Page 25 of Just Add Mistletoe

He blew out a breath, his stomach in knots. “I mean, I could step it up if needed.” He pulled into the hotel parking lot and drove to the front doors, where a valet waited.

“I don’t think so, Romeo,” she said with another laugh. “Penny wouldn’t buy it. Well, maybe she would, but it would feel over the top.”

Malcom stopped the truck and looked over at her before climbing out. He wouldn’t mind kissing her, but if he ever did, it wouldn’t be for public display. And not in front of Penny. This wasn’t anything he could confess to Lori, though. “I think plenty of flirting and some hand-holding would be perfect.”

Lori’s eyes were bright with amusement. “Okay.”

He exhaled, trying to steady the nerves that kept zapping him. “Okay. And thanks again for all of this.”

“Like you said, the food will probably be great.”

Malcom laughed. Maybe this evening would be better than he expected. Maybe having Lori with him would keep Penny at arm’s length and the crushing worry about his brother at bay. He climbed out of the truck, greeted the valet, then walked around to open her door.

He held out his hand to help her down, and her fingers grasped his. It was easy enough from there to just keep holding her hand, so he did. It fit neatly into his, and he decided that his thudding heart was from the event as a whole, and not just a simple touch from Lori.

“There you are.” Bronson’s voice sounded from across the lobby area. He wore a tuxedo as well. He stood about six inches shorter than Malcom, and his eyes were a pale blue like his mother’s. “I wasn’t sure if you’d already arrived. You didn’t answer my texts.”

“I was driving,” Malcom said, keeping his tone even and light. Irritation already prickled his skin. Was his stepbrother really embezzling from the company? Was his wife, who stood next to him in a flowy multicolored dress, spending money left and right? She’d always seemed so conservative compared to her sister, but maybe she spent her money differently. Right now, she wore small diamond earrings and a small diamond pendant. Classy but expensive?

“Who do we have here?” Bronson’s gaze landed on Lori.

“This is Lori. Lori, this is my brother Bronson and his wife Kari.”

“Great to meet you,” Bronson said, stretching out his hand, his curious gaze sweeping over her from head to foot. “I didn’t know you were bringing a date.”

“The invitation said to bring a plus one,” Malcom said, again fighting to keep the irritation out of his tone.

Before Bronson could answer, Kari said to Lori, “You look so familiar. What’s your last name?”

“Harding,” she said, releasing Bronson’s hand, then turning to Kari.

“Oh, that doesn’t sound familiar,” Kari continued. “Where are you from?”

“Everly Falls.”

“Oh.” Kari laughed.

Had her laugh been fake? Malcom wondered. He’d never thought anything about her was fake. So this was a new observation for him.

“Are you friends with Penny?” Kari continued with a bright smile.

Definitely a fake smile. What was going on?

“Who’s Penny?” Lori asked, her tone curious and sweet at the same time.

Malcom wanted to tug her close and kiss her right then and there just for saying that.

Kari’s brows shot up. “My sister. She and Malcom are really close, so I thought a friend of his would be a friend of hers too.”

Lori looked up at Malcom, her gaze wide and innocent. “Why haven’t you told me about Penny?”

“I guess because we’ve had so many other things to talk about.” He felt Bronson’s sharp gaze, and Kari’s suspicious one. Malcom had to do something here . . . He slipped his arm about Lori’s waist and drew her close. “You’ll meet her tonight—she’s great.”

“Oh, I can’t wait,” Lori said, possessively placing a hand on his chest.

If he didn’t know this was fake flirting, he would have been totally convinced.

“Speaking of Penny,” Bronson cut in, “she’s inside the ballroom, saving us a table.”

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