Page 109 of Getting Lucky

About twenty minutes into the party, Jack was talking to Finn and Addy and a couple who worked at Big Catch (and had apparently forgiven Finn) when Maisie and her friend Blue walked into the events room.

Maisie stopped in the entrance and scanned the space, her gaze locking on Jack.

His mouth went dry, and his vision tunneled as he took her in. She looked sexy as hell in a slinky green dress that clung to every delicious curve. Her hair was loose, the curls brushing her shoulders and making him think of how he’d kissed that exact spot the night before. Then his gaze dipped to her legs, and he smiled a little when he saw she was wearing clogs. Maisie O’Shea was the only woman he knew who could wear them and still look so hot.

His gaze lifted to her expressionless face, and he took a step toward her. But River beat him to it and engulfed her in a hug. “There you are! I thought you were going to ditch me again.”

It stung to see River touch her, hold her, even though he released her and immediately wrapped an arm around Georgie’s waist. Did it still hurt Maisie to see them together? To witness their happiness from the outside? He couldn’t tell from her expression. Then again, even though she was talking to them, her gaze was onhim.

“You’re the one she wants,” Addy whispered next to him, and he realized he’d been flat out staring. When he glanced down at her, she added, “Finn told me about your fight.” She shrugged with an apologetic grin. “He held out for a few hours, which has to be some kind of record for him, but he’s an incurable blabbermouth.”

“That’s okay. I’ve never been a fan of secrets.” Which was why he felt so uneasy about the ones he’d shared with his brother. “Have you talked to Lee today?”

She frowned. “No, and I’m actually starting to get a little worried.”

Jack was too. “He and I discussed something important this morning, and I’d hoped he’d talk to you and Georgie about it before the party. But obviously it would have been impossible for him to get a hold of you.”

She cast a glance at Victoria and frowned. “Ol’ Vicky was losing her mind this morning. I can’t decide if she was actually worried, or just pissed she wasn’t controlling Lee’s every move.”

“Probably a combination of both,” Jack said dryly, watching Maisie and Blue as they left River and Georgie and joined the line at the bar. “Only not how you think.”

“What’s that mean?”

He pushed out a sigh. “I’ll tell you and Georgie everything, but not until later. I don’t want to ruin her night.”

“You mean Georgie and River’s night.”

He made a face.

“She wantsyou, Jack. I’ve seen it for months.” She paused, then lowered her voice. “I think she loves you.”

He loved her too, but he still felt unsettled, as if he’d been given the gift of his dreams on Christmas morning, only to find someone else’s name crossed out on the tag. But he knew that was his own insecurities talking. He would get over them, but he wouldn’t get over losing her. He couldn’t let that happen.

Adalia put a hand on his arm. “You should talk to her.”

“But the party—”

“We’ll hold down the fort,” she said. “Trust me, Georgie would rather see you happy than have the perfect party.” She smiled up at him, and for a second he flashed back to the will reading. To the way Adalia had spoken about him and not to him. They’d come such a long way, and he couldn’t believe how he’d lucked out in the sister department.

“Okay.” He squared his shoulders and started toward Maisie, still unsure of what to say. He only knew he didn’t want to be at odds with her a second longer.

But as he started across the room, Lee walked in wearing the same clothes he’d worn the night before. His hair looked like he’d repeatedly run his hands through it.

Oh shit. This did not bode well.

Prescott’s back stiffened when he saw him, and he shot a dark, accusatory glare at Jack.

The asshole could go stuff himself. Jack was more concerned about Georgie.

Lee headed over to Georgie and grabbed her shoulders. “I love you, Georgie. You marry the man you love, you hear me?”

Her eyes narrowed in confusion. “Thank you…?”

Then she waved her hand in front of her face.

Lee turned to face River. “But I still want you to sign those damn papers, because it’s not just about Georgie here. It’s about protecting Addy and Jack too.”

River turned serious. “I would never hurt Addy or Jack. I have no problem signing.”

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