by Kirk, Cindy
“I’m sorry,” she said.
He lifted his head and brushed the strands of hair back from her face, his eyes still dark.
“Nothing to apologize for,” he said in a husky voice that made her blood feel like warm honey sliding through her veins.
“But it’s over.”
She saw the corner of his mouth twitch as if he was amused by her reaction.
Indignation flooded her. “What’s so funny?”
“That was just an appetizer.”
“Oh.” She felt her cheeks warm.
“I think it’s time for the main course,” he said with a wink, his erection nudging her leg. “What do you think?”
She planted a kiss at the base of his neck, his skin salty beneath her lips. “I think I’m ready to put in my order.”
* * *
Tripp slipped out of bed the next morning, careful not to wake Adrianna. He’d kept her pretty busy during the night and wanted to let her sleep.
A smile remained on his lips as he showered, dressed, then started breakfast. By the time Adrianna padded into the kitchen, her hand covering a big yawn, the food and coffee were ready. Her feet were bare and she hadn’t bothered dressing, unless you counted an oversize T-shirt. He couldn’t be sure, but it appeared she wasn’t wearing any underwear beneath the thin white fabric.
His body stirred and for a second he was tempted to forget the food and much-needed caffeine. But he’d seen how little Adrianna ate, so he gestured toward the table. “Sit. I’ll serve you.”
“You made this?” Her eyes widened at the square white dinner plate filled with a perfectly formed omelet, wheat toast and cut-up pieces of fresh fruit.
“It wasn’t easy.” Tripp grimaced. “You only had that egg-white mix. No real eggs. No white toast. I couldn’t even find regular butter, just that yogurt-blend stuff. When I saw the carton of cream, I thought I was hallucinating.”
“I’ve learned skim milk just doesn’t cut it in coffee.” Adrianna took a seat, smiling appreciatively when he set a large mug of steaming brew in front of her. He noticed she was wearing the silver heart-shaped pendant he’d given her for her birthday.
“The necklace looks good on you,” he said.
“I love it.”
They exchanged a smile, then he busied himself fixing a plate for himself and bringing it and the coffee he’d been sipping to the table.
Adrianna took a bite of omelet that he’d spiced up with multicolored peppers and onion. She looked up and smiled. “This is delicious.”
“I’m one of my mother’s success stories,” Tripp said, attempting to be modest but failing. “Hailey is still a work in progress.”
“I’m more like Hailey,” Adrianna admitted. “But I want to be more proficient in the kitchen. Did I tell you that your mother offered to give me lessons?”
Tripp froze. He still remembered the big blowup when his mother had offered to show Gayle how to make his favorite potato salad.
“That was so sweet of her,” he heard Adrianna say and he released the breath he didn’t realize he’d been holding.
His heart, which had stopped beating, jerked back into a normal rhythm. “After breakfast, let’s head back to bed.”
Adrianna lifted an eyebrow. “I suppose you’d like to spend the day there?”
“What a great idea.” He leaned across the table, framed her face with his hands and kissed her. “I always knew you were a smart woman.”
The beautiful brunette’s lips twitched. “If you have a full day of activity planned, you’d best eat up, cutie pie, because I’m going to wear you out.”
Tripp didn’t think that was possible. But, hot damn, what a way to go.
Chapter Seventeen
The next week passed quickly. Even though no words of love had been exchanged, Adrianna was convinced Tripp loved her. She could see it in his eyes, feel it in his gentle touch. Sometimes, while they were making love, the words would push against her lips. She held them back, wanting to hear him say them first.
Any day now, she told herself. One of these days he would surprise her by confessing his feelings. Perhaps after tonight’s party.
Her lips curved upward as she sat on her bed and bent to tie her shoes. When Mary Karen had first mentioned having a retro-themed party this fall, Adrianna had ordered a poodle skirt and saddle shoes from an online specialty store.
A tingle of anticipation traveled up her spine. This party would be her and Tripp’s first big event as a couple since their relationship had undergone a change.
How many years had she dreamed of dating Tripp Randall? Now it was a reality. Being with him was even better than she’d imagined. They talked. They laughed. They made love. Adrianna couldn’t remember ever being so happy.
The doorbell rang just as she finished tying the black-and-hot-pink shoelaces around her ponytail. She hurried across the hardwood floors, her heart thumping in her chest.
She opened the door and gasped. While she’d decided to dress in fifties garb, Tripp had chosen the sixties. Adrianna resisted a sudden urge to giggle.
From the leather headband on his head to the huaraches on his feet, Tripp fit the picture of a hippie to perfection.
“I like the fringed vest.” She motioned him inside. “And the beads.”
He gave her a wink. “Love beads, baby.”
“Groovy,” she said, giving him a kiss.
“Are you chewing gum?”
“Taste the spearmint?” She snapped the gum, then grinned at his stunned expression.
“Where’s my Adrianna?” he teased. “What have you done with her?”
My Adrianna. Oh, how she liked the sound of that.
“She’s right here.” Adrianna gave in to impulse and twirled in her poodle skirt. “Ready to rock ’n’ roll.”
“Well, I’m ready to get my groove on.” Tripp held out his arm. “Shall we split like a banana?”
Adrianna laughed. Something told her this would be a night to remember.
* * *
One of the first people Tripp saw when they walked through the front door of Mary Karen and Travis’s large mountain home was his sister, Hailey.
Her mile-high bangs, thick eyeliner and tight designer jeans told him she’d picked the eighties as her decade of choice. Either that or she’d had a serious fashion meltdown.
Tripp tipped his head back and studied her for a moment longer. The vintage Bon Jovi T-shirt was a nice touch. “Don’t you look...interesting.”
“Don’t mind him.” Adrianna stepped forward and gave his sister a quick hug. “You look adorable.”
“Thank you.” Hailey took a sip from the tall glass of what looked like orange juice but probably wasn’t. “So do you.”
The outside door opened and a man stepped into the marble foyer resplendent in black leather.
An appreciative look filled Hailey’s gaze. “Who’s that?”
Tripp exchanged a look with Adrianna. “I’d say, underneath all that leather and swagger is Winn Ferris.”
Adrianna narrowed her gaze, then chuckled as the man whipped off his black hat. “You’re right. It’s Winn.”
Hailey took another sip of her drink and stared surreptitiously at Winn through lowered lashes. “He’s cute.”
“His father is Jim Ferris, who owns the land next to your family’s property,” Adrianna explained. “Winn is big into golf-course development.”
“Is he dating anyone?”
Adrianna shook her head.
“Introduce me,” Hailey urged, her blue eyes dancing with interest.
Tripp frowned. Winn had to be at least eight years older than his sister.
He thought about attempting to divert Hailey’s attention, but Winn had spotted Adrianna and was headed toward them.
“Adrianna.” Winn took her hands and stepped back, his gaze filled with admiration. “You look incredible.”
Adrianna flushed. “You look pretty spiffy, yourself. Almost as if you just stepped off the set of
Rebel Without a Cause.”
“How kind of you to notice.” Winn shifted his gaze and acknowledged Tripp with a nod before settling his gaze on Hailey. “Who is this pretty young woman? I don’t believe we’ve met.”
The lascivious look in Winn’s dark eyes brought Tripp’s protective side out in full force.
“This is my little sister, Hailey,” Tripp said, emphasizing the word before continuing with the introductions.
“Do you live in Jackson Hole, Hailey?” Winn asked. “Or are you just here visiting family?”
Hailey batted her heavily mascaraed lashes at him. “I recently moved back.”
“What a coincidence. I just moved here myself.” Winn glanced at the drink in her hand. “What’s that in your hand?”
Hailey lifted the glass with the orange slice on the rim. “Harvey Wallbanger.”
“How about you show me where I can get one of those?”
Hailey flashed him a flirtatious smile. “I’d be delighted.”
Tripp stepped forward, but Adrianna grabbed his arm. “I’d like to take a stroll around the house.”
“I’d like to tell Winn Ferris to find someone his own age,” Tripp growled. “But not you,” he hurriedly added.
“She’ll be fine.” Adrianna stroked his arm in a soothing gesture. “They’re surrounded by people. Nothing is going to happen.”
Tripp exhaled a breath and forced himself to relax. Adrianna was right. This was a party, not a love-in.
A half hour later, when he and Adrianna were embroiled in a hot game of Twister, he considered retracting that statement. One of his legs was over Adrianna’s waist while his head was precariously close to her chest. It was next to impossible to maintain his balance while breathing in the sultry scent of her perfume.
“Sorry,” he murmured to her when his face bumped against her breast as David Wahl stretched out his hand in an attempt to reach a yellow circle.
Adrianna giggled and he swore she twisted so that same breast now brushed against his lips.
His mouth went dry. He was face-to-face with her perky nipple, the erect tip clearly visible through her white shirt and lacy bra.
“Ohh.” A loud cry went up from the contestants when David’s attempt failed and triggered a collapse.
“Let’s do it again.” July Wahl scrambled out from under the pile of bodies. “I like this game.”
Once on his feet, Tripp extended a hand to Adrianna and helped her up. “Do you want to have another go at this or try another game?”
“We need two more participants in the living room,” Mary Karen announced from the doorway. “The game is about to begin.”
When no one immediately volunteered, the pretty blonde dressed in a short black skirt and white go-go boots with tassels pointed at him and Adrianna. “You two, head to the living room. Stat.”
“What game are we playing?” Adrianna asked Mary Karen as they obediently trudged along beside her.
“A fun one,” Mary Karen said with a sly smile, glancing at Tripp. “Your good friend Winn Ferris is playing.”
“What’s the game?” Tripp repeated Adrianna’s question as they approached the group sitting on the floor in a circle.
Mary Karen reached down and pulled a bottle from a bag on the floor and held it up. “Spin the bottle, of course.”
* * *
Adrianna took a seat next to Winn, smiled at Hailey and tried not to let her dismay show.
Spin the bottle.
They were adults. Most of those at this party were married. Yet, there was only one man she wanted to kiss this evening and he still stood, arms crossed, as if he had no intention of playing.
“Seriously, Mary Karen. Spin the bottle?” she heard him say.
The lips of the mother of five curved up in an impish smile. “I happen to like kissing.”
“She speaks the truth.” Her husband, Travis, appeared and snaked an arm around her middle, pulling her close. “Five children are testament to that fact. Give me a kiss, sweetheart.”
Mary Karen giggled and planted a kiss on her husband’s cheek. “That’s all for now.”
“Beware of the mistletoe, Mrs. Fisher,” Travis teased. “This is your one warning.”
Adrianna turned to Lexi, who sat near her. “Mistletoe?”
“Haven’t you seen it?” Lexi chuckled. “It’s all over the house.”
“It’s only October,” Tripp said mildly, finally sitting down.
“Doesn’t matter.” Lexi lifted a perfectly manicured hand in an airy wave. “Travis and Mary Karen love mistletoe.”
Adrianna shifted her gaze to Tripp. “We’ll have to watch out for it.”
His eyes darkened. Adrianna smiled. It looked as though she wasn’t the only one with kissing on her mind.
“I’ve never played spin the bottle,” Adrianna whispered to him.
“It’s the most fun,” Tripp said in a low tone, his gaze focused on her bright red mouth, “when the game is rigged.”
“Why is that?” she whispered back.
“That way you get to kiss who you want.” Tripp leaned close and she knew he’d have planted one on her right then if Travis hadn’t pulled him back.
“Whoa—down, boy,” the party’s host admonished. “Not that I don’t applaud such effort, but you have to wait your turn.”
“We should have stayed with Twister,” Tripp muttered.
Adrianna smiled, but when Mary Karen indicated she should spin the bottle first, she froze, her gaze returning to Tripp.
He lifted his shoulder in a slight shrug and Adrianna reluctantly gave the bottle a hard spin.
She heard Tripp’s sharp intake of breath when it landed on Winn “Rebel Without a Cause” Ferris.
A broad smile spread across Winn’s lips. “It looks as if my luck is on the upswing.”
Beside her Tripp muttered a curse and started to rise. She placed a steadying hand on his arm and smiled. With obvious reluctance, he sat back.
Adrianna leaned across the circle and placed a hand on each of Winn’s cheeks. Before he could react, she bestowed a big kiss—right in the middle of his forehead.
Laughter filled the circle and Adrianna sat back, triumphant. Tripp grabbed her hand and contentment flowed through her like warm honey.
The way she looked at it, she wouldn’t want Tripp kissing another woman, so why would she kiss another man?
When it was Tripp’s turn, the bottle landed on his sister, Hailey. The look of mutual revulsion on each of their faces made everyone laugh. He brushed a kiss against her cheek and she made a great show of wiping it off.
Benedict Campbell stepped into the doorway. “What’s the game in this room?”
“Sit.” Mary Karen leaped up and grabbed his arm, then pointed to an empty spot in the circle. “We’re short one man.”
Ben looked puzzled but did as she asked. There was something about the petite mother of five’s demeanor that made even a pompous orthopedic surgeon obey without question.
Adrianna was trying to figure out what era Ben was supposed to represent in his white suit with bell-bottom pants and wide lapels when she saw the gaudy gold chain around his neck. Late-seventies disco era, she concluded as Hailey leaned forward and gave the bottle a spin.
Around and around it went before coming to a stop on Benedict.
He glanced at Mary Karen.
She smiled. “In case you hadn’t figured it out, we’re playing spin the bottle. Hailey has to kiss you.”
The respected doctor’s gaze shifted to Tripp’s sister and a look Adrianna couldn’t decipher passed between them.
Hailey slanted a sideways glance to see if Winn was watching. The land developer’s gaze was firmly fixed on her.
“Well, rules are rules,” Hailey said with an exaggerated sigh.
Adrianna expected Ben to protest, but instead, an enigmatic smile crossed his lips.
“You don’t have to kiss him,” Tripp said, sounding very much like an overprotective older brother.
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Hailey responded with a toss of her heavily sprayed hair. “Like I said, I follow the rules.”
“Since when?” Tripp scoffed, but Hailey was already wrapping her arms around Ben’s neck and gazing into his eyes.
“By the way, I’m Hailey Randall,” she murmured. “Nice to meet you.”
Instead of kissing him on the cheek as Adrianna expected, Hailey pressed her lips against Ben’s slightly parted ones and let her mouth linger an extra heartbeat.
By the time Tripp’s sister pulled back, there was a gleam in Ben’s eyes and Hailey’s cheeks flushed.
“I’m Benedict Campbell.” He spoke in a low tone, his gaze never leaving hers. “Because we’ve already kissed, you can call me Ben.”
A titter of laughter erupted from everyone in the circle. Everyone except Tripp and Winn.
Ben’s fingers were poised on the bottle when Mary Karen peered into the room and announced the dance party was starting. She instructed everyone to make their way to the back patio for the twist contest.
Instead of immediately heading outside—as Hailey and Ben did—Tripp and Adrianna lingered, chatting with several other couples. Throughout the conversation, Tripp’s hand rested lightly against the small of her back.
Happiness bubbled up inside her and Adrianna couldn’t keep a smile from her face. Finally, an exasperated Mary Karen returned and marshaled the stragglers toward the back of the house. A bottleneck ensued under a large curved archway when couples kept stopping to kiss.
Adrianna was puzzled until she lifted her gaze. Only then did she spot the small sprig of berries and leaves.
Mistletoe.
Adrianna glanced ahead, looking for Hailey and breathing a sigh of relief when she didn’t spot her. She didn’t think Tripp could take seeing his “little” sister kiss another man this evening.
Of course, judging by the slender, dark-haired beauty now standing beside Winn Ferris, it appeared he wasn’t waiting around for Hailey. Tripp saw the couple the same instant she did. Instead of looking pleased that Winn’s focus had shifted from his sister, he scowled.
