“You’re not going to like what I have to say, then.”
I spun around on my bare feet. “What’s wrong?” He’d better not say he hurt Maiken again. I would scream if he so much as interfered in my first ever relationship.
Carter combed his fingers through his messy brown hair. “Stay home. Don’t go to the Stevenses’.”
I planted my hands on my hips. “I got Daddy’s approval to date. So butt out.”
“It’s got nothing to do with Maxwell,” he said with an easy expression. “And I know Dad gave his blessing.”
“If you’re about to tell me you heard a rumor, then leave. I’m tired of the word ‘rumor’ and the meaning of it.”
Carter clasped his hands in his lap. “I haven’t heard anything. Call this a gut feeling. You’re going to Tessa’s house. She hates you. Chase has no love for Maxwell.”
“His name is Maiken.” I bit my tongue.
“It’s not a place for you. Max-Maiken will only get you into trouble. I don’t want to see you get hurt.”
I sat down beside him, my chest warming at how much I loved my brother despite his flaws. “I know you worry about me. Thank you for being a big brother. But I can handle myself. I’ve been tormented by Tessa for so long that I think I’m becoming immune to her anyway.” That wasn’t exactly true, but I had been a little bolder lately. Case in point was at the skating rink when I’d pushed Tessa and given her the middle finger. I would’ve never even spoken to her the way I had at school that morning when she’d confronted me about her party. “I like Maiken. He’s a gentleman and nice guy.”
A muscle ticked in Carter’s jaw as he moved some of my hair behind my ear. “You know I will kill him if he breaks your heart.”
I grinned, knowing full well what my brother was capable of. “Trust in me. I know someday I’ll get my heart broken, but isn’t that all part of growing up? Haven’t you had a girl break your heart?” I didn’t know of any. In fact, Carter hadn’t had a steady girlfriend that I knew of.
His lips curled into a devilish smile. “My love life is not part of this discussion.”
I tilted my head. “And neither is mine.”
He pushed to his feet. “Be careful tonight.”
I nodded as he strutted out. Grown-ups would be there, so I couldn’t imagine anything awful happening.
Momma came in while I slipped on my heels. She’d bought me a very simple toned-down gold dress with a rounded neckline that dipped to the tops of my breasts. The sparkles in it brought out my light-brown hair and eyes.
She placed a hand on her chest. “You look beautiful.”
My cheeks flushed. “Do you think Maiken will think so?”
She rolled her eyes. “Any boy would be blind not to notice. Come on. Your ride is here.”
My pulse fired at warp speed. Suddenly, I felt sick.
Momma noticed as she untied her apron. She always wore one when working in the kitchen. “No need for nerves. He’ll adore you.”
Part of my nerves was a result of my thoughts wandering over what Carter had said. Why I was thinking something could go wrong was beyond me.
But that eerie feeling settled in the pit of my stomach.
The Stevenses’ house was bigger than my aunt and uncle’s estate. A winding staircase curled up to the top floor. A crystal chandelier hung as the centerpiece, illuminating the white-tiled foyer. Red flowers decorated the large tables and were tucked in and around chairs and a loveseat.
Men dressed in tuxedos or sharp suits and women in colorful, sparkly jewelry and dresses milled about with glasses of what looked to be champagne. Christmas music played from somewhere overhead, and waiters and waitresses served trays of bubbly and tiny finger foods.
“This reminds me of a scene out of Gone with the Wind,” Quinn cooed.
Emma would be sighing left and right if she were there. She loved parties and Gone with the Wind. Personally, I didn’t see the draw of a house full of people talking and laughing. Stuffy, rich people. I wasn’t dissing on rich people. After all, my aunt and uncle had money. But I was standing in the house of my enemy, and that was the main reason I had a bad taste in my mouth. I almost backed out. I didn’t want to see Chase or run the chance of finishing the fight we’d started on the court.
Speaking of the court, Coach had benched me for three games. He’d been so angry with me that I was surprised he hadn’t passed out from all the screaming he’d done in his office after that game. However, he hadn’t suspended Chase.
“You were the one to throw the first punch,” Coach had said. “Not only that, we need to work harder at sharpening your skills as a point guard.”
But that night wasn’t about basketball or me. I was there because of the pretty girl holding my hand as if she were holding on for her life—afraid she might drown if she let go. That same girl had rendered me speechless when I’d picked her up earlier that night.
One look at her, and my body had gone haywire. Her legs went on forever under a gold dress that hugged her curves. She wasn’t exactly a tall girl, but the heels she was wearing made her legs seem long, and to my chagrin, I’d been tongue-tied and unable to speak. The car ride over had been quiet. She hadn’t uttered a peep either.
Liam emerged around a group of old people. He looked dapper in his black pants and white button-up shirt. “Care for a drink?”
“Liam,” Quinn said. “We’re underage.”
“Chill, sis. It’s ginger ale. No booze at this party. I guess there’s a silent auction going on, and the proceeds go to Mothers Against Drunk Driving. The Stevenses are trying to help out the Bakers.”
I snagged a glass—anything to get rid of the sand in my throat and get my tongue to work.
Liam kissed Quinn on the cheek. “You look pretty.” Then his hard gaze landed on me like a bullet to the chest. “Dude, hand-holding with my sister. Nothing more.”
I instantly felt my face burn like molten lava because I’d already been having unclean thoughts about Quinn and me. I couldn’t get the image out of my head of her sitting on my lap as we’d kissed that day in the funhouse.
Think basketball. Think anything but kissing Quinn.
I chugged the ginger ale then replaced the empty glass on Liam’s tray.
Quinn dug her nails into my palm. “Liam, don’t embarrass me.”
He shrugged as he moved on to other guests.
Quinn and I stepped deeper into the house.
“Don’t leave my side,” she said softly.
“I’ll try not to.” I honestly didn’t know what we would do for two or three hours.
Grown-ups were everywhere. Aside from Liam, I didn’t see anyone from school, including Chase or Tessa. I knew Celia was there, working for her.
We weaved in and out of guests in a vast living room that spilled out to the backyard through the open French doors. Heaters stood tall around the large brick patio with more people clustered around them, no doubt trying to keep warm.
It seemed weird to me that people would stand out in the freezing temps with drinks in their hands.
“Is y-your m-mom still mad about your suspension?” Quinn asked.
We found an open spot outside a library where we could stop and talk.
“Mad isn’t the word,” I said, scanning the room and on high alert for my enemy.
She shivered. “H-have you t-talked to Chase at all since then?” I couldn’t tell if her stuttering was because she was cold, nervous, or both.
We had taken off our coats when we arrived and given them to a butler. So I took off my suit jacket and draped it around her shoulders. It was the first time I’d worn a suit since my dad’s funeral.
She beamed up at me, and thoughts of my dad waned as I locked eyes with a girl whose smile said so much—I want you, I like you, and we should get out of here. I was getting the feeling that she would rather show me how to feed a horse than stand at a party where I believed we didn’t belong.
“Let’s make a deal,” I said. �
��No talk of Chase or his sister.”
She nodded in quick succession as she nudged me.
Any notion of avoiding Chase vanished as he came toward us.
Great. Hold it together, Maxwell. Don’t make a fool of yourself.
His swagger was irritating as was the cheeky grin plastered on his face.
Quinn’s hand was cemented to mine.
Chase sneered. “I see you have the balls to show your face in my house.” Then he set his attention on Quinn, erasing any signs that he hated me. “You look beautiful.”
Her cheeks reddened. “Th-thank you.”
“You’re adorable when you stutter,” he said.
I rolled my eyes. “Let’s go, Quinn.”
He unbuttoned his tuxedo jacket. Yeah, he was all decked out in a tux. His hair was slicked back, and his pimples were camouflaged with makeup. I could tell because Emma often did the same thing. Quinn had masked her black eyes with makeup too. I hadn’t bothered to cover up my black eyes. Luckily, they weren’t as dark as I’d thought they would be.
Chase held out his hand to Quinn. “Would you dance with me?”
She reared back. “Did you know th-that in 1518, dozens of p-people died from dancing?”
Chase choked out a laugh. “For real?”
I squeezed Quinn’s hand, trying to tell her to calm down. “She’s my date, man. So back off.” I didn’t want to answer for her. I didn’t want to come off as possessive as her brother, but I could feel her tension.
Besides, I didn’t see people dancing anywhere in the immediate vicinity. I did, however, lock eyes with Kade. He was clean-shaven, standing tall in a tux next to his wife, who was chatting with my aunt Eleanor. Kade inclined his head then faintly moved it as though telling me not to cause a scene.
As much as I wanted to finish what I’d started on the court, I’d promised my mom that I would be on my best behavior. So I nodded at Kade, hoping he would get the message that I wasn’t about to start trouble.
Yet he still made his way over. “Everything okay, boys?”
Chase extended his hand to Kade. “Nice to see you.” He sounded as though he knew Kade well.
Kade shook his hand. “It’s been a while. How’s the jaw?”
If I weren’t mistaken, Kade was provoking Chase.
“Better than his black eye,” Chase said. “So, Quinn, about that dance?”
She looked to me for an answer.
Holy cow! She was considering dancing with the jerk.
Or so I thought until she said, “M-Maiken is m-my date.”
Chase gave her a sweet smirk. “It’s just a dance. I promise you won’t die from dancing.”
As if she had an epiphany of sorts, she dipped her head. “O-one dance.”
I felt the air leaving my lungs. Quinn’s acceptance jabbed my gut as if she’d taken a knife and stabbed me with it.
Chase puffed out his chest and held out his elbow.
Quinn lifted up on her toes and kissed me on the cheek. “I’ll b-be right back.” Then she hooked her arm around Chase’s.
I wasn’t going to stand there and let him have his way. He wasn’t getting the girl. It was bad enough he’d kept his position as shooting guard and hadn’t gotten benched.
But Quinn had made her decision. It was only a dance.
Like hell. Their bodies would be pressed together.
I took one step to follow them when Kade stopped me. “No, man. I get it. If I were in your shoes right now, I would go ape shit. Actually, I did when a guy touched Lacey. But I wasn’t at a party with adults. I’m sure Quinn said yes so you two wouldn’t throw down. Why don’t you ask Lacey or my mom to dance? That way, you can keep an eye on Quinn.”
I didn’t dance and never had. I wasn’t sure I ever would.
But when Chase tossed an amused, condescending look over his shoulder, dancing wasn’t what I had in mind.
I held on to Chase for dear life. If I didn’t, I would probably fall. I hadn’t wanted to say yes, but I didn’t want a fight to break out. The tension between Maiken and Chase had only grown tighter and tighter, and a party with adults wasn’t the place for them to air out their differences. I hoped Maiken would understand. I’d wanted to tell him my reasoning but not in front of Chase.
But you’re leading Chase on.
I would tell Chase my feelings when we were on the dance floor, wherever that was. Then a crazy thought slammed into me. What if Chase was leading me into the lion’s den? What if he was bringing me to Tessa? She hadn’t been in my face or gone out of her way to pick on me, which I thought for sure she would have when she’d learned that Maiken and I were dating. Maybe the last week had just been the calm before the storm. She was probably planning her attack for that night.
Chase lowered his head until his breath brushed the shell of my ear. “You’re beautiful.” He sounded as though he truly meant it.
“It’s o-only one dance. N-nothing more.”
His lips curled into a devilish smile, one that sent a bad shiver up my arms.
As we passed Lacey and Eleanor, Lacey stopped us, holding on to her champagne glass. “Quinn, I love your dress.” Her big green eyes swept over me as she opened Maiken’s suit jacket that was still draped over me.
I let go of Chase’s arm, thankful Lacey had distracted us. “Thank you.” I sighed, feeling relieved that I hadn’t stuttered.
“Where’s my nephew?” Eleanor asked in an even tone. She was as pretty as her daughter-in-law. Both had their hair swept up in a fancy hairstyle, and Lacey wore a black halter dress that hung to just above her knees. Eleanor wore a deep-blue tea-length dress.
Chase stiffened.
“He’s near the library, talking to Kade.” I started to ask where Martin was, but a petite girl serving the last of the shrimp to a group of adults next to us laughed.
I knew that laugh. I turned and tapped Celia on the shoulder.
Finally, someone could give me a pep talk and erase the anxiety that had settled in my stomach. Honestly, I’d been a bag of nerves since my conversation with Carter. At first, I hadn’t thought Tessa would do something stupid. Yet now that I was at her house, among her family, and in the presence of her brother, I didn’t want to be there. I didn’t belong amid the rich, and the party was mostly adults whom I didn’t know.
I should ask Maiken to take me home. We could spend our night up in the loft of the barn, talking or maybe kissing. That sounded so much better to me.
Celia’s eyes nearly popped out of her head when she noticed Chase. “I don’t understand. Liam said Maiken was here.”
“I am.” Maiken’s voice wrapped around me like a heavy blanket on a cold, cold night—warm, cozy, and loving.
I pivoted on my heel, ready to throw my arms around my boyfriend when I stumbled.
Chase and Maiken caught me at the same time. Maiken growled, spitting fire at Chase.
Once I was steady, I took in a quiet breath. I was suddenly feeling claustrophobic. “Excuse me. I need to use the bathroom.”
“I’ll show you where it is,” Celia said, coming to my rescue.
“I’ll take her,” Chase offered. “It’s my house. I know where it is.”
“I do too,” Celia returned mockingly.
Maiken’s gaze was glued to Chase. “I’ll come with.”
I pressed a hand to his chest. “No. I-I’ll be right back.” Before Chase or Maiken could protest, I darted through the crowd on wobbly legs.
“I’m right behind you,” Celia said. “Keep going straight, and at the archway, bank right.”
But instead of following her instructions, I veered left. The patio doors were open and inviting as the mixture of hot and cold mingled together and breezed over me. At that point, I didn’t care how cold it was outside. I needed fresh air.
A twenty-something couple on the patio held drinks and chatted underneath heaters.
“Where are you going?” Celia asked.
Far away. I was stupid for getting so excited over
a party.
A fire flickered out of a stone pit adjacent to the pool. I eased down onto one of the four curved benches that had flannel blankets covering them.
Celia cozied up to me. “You look scared. Did Tessa find you?”
I rubbed my hands together near the fire. “I haven’t seen her. I just needed air. Chase asked me to dance, and instead of saying no, I said yes so Chase and Maiken wouldn’t fight. But I really don’t want to be here.”
“The party isn’t all that great. But you’re on a date with Maiken. Aren’t you happy about that?”
“It doesn’t feel like a date. I shouldn’t have come. I shouldn’t have made such a big deal about a stupid party. I’d rather be somewhere else with Maiken.”
“Then tell him. He does look like he’s suffocating.”
Or ready to do something drastic to Chase.
“Celia,” a lady called before she glanced down and saw me. “Oh, Quinn.”
I stood. “Mrs. Corbett, it’s so nice to see you.” I gave Celia’s mom a hug. It had been a while since I’d seen an older replica of Celia. Mother and daughter looked exactly alike. They each had a button nose and espresso eyes and hair. Both wore glasses, and the only difference was that Mrs. Corbett was older.
“You look especially pretty tonight,” Mrs. Corbett cooed. “Are you having a good time?”
I shrugged.
Celia rose. “It’s an adult party, Mom. Not much fun to be had here.”
Mrs. Corbett wrapped her arms around herself. “Celia, I need you to keep serving food.”
Celia frowned. “See me before you go, Quinn.”
I nodded. “I should get back to Maiken.” Maybe Chase had left. Maybe he’d forgotten about the dance.
Celia waved as she followed her mom back into the house.
For a beat, I warmed my hands over the fire, noticing how the backyard was decorated much like the inside of the house. Poinsettias dotted the edge of the patio where the stone pavement met the brownish-green grass that still held remnants of snow. The trees rimming the property twinkled from the white string lights. Glowing candles floated on the pool’s surface. The sky was clear. The stars were out. The moon was full and bright.
My Heart To Touch: A Maxwell Family Saga - Book One Page 19