Page 58 of Inviting Trouble
Time dragged by.
And by.
Were the clocks broken? It seemed like it should’ve been later than it was. He did a quick check around the house, but they seemed to be all synchronized to the same time.
Just him and the TV for company. He tried not to jump at every little noise that might be the front door. He was only watching TV on the living room sofa because it was comfortable. He wasn’t waiting for her to come home.
Finally she returned, all soft looking again. Her hair softly waved, her makeup like she’d just orgasmed—stop it! Her clothes tight, her tattoo peeking out of a fuzzy blue V-neck sweater. He was beginning to suspect she was purposely showing off her tattoo, knowing how much it got to him.
He turned down the volume on the TV and worked out a compliment that would still keep her in the friends box. “You look nice, mini.”
She lifted her chin. “It’s not for you, if that’s what you’re thinking. I’m going to a New Year’s Eve party at Garner’s tonight.”
“Oh.” He’d been kinda hoping they’d have New Year’s Eve together at home. Josh was working the party at Garner’s. His other brothers had plans, some of them working, some of them out of town visiting friends. He should’ve made plans too. What was he waiting around here for? He supposed he could see what Ty was up to in the city tonight.
She stood in front of the TV, where he couldn’t help but get a good view of the hawk wing, the clingy sweater, the tight jeans, and badass boots. “You can come if you want,” she said, and then blew out a big gust of air like she was doing him ahugefavor. “I guess,” she added.
He slouched further into the sofa. “Gee, what an invitation. Can’t wait.”
She narrowed her eyes. “You hit on any of my friends and you’re dead.”
“Duly noted. Okay to hang with Josh?”
“He’s going to be busy. He’s not just the bartender, you know. He’s manager now.”
“So I guess I’ll hang with you if that’s okay.”
She lifted a shoulder. “Whatever. Just don’t give me a hard time about my drinking or my behavior or whatever.”
He straightened. “No comment on whatever.” He stared at her mouth, that full lower lip tempting him again with its softness. He met her eyes, his voice gruff. “I’ll go easy on you tonight.”
Their gazes locked in a tense standoff. He didn’t realize he was holding his breath until she finally spoke.
“We leave at seven,” she said tersely.
He leaned forward. “Are you ever going to stop being mad at me?”
Her mouth worked, like she was sucking a lemon, before she said, “Don’t be late.”
~ ~ ~
“Mad!” Hailey hollered and rushed over for a big hug the moment Mad arrived at Garner’s. Mad blew long Hailey hair out of her mouth. She was still getting used to all of Hailey’s warm hugs.
“And Park!” Hailey said, giving him a quick hug. “Happy New Year! C’mon, grab a drink!” Hailey danced her way over to the dark cherrywood bar.
Mad followed. “You hit the bar already?”
“I did! Josh here finally had all the ingredients for my fave.” She leaned across the bartop and smiled goofily at Josh. “Right, Josh? The delivery finally got straightened out.”
Josh bit back a grin, his brown eyes full of good humor. “Right, princess.” He slid a mojito with a mint leaf sticking out of it in front of Hailey.
She beamed at him. “Thank you,” she said with a surprising amount of warmth. She took a big slurping sip. “Ooh!” She put a hand on her head. “I got tiaras. Tonight I really will be a princess. We all will.” Hailey grabbed Mad’s arm and squeezed. “Wait here.”
She strode off unsteadily to a corner of the restaurant where she must’ve stashed them.
Park leaned against the bar, his eyes half-hooded. “You really gonna wear a tiara?”
She bristled. “Why not? I’m not girly enough to be a princess?”
