Tangled Up Hearts by Deborah Hughes Page B

Alyssa.” Paul nudged her gently with his arm.
    Alyssa’s eyes widened and she looked at Paul with wonder. “Are you psychic or something?”
    Paul smiled. “I don’t have to be psychic to guess at your thoughts. You forget that I have heard all about the history between you and Cole. Besides, you have a very expressive face.”
    “Hmm, I’ll have to work on that.”
    “Paul? Al? Can I get you anything to drink?” Cole walked over to the bar and assisted Serena in settling onto one of the barstools. She perched with excessive wiggling, her tight blue dress showing more leg than Alyssa thought was necessary. Why didn't Cole think she was acting like a floozy? He didn't seem to mind her silly display and calculated wiggling as he poured her a glass of wine and handed it to her.
    Serena accepted the glass with a slow suggestive smile and ran her finger along the length of his forearm. Cole smiled at her antics and she held is gaze as she took an appreciative sip. Giving a little moan of pleasure, she turned to look at Paul. “The wine is very good. You should try some.”
    “I’ll have a soda if you have any,” Paul answered.
    Cole held up a can of cola. “Is this all right?”
    “Yes that will be fine, thank you.” Paul turned to Alyssa. “What about you, angel, what would you like to drink?”
    “Yes, angel, what would you like?”
    Although Cole's voice was solemn, his eyes danced with amusement and Alyssa's anger bristled. He was going to be quietly infuriating tonight and since he was better at quiet warfare than she was, he had a pretty big advantage. Damn it. She needed to put a stop to this right now. So with a lift to her chin, Alyssa threw him a warning look, her eyes narrowing as they held his gaze . Don’t forget about the truce, Cole . The thought was so strongly sent that she almost said it out loud. If he did anything to make Paul uncomfortable, she would make him very, very sorry. Somehow. Without Trish finding out.
    “Dad made some punch,” Trisha suggested. She glanced from Alyssa to Cole and then back to Alyssa, her gaze a mixture of curiosity and apprehension. She must have caught on to their staring contest. “It’s spiked though.” She lifted her glass in salute to Paul for their mutual drink choice. “It’s just soda for me too.”
    “Punch sounds good to me.” Alyssa forced herself to calm down. Ignore him . Surely if she gave herself a firm enough command, she would obey it?
    As they walked toward the table where the large punch bowl was located, Paul leaned close to whisper in her ear. “You surely must see that he is going to comply with the truce.”
    Alyssa rolled her eyes. “My God, don’t tell me that he has fooled you too? Can’t you see how he mocks me?” Her frustration was such that tears blurred her vision and she quickly blinked them away, aghast at the idea of crying over the tumultuous relationship that stewed between her and Cole. But damn it all, everyone was always quick to defend that man. She hadn’t thought of the possibility that Paul would jump camp as well.
    Paul put a comforting arm around her. “Hey, you know that I do my best to see the good in people. Why should it be any different now?”
    Alyssa managed to give him a weak smile. She couldn't fault Paul for the attributes she most admired about him. “I’m sorry, Paul. When it comes to Cole I tend to think the rules change.”
    “That is the problem, Alyssa. Your thoughts affect how you feel.” He gave her shoulders an encouraging squeeze and bent to speak quietly in her ear. “You allow only negative thoughts about Cole to pass through your mind and that clouds any sort of honest assessment.”
    “Hmm. When it comes to Cole it’s darn near impossible to think positive.”
    “Did I just hear my name?” Cole spoke close to Alyssa’s other ear, sending little shivers down her spine. Although Paul had done the same, he didn't affect her in that way. Then again, she liked Paul. Cole's