The newlyweds, Jake and Claire, walked downstairs hand in hand, all lovey-dovey smiles. Tomorrow they’d be heading to a honeymoon in the Swiss Alps for a ski vacation. Most of the rest of them were driving home tomorrow. A few of the guys were sticking around to extend their all-expenses-paid vacation.
“There’s Mr. Claire Jordan,” Mad called to Jake. “How’s it feel?”
“Awesome,” Jake said, lifting Claire’s hand and kissing her palm. Claire beamed.
Claire headed to where Mad and Hailey stood, Jake in tow. “You missed the conga line. Our very last dance went from conga into a crazy bunny hop at the end.”
“Thanks to Viv,” Jake said with a laugh. “She woke up and wanted in on the action.”
“Mad had her own conga going on,” Hailey said, bumping her hip.
Mad felt herself flush. She wasn’t sure where she stood with Park and didn’t want to out them until she knew how he felt about last night. Would he stick to the onetime thing she’d blurted out in her desperation to finally have him?
A man in a bow tie and tweed jacket announced the food was ready. Saved by the bacon! “Let’s eat,” Mad said, heading to the dining room.
“With who?” Claire asked the minute they arrived at the dining room table. She leaned close for the scoop. “Was it PMS?” Claire had heard about her joking nickname for Park at the reception last night. Mad never used it in front of her brothers, though. They would’ve teased him mercilessly and he’d never be rid of it.
“PMS?” Jake asked, snagging a piece of bacon.
Mad inclined her head and Claire whooped, hugging her. Heat crept up her neck. “All right, calm down.”
Jake shook his head. “I’ve never seen women so cheerful about PMS.”
Claire giggled and turned to Mad, a question in her eyes could she tell Jake?
Mad shook her head. Not yet.
Claire smiled, understanding in her eyes. “I’m so happy for you!”
They piled their plates with food and headed back to the great room to eat in front of the fire. A few minutes later, Park, Ty, and Alex came in. Mad waited for the recognition she craved. Even just a glimmer in his eye would satisfy her. No matter how much she wished she could be casual about hooking up with Park, she just couldn’t. Her world had spun on its axis, landing in a precariously balanced place. Finally sleeping with Park meant something to her. And she hoped to him. You didn’t just pretend like that never happened. Not that she expected a public declaration of love, but she expected something. A little tenderness, maybe? A hot look across the room? She didn’t care that she’d said it was a onetime thing. She wanted more. And if the rough way he’d handled her in the shower was any indication—fierce and wild and hot—then he wasn’t done with her either.
A niggling of doubt nagged at her. Okay, she’d been aggressive with him in the shower, wanting him not to hold back with her. And she’d finally pushed hard enough that he pushed back, more than meeting her halfway. Once that kind of passion was turned on, it couldn’t just be turned off. Right? She was pretty sure. Her stomach did a slow churn.
“Merry Christmas,” Ty boomed, heading over to hug each of them in his exuberant pound-on-the-back way.
Park echoed the sentiment with a smile, but without the hugs. He carried a black garbage bag, probably full of Viv’s presents. His gaze didn’t meet hers.
Alex greeted them, giving her and her friends a kiss on the cheek before looking around. “Viv back yet?”
“Not yet,” Mad told him.
She went to Park’s side, where he now stood in front of the sparkling Christmas tree. She went up on tiptoe and kissed his clean-shaven cheek. An innocent gesture, though one she’d never had the nerve to do before. “Merry Christmas. ’Bout damn time I got to celebrate with you again.”
“Good to be home,” Park muttered, still not meeting her eyes. He took out the first gift and set it under the tree.
She reached for the bag. “I’ll help.”
He shifted away. “I got it. Go ahead and finish your breakfast.”
Stung, she returned to her friends, not bothering to mention she’d already finished eating. Clearly he didn’t want her hanging around. Chill. She reminded herself this was brand new for him. Her feelings for him spanned years. She couldn’t expect him to meet her where she was at.
Just then the rest of her friends arrived, rushing in from the cold in one happy bunch. As if they hadn’t just seen each other last night, they bowled her over with exuberant hugs and happy chatter. That was how tight the Happy Endings Book Club had become. So much more than just a book club now.
They admired each other’s holiday outfits, most of her friends wore red, either a dress or a sweater. Mad wore her skinny jeans, black boots, and a red long-sleeved shirt that read I was naughty and it was worth it. This year it was true more than most. She slid a glance over to Park, who squatted down in front of the tree, arranging the gifts for Viv. Her heart squeezed at the sight. For a guy with such crappy parents, he had a way of looking out for younger kids. Like her and now Viv. She knew without a doubt he’d be a fantastic dad. Shit.
She was jumping way ahead of herself. She tore her gaze from Park and forced herself to focus on her friends again.
“I can’t wait to see who my Secret Santa is,” Charlotte was saying.
“Yeah, about that,” Mad started.
“Ah-ah,” Claire said, cutting her off. Because Claire had insisted on being Secret Santa to all of the Happy Endings Book Club members when she’d heard about the family tradition.
Mad grinned. “It’ll be awesome.”
Everyone got their fill of brunch and scattered throughout the great room and the living room nearby to eat. Mad watched Park from across the great room. He was hanging with Ty as usual, acting like everything was normal. If he didn’t step up soon, she knew her frustration level would rise to the point that she’d do something about it. Probably something reckless and regrettable. That was kinda her signature move. She stifled a sigh.
Her dad arrived with Claire’s parents and Viv. Her dad helped Viv off with her coat and boots. Her niece yanked off her red hat with a pompom and tossed it before running to the Christmas tree. Her dark brown hair was in pigtails, messy from the hat, and she still wore her red fleece pajamas with snowflakes. “Santa!” she exclaimed.
Alex scooped her up. “That’s right, pumpkin. Wait for the family. Not all of these gifts are for you.”
Viv struggled mightily to get down. Alex lifted her and blew a raspberry on her belly, making her giggle and distracting her. “Let’s get you breakfast, then presents.” She popped a thumb in her mouth, and he carried her into the dining room.
They returned only five minutes later, Alex trailing after Viv with a piece of toast, urging her to finish.
Everyone watched as Viv jumped up and down in front of the tree, bursting with excitement and doing a very good job of not grabbing any presents. She looked to Alex for direction and when he didn’t move quickly enough, she screamed, “Daddy!”
Mad’s dad appeared at her side and put an arm around her. “Reminds me of you.”
“Charming and adorable?” Mad asked.
“Sure, let’s go with that,” her dad said. She knew she’d been hell on wheels. And so was Viv.
Alex held up a large box and read the tag. “It’s for you.” He set it in front of Viv, who dove right in, ripping the paper off gleefully with both hands.
“Ooh!” she exclaimed. It was a Fisher-Price airplane.
Park approached and knelt next to Viv. “You want me to set it up for you?” It must’ve been from Park, who’d always loved planes.
Mad blinked back the hot sting of tears, ridiculously emotional. Pull it together.
Viv nodded and watched as Park opened the box and took everything out of the packaging for her. Viv immediately grabbed the girl figure and put her in the pilot seat, even though there was a boy pilot figure.
“That’s my girl,” Mad said, com
ing over to give her niece a high five, who high-fived her back, unaware she’d naturally chosen girl power.
Park glanced at Mad and quickly turned back to Viv. “It needs batteries. I’ll see if I can rustle some up.” He left the room.
Mad stepped away, feeling conspicuous. Alex handed Viv another present, picked up another one, and handed it to Josh. “From your Secret Santa.”
“Oh yeah?” Josh took the present, shaking it and putting his ear up to it.
“You’re going to break it!” Mad exclaimed.
“She gives herself away every time,” Ty barked. Her brothers laughed. They always knew who she was Secret Santa for. Each of them had a way of provoking her into revealing herself. Idiots.
Josh grinned at her and opened it. “Cool. Thanks, Mad. This’ll come in handy.”
“That’s a really nice one,” Hailey put in. “We use it at cooking class sometimes.” Hailey helped local chef Shane O’Hare run holiday cooking classes at Ludbury House, where she worked as a wedding planner.
“I got it on a Black Friday sale,” Mad blurted. “It was just a teensy bit over the twenty-buck limit with tax. Besides, I owe Josh for all he’s done for me.”
Hailey looked to Josh and then to Mad curiously. “What did he do?”
“Put up with her smart mouth for years,” Josh quipped. He shot Mad a look that said drop it.
Everyone was looking at her curiously. Mad opened her mouth to explain just a little without giving away too much, knowing Josh didn’t want his twin to step in with the money and especially didn’t want their dad to feel bad that he didn’t have the funds. But before she could get out a single peep, Josh wrapped her in a bear hug that smushed her face into his chest and ruffled her hair. “Thanks.”
Claire clapped. “Time for my gifts!” She went to the back of the tree and came up with a stack of wrapped gifts, each one in the exact shape of a book. Jake carried a large gift bag too.
“Hmm,” Mad said, smoothing her hair back in place, “I can’t imagine what it is.”
“Just you wait,” Claire said, sounding giddy. She handed a gift to each of the book club members. “Open them at the same time!”
They all opened their books. The Princess Bride by William Goldman.
Claire beamed. “Next October when I come back to Connecticut to film the last part of the Fierce trilogy, we’ll watch the movie version together.”
“Ooh, I’ve seen this one!” Hailey exclaimed. She had an encyclopedic knowledge of romantic movies that dated all the way back to early black-and-white screwball romantic comedies. Maybe that was where she got her old-fashioned insults for Josh.
“But we need to read the book first,” Claire said. “Compare and contrast like we did with Gone with the Wind.” The women sighed over that gloriously romantic book. Mad had been way into the dark and broody Rhett Butler, who didn’t give a damn.
Claire pointed a finger at each of them. “And no cheating watching the movie without me.”
They all shook their heads solemnly. It was kinda sad they could only see Claire when her shooting schedule allowed it.
“And…” Claire said dramatically, gesturing for the gift bag. Jake opened it and she handed out black T-shirts with a skull and crossbones that read I am the real Dread Pirate Roberts.
Hailey laughed. “Awesome.”
“I don’t get it,” Mad said.
“You have to read the book,” Claire said. “We’ll wear it on our movie night. Or before if you’re into it.”
“This is all so wonderful,” Hailey said. “I feel bad you got all of us a gift but we didn’t get you anything. I thought I was only supposed to get one gift for my Secret Santa.”
The women had to agree.
“Awww!” Claire exclaimed. “You being here for my wedding and spending Christmas with me is the best gift in the world.” She gestured to all of them, waving them close. “Group hug.”
They all huddled around her and did a big squeezy hug. Mad didn’t even mind that Ally squished her ribs in her enthusiasm.
“Looks like a football huddle,” Jake said. “Who’s calling the plays?”
“Who do you think?” Josh asked drily.
Hailey bolted upright to glare at Josh. They broke apart, the women tucking their gifts in a safe place away from the Viv tornado, who was still tearing through gifts that Alex handed her, exclaiming with glee over each one and then reaching for the next one.
Park returned with batteries and set up the plane before handing it over to Viv. It made cute noises and played a cheerful song. Viv smacked the plane once and went back to opening her presents. Park left it there and headed over to Ty.
Mad quickly joined them, anxious to see Park again mostly because it was killing her that he showed no sign of their shared night (and morning) and that was all she could think about. “I would’ve loved a plane like that when I was her age. Instead I got a football.” She remembered the picture of her at two years old, just a little older than Viv, in an oversized football helmet, holding the ball on Christmas morning.
“No, Jake got a football and you stole it,” Ty said. “You got a baby doll that you threw in the garbage.”
Park laughed. “That sounds like you.”
Mad jolted, a little surprised she’d gotten something that girly. She didn’t remember having any dolls. Maybe because she threw them all in the garbage? “I didn’t know that. Geez. Was Dad mad I threw away my gift?”
Ty shrugged. “I don’t know. I just remember I thought it was hilarious. Course, I was seven. Every dumbass thing was hilarious back then.”
Mad turned to Park, trying to see a glimmer of the heat they’d shared. He quickly looked away, cool and distant. She set her teeth, her frustration level rising fast. This distant Park was the one she remembered from his infrequent visits home from the Air Force. It sucked balls. Their intense hookup had been mere hours ago.
Everyone watched Viv as she helped Alex hand out presents. Mad worried her bottom lip, confused and unsure what to do about Park. This had to be the most awkward morning-after of her life. A warm hand squeezed her hand briefly. She turned and Park gave her a small smile before looking back to Viv.
She couldn’t help the dopey smile that spread across her face. The joy bubbling up inside her made her want to throw her arms around his neck and kiss him. Then she had an idea.
She subtly shifted closer to Park. “I’ve got another present in the living room. Help me carry it?”
“Sure,” Park said and followed her like a clueless stud. Not that she planned to breed with him. Not yet anyway.
She waited until she got all the way to the archway connecting the dining room to the living room, where a sprig of mistletoe hung. “Here it is.”
“Where?”
She pointed up.
He looked and then his gaze locked on hers for a brief tension-filled moment. She licked her lips. His gaze dropped to her mouth.
Her pulse thrummed through her.
He looked over his shoulder in case anyone was watching. They weren’t. When he turned back, she threw her arms around his neck and kissed him as she’d longed to do from the moment he’d walked in. His fingers speared through her hair, his mouth rough on hers. The heat was back and she gloried in it.
“Park?” a masculine voice called.
Park jerked away and turned, tucking Mad behind him. She peeked around him. It was Ty coming right for them. She swallowed. Ty had a quick temper and was fiercely protective of her. Park was his best friend.
“Mad?” Ty asked, closing the distance between them.
She stepped out from behind Park. “Hey, what’s up?”
Ty turned to Park. “What the hell are you doing to my sister?”
Park put his hands up. “Nothing.”
“We’re together,” Mad said.
“We—” Park started before Ty grabbed him by the collar and hauled him up close.
“You don’t mess around with Mad,” Ty growled.
/> “Ty, let him go,” Mad said. “I want to mess around with him.”
Ty let go and shoved Park back. “You know the deal.”
“What deal?” Mad asked, looking between the two men.
Park straightened his shirt, his jaw clenched tight.
“Not her,” Ty said.
Park’s lips formed a flat line. She waited for him to tell Ty to fuck off or put his arm around her or something, but he did none of that. Instead he nodded once. “I know.” He left, his stride stiff, back to the cheerful festivities of their family.
Ty turned to follow him when Mad smacked his shoulder. “What the hell, Ty! This doesn’t concern you.”
“Park understands,” Ty said and left.
She wanted to kick both men. Smash their heads together. But they were gone, having come to some kind of understanding that affected her yet shutting her out.
She ripped the mistletoe off the ceiling and threw it.
Chapter Twelve
Mad drove back to Clover Park with Hailey, Charlotte, and Lauren the day after Christmas. Hailey was at the wheel of her orange Mini Cooper convertible, Mad in the passenger seat, and Charlotte and Lauren in the backseat. The car reeked of peppermint because all of them were sucking on candy canes. They’d taken Hailey’s car because it was the newest and, therefore, the least likely to break down on the long drive to Maine and back. Carrie and Ally were sharing a ride in Carrie’s old Toyota, named Ollie, which Carrie had an unnatural faith in. The car was at least ten years old.
“So now that we’re away from the guys, spill,” Charlotte said over the sound of Hailey’s Harry Connick Jr. Christmas playlist.
Hailey immediately turned down the volume. The car was heavy with quiet expectation. Girl-talk time. Everyone in the car knew they meant Mad. She was the only one who’d had an agenda going into this wedding.
“Not much to tell,” Mad said, which earned her a poke in the shoulder. She turned to see Lauren grinning at her, teeth tinged with pink from the candy cane.
“Your pants are on fire,” Lauren said, sounding every bit the second-grade teacher she was. “I saw you two slow dancing. You could practically see the steam!”
Inviting Trouble (Happy Endings Book Club, Book 2) Page 12