arching her brow.
"Damn it," he thought to himself again as he wondered how a woman could affect him so much. The way she sighed earlier had been nothing but pure torture for him, as her sigh only reminded him of the rustling whisper of a well-loved body against the sheet. He wondered briefly how her alabaster skin would feel to the touch, even as he saw the faint irritation that clouded her expression when she replied to him.
"You must be a lover of music then," he added as he decided to turn on his charms; he had not been interested in regaling any females with it in a long while. That didn't stop them from coming through, but he suddenly realised that he wanted this woman to be charmed by him. A ridiculous notion, he thought. Especially since he was not the type who cared about anybody's opinion of him but this woman here? He felt an inexplicable urge to be in her good grace.
"Oh really? I am sure you must have deduced that from the way I jumped on the table earlier, nodding my head in ecstasy, yeah?" Reyona replied with dripping sarcasm, even though she had a sweet smile on her face.
"Whoa there, lady. I come in peace," Maxwell said as he raised his hand in surrender, even as he wondered what made her so uptight. It was almost as if she was upset.
"What about you don't come at all?" She asked as her anger rose when she saw the teasing smile on his lips, even as he raised his hands in that ridiculous stance. "How about you face your drink and pretend you do not see me?" she said as she slightly turned her back on him, thinking that should let him leave her be.
She was amazed when she heard, "That is near impossible, you know. For anyone to pretend not to see you? Any man who claimed that must either be blind or he was well on his way."
"I would appreciate it if you would pretend to be blind then." She sipped her margarita with a sweet smile that didn't touch her eyes. "And, oh, I wouldn't mind you playing dumb as well. Thank you"
She added with a roll of her eyes as she wondered why the man's arrogant, knowing smile irked her so much. She was not known to be rude, but she so wanted to say something to him that would have that infernal smile off his undeniably sensuous lips.
Yes, she was married but not blind. And she disliked the man. No reason.
"Whoa. You are coming on strong, lady. I could almost believe that you are flirting with me. Not that I am complaining, mind you. I am highly flattered to get that from such a lady like you," Maxwell said deliberately to get a rise out of her. He had no idea why he wanted to get a reaction out of her. Any reaction at all? as much as that would keep her talking and not leaving. He had seen her hand edge toward her purse.
He covered his satisfied smile as he rubbed his upper lips. She did not disappoint, as her eyes fired up, and Maxwell could almost believe he saw dancing flames in those mesmerizing orbs.
"Are you normally a jerk, or is the privilege reserved for me?" she asked in such a controlled voice that one would have thought she was talking about the weather. Her eyes gave her away, though. Just the eyes.
Maxwell decided that he was enjoying himself and wouldn't mind if Don got to the bar later. He had a gorgeous woman to rile. Or flirt with. The term didn't matter after all.
"No, no, honey. I reserve this sort of attention for beautiful women like you. Believe me. I am not always so generous."
"I would prefer you take your generosity and stick it up where the sun doesn't shine because, believe me, I am in no mood for bullshit. Not yours or that of anyone else." Reyona was amazed at the extent of her reaction to this man, but she knew there was no backing down now. She hardly gets angry, but when she did? Well, let's just say she was already having a vision of the margarita glancing off his arrogant, handsome face.
"Why am I thinking of him as handsome?" she thought to herself as she carefully set down her drink before she would do something she might regret later. Like, flick her hand toward his face. She had never been thrown out of anywhere before.
Well, there was always a first. She thought as she turned towards the band again.
He wouldn't leave her be, though.
"My, oh my. Could it be my imagination, or did a refined lady like you just suggest that I shove my generosity up my ass?"