Trial By Fire (Going Down in Flames #3)(54)

They hadn’t talked about his pseudo-chemical lobotomy all day. Though he did seem 100 percent back to himself, which was a relief. Bryn hoped they could put the experience behind them, never to be repeated again.

“I’ll take that bet,” Valmont responded with a grin on his face. Did he know something she didn’t?

When they entered the auditorium, Bryn checked hair color. There wasn’t a blond in the vicinity.

“Pay up.” Clint held out his hand.

“Why would I pay you, when I won the bet?” Valmont said.

“What are you talking about? There isn’t a Blue in this room.” Clint looked around the area.

“Bryn’s grandmother is the Bluest of Blues, and she is standing right over there.”

Clint drew himself up. “That was sneaky and underhanded, and damn it, I wish I’d thought of it first.”

They all laughed. Bryn took Valmont’s hand and tugged him toward the area where people were painting. “I never thought I’d say this, but I want to paint.”

“Why?” her knight asked.

“It’s what I do at Stagecraft. After all the weirdness that’s been going on around here I’d like to have a little normalcy back in my life.”

“I think you and normal are polar opposites,” Valmont teased. “But, I kind of like it that way.”

“Bryn, I didn’t see you come in.”

Her grandmother’s voice had Bryn whirling around with a genuine smile on her face. “We’re here to paint.”

“You don’t have to paint,” her grandmother said.

“It’s not like I’d stand around and watch other people work.” Aw crap. Open mouth, insert both feet. “Besides. I like to paint. It’s relaxing.”

Her grandmother appeared unruffled. “Gardening has the same effect on me. Valmont, why don’t you grab supplies from the foreman over there, while I talk with Bryn.”

“I can do that.” Valmont took off like a shot. And she would so give him crap for that later.

“He’s such a nice young man,” her grandmother said. “You’re lucky to have a friend like him who is willing to look out for your best interests.”

Where was this going? And then Bryn saw a few members of the Blue women’s league standing nearby. Time to play her part, for her grandmother’s sake.

“He is a good friend,” Bryn said. “I feel safer knowing he’s watching out for me.”

When Valmont returned with paint supplies, he had Adam and Eve in tow. “Bryn, Mrs. Sinclair, this is Adam and his girlfriend Eve. I shanghaied them to help us paint.”

Everyone did the mandatory round of polite greetings, and then Bryn’s grandmother excused herself to check in with the foreman.

“Let’s work over there.” Bryn pointed to a section of wall away from where others were painting. It would give them some privacy, but not enough to ask the questions she wanted to ask. After everything that had happened with Clint, she wasn’t so sure she wanted to go down this path anymore. Okay, she desperately wanted to learn about other peaceful hybrids, but now the shadow of Ferrin and the Directorate blotted out some of her curiosity.

Eve dipped a roller in paint. “Your grandmother is impressive. I kept feeling the urge to curtsey.”

Bryn laughed. “I know what you mean. She is a force to be reckoned with.”

For a few moments, they rolled paint onto the walls without speaking. Valmont caved first. “I now know where the phrase, ‘this is about as fun as watching paint dry’ comes from. Painting is boring.”

“Where are you two from?” Bryn asked.

“We grew up in small town no one has ever heard of,” Eve said. “We live next door to each other, so we’ve known each other since we were little. We’re both only children, so we hung out together a lot.”

They made small talk and painted for half an hour. Then Bryn set her roller down. “That’s it. I need a snack.”

“Sounds good to me.” Eve dropped her roller in the mostly empty paint tray.

Adam stretched his arms over his head. “Looks like everyone had the same idea at the same time.” He pointed at the cafe tables, which had been set up by the snack table. Most of the seats were taken. “I’ll clean up. You three go grab seats.”

“Good idea.” Valmont kept his hand on Bryn’s lower back as they headed toward the tables. The warmth of his hand was reassuring. Her grandmother may not approve, but it could be passed off as a protective gesture.

“I’ll snag a table,” Eve said.

Bryn laughed when she saw the refreshments. Real china plates and actual utensils were set out alongside a buffet of appetizers. Glass tumblers sat beside pitchers of tea and lemonade.

Valmont gave a low whistle. “Talk about a gourmet snack table.”

“I’m sure my grandmother would say, if something is worth doing, it’s worth doing well.” Bryn piled two plates with mini quiches, crab cakes, and other golden brown bite-sized treats wrapped in fried dough. “I don’t know what these are, but I’m sure they’re wonderful.”

Valmont followed behind her, filling two more plates. “I’ll take care of the drinks.”

Having a boyfriend with the skills of a waiter came in handy. Bryn sucked in a breath. Did she just think of Valmont as her boyfriend? He was, kind of. But now wasn’t the time to ponder her relationship status.