Page 19 of Last Chance Seduction
“I’ll do that,” she said with a laugh, and we settled into the drive, speaking of work and things we had missed.
And in that instant, it didn’t feel as if any time had passed, but then again, so much had happened since.
The party was in full swing by the time we got there, as the Montgomerys liked to be early, rather than late.
My mom had only rolled her eyes when I handed over my cupcakes and wine but had been ecstatic when Mercy had shown up with a cheesecake.
“It’s not homemade, it’s from this little bakery.”
I frowned.“From Savannah’s?”
“Yes, do you know it?”
“It’s where I got the cupcakes.”I shook my head, my chest rumbling.“I usually go with a Montgomery place, but I knew they were all backed up with orders and I didn’t want to use the family privilege to cut in line.”
“Well, that’s interesting,” my mom said.I narrowed my gaze at her.
She just rolled her eyes and tugged Mercy away.
Taking her place, Dash came up to me, handing me a bottle of beer, and I moved into the party, finally relaxing after a long month of overtime and stress.
The Montgomerys tended to switch off where they had the main party every year.This year it was with the Fort Collins branch, next year it would be with the Boulder branch.We loved our holidays, and with snow on the mountains, the air crisp outside, but not so cold that you couldn’t enjoy it, it was that perfect time of year.My family had gone all out with the decorations, and I knew my uncles and aunts had helped there.Everything was covered in green and red and sparkles and just looked welcoming.My cousins’ kids were roaming about, at least those who could walk.The infants and toddlers were upstairs, already sleeping in the spare cribs that family had provided.
Nobody got rid of baby things in this family, because it could always be used for someone else.We Montgomerys liked to procreate.
I frowned at that, wondering when it would be my turn.
Forever the groomsman, never the groom.
Not that I would ever say that out loud.
Beer empty, I took a few drink orders from my family and headed into the kitchen to get something else.I bumped into someone as soon as I did and reached out and grabbed her elbow.
Mercy looked up at me then, eyes wide, and I swallowed hard, taking a quick step back once I found myself looking at her lips, and not into those beautiful eyes of hers.
Beautiful eyes?Well, it was time for me to go to water, and not that single beer.
“Having fun?”I asked before I cleared my throat since my voice was oddly scratchy.
“Yes.I’m honestly thankful to be out of the house.Thank you for driving me.”
I wouldn’t thank my mom later as I had a feeling she wasn’t entirely truthful about the setting up thing.Then again…maybe Ishouldthank her.“No problem.You just let me know when you want to get home, okay?”
“No, you let me know.You’re the one driving and this is your family.”
“Mercy, I’m not going to force you to do anything that you don’t want to do,” I said, and I realized my voice was low, and I was hovering way too close.I took another step back, and she frowned at me, before she blinked that look away so quickly that perhaps, I had seen something that wasn’t there.
“Anyway, I need to get drinks for the others, have fun, okay?Let me know if you need anything.”
“I’m a big girl.I can take care of myself.But thank you, Lex.”
I grinned at that.“You called me Lex.”
“I’ve called you Lex before.”She met my gaze.“I’m trying.Or I’m going to blame the wine,” she said, and that blush on her cheeks was so damn pretty, it reminded me of when we had been younger, and I had been the first one to see Mercy like that.
But then Justin had called dibs, and you didn’t cross the bro code when it came to dibs.
And how shitty was that?
