Page 27 of Inviting Trouble
“Just keep your legs crossed when you sit down,” Hailey said.
Charlotte grinned. “And if anyone plays ‘New York, New York’ at the reception, don’t join us in the kick line.” They cracked up.
Hailey smiled. “It’ll be a nice surprise for Park later.”
Hailey’s confidence in her ability to hook Park gave Mad a much-needed boost. She wiggled her boy shorts panties off and stepped into the Jimmy Choos, a wedge heel that wasn’t too high for her to manage. They were a gift from Claire, who’d given all of them free rein to pick whatever they wanted from her closet of fancy dresses and shoes the night she had to say goodbye after her movie wrapped in Connecticut last year.
The women broke into applause, beaming at her.
Mad’s cheeks burned furiously. “Bitches, please!” She snagged the black lace shawl. “Let’s blow this popsicle stand.”
No one moved.
“Popsicle stand?” Hailey asked.
Mad waved that away. “My dad’s rubbing off on me since I moved back home. Let’s go.”
They left the suite, rode down the elevator all polished and smelling like the floral high-end perfume Claire had left for them, and headed out to the waiting limo. The wedding would be in the great room of Claire’s cabin in front of the fireplace, the reception back here at the resort, where a huge ballroom had been decorated in Christmas greenery for the occasion. It would be an easy trip upstairs to Park’s room or hers for what she hoped would happen next.
Her friends chatted excitedly on the ride over, seeming perfectly comfortable and happy to have a chance to dress up for a formal occasion, but for Mad it was simply a means to an end. She wanted to wow Park.This is the Mad you never knew existed. You want some of this? Come and get me!
~ ~ ~
Mad followed her friends to a row of cushioned chairs second to the front. Hailey took her place in the back with the bride. Jake and Josh were already standing up front by the hearth, looking dashing in black tuxedoes. She knew the moment Park arrived because he was with Ty, who was loud and boisterous as ever. He and Park were close, but Park was the quiet reserved one. He ran deep, whereas Ty let everything hang out.
She was glad to be on the aisle so she could see Claire’s approach once the music started. She was sure she’d be stunning in her bridal gown.
Someone tugged her hair and she turned, annoyed. Her brothers were forever messing with her hair. Like she was their little pet.
“Hey, shortstack,” Ty said with a grin, standing in the aisle behind her, “heard Santa fell off the roof and broke his neck, so don’t expect anything this year.”
Park elbowed him and shook his head. He wore a navy blue suit, standing tall, shoulders back as though he were in his formal Air Force uniform. Gorgeous. Her pulse pounded in her ears. Did he notice anything different about her?
“Ha-ha,” she returned. Ty always used to tease her as a kid, telling her Santa got in some kind of accident that would prevent him from showing on Christmas. She used to get really mad and yell at him, rushing to her dad for reassurance. Loser.
“Hello, ladies,” Ty said, addressing her friends. Park raised a hand in greeting.
“Hi, guys,” her friends chorused.
Park and Ty settled behind her. She faced front, a little disappointed that Park’s eyes didn’t travel any further than her face. Did he notice her eyes were accentuated with mascara? That she wore blush and rose lipstick and who knew what else Hailey had applied. It was all a blur of potions. She swore under her breath. She’d be really pissed if she went through all this effort and he didn’t notice anything at all. She tried not to fidget as she heard Ty behind her, talking about his latest movie that had him in a car-chase scene, jumping onto the roof of a moving car and running down it. She didn’t worry about him. He was well trained and agile as a cat. Then she heard him say, “If you can’t find any work with the airlines, maybe you could come out to LA. I could get you some stunt work.”
She stiffened.No.Park was not cut out for stunt work. He was slow and methodical, not agile and quick. Besides, she’d just got him back in Connecticut. He couldn’t just up and leave so soon.
“Maybe,” Park said. “I’ll let you know.”
“It’s fun,” Ty said. “And it pays well.”
She turned. “He doesn’t know how to do stunts.”
“I’ll train him,” Ty said. “Mind your own beeswax. This is a private conversation.”
Park stared at her, seeming to notice she was made up for the first time. His gaze tracked from her eyes, down her nose, across her cheek, to her hair, back to her mouth and then her neck. She held her breath. He finally met her eyes again. “You don’t look like yourself.”
She waited for the compliment.
None came.
Just a slow blink from Park and then he turned back to Ty.
