“I saw you dancing with Ice. You’re very good,” Casey complimented her, feeling self-conscious next to the stylish woman. Both of them were wearing jeans and T-shirts, but Grace had a scarf draped around her neck and a pair of boots that Casey wasn’t ashamed to admit she was envious of.
“I love to dance. Unfortunately, Ice doesn’t.” She made a face at her husband, who raised a brow at her as he began to play an undefeated Max.
“CeCe couldn’t make it tonight?” Casey questioned, trying to appear uninterested.
“Her and Max broke up,” Grace told her, frowning at the man in question.
“I’m sorry. Is she very upset that he broke up with her?”
“She broke up with him, actually. CeCe isn’t afraid of a little competition, but at this stage in her life, she wanted more of a commitment than Max wanted to give her. She’s already dating someone new and is very happy.”
“I’m glad. I like her. Max brought her to several of the dinners at the Pizza Shack. She probably broke up with him so she didn’t have to eat there anymore,” Casey joked, and both women burst out laughing.
“What’s so funny?” Their laughter died at Max’s question.
The two women only shook their heads.
“I thought you were playing pool with Ice.” Casey said, trying to change the subject, then wished she had kept her mouth closed. Her words showed she had been watching him.
“I decided I felt too good after beating Jackal to take an ass-whipping from Ice.”
Grace stood up. “I guess I should make sure he has some competition, then.”
“You play pool?” Casey asked in surprise.
“My father taught me. I’m pretty good.” She gave a saccharine smile.
“She’s a pool shark,” Max stated bluntly.
“I wouldn’t go that far.” Grace shook her head at the big man.
“I would. I lost two hundred bucks before I was smart enough to stop.”
“A smart man would have figured it out after the first fifty,” Grace taunted as she left the two alone.
Max took the chair Grace had vacated, relaxing back into the comfort of it. He was in his element, surrounded by his friends and the party atmosphere.
Casey stared around the room, seeing her mother and Mugg had started taking shots. She couldn’t imagine wanting this kind of life for years on end. Grace must really love Ice to want to make a place for herself among the group.
“Mugg is enjoying his new bike,” Max began, twirling the beer he was holding, his eyes not meeting hers. “I’m sorry about mouthing off the night you gave it to him. I shouldn’t have. I was pissed off at myself for not thinking about how much he needed one.”
“He would have been able to buy one himself if it wasn’t for Renee’s spending habits.” They had never discussed the problem of their parents’ marriage, even when they had temporarily separated.
“She’s doing better.”
“Not from the haul I saw in her car the other day.”
“Mugg will get her under control.”
“Then he’ll accomplish what her other husbands couldn’t,” Casey replied grimly. “I shouldn’t have brought up your child support payments, either. I’m sorry. It was none of my business.”
Max tilted his beer to his lips, emptying the bottle. “Want to dance?”
Even when she was younger and had been around countless parties of Renee’s, she had never participated, keeping to herself.
“I’d like that.” Casey stood.
Max’s expression betrayed his shock as he slowly got to his own feet.
Casey moved to the part of the club where several of the members were dancing. It took several seconds for her to loosen up and relax into the music. She saw her mother pause with a shot glass to her lips when she saw her dancing with her stepson. Casey glanced away, and her eyes were caught and held by Max’s. She pasted a smile on her lips.
“Why is everyone surprised I know how to dance?” she quipped.
“Maybe because it’s the first time anyone’s seen you shake that ass other than to stomp off. What’s changed?”
“I’m in the mood to have some fun for a change.” Casey smiled wider, reminding herself not to be too flirtatious, or he would become suspicious.
Max was a good dancer. She had seen him dance several times with the women he was invariably with. Most men his size would be clumsy or self-conscious, but Max was neither. He was sexy, and his size made a woman feel safe until she looked in his eyes and saw the menace he kept carefully hidden.
After a couple of dances, the members gathered to cut the cake that Grace had made for Mugg.
Casey moved to the side as the cake slices were handed out.
“You don’t want a piece?” Max asked.
“No, thanks,” Casey said, watching as Max shook his head at the small slice Grace handed him.
“You know me better than that. Give that piece to Snake. Cut me one twice that size.”