“Yet you did. We lecture our children on the perils of bullying, yet your friend here humiliated me and used intimidation to scare me. It’s unacceptable.”

“I did not bully you!”

Trying to get a grip on the down-the-rabbit-hole conversation, she shook her head and spoke calmly. “Tristan doesn’t bully people. Let’s let this go and chalk it up to an unfortunate miscommunication. I’m truly sorry you felt you were being bullied.”

Tristan glared but remained silent. She’d never seen him so aggravated. It must’ve been an epic encounter.

Cynthia regarded them both with her nose in the air. She was so cliché it was almost ridiculous. She had too much money, too much time, and too much ego. “Fine. We’ll put this incident behind us. Perhaps you should leave your intimate friends at home from now on. It reflects poorly on you and Becca. We wouldn’t want rumors to begin circulating at the school, now, would we?”

Oh, she did not just say that. Everyone knew Cynthia’s husband was having an affair with his accountant. And she had the nerve to judge who Sydney brought to Becca’s recital? Anger punched through her, and she took a few steps forward and got in the woman’s face. She practically snarled the words against Cynthia’s red, Botoxed lips.

“Listen up, chickie. You keep out of my and Becca’s business. And if I ever hear a word about me, or Tristan, or Becca from your mouth, I promise you, I will kick your ass so hard, I will make Christian Grey look like an amateur. Got it?”

Cynthia gasped and stumbled back. “You’re crazy,” she whispered. “Both of you.”

Tristan grinned. “Nice to meet you.”

The woman turned on her smart nude-colored heel and took off, grabbing her daughter’s arm and pulling her away, ignoring her loud protests.

They watched her leave, the final headlights pulling out of the exit. Then they stood alone in the empty parking lot.

“Christian Grey, huh?” he asked. “That was good.”

She sighed. “It was kind of lame, but I was too mad to be clever.”

“No, I liked it.”

“I’m sorry I put you in that position. I didn’t know you got in a fight with her over saving a seat.”

He gave an elegant half shrug. “It was fun. Sharpened my warrior skills. Had no idea moms had to be this tough. Or so good with hair.”

Her lips twitched, and her muscles relaxed. “It stayed up during her pirouette, so you did great.”

Did he puff out in pride or was she imagining things? “Thanks.”

This whole conversation was getting too weird. And way too intimate. She needed to put back the distance between them. “Well, thanks again for helping me out. My car is okay, so I’d better head home. We need to meet with the rest of the suppliers to get them to sign contracts. I got Anthony Moretti on board.”

He lifted an eyebrow. “You’re kidding? That fast?”

“Yes. That’s where I was coming from when my tire blew. Can we meet at the site to hammer out some details this week?”

“That works.”

“Great. Well, have a good night.”

His arm shot out. Strong fingers wrapped around her upper arm, encasing her in a firm grip. “Have coffee with me.”

His touch jolted her like a hit from Iron Man. She tried to mask her reaction by looking at the ground. “I don’t drink coffee this late at night. It keeps me up.”

“Wine?”

“My Place is too far a drive. I need to be back for Becca.”

“We can go down by the marina. Just one cocktail and then home. You can take your own car.”

She casually stepped back, breaking his hold. Her skin burned. “Umm, I’m sure you have better things to do on a Saturday night after a rocking ballet,” she joked. “People to call. Lively places to go. Hot girls to hang with.”

“Actually, I don’t.” There was a seriousness that clung to his manner, to his words. Those beautiful golden eyes seemed haunted as he stared at her. Why, oh why, had they declared a tentative truce? It was much harder to be nice to him than snippy. Being nice opened up all sorts of nasty things inside of her. Weepy things. Needy things.

Girly things.

He continued, each word chipping away at another piece of her finely built armor. “I don’t feel like going home to an empty house.”

Direct hit. More of her barriers shook, but she crossed her arms in front of her chest and regarded him suspiciously. “Why are you trying to make me feel guilty? You used to tell me your greatest moments were spent alone.”

He winced. “That’s when we were young and my brothers drove me insane. Now I like some company while I drink my wine. Come on. Just one drink.”

This man rarely asked. He demanded, cajoled, and sneered his orders. But the genuine need in his voice threw her off balance. “Fine. One drink. A quick one.”

Straight white teeth flashed in the shadows. Those braces had done him wonders. “Thanks. I’ll follow you to the marina.”

The whole time Sydney drove she cursed herself for being a half-wit. This was not a good idea. Oh, sure, she’d get to steep herself in the glory of his cologne and feast her eyes on his beautiful face and enjoy his sharp dialogue, but the barrier was wavering, and she needed to keep him firmly on the other side.

The marina was busy with its usual weekend crowd. The harbor was the main highlight, with boats bobbing gently in the waves, the pier and lampposts strung with tiny white lights to give off a festive air. Restaurants and shops surrounded the water, and the outdoor bars were lively with music and groups relaxing on the decks.

They parked in the lot and walked over to Andy’s Tiki Bar. Since spring still hadn’t fully bloomed, a plastic covering blocked the wind from the water, and heat lamps were set out so people could enjoy the outside space. She found an empty cocktail table off to the side, away from the main action, and saved it for them as he got their drinks.

He strolled through the crowd with two wineglasses, cutting a path just by his presence. He’d always radiated power, even when he was young. It was an innate confidence in who he was and his abilities that made him so damn sexy.

Plus his delectable body. The man had an ass that should be worshipped.

“Now that’s a thought I need to know. You’ve got quite an intense expression on your face.”