Page 37 of Recklessly in Love

Small bar-height tables with pairs of matched chairs dot the edge of the room, their plain black utilitarian look disguised by sparkly slip-on covers.

As I arrange a centerpiece with white flowers in a tall, blinged-out vase for the main tables, I hear the door open and turn to see Mia’s sister, Carrie, walking in. It was a pleasant surprise to hear that Mia invited her. I thought it meant both women were working past the bullshit their parents thrust upon them.

But instead of the excited smile I expected, her face is pinched. The obvious trauma on her features starkly contrasts the playful beaded blue sweetheart-neckline dress with a flared skirt she’s wearing, which offsets the long, wavy brown hair and blue eyes that run in the family. But as she approaches, I see those dark blues are red-rimmed.

Mia notices Carrie’s distress too and rushes over to her sister, enveloping her in a hug, careful not to snag the fringe of her silver sheath dress on the beads of her sister’s. “Oh no, Care-bear, what’s wrong?”

Carrie sniffs and wipes at her eyes. “When I told Mom and Dad I was coming here for New Year’s, they tried to guilt me into staying home. They said I was choosing you over them.”

Mia’s face hardens. “That’s not fair. Seeing me doesn’t mean you’re choosing sides.”

Carrie nods. “I know. Still. I hate being in the middle of this.” She gives Mia an apologetic smile. “Not that I’m blaming you.”

Rae and I exchange a look and move to join them.

“They’re just being assholes,” I offer by way of greeting, rubbing Carrie’s back. “Trust me, we’ve had our share of drama this week with the old farts in town.”

Carrie looks up, her curiosity obviously piqued. “Really? Drama in sleepy little Alpine Ridge? I’ve got to hear about this.”

So we fill her in on our confrontation with Jerry and the whole town council debacle. By the end, she’s laughing.

“Serves them right,” she says with a grin. “I can’t believe they thought they could get away with pretending to be in charge.”

“Yes, well, there are certainly enough power players in this town to be getting on with. Turns out my new boyfriend’s family owns most of it, and they’re as wackadoo as your parents,” I offer.

Carrie gives me a sympathetic smile.

“Hey, not all the landowners here are assholes,” Mia interjects.

I smirk. “Of course not. You, Nate, and Greg are all gems. And I’m sure whoever owns the old gold-mining museum is sane because they don’t seem to be making a fuss,” I add thoughtfully.

Rae’s eyebrows jump in surprise. “You didn’t know?” she asks.

Mia’s brow furrows in confusion. “Know what?”

Rae looks between us almost guiltily. “I own it. Well, now I do. It was passed down through my daddy’s family. He used to run it when I was a kid. But when he left my mom … well, you get the idea.” She shrugs sheepishly.

My jaw drops. “Seriously? Well, I guess it used to be owned by an asshole, anyway. Yeesh. I’m so sorry, Rae.” I pause, wondering if I should even ask my next question. But then again, why start holding back now? “Why haven’t you done anything with it?”

Rae shrugs. “Never had the time or money. But maybe now, with the town incorporating, we can figure out how it fits into the new Alpine Ridge.”

The wheels start turning in my head, but people arrive for the party before I can voice my ideas. Rae rushes off to change out of the T-shirt and jeans she’d showed up in and returns in a gorgeous mint-colored wrap dress that sets off her short, golden blond locks and brings out the green in her hazel eyes. I give her a thumbs up, and she grins at me across the room.

Nate also reappears, looking like hot business in grey slacks that look painted on his huge, muscled legs and a starched white button-front shirt.

Still, he’s got nothing on Greg, I decide as I watch the two men talk. Greg’s back is turned to me, and his gorgeous backside is calling my name.

But the community center begins to fill quickly with what seems like half the town before I can make it to him. However, it doesn’t take long before Greg weaves through the crowd to me, grinning from ear to ear.

“It looks like the festival got people excited about community events after all,” I comment as he approaches.

He slips an arm around my waist and pulls me close. “Seems that way. I’m glad we’re keeping the momentum going. Save me a dance?”

I nod, and he kisses me before disappearing into the crowd, presumably to ensure everything is running smoothly. I watch him flit around the room before sampling the food and getting myself a drink.

As the party kicks into high gear, the music is loud enough to dance to but soft enough to hold a conversation, and I lose track of Greg completely. I’m chatting with Mia and Rae when I spot Carrie across the room, looking uncomfortable as Greg’s cousin Ned corners her.

I remember the first time he approached me. He’s as sketchy-looking now as he was then. Wrung out, greasy, and sporting a leer that would make a prostitute turn tail and run in the opposite direction. The guy is bad news. And Carrie looks like she wants to bolt, but he’s got her trapped near the drinks. And I know Carrie. She’s too polite for her own good.

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