Page 44 of Inviting Trouble
The newlyweds, Jake and Claire, walked downstairs hand in hand, all lovey-dovey smiles. Tomorrow they’d be heading to a honeymoon in the Swiss Alps for a ski vacation. Most of the rest of them were driving home tomorrow. A few of the guys were sticking around to extend their all-expenses-paid vacation.
“There’s Mr. Claire Jordan,” Mad called to Jake. “How’s it feel?”
“Awesome,” Jake said, lifting Claire’s hand and kissing her palm. Claire beamed.
Claire headed to where Mad and Hailey stood, Jake in tow. “You missed the conga line. Our very last dance went from conga into a crazy bunny hop at the end.”
“Thanks to Viv,” Jake said with a laugh. “She woke up and wanted in on the action.”
“Mad had her own conga going on,” Hailey said, bumping her hip.
Mad felt herself flush. She wasn’t sure where she stood with Park and didn’t want to out them until she knew how he felt about last night. Would he stick to the onetime thing she’d blurted out in her desperation to finally have him?
A man in a bow tie and tweed jacket announced the food was ready. Saved by the bacon! “Let’s eat,” Mad said, heading to the dining room.
“With who?” Claire asked the minute they arrived at the dining room table. She leaned close for the scoop. “Was it PMS?” Claire had heard about her joking nickname for Park at the reception last night. Mad never used it in front of her brothers, though. They would’ve teased him mercilessly and he’d never be rid of it.
“PMS?” Jake asked, snagging a piece of bacon.
Mad inclined her head and Claire whooped, hugging her. Heat crept up her neck. “All right, calm down.”
Jake shook his head. “I’ve never seen women so cheerful about PMS.”
Claire giggled and turned to Mad, a question in her eyescould she tell Jake?
Mad shook her head.Not yet.
Claire smiled, understanding in her eyes. “I’m so happy for you!”
They piled their plates with food and headed back to the great room to eat in front of the fire. A few minutes later, Park, Ty, and Alex came in. Mad waited for the recognition she craved. Even just a glimmer in his eye would satisfy her. No matter how much she wished she could be casual about hooking up with Park, she just couldn’t. Her world had spun on its axis, landing in a precariously balanced place. Finally sleeping with Park meant something to her. And she hoped to him. You didn’t just pretend like that never happened. Not that she expected a public declaration of love, but she expected something. A little tenderness, maybe? A hot look across the room? She didn’t care that she’d said it was a onetime thing. She wanted more. And if the rough way he’d handled her in the shower was any indication—fierce and wild and hot—then he wasn’t done with her either.
A niggling of doubt nagged at her. Okay, she’d been aggressive with him in the shower, wanting him not to hold back with her. And she’d finally pushed hard enough that he pushed back, more than meeting her halfway. Once that kind of passion was turned on, it couldn’t just be turned off. Right? She was pretty sure. Her stomach did a slow churn.
“Merry Christmas,” Ty boomed, heading over to hug each of them in his exuberant pound-on-the-back way.
Park echoed the sentiment with a smile, but without the hugs. He carried a black garbage bag, probably full of Viv’s presents. His gaze didn’t meet hers.
Alex greeted them, giving her and her friends a kiss on the cheek before looking around. “Viv back yet?”
“Not yet,” Mad told him.
She went to Park’s side, where he now stood in front of the sparkling Christmas tree. She went up on tiptoe and kissed his clean-shaven cheek. An innocent gesture, though one she’d never had the nerve to do before. “Merry Christmas. ’Bout damn time I got to celebrate with you again.”
“Good to be home,” Park muttered, still not meeting her eyes. He took out the first gift and set it under the tree.
She reached for the bag. “I’ll help.”
He shifted away. “I got it. Go ahead and finish your breakfast.”
Stung, she returned to her friends, not bothering to mention she’d already finished eating. Clearly he didn’t want her hanging around.Chill.She reminded herself this was brand new for him. Her feelings for him spanned years. She couldn’t expect him to meet her where she was at.
Just then the rest of her friends arrived, rushing in from the cold in one happy bunch. As if they hadn’t just seen each other last night, they bowled her over with exuberant hugs and happy chatter. That was how tight the Happy Endings Book Club had become. So much more than just a book club now.
They admired each other’s holiday outfits, most of her friends wore red, either a dress or a sweater. Mad wore her skinny jeans, black boots, and a red long-sleeved shirt that readI was naughty and it was worth it. This year it was true more than most. She slid a glance over to Park, who squatted down in front of the tree, arranging the gifts for Viv. Her heart squeezed at the sight. For a guy with such crappy parents, he had a way of looking out for younger kids. Like her and now Viv. She knew without a doubt he’d be a fantastic dad. Shit.
She was jumping way ahead of herself. She tore her gaze from Park and forced herself to focus on her friends again.
“I can’t wait to see who my Secret Santa is,” Charlotte was saying.
