Page 346 of A Merry Mountain Christmas

“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 tothe 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 soughthis approval in the past, but Addy had told him their sister had grown since coming to Asheville.

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.”

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