I FOUND Mom in the kitchen, talking to the catering staff. In less than an hour, a hundred guests for my parents’ annual Christmas staff party would fill the house.
For as long as I could remember, my parents hosted the entire Wolves hockey team, the coaching staff, and the admin staff along with their significant others for a festive party to celebrate Christmas.
Mom always had the house professionally decorated. And she had hired six bartenders and over a dozen wait staff.
“Rory, come here and taste this,” Mom motioned me over to the island in the kitchen. Around us, staff worked overtime getting the food ready.
“What is it?”
“Jeff, what is this again?” she asked the chef.
“That is the sautéed polenta cakes with mushroom Ragu and micro greens.”
I put the tiny appetizer in my mouth.
Flavors exploded in my mouth. “That’s delicious.”
Mom smiled up at me. “Your outfit is lovely.”
I glanced down at the red tartan dress that had a fitted bodice and flirty skirt. I had paired it with black high-heeled boots. My long hair was tied back into two messy French braids that twisted in a knot at the base of my neck.
“I invited Calder and his parents.”
“Mom!”
“Calder is a nice young man.”
I refrained from snorting. “Oka-aay.”
“Rory, you know I’d love to see you with a boyfriend. Don’t you want a boyfriend?”
The chef leaned over the island and offered me a mini-burger.
“Thanks,” I took the plate from him. “Mom. It’s kind of hard to find a boyfriend when I work 12 hour days.”
“But that is my point,” she watched me bite into the burger. “You don’t have time to find a boyfriend, but Calder doesn’t need finding.”
I talked with my mouth full to the chef. “This is delicious.”
He grinned at me.
“Mom, I love you, but you are way off base with Calder.”
She squeezed my arm. “I think you are writing him off with far too much haste.”
I loved Mom for her innocence. I could ruin her image of Calder by telling her he was the king of debauchery with his wild drinking, recreational drugs and salacious appetite for casual sex, but I didn’t want to. I loved that she still saw only the good in people. “I promise to spend time with him.”
Which reminded me. I need to ask Calder what else he knew about Baxter and Katrina.
TWO HOURS LATER, I stood in the huge family room, surrounded by guests. I had positioned myself to see the front foyer, so I would know if and when Max arrived.
I chewed on my bottom lip. What if he brought Lolita with him? I had already resigned myself to the fact I’d have to pretend to be super happy for them and make friendly chitchat with her. I imagined Lolita to be tall and blonde with an angelic face and the body of a supermodel. The thought more than depressed me.
“Why so glum, chum?”
I lifted my chin at Calder. Judging from his glassy eyes he was either drunk or stoned.
“Hey, Calder.”
“Waiting for someone?”
“Why do you say that?” My tone was sharper than intended.
“Because,” he took a long sip of his beer. “You’ve been eyeballing the front door like my dad’s basset hound stares at his treat jar. With longing and anticipation.”
“I’m surprised you showed up tonight. This party doesn’t seem like your style.”
“You know that our moms are playing matchmaker. They expect us to procreate because they are both so desperate for that little patter of feet.”
“I think I just threw up in my mouth.”
He laughed. “That’s why we are having Christmas together.”
“No.”
“Yup. The raisins, as I affectionately like to call my parents, have rented a woodsy cabin in Whistler for the Christmas vacation. We get to spend four blissful days together as one big happy family for a big festive vacation.”
“No one mentioned it to me.” The last thing I wanted to do was spend the Christmas vacation with anyone other than my parents. I had been eagerly anticipating my PJs, Netflix and at least six books I had stockpiled.
“Don’t worry, I have an escape plan planned for us.”
He had my full attention. “What does that mean?”
“You’ll see.”
I wasn’t sure I wanted to know. “Seems like you had fun at the gala.”
“Katrina is one hot smoking piece of ass.”
It did not go unnoticed that he called her by her name and did not reference her as the fox.
“Seems like her social calendar is already booked up.”
He rolled his eyes. “With the old dickwad that won’t leave his wife for her? She can do better.”
“So, it’s true. She’s actually sleeping with Baxter?”
“Keep your voice down.”
Baxter, although not hideous, was in his mid-forties. He kept himself in shape and was technically good-looking, but his personality could use a transplant. I caught sight of his wife. She stood off to the side, next to the Christmas tree. She wore a plain cotton dress with a slouchy cardigan and she exuded misery. I couldn’t believe she was Baxter’s wife, but then again, I also had no comprehension how someone as beautiful as Katrina could end up with someone like Baxter.
“How are they even together?”
Calder’s expression was dark. “Kat could do much better than him. He treats her like crap. He expects her to stop and drop her life every time he wants to get laid.”
Kat?
“Too much info, Calder.”
“It’s true. He gets her to do his bidding at work and she sits around and waits for him to call. It’s depressing.”
I tilted my head. “You got all of that from spending time with her at the gala?”
“We might have hooked up a few times since then.”
My mouth parted. “Calder!”
“What? She deserves to be treated better than he treats her.”
“What kind of stuff does he get her to do at work?”
Calder took a long sip of his beer. “Just watch yourself.”
“Excuse me?”
He turned his bleary gaze onto my face. “I’ve got your back, Roar. Don’t forget that.”
“Why?” I found this conversation bewildering.
“Your dad bailed me out of a tough situation, a couple years back and that bought a lot of my loyalty.”
“He did?” I couldn’t keep up.
“And for that, I’ve got your back.”
I wanted to ask him who or what he was protecting me from, but before I could ask, he slapped me on the back. “Go get him, Tiger.”
Calder walked away from me and disappeared from view. I swung my attention back to the front door.
Max was standing in the front foyer.
He was alone!
The coat check attendant took his coat, and I held my breath as he glanced around the room. His gaze sucker punched me. I should have done something like give him a flirty smile or a small wave, but instead I stood there staring at him like the lovesick idiot I was.
Someone moved to greet him. He laughed, and I caught a flash of those perfect white teeth. I took that time to study him. He wore a black cashmere sweater that showed off his broad shoulders. He also wore a pair of dark jeans that sculpted that ass.
It was pathetic how the moment Max showed up, I became acutely aware of my heart and how hard it beat in my chest.
I forced myself to pull my gaze off Max. I chatted with people like my life depended on it. I laughed at everyone’s jokes. I ate appetizers and drank two glasses of white wine.
Unable to stop myself, I kept lifting my head and searching the room for him. Each time I did so, it was as if he could sense my stare, and he’d lift his blue eyes to me. We didn’t smile or wave or do anything you’re supposed to do when you met someone’s eyes repeatedly across the room.
I drank in the sight of him and in turn, he blasted me with looks so intense, I thought I might self-combust.
It was unnerving and thrilling.
The party got more boisterous. The copious amounts of alcohol flowing made the laughter grow louder, and the conversation was at such a fevered pitch it was almost difficult to hear.
I set my wineglass down and made my way through the kitchen. Congregated around the kitchen table, the wait staff feasting on the leftover appetizers while the cooking staff cleaned up the kitchen.
They all froze when they saw me.
“Don’t mind me,” I kept on walking. “Only passing through.”
No one spoke while my boots echoed on the hardwood floor, but the moment I stepped through the hallway that led to the laundry room, library and gym, I could hear the chatter start again.
I was finished with this party. Done with small talk. Done with smiling until my face hurt. It was almost midnight. These parties lasted into the wee hours of the night. I was already counting the hours until I could climb into bed.
I stepped into the library and didn’t bother turning on the light. I knew this room like the back of my hand. I sank into the big leather couch. The cool leather against my bare legs made me gasp.
“I’d recognize that sound anywhere.” A deep voice spoke from behind me.
