“Paige, calm down and breathe.” I manage to grab her arms and pull her into me, her back to my front. “Just breathe, and we’ll discuss it.”
She shakes her head, pulling away, tears rolling down her face. “I’m not going to dinner with them, Seth. I love you, but I’m not putting myself through that again. I can’t.” Slipping past me, she locks herself in the bathroom.
I drop to the bed and sit staring at the bathroom door wondering how our lazy morning suddenly went to shit. I do understand why she’d be opposed to dinner with my parents, but I’d at least have thought she’d give them a chance to redeem themselves. I knew she’d be upset, but this has completely thrown me.
I’m trying not to be annoyed but it’s difficult. They’re still my parents at the end of the day, I love them in my own way. They’re difficult to be around because I don’t fit the mold they want to put me in. But they’re still my family, and I’m around Paige’s family every damn day.
Deciding it best to leave her alone right now, no matter how upset she is, I head out into the living room and kitchen, slamming the bedroom door behind me in a burst of temper.
Sofia’s head swivels toward me and her brother, Jaxon, raises his brow. “Something wrong?”
I brush my hands through my hair in frustration and letting out a loud sigh, stomp into the kitchen. “Paige refuses to have dinner with my family.” Once the coffee is delivered into my mug via the Keurig, I sit with her cousins. “I’m trying to look at it from her side, you know? But it’s not so easy because they’re my family and I’m around her’s every day.”
Sofia bites her lower lip. “Our family haven’t treated you the way yours did Paige, Seth.”
“Sofia don’t get involved,” Jaxon advises.
“I came to visit you, and catch up with Paige. I’m not going to sit here when I have something to say.” Jaxon’s blonde, slightly older sister certainly has a mind of her own.
“You came here to escape the wedding madness at the Fletcher residence.” He smirks. “Tell it like it is, sis.”
“There is no madness. It’s all going according to plan.”
Jaxon snickers. “You wish,” he mutters.
Sofia glares daggers into his back as Jaxon goes hunting for food.
“Ignore my brother.” She turns her attention back to me. “As for Paige, I think it’s too soon after what happened at the beach house for you to be taking her to dinner with them.” She shudders. “I’m sorry if you don’t see it that way, but they’re a reminder of what happened the last time she saw them. Your relationship was moving along until you brought them into it.” She stands, shoving her chair under the table. “I’m sorry if that isn’t what you want to hear.”
I follow Sofia with my eyes and watch as she takes over from Jaxon, adding milk into the bowl. Sofia has a habit of taking over, which Jaxon knows as he throws me a lazy smile, his sister now making the pancakes he’s been craving all week.
My brow throbs as pain decides to hover behind my temples. I remind myself to keep my temper in check as I hover outside my bedroom door, listening to Paige moving around in there.
Be more understanding!
Inhaling and slowly exhaling, I move back into the bedroom, closing the door softly behind me.
Paige is dressed apart from one boot, which she is in the middle of zipping up. Her gaze when she lifts it to mine is unhappy and her face is blotchy from crying. I swallow back my concern because I don’t want to let this go. I can’t. I know that I hurt her, that what happened was wrong and she’s forgiven me, at least I thought she had.
“Why are you doing this now when our relationship is so new?” Her voice is hoarse with tears as she drops into the chair by the window. “They never liked me. Right from the first they didn’t really want to let you take me to the beach house. You had to argue with them. They blame me for you taking a semester off. For screwing your timetable up.” She runs her fingers through her hair. “I know they’re your parents, Seth, which makes me feel bad, it’s just,” she holds my gaze, trying to appeal to me, but I don’t say anything, “why would I want to be around people I know don’t like me?”
I know I’m being unreasonable after the last dinner we all had together, but something is making me force the issue, which I hate. “I’m going to dinner with my parents this evening and I really want you to be with me.” I grab up a sweatshirt. “I’m heading out to practice.” I add over my shoulder, “Sofia is out front with Jaxon.”
Heading out, I say a distracted goodbye, drawing Jaxon’s gaze, but I quickly leave the apartment. The elevator takes forever to get to the ground floor but when it does, I stride out, bumping into Dylan on his way in.
Dylan grabs my arm, pulling me to a stop. “What’s going on with you?” He glances back to the elevator before focuses on me. “Argument with Paige?”
“Leave it.” I tug my arm free and sigh when I’m alone on the sidewalk.
Not for long though. “I’m not leaving anything. We’ve been friends for years, so talk to me. You’re going to kill someone on the ice in the mood you’re in.”
“Fuck,” I hiss a curse. “I want Paige to have dinner with my family tonight. She refused. End of story.”
Frowning, Dylan rubs at his jaw. “Let me get this straight. You want Paige to go out to dinner with your family after the disaster of the last time? And you’re pissed about it? Do I have that right?”
“I’m not in the mood, Dylan.”
“Duly noted, but…do you really blame her for wanting to protect herself? Last time your family treated her like shit. I don’t blame her for refusing.” He shakes his head. “You shouldn’t either.”
“I’m well aware how last time turned out, and I do get her reasoning, but hell Dylan, they’re my family. I want them to meet the girl I’m in love with. I want to put the past behind us. I don’t expect her to get along with them as I do her family because both of our families are completely different. I’m just afraid the longer we leave it the worse it will be. Except Paige won’t listen and refuses to go.”
Dylan sighs. “I get where you’re coming from but Paige has been through hell this past twelve months. After last time she needs to be able to breathe and your family suffocate her. Give her time and she’ll come around. It’s still fresh in her mind.” Dylan disappears into the apartment building while I’m left wondering if I’ve just been a complete ass to Paige. In fact, I know I have.
Instead of going back up and clearing the air, I continue onto the rink where I know I need practice after the other night when I’d allowed Paige to distract me. Although it was my thoughts as opposed to the actual woman.
My cell buzzes loudly from my back pocket and palming the thing, I decide to let it go to voicemail until I know what I’m going to say to my mother. I know she’ll never apologize to Paige, even if I ask her too, and I have a bad feeling that unless she does, there is always going to be some animosity between them.
66
Paige
My cousin, Sofia, is always a bubble of fun and after my argument with Seth, she manages to make me smile. She’s older than her brother, Jaxon, by eighteen months and likes to remind him of that any chance she gets. Of course, if Ryan was here then he’d be reminding them both that he was the eldest with a smug grin on his face. Ryan is the flirt of the three siblings and certainly loves the ladies that he meets at Kenza, the nightclub he manages with his father. Jaxon is more laid back and I’d even go as far as saying he was shy. Sofia is in between her brothers. She can be shy around men she’s attracted to but so easy going and fun around family and others.
Even now I’m trying to keep a straight face. I’m resting my elbows on the table and have my face cupped in my hands while holding her gaze. Sofia wears a large grin on her pale face, trying to get mine to match hers. My lips twitch and Sofia makes me jump when she suddenly snaps her fingers. “Tell me what is going on between you and that gorgeous hunk of a boyfriend.”
Rolling my eye
s at her hunk comment, I counter, “Only if you tell me what is going on between you and that hunky Shane Fletcher.” I let the amusement reach my eyes now because Sofia has a soft blush creeping on to her face. I’d wanted to ask as soon as I’d known she was here, but I’d waited until Jaxon went to his room to give us some girl time.
“You first,” she mumbles.
“He wants me to have dinner with his parents, who I really don’t like.” I sigh. “After last time I’d be happy to never see them again.”
“Oh dear, that doesn’t sound good.”
“I feel bad the more I think about it,” I admit. “His mother was horrid to me, but at the end of the day so was Seth that evening, and look at us now…well, before he left in a snit.” I slump down and rest my face on the table. “I love Seth, Sofia. I mean I really, really love him, and I can see myself growing old with him. I don’t want to hurt him like this because they are his family.”
“Yes, but his family were hateful toward you, so you have every right. I also can’t believe that Seth doesn’t give you more time.” Sofia frowns. “Unless, he just wants to get the first dinner over with now that you’re an official couple. That would make sense, instead of prolonging it. Get it over with.”
“Ugh,” I groan. “Why do you have to make sense?”
“Because I’m the clever one.” She smirks.
I narrow my gaze. “Your turn. Shane Fletcher?”
“There is nothing going on between him and me. He’s paying for his sister’s wedding and I’m making the wedding cake and the desserts for after the dinner.” She shrugs. “No big deal.”
“Hmm,” I mumble. “It is a big deal, so spill. Now.” I give her my sweetest smile. “Your embarrassment is taking my mind off Seth.”
“He’s cute okay. Happy now?” She glares, and I stay silent knowing there is more going on. “You’re not going to leave it, are you?”
I shake my head.
“He’s handsome and a really nice man. He keeps to himself mostly, but wants to make sure his sister has the wedding of her dreams. He isn’t sure if her fiancé wants his sister or his money, which keeps throwing the planning out of whack. I think he’s wrong.” She sighs. “His sister, Monica, is twenty-two, like me, and her fiancé is a few years older. Anthony looks at Monica as though she’s his world, I really believe that they’re meant to be together and that it has nothing to do with money.” She pauses. “Shane said he wants me in his bed until after the wedding.”
“What?” I gasp, surprised.
“You heard me correctly the first time.” Sofia blushes but looks close to tears.
“You really like this man, huh?”
“Is it that obvious?”
I smile softly. “It’s the way you talk about him.”
“He’s,” she groans, “I’m not sure, but there is something about him that endears him to me. He also has women throwing themselves at him because you know he has money and he’s handsome as sin.” She smiles, lost in a dream. “The way his thighs move beneath his slacks makes my belly quiver. He doesn’t work out, but he runs miles every day. His smile derails my train of thought and the devil knows it too. I get nervous when it’s just him and me.”
“I’m enjoying this. Don’t stop now.”
“He flirts when we’re alone, but when others are around he more or less ignores me.” She shrugs as though it’s no big deal, but I can see it bothers her. “Sometimes I think he’s using excuses to talk to me, and other times I’m not sure at all.” She comes out of her dream state. “The wedding is in a month, so we’ll see. I think it’s best not mixing business with pleasure. Not that I’d ever know what to do with the man. The man is a rake!”
I burst out laughing. “You’ve been reading those historical romances you like, huh?”
She rolls her eyes and giggles. “Of course.”
“If anyone’s a rake, it’s Dylan,” I drawl, hearing the apartment door opening. He’s the only one to unlock the door with a thud.
“I’m not a rake,” he grumbles. “I’m a handsome devil who has pus—,” he clears his throat, blushing, “—women throwing their little panties at me. What am I to do in those situations?” He smirks.
“Ignore them,” Sofia replies, sweetly.
Dylan pretends surprise, his hand going to his chest as he staggers backwards into the wall. “Blasphemy.” He laughs, straightening up. “Okay, fun’s over.” He glances at me. “Bumped in to Seth on the way into the building.”
“Don’t remind me.”
“He understands you Paige, but he also wants to say, ‘Hey, this is the woman I love, so deal with it.’ He loves you and thinks it’s better to get it over with. I think it bugs him that he’s met all of your family and they accept him just fine.”
“I desperately want to be everything he wants, but I can’t suddenly like his mother after how she treated me. She hasn’t even tried to apologize.” Groaning, I add, “I need to pull my big girl panties up and go tonight.”
“Big girl panties?” Dylan questions, and then holds his hands up. “Never mind. I’m not sure I want to know.”
“Stop being a baby,” Sofia scoffs. “It’s a reference.”
“Whatever. I’m going to grab my gear and join Seth at the rink.” He crosses to his room.
When he comes back out, I ask him, “Will you pass a message on to Seth for me?”
He pauses and nods.
“Tell him I’ll be ready at seven.”
“He’ll be happy, but he’ll also be there for you this time, Paige. Don’t worry.” Dylan waves and leaves us.
“Am I doing the right thing, Sofia? Giving in?”
She grabs my hands. “You’re not giving in. Deep down you know that it will be easier getting it over with now, and it will also make the man you love happy. It’s a couple of hours out of your evening…and, I saw just the dress for you to wear in one of the stores on Newbury.” She grins. “Let’s go shopping.”
67
Seth
My breath catches in the back of my throat as I stare at Paige in front of me. She’s the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen. I can’t even find my voice because she really does look like a Princess. She twirls around, showing off the full skirt of her pale pink dress. It drops to just above her knees, showing off her amazing legs, and her delicate feet in the matching pale pink heels.
“Breathtaking,” I whisper, swallowing around the lump in my throat. “How am I going to keep my hands off of you?”
She offers me a small smile. “You look handsome. You’re wearing my favorite suit.”
“I need all the help I can get after walking out on you earlier. I figured I’d dress the best I could.” I wince and cross toward her. “I’m sorry, Paige.” I gently caress her face with a finger. “I’m going to be right there with you this time. Nothing will be said otherwise we’ll leave okay? I’m on your side now. I promise you that.” I kiss her on the forehead.
Until I saw her ready and waiting for me, I’d been tempted to call the whole thing off. The dinner wasn’t worth risking my relationship with Paige. Nothing is worth that. But seeing her ready, knowing that she’s doing this because it’s important to me, I don’t say anything.
“I’m really nervous, Seth.” Her eyes swim with tears as she tries to smile, failing miserably.
“Let’s just get it over with, and then we can both relax.” I slip my hand around her back and guide her out of the door and into the cab waiting outside.
The ride to the outskirts of town isn’t long, but it feels like a lifetime with how nervous Paige is, which is rubbing off on me. My nerves weren’t completely settled before, but they’re buzzing like a swarm of bees right now.
To distract myself, I focus on Paige’s foot before I let my eyes drift up the soft curve of her leg. Until tonight, I never thought a woman’s foot could be so sexy.
Paige fidgets in the seat, her legs pressing closer together as she gives me a hooded smirk. “If you carry on staring
at me so intensely, I’m going to melt.” Her gaze drifts to my groin and widen at the noticeable bulge I’m not even attempting to hide.
I don’t even care that we’re in the back of a cab when I have her full attention. I lean forward, and whisper, “Your feet and legs are giving me a hard-on,” into her ear.
She brushes a caress down the side of my face with her lips as the cab comes to a stop. “You’ve made my panties wet, and taken my mind off who I’m about to see.” She nibbles my lobe, my cock jerking hard in response.
Breathing heavily, I hiss, “Stay in front of me when we get out.”
She giggles while I pay the cab fare, and then I usher her out with my hands firmly on her hips. I nuzzle into the nape of her neck. “I love you.” I nibble on her earlobe. “Please remember that, if nothing else.”
She trembles under my hands and I wish I can say it’s with lust, but unfortunately, I think it’s with nerves.
“I’m only doing this because it’s important to you. No other reason, Seth.”
Hearing the nervousness in her voice, I wrap her tightly in my arms. “I promise this will be different than last time.” I kiss her forehead, and notice my mother waiting impatiently by the front door. “We’ve been spotted.”
Taking her hand, I intertwine my fingers with Paige, making sure I have a firm grip so that nothing can part us. “Mother.” I inhale as I move toward her. “I’d like you to meet my girlfriend, Paige.”
“Please come in.” My mother glances behind and my sister is coming downstairs. “Amanda, don’t dawdle.”
Paige’s hand trembles in mine at the bark in my mother’s voice. I’m used to ignoring it.
Trailing behind my mother into the drawing room, she asks, “So Paige, I didn’t catch your surname, and my son has neglected that bit of information.”
McKenzie Cousins Box Set 2 Page 28