Aftermath (Dividing Line #6) by Heather Atkinson

me,” he said, fastening it up. He rested his hands on her shoulders. “Don’t go like this, please.”
    “I have to.” She turned to look at him over her shoulder. “I’m sorry.”
    After planting a quick kiss on his lips she hurried out, closing the door behind her, leaving Riley alone.

CHAPTER 9
     
    Rachel had her arms around Ryan’s neck as they gently swayed together on the dance floor while the party wound down. Uncle Tam however was on fine form, his round little body surprisingly dextrous as he flung Amber’s mother about, who shrieked with laughter. Tam had worked a miracle and broken through her reserve. Her husband looked on from the bar, sipping a brandy with a disapproving frown.
    “Looks like trouble,” said Ryan as they watched Ken determinedly put down his drink and walk over to them.
    “Daft sod. Obviously he doesn’t realise who Tam is,” replied Rachel.
    Ken tapped Tam on the shoulder, who stopped dancing and whirled round, teeth bared through his crooked mouth.
    “What the fuck you wantin’ pal?” snarled Tam.
    Ken swallowed hard, his overly-large Adam’s apple bobbing up and down. “That is my wife.”
    “That?” demanded Joyce, planting her hands on her hips.
    “So?” said Tam, shrugging his bulky shoulders.
    “So…I…” Ken glanced sideways at his new son-in-law standing at the bar with Jez, Battler and Bruiser, pretending he hadn’t noticed what was going on. Like everyone else he was praying Tam put Ken on his arse, it would do him good to be brought down a peg.
    “Go on Tam, hit him,” said Ryan quietly.
    “Ryan,” chastised Rachel.
    “Don’t tell me you’re not thinking the same thing?”
    “I can’t,” she smiled.
    They watched with interest as Toni approached, the eyes of the majority of the men in the room fixated on her bulging cleavage. From her inscrutable expression it was impossible to tell what she was going to do. Everyone watched with baited breath.
    When she put a hand on Tam’s arm he instantly calmed down, stocky body relaxing, then she turned to Ken with a charming smile. “Would you like to dance?”
    Ken eagerly nodded. “Yes please.”
    Joyce watched her husband pull Toni tight against him, her substantial breasts pressing against his chest, and looked put out.
    “Come on sweetheart, get those dainty wee size fives moving,” exclaimed Tam, cocking his head, jaw jutting to one side as he pulled her back into the dance.
    “Well that was disappointing,” said Ryan.
    “No, it’s good. Toni just showed she has tact and restraint. If that had been Frankie then Ken’s severed head would be rolling around on the floor now.”
    “Good point. Maybe she is different to her brother after all? The eyeballs in glasses cases aside. That’s just peculiar.”
    “I know. Let’s hope that’s the only incident tonight. We might be lucky after all. Aw, look at Daina and Bruiser. Cute.”
    Ryan looked sideways to see them dancing together, Daina wrapped in her man’s arms, resting her head on his chest with a big smile on her face, her feet dangling a couple of inches off the floor as he waltzed her about the room.
    “They’re for life,” added Rachel.
    “I think you might be right,” smiled Ryan.
    Rachel’s attention was caught by the door at the far end of the room opening and Beth hurrying in, almost colliding with a waiter.
    “That was quick,” she said.
    “What is?”
    “Beth’s back already, alone.”
    “Riley must have no stamina.”
    “She looks upset.” She kissed him on the cheek. “I’ll have a word with her.”
    While she hurried off to attend to her friend, Ryan went over to his brother, who had just slipped back into the room with a dejected look, his hair all over the place.
    “What happened?” Ryan asked him.
    “Nothing.”
    “Don’t give me that. Rachel and I saw you disappear upstairs with Beth. Now you look really pissed off.”
    “I’m not sure what happened. It was great, she was happy. I was holding her