Page 274 of A Merry Mountain Christmas

“Why are you putting this all on me?” he said, picking up his drink. “Maisie’s a strong, independent woman. She’s perfectly capable of asking me out.”

Except for whatever reason she’d alluded to earlier.

“I know,” she said with a frown, “which makes me think you’ve dissuaded her in some way.”

Jack released a sigh. “Are you asking if I’m attracted to Maisie? How could I not be? She’s an incredibly sexy woman.”

Which made him wonder why she’d never dated River or Finn. The three of them spent a lot of time together, and while he was a firm believer that men and women could be friends, this wasMaisie. As far as descriptions went, sexy didn’t cut it. Smart. Funny. Sharp yet sweet, like candy covered in cayenne pepper.

Adalia clasped her hands together and beamed.

“But this isn’t a good time for me to get wrapped up in a relationship, Addy.”

She leaned closer. “Why? Because of Iris?”

“Yes, because of Iris. She already resents me for moving her here. Can you imagine the message I’d be sending if I spent half my time with a girlfriend?”

“That you’re a well-rounded individual?” she asked sarcastically. “Look, no seventeen-year-old girl wants her older brother giving her all his attention.”

He frowned. She probably had a point, but he couldn’t help noticing that Maisie and Adalia were both finding fault with how he was handling his little sister, and it was starting to annoy him. Neither one of them had any idea what it had been like growing up with Genevieve Durand. Sure, he’d told Adalia some things, but she had nothing but a snapshot.

Iris needed to knowsomeoneput her needs first, and that someone had to be Jack. He’d already shaken the foundation oftheir relationship by choosing Asheville and the brewery over Chicago, but he saw it as a long-term solution, even if it hurt in the short term. Hopefully, Iris would eventually see it that way too.

“I’m not giving her my full attention,” he said. “She spends a good portion of her time in her room. Without me. But she needs to know I’m there when shedoesneed me. That she’s my priority.” Then, to drive the point home, he added, “If I’d known you after your mother died, I would have been there for you too, Addy. Just like I hope you know I’m there for you now.” She’d told him that Georgie and Lee had gone off to college, leaving her to fend for herself with their father, another narcissistic asshole. If anyone would understand Jack’s motivations, it was Adalia.

Surprise filled her eyes. She started to say something, but Maisie reappeared. “Another emergency resolved with a call. It’s my superpower.” She sat down, her brow furrowing as she glanced from Adalia to Jack. “Is everything okay?”

“Everything is perfect,” Adalia said with tears in her eyes. Then she threw her arms around Jack’s neck in an awkward hug. “Thank you,” she said in a muffled whisper.

He hugged her back, saying nothing. Words were cheap. It was a man’s actions that proved his merit. He only hoped he could prove himself to all his sisters. Only further proof that he shouldn’t start anything with Maisie right now, but it would be a whole lot easier if she would stop looking at him like that…

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

Maisie had come back to find the mood between Adalia and Jack so serious they could have been at a wake. She preferred Irish wakes, full of dancing and drinking. Full oflife. So she ordered another round for everyone.

Several sips in, they seemed to relax a little, and Jack started telling them about his bartending days. The stories were light and funny, but she found herself thinking about what his life had been like beyond the bar. He wouldn’t have been able to see Iris as much as he did now. Was he trying to make up for that? Or had something happened to make him more protective?

She assumed something must have—both from what Iris had said in the car earlier and the fact that Iris now lived with him. It wasn’t a normal arrangement for a sister to live with her brother when she had two perfectly alive parents.

“I’ll level with you,” Maisie said, leaning in a little. “I wish you’d made this.” She nodded to her lemon drop martini.

“Oh yeah?” he asked, his eyes speculative. “Mine was better?”

“Much.”

“It was so good you left it on the counter after taking one sip,” he said, his eyes dancing. Because he remembered exactly why she’d left it, and so did she.

“It was a tragic mistake, and I think of it often. I should have taken the drink, tucked Diego under my arm, and run for the hills.”

His gaze lingered on her lips, but Adalia coughed, shifting their attention to her.

“You okay?” Jack asked, patting her on the back.

“Yeah, my drink just went down the wrong way.”

But something about the way she was coughing seemed fake. What had Jack said to her?

Before the bathroom break, she’d seemed so eager to set them up Maisie had half-expected the waitress to deliver a piece of chocolate cake in the shape of a heart with two forks, a hotel room key embedded in the middle. Now, Adalia was practically choking herself to end a flirty moment between them.

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