Page 108 of Getting Lucky

Iris caught Jack’s eye and winked, a signal they had developed from enduring life with their mother—Have I got a story to tell you.

She looked beautiful in her dark blue dress. And so grown up. And her hair—along with his other sisters’—looked better suited for a wedding than an engagement party. The way Adalia kept lifting her hand to her hair and wincing suggested that she was less than thrilled with it. Then again, she had short hair, and it would take many, many pins to hold it up like that, so maybe she was wincing from pain.

“Sorry we’re late!” Georgie said as River walked over to intercept her.

“Everything okay?” he asked, wrapping his arm around her back in such a protective way, Jack felt like a Peeping Tom to their tenderness.

“It was crazy,” Georgie said with a nervous laugh. “I almost felt like we were being held hostage.” She shot an accusatory glance at Dottie. “Especially since Dottie suggested we bring our clothesjust in casethe appointment ran long.”

Dottie beamed. “You of all people know the importance of being prepared.” She gave a slight nod. “You’re welcome.”

Finn was staring at Adalia in amazement and reached out a tentative hand to touch her hair.

She slapped his hand away. “Don’t you dare. There’s so much hair spray holding all of this up, I’ll fall over if it gets unbalanced.”

“I wanted to call so you wouldn’t worry, Jack,” Iris said, looking guilty. “But they took our phones and then they couldn’t find them when it was time to go. We still don’t have them.”

He pulled her into a hug. She’d looked so happy and confident when she walked in, and now she seemed nervous. He hated for anything to steal her joy, especially him. “I’m just glad you’re here and that you had a fun day.” He pulled back to study her face. “You had a good day, right?”

Her eyes lit up. “The best. You’ll never believe what happened.” She glanced at a Buchanan employee walking toward them. “But I’ll tell you later. It’s going to take a while to explain the ostrich.”

He would have loved the distraction from worrying about Maisie, but a staffer pulled him away to deal with an issue in the kitchen. By the time he returned, some of the guests had arrived and were getting drinks at the bar. So far, there was no sign of the New York Buchanans, and he wasn’t sure whether to be annoyed or relieved.

Iris’s forehead furrowed. “Are you okay? You look upset.”

He gave her a weak smile. “Long day.”

She glanced around the room. “Where’s Maisie?”

“Not here yet. I had to set up, so I’ve been here for a few hours. She’s coming on her own.” Which had been the original plan, but now he wondered if she’d skip the party to avoid seeing him. They’d left things badly, after all, and she knew as well as he did there would be plenty of drama to go around tonight.

A little voice in his head, the one that gave voice to all his doubts, whispered that maybe she’d been looking for an excuse to skip it. Even if Dottie was right and Maisie was mostly beyond the whole River thing, it might still bother her to see him officially move on. Except she’d shown no hesitation when they’d talked about the party earlier. No hint of regret either. Which meant if she missed the party, it was likely because of him. He pulled out his phone to text her, to tell her that she didn’t need to stay away on his account. That hewantedher there. That he was desperate to talk to her and set things right.

But he’d only made it halfway through typing out a lengthy text that would have made Finn proud when Prescott and Victoria entered the room. Victoria’s nose scrunched up as she surveyed the space, making it clear she found it lacking. Prescott marched right up to Georgie, ignoring the fact that she and River were in the middle of a conversation with another couple, and demanded, “Where is your brother?”

Georgie’s mouth dropped open and she glanced to the side, her gaze landing on Jack.

“Not him,” Prescott said in an icy tone. “Your real brother.”

Jack flinched. He didn’t give a shit what Prescott thought, but he was still sensitive to the opinions of his newly acquainted siblings.

“I havetworeal brothers,” Georgie retorted. “One of whom has gone above and beyond to make this evening special for River and me. If you wish to have a discussion about our family, then it can wait until later.” Then she turned back to the couple they’d been talking to, who looked understandably uncomfortable, and said, “I’m sorry, where were we?”

Prescott looked stunned that one of his children could dismiss him so efficiently, but Victoria wrapped her hand around his upper arm and tugged him toward the bar. “Come, Pressy. Let’s get a drink.”

Pressy?The way she clung to him, the way she looked at him so adoringly…how had no one seen the signs that they were sleeping together? Maybe Lee had seen them and dismissed them. It had to be hard to believe your own father would betray you that way, although Jack was only guessing. He wouldn’t put it past Prescott to try to sleep with Maisie, if for no other reason than to hurt and humiliate him.

The thought of Prescott with Maisie was both nauseating and hilarious. Maisie had the best bullshit meter of anyone he’d ever met. One attempt to touch her, let alone kiss her, and she’d knee Prescott in the balls. He almost wished the fool would try it.

His lips twitched with a smile. God, he loved her fieriness.

But then he quickly sobered. If he loved that side of her, why had he held it against her in their argument this morning?

Prescott and Victoria got their drinks—a glass of wine for both, not that Jack was surprised—and moved to a high top table in the corner, surveying the room like they were a king and queen sitting on a dais. It astounded Jack that Prescott could act so high and mighty knowing that he was in deep trouble with the law, but then again, Beau had always been there to bail him out in the past. Who did he expect to bail him out this time?

A cold chill washed through him when he realized Prescott was now watching his oldest daughter like a stalker.

Was Prescott going to ask Georgie for help? If that was Prescott’s plan, he was going to crash and burn, which gave Jack far more satisfaction than it should. Georgie may have sought his approval in the past, but Addy had told him their sister had grown since coming to Asheville.

---