Inviting Trouble (Happy Endings Book Club, Book 2)

by Kylie Gilmore

  “No, you were not.” She was raised in a houseful of males, who she imitated, doing her best to fit in with them all.

  She scowled.

  “Don’t pout, shortstack. Sweet is overrated.”

  She brightened. “So what’s the plan now that you’re home? You have any job prospects lined up?”

  He warmed his hands on the mug. “Nothing definite. After the holidays, I’ll apply to a bunch of airlines, maybe Boeing out in Seattle. Someone must need a mechanic.”

  “So you’re leaving again?”

  “I dunno. We’ll see what pans out. I’ve got some savings, so I’ll be okay for a few months.”

  “Oh.”

  “What?”

  She shook her head and tufts of red hair bounced, already drying a little. “I guess I just thought when you came home, you’d be home for good.”

  “I gotta work.”

  “Yeah, I know.”

  Now why did she sound so glum? Before he could ask, the waitress returned to take their order. They both ordered omelets. He asked her about college, and she told him about her marketing and advertising major and how interesting her classes were. He was thrilled to hear she was getting her degree. She’d always been sharp.

  “So what took you so long to get to college?” he asked just as the food arrived. “Why were you bartending?”

  She dug into her food. “Paid the rent.”

  “I still don’t get why you waited for school. You had the grades. You could’ve been well into a career by now.”

  She set her fork down with a clatter. “Ya know, I’m really getting sick of the way you talk down to me.”

  He was taken aback. “I don’t talk down to you.”

  “Yes, you do. Like you still think I’m a kid. Like when you left.”

  “I know you’re not a kid.” He shoved some omelet in his mouth. He knew she was all grown up, had gotten a very clear visual on that, thank you very much. He chewed ferociously. But she was still his to protect. Now that he was home, he’d slipped right back into that role.

  “Then what am I to you?” she asked.

  He glanced at her, caught the glittering challenge in her eyes, and went back to eating. “You’re Mad. Same as always.”

  “I’m not the same,” she said tightly.

  He blew out a breath. “What’re you getting so pissy about?”

  She stabbed her fork in her omelet and sawed off a piece. “I’m not pissy.”

  “Whatever.”

  They finished their meal in silence. He had no idea what her problem was. The check arrived, and he pulled out his wallet and set some bills on the table.

  “Thank you,” she said softly.

  “No problem.” He tucked his wallet in his jeans pocket. “Ready to go?”

  “Park, I have to tell you something.”

  His gut tightened, already imagining worst-case scenarios. Whatever kind of trouble she was in, he’d fix it.

  He leaned forward across the table. “What?”

  She bit her lip.

  “Just say it,” he urged. “I’ll take care of it.”

  She slowly shook her head. “Nothing.”

  “Come on, it’s something.”

  She stood abruptly. “We should get going.”

  He stood, concerned and hurt that she wouldn’t come to him when she had a problem. She always used to. He’d been away too long.

  They walked toward the exit. “Mad, I’m home now. Whatever kind of trouble it is—”

  “No trouble. Forget I said anything. Really. I’ve been hanging with the girls too much.” She waved a hand in the air. “Girl-talk stuff. Sharing and caring.”

  His brows scrunched together in confusion, not quite sure what girl talk had to do with her problem. “Sure?”

  “Yup.”

  When they reached the hallway, he reached over and ruffled her hair. “You change your mind, you know where to find me.”

  She smoothed her hair and frowned. “See ya tonight,” she snarled before jogging off in the opposite direction.

  “See ya, mini.”

  She turned, opened her mouth and shut it, and then turned away without another word. Damn, she was moody. One minute sweet, the next sour. What happened to the girl that used to look at him like he was her hero?

  Chapter Six

  Mad was spitting mad by the time she and her friends pulled up in a limo to Claire’s log cabin for the tree-decorating party later that day. She felt like bopping Park over the head to knock some sense into him. Not even her oldest brothers, twins Jake and Josh, treated her like a little twerp the way Park did. Seriously, look at Josh, who’d helped her get settled at a new job and community college. He was hands off, only occasionally inquiring how she was doing. She knew she could ask him for help if she needed any, but guess what, she didn’t! Because she was doing just fine!

  “Is that cashmere?” Charlotte asked, feeling the sleeve of Mad’s white V-neck sweater.

  “Yeah,” Mad said. “Hailey found it at the consignment shop, but it made her itch. I don’t know why. It’s so soft.”

  “I guess I’m just supersensitive,” Hailey chirped from the seat across from her. “It looks cute with your black jeans and boots.”

  The other women agreed.

  “Thanks,” Mad muttered. Not that it mattered that she was all dressed up like some kind of Hailey wannabe. Park hadn’t given her a second look in her barely there workout clothes.

  They stepped outside. The place really shouldn’t be called a cabin. It was a sprawling two-story home with six bedrooms and a three-car garage. Only Jake, Claire, Claire’s family, and Claire’s bodyguard were staying there. Mad glanced around, spying security cameras discreetly placed along the big wraparound porch. Probably more around the place that she couldn’t see. They’d passed a few no-trespassing signs nailed to the trees too.

  Hailey rang the bell. A man in a tuxedo answered, escorting them in and taking their coats.

  She stepped inside the two-story great room with an enormous flagstone fireplace, a tall Christmas tree with white lights in the corner, and several burgundy leather sofas and chairs arranged in front of the roaring fire.

  “You’re here!” Claire Jordan, the bride-to-be and internationally famous movie star, exclaimed, rushing over to them. Her hair was back to blonde, up in a sophisticated twist, her flawless skin glowing. She wore a cap-sleeved red dress with roses and black lace that gave peeks of the skin underneath. Her bodyguard, Frank, stood nearby, back to the wall, his expression stone.

  Hailey got to Claire first and gave her a warm hug.

  Claire kissed Hailey’s cheek and beamed. “I’m so glad you all could make it!” They’d seen her only a few weeks ago back in LA for the premiere of Claire’s movie Fierce Longing. They’d all been invited to the red-carpet event both because they were friends with Claire and because they’d all played extras in the corporate party scene.

  Claire gave Mad a hug and then squeezed her hands. “Now we’ll really be sisters! This time tomorrow night.”

  Mad got an unexpected lump in her throat. She hadn’t really thought of it like that. “I always wanted a sister.”

  “Me too!” Claire said, beaming her perfect Hollywood smile. If she wasn’t such a down-to-earth person, Mad would find her perfect good looks irritating. Claire had managed to hook Jake, even in disguise as a regular girl with no makeup, a red wig, green contacts over her hazel eyes, and no glam clothes at all. She was a natural flawless beauty, but when she glammed it up, she was stunning. The cameras loved her.

  Jake strode over in a designer light blue button-down shirt and gray pants. His thick brown hair was freshly cut for the wedding. He smiled at Mad, crinkles forming at the corners of his dark brown eyes. “How’s the resort?” he asked, giving her a one-armed hug and ruffling her hair.

  She smoothed her hair. Geez, none of her brothers gave a crap about the fact that it took time to make your hair look good. She’d let Hailey put in some anti-
frizz stuff. “Stop with the hair. Geez, I’m not nine years old.”

  “Can’t help it,” Jake said, putting her in a headlock and rubbing his knuckles across her head. “You’re just cute as a little Chihuahua.”

  She could have him flat on his back in an instant, but didn’t want to damage the groom. Instead she gave him a sharp jab to the kidneys, and he released his hold with a soft “oof.” He rubbed his side.

  “Hey, hey,” Claire said, putting up a hand. “I need to get him to the altar tomorrow. You two can kick each other’s butt the day after that.”

  “The perfect Christmas present,” Mad replied.

  Claire went to greet the rest of their friends. Mad wandered further into the room. Her dad introduced her to Claire’s parents and her brother. Nice people. A few moments later, she found her brothers over in the dining room, chowing down on a bunch of cold appetizers. An archway to her left led to a large formal living room with wood paneling, several high-back chairs and a couple of dark blue patterned sofas arranged around a fireplace. She peeked into the huge kitchen to her right and saw staff in there preparing hot food. Then Ty shifted out of the way and her gaze landed on Park looking hot as hell in a black leather jacket over a blue button-down shirt. He met her eyes and quickly turned back to Ty.

  Nerves ran through her. She couldn’t believe she’d nearly confided she was in love with him over breakfast. All the confiding in her friends had made her nearly blurt everything. Even she knew you couldn’t open with the L word. The fact that he’d immediately morphed into avenging protector mode told her she had a long road ahead from little twerp to sexy potential girlfriend. Unfortunately, patience was not her strong suit.

  She moved to stand next to Josh in the corner of the room, the most laid-back of her brothers, which made him the easiest to hang out with.

  “Hey,” she said.

  “Hey yourself,” Josh said, taking a shrimp and dipping it into cocktail sauce. Josh was the casual version of his identical twin, Jake. He let his thick brown hair grow long enough to curl a bit at the nape of his neck, his jaw was nearly always stubbled with a couple days’ growth, and, unlike Jake’s designer style, Josh favored flannel shirts, faded tees, and ripped jeans. Tonight he’d dressed up a bit in a white button-down shirt with black jeans.

  “How’d your finals go?” Josh asked.

  “Good, I think.” She grabbed a small plate and piled it with veggies.

  He stopped eating, his dark brown eyes direct. “You study hard?”

  “Yes, I studied,” she said tightly. “I’m paying half the tuition, I’m not going to blow it off.”

  Josh said nothing, just kept eating, but she knew she was in the wrong, taking out her aggravation with Park on him.

  “Sorry,” she said. “I’m still a little wound up from a week of exams. You know I appreciate your contribution.”

  Josh had covered what she couldn’t in the cost of tuition. Her dad didn’t have the funds after helping out all of her older siblings. Sometimes being the youngest meant you got the leftovers. Josh had dipped into his savings, postponing his own dream of opening a bar, to help her out. She hadn’t even asked him to. They’d sat down together, figured out what she’d need to get her bachelor’s degree, he saw where she was short and simply said he’d cover it and wouldn’t take no for an answer. She’d argued that Jake was better funded and she’d ask him, but Josh got pissed off at being passed over for his rich twin, so she shut up.

  “I expect a complete marketing campaign for my bar,” Josh said, pointing a shrimp at her. “This ain’t no free ride.”

  “You got it,” she said. “You’ll be my first client. As soon as I graduate, you get your bar, and I’ll set you up.”

  “I made an offer on Garner’s,” Josh said.

  “You did?”

  “Yeah. Clive said he’d think about it. He’s on the fence about retirement.” Clive Garner, owner of the bar, was a spry seventy-three. His wife and co-owner, Heather, was sixty-five and anxious for them to retire and travel. The couple had promoted Josh to manager last May when they decided to cut back their hours.

  Josh took a sip of water and went on. “I figure it’s more affordable to take over Garner’s than build something new.”

  “Wow. I didn’t know you had enough saved to make an offer.”

  “I live pretty frugally.” He took another shrimp, chewed, and swallowed. “If I save more, I can afford to expand it. Add on a back room with a dance floor, jukeboxes, a couple pool tables.”

  “Cool.”

  He smiled. “Yeah, we’ll see. He’s not taking offers from anyone else. It’s either me or he hangs onto it a little longer.”

  She inclined her head. She could totally see Josh taking over Garner’s and making it his own. He’d worked there for eight years now. “Would you change the name?”

  He nodded, a small smile playing over his lips.

  “To what?”

  “You’ll see.”

  “What’s the big secret?” she demanded.

  “Drop it,” he said.

  She did, chomping on a yellow pepper slice. She knew he wouldn’t give up any further information. Despite his laid-back persona, he had the heart and mind of a fierce warrior. There was no other word for it. He’d been a paratrooper in the Army, jumping out of planes and engaging the enemy in hand-to-hand combat. He’d been chosen for that unit based on his temperament and physicality, cool and calculating, reserved and strong. He was easygoing, yes, all charming smiles and gentlemanly manners, but he could not be pushed.

  They ate for a few moments in silence, the noise of their brothers laughing and talking surrounding them. Alex held his daughter, Viv, who wiggled like crazy to get down. He set her down and she raced to the kitchen. Alex took off after her.

  “You ever think about getting married?” Mad asked Josh. She knew he and Jake had a tight twin bond, being identical. She had to wonder if now that Jake was getting married, Josh would want to settle down too.

  “Nope,” he said.

  “Why not?”

  “I guess I just like living alone, answering to no one.”

  “Yeah, I get that,” she said. Her gaze drifted to Park, lingering on his square clean-shaven jaw. Here she was living with Park and it was irritating to the extreme. “I could see how that would get old real fast.”

  Hailey appeared at Mad’s side. “Hello!” she said brightly and then whispered in Mad’s ear, “Where’s Park?”

  “With Ty,” she said as quietly as possible, not wanting Josh to pick up on it. But she didn’t have to worry. Josh’s eyes were locked on Hailey and his smile was slow and devious.

  “Where’s my hello?” Josh asked, imitating Hailey’s perky tone.

  “It seems to have disappeared,” Hailey said dryly, “just like my cash.”

  Mad bit back a grin. Hailey and Josh used to have a strange arrangement where he accompanied her to weddings as her date in exchange for cash. After Hailey had called the whole thing off, she’d demanded he return her money. Josh had it stashed in a shoebox in his closet, but was holding out, to Hailey’s outrage, until she went to his place and got it herself.

  “I told you where it is, princess,” Josh drawled. “All you have to do is come and get it.” That last part sounded like an invitation to seduction even Mad couldn’t miss.

  Hailey flushed bright pink and jabbed a finger in Josh’s direction. “Hell will freeze over before I step into that den of sin!”

  Josh threw back his head and laughed.

  Her brothers looked over, curious.

  “Come over here, honey,” Ty called to Hailey. “I’ll treat you better than that scoundrel.”

  Her brothers laughed.

  Mad snorted. That was one of the many old-fashioned names Hailey called Josh. Scoundrel, cad, and beast being her top three. He called her princess. Always. Probably because she was so graceful and smooth from her beauty pageant training.

  Hailey grabbed Mad by the elbow and drag
ged her over to Ty and Park. “Hi, I’m Hailey,” she said to Park.

  Park gazed at Hailey for a long moment while Mad shrank into the wallpaper. Hailey’s beauty had that effect on men. “Parker Shaw, nice to meet you.”

  Hailey threw an arm over Mad’s shoulders. “I helped Mad get your homecoming party ready. Did you even recognize her when you got home? People change a lot over the years.”

  Mad felt her cheeks flush. Could Hailey be any more obvious?

  Park’s gaze landed on her. “Mad hasn’t changed one bit.”

  Her heart cracked into brittle shards as the last little bit of hope inside her died. She was so devastated she couldn’t even speak, couldn’t move, could only stand there like an idiot.

  “Of course she’s changed,” Hailey said, immediately defending her honor. “You can’t tell me she looks like a fifteen-year-old.”

  Mad shrugged Hailey’s arm off her. Next thing you knew, Hailey would be pointing out Mad’s boobs.

  “Same old mouthy twerp,” Ty said around his beer bottle.

  Mad finally came back to herself and snapped at Ty. “Why don’t you go jump out a window?”

  “See?” Ty said, not offended in the least. He was a stunt guy and regularly jumped out of windows.

  Park’s eyes were half hooded, making her crazy because she couldn’t read him anymore.

  “Mad might be mouthy,” Hailey said, rushing to defend her, “but she’s also smart and funny and, and…”

  Mad squirmed, mortified that Hailey had run out of positive adjectives. Ty and Park had nothing good to add either. They merely waited for Hailey to come up with something.

  “A great athlete!” Hailey finally said triumphantly.

  Mad turned away, pretending she had something in her eye. It was nice of Hailey to mention it.

  “Park, maybe you should get to know her all over again now that she’s a card-carrying adult,” Hailey suggested in her oh-so-subtle way.

  “What kind of card?” Ty asked with a smile in his voice.

  Mad turned back to see both men looking thoroughly entertained by Hailey. “Don’t say it,” Mad warned. But, of course, Hailey went on proudly.