“Well, I want to get out of it.”
“Why?”
“Come on. A dinner party at the Bravo Mansion?”
“What’s wrong with the mansion? It’s a beautiful house and I’m sure a party there will be lovely.”
“Paige, it was Sondra Bravo’s house and my mom stole it from her, just like she stole Sondra’s husband. I don’t like it there and I don’t want our engagement party there.”
“You’re just being pigheaded.”
“No, I’m not. You said it yourself. My mother is strange. We don’t want to go trusting her with our party.”
“But I think it was really sweet of her to offer and we need to...” Her voice trailed off as something sad happened in her big eyes. “Wait a minute...”
He didn’t want her looking sad. “What? What’s wrong?”
“This is about the test drive, isn’t it?”
Crap. “No.”
“Yeah.” Now her pretty mouth was all pinchy. She leaned closer, but only to accuse in a tense little whisper, “I get it. You don’t want your mom to go to all the trouble of putting on a party for us when we still don’t know where we’re going with this yet.”
“That’s not it at all.” He said it a little louder than he should have.
She darted a glance around the hall and nudged him with her shoulder. “Keep your voice down.”
“Sorry.” He leaned in and spoke softly. “Paige. It’s not about the test drive. My mother just... I don’t trust her, okay? I know she must be up to something.”
“Something like what?”
“How would I know?” Well, all right. He knew more than he was telling. And he needed to get honest with Paige.
Soon.
She said, “I don’t know what your mother does when she travels, but here at home, she’s kind of a recluse.”
“So?”
There was eye rolling, followed by scoffing. “God. Clueless much?”
“My mother is my mother. It’s not my fault.”
“But if a situation arises where you can help her get outside herself a little, don’t you think you ought to go with it?”
“Outside herself. What does that even mean?”
“You’re being purposely thick.”
Yeah, well. So what if he was? “You’re saying that her giving us a party is going to help her, somehow?”
“I think it might. I think she feels ostracized by her past. I think she feels that people don’t like her much.”
He grunted. “Now, why in hell would she feel that way?”
“Carter. Be nice.”
“Face it. People don’t like her. She stole another woman’s husband. She had five kids with him while he was still married to the woman she stole him from. And now she lives in that woman’s house.”
“It’s her house now and the rest of that is way in the past.”
“But it happened.”
“And now it’s over, and I’ve talked to your sisters and brothers.”
“When?”
“Over the years—and don’t look so suspicious. I’m only saying what you already know. Your brothers and sisters want to put the past behind them. And your mother throwing our engagement party is a good way to help make that happen. Plus, I personally want to establish a good relationship with Willow. Saying yes to the party could be a nice start on that.”
“Nobody has a good relationship with my mother. She’s doesn’t get close. It’s not how she is.” He spoke firmly, hoping she’d finally accept that he didn’t want to do this.
Didn’t work. “Well, I want to try. I agree that she and I will probably never be BFFs. But she’s offered to do something nice for us, and I don’t want to turn her down.”
He knew that look in those fine eyes. It was the look she gave him when he insisted on paying more than he should for a car—multiplied by about a thousand. She was digging in her heels here and she wouldn’t let it go until she had it her way.
She was way too damn determined about some things.
And apparently, his mother throwing their engagement party was one of those things.
Carter decided to look on the bright side. If he said yes to the party, that didn’t automatically mean his mother would blab to Paige about the property before he found the right moment to tell her himself. If Willow intended to bring up the property to Paige, she probably would have done it tonight.
Right?
As if he knew. When it came to his mother, who could ever say?
He gave it up. “All right. I’ll call her tomorrow and tell her we’re going for it.”
Paige’s mouth lost the pinchy look. She leaned closer. “Thank you.” She smiled full out and her husky tone spoke of good things to come. “We have to give her a guest list.”
Damn. All those years they’d just been just friends. What a waste. They needed to have a lot of sex to make up for all they’d missed. “How ’bout we put the list together in the morning, before I call her?”
“Perfect.” She brushed her lips across his and pulled away much too soon.
He ached to gather her close again and claim another kiss. But if he did that, he’d never want to stop. “You want to dance some more?”
She tugged on his collar, brushed a soft fingertip down the side of his throat. His mind wandered to more interesting places than the entry hall to the ballroom at the Haltersham Hotel. He wondered what she had on underneath that pretty green dress and how long it would be until he got to find out.
Then she leaned close again. “I was kind of thinking it would be nice to go home...”
He leaned in even closer—close enough to nuzzle her silky hair. “Let’s get the hell out of here.”
* * *
In Paige’s bedroom, he ordered the dogs to sleep on the floor. They trotted over to the rug not far from the door and flopped down with a matched pair of gusty sighs.
“How do you get them to do that?” Paige was fumbling with her necklace.
He moved behind her and undid the clasp. “Just call me the dog whisperer.”
She snickered. “Right.” And then she held out her hand. He put the necklace in it. “Unzip me?”
He took her zipper down and peeled the sides of the dress wide. “Red lace.” He ran a finger along the back strap of her bra. “I was wondering what you had under here.”
She sent him a teasing smile over her shoulder. “I’m all about the holidays. Green dress. Red satin and lace.” She peeled the dress down to her waist. He admired the slim shape of her shoulders, the sleek curves of her back. She shimmied the dress the rest of the way down, taking her lacy, frothy slip with it. Then, stepping out of both, she scooped them up in her free hand.
“What time does Dawn get home?” he asked as he watched her walk away from him, looking way too damn good in those high heels, the red bra and that itty-bitty pair of lace-trimmed red satin panties.
“Dawn’s staying over at Molly’s.” She disappeared through the bathroom door, no doubt headed for the walk-in closet on the other side.
He just stood there for a moment, staring after her, thinking how great it would be to see Paige in her underwear every night for the rest of their lives.
And even better to get it off her. Possibly with his teeth.
Then he remembered he had way too many clothes on. He got busy, tossing his jacket over a chair, taking off his tie and his shirt. Stripped to the waist, he sat on the edge of the bed and whipped off his shoes and socks.
Paige reappeared without the dress, the slip or the necklace. And now her feet were bare.
He rose, undid his belt, slid it from the loops and hung it over the headboard. “So if Dawn’s at Molly’s, I guess tonight we can be as loud as we want to be.”
She wrapped her arms around herself, which pushed her breasts together over the lacy tops of the red bra. Burying his face there? Definite priority. “You are kind of noisy,” she said, completely Paige-like, all smug and pulled together, even in nothing but her Christmas underwear.
“I’m noisy? Last night, I thought you would scream the house down.”
She smiled so sweetly. “You kept shushing me.”
“For Dawn’s sake. But tonight, I might just let you scream.”
She laughed. “As long as it doesn’t freak out the dogs.”
He dropped trou and then threw them at the chair. “Come here.”
“Bossy, bossy.” But she came to him. “Can I help you with those boxer briefs?” She didn’t wait for his go-ahead, but got right to it, slipping a finger under the elastic waistband, sliding it back and forth against his belly.
The only word that came to mind was “Please.”
She peeled off his boxers, going down with them, very slowly, to her knees.
When she got there she tipped her head and glanced up at him. Those eyes of hers, they saw too much. He sifted his fingers through her silky hair, smoothing the dark strands on her shoulders.
And then she wrapped her hand around him. It felt so fine it hurt. A low growl escaped him as she took him in her mouth.
Oh, that was something. Paige all around him, using her hand and that sweet, wet, hot mouth of hers, her silky hair brushing his thighs.
He let that go on for as long as he could bear it, and then he took her arms and lifted her, pulling her close against him, covering her mouth with his, kissing her endlessly as he removed her bra and got rid of those pretty panties. They still stood by the bed and that was fine with him. He kissed her breasts, let his hand trail down to the wet center of her.
She moved against his fingers, moaning, crying out. He never once shushed her. He liked when she made noise, loved when she lost herself, gave herself up to him, shattering from just his touch, once.
And then a second time.
After that, she pulled open the bedside drawer. He helped her, getting the wrapper off the condom, rolling it down over himself.
Then he turned her around and bent her over the bed. She went down, sighing his name. He pushed into her softness from behind, bending over her slim body so he could slide his arm around her and touch her while he moved inside her. He played her slick wetness with his fingers, rocking into her with long, slow, deep strokes until he felt her climax yet again.
That time, she not only cried his name; she said she loved him. She said it loud. “Love you, Carter. Love you way too much...”
No, he didn’t believe in that crap. But still, he ate it up. It sounded damn good, now that it was coming from Paige. He’d never thought he’d ever get to be with her like this, get to see her come apart for him, and then make her do it all over again.
He moved faster. She rocked in rhythm with him. It felt so good. Exactly right.
The finish rolled through him. He bent even closer, his body curling over hers. She reached back and wrapped her hand around his neck, turning her head to offer her lips.
He kissed her as he came, groaning hard into her open mouth. She tasted every bit as good as she felt.
* * *
In the morning, he got up without waking her and took the dogs out for a walk. When he returned, he found her at the kitchen table in her robe and elf pajamas, her laptop open in front of her.
The dogs went for their water bowls. He came up behind her, bent close and nibbled her neck. “What’s up?”
She reached back and pressed her fingers over his fly. “You. As usual...”
He blew in her ear. “If you mock me, I won’t make you breakfast.”
She leaned back and he kissed her upside down. Then she explained, “I’m putting together the guest list for our engagement dinner. I figure I can just email it to your mother, right?”
Damn. He’d almost succeeded in forgetting that he had to call his mother that morning. “That’ll work.”
“You have an email address for her?”
“I don’t remember it offhand, but yeah. I’ll get it for you.” He kissed her once more before rising and going to the counter to start the coffee.
He made them omelets with cream cheese, chives and Canadian bacon. Afterward, he tried to tempt her back to bed.
But she said, “Uh-uh. You need to call your mom. Do it now.”
“Bad idea. She won’t answer—or if she does, she’ll be pissed off.”
“Because?”
“She never gets up until ten.” It was just nine. “Come on.” He grabbed her hand and pulled her out of her chair. “This won’t take long. I promise. I’ll be on the phone to her at ten sharp.”
Paige hung back a little, but the soft, willing curve of her mouth told him it was only because she loved to give him a bad time. He kissed her. She gave right in and kissed him back, after which he coaxed her up the stairs and out of her pajamas. Nothing like getting Paige naked to put the right spin on the day.
And he was as good as his word. They were back in the kitchen, fully dressed, at five after ten.
He called his mother.
“Carter, darling. How nice to hear your voice.” He heard her yawn. “I’m so glad you called because I’ve been longing to congratulate you. I know you and Paige will be blissfully happy.”
So far, so good. She hadn’t mentioned the property. “Thanks, Ma. I’m a lucky man.”
“Did Paige tell you I want to give you a party?”
He glanced at Paige, who sat next to him at the table, laptop open, still working on the guest list. “That’s why I’m calling. To tell you that Paige thinks a party at your house sounds great.”
“Only Paige? What about you?”
He couldn’t resist a jab. “Well, I was already on board. Right?” Paige shot him a sharp look for that remark.
But Willow only chuckled. “You certainly are.”
He gritted his teeth. “So, thank you and we accept.” Now Paige beamed up at him.
“Wonderful,” said his mother in her best tea-on-the-veranda voice. She named the date and added, “Seven for cocktails, with dinner at eight?”
He repeated the information to Paige, who nodded agreement. “Sounds good, Ma. We’re on.”
“I’m so glad. I asked Paige for a guest list...”
“She’s getting it together right now. We’ll email it to you today, if that’s all right?”
“Perfection, darling.” She gave him an email address. Paige passed him a sticky notepad and a pen. He jotted down the address and his mother said, “I’m leaving for Cancún tomorrow.” Of course she was. “But Estrella will take care of everything, anyway. I’m just the hostess. I’ll be home the day before.”
“Great,” he said, and felt more relieved than he should have that Willow was leaving again and reducing the likelihood that Paige would find out about the property before he’d explained to her that yes, his mother had tried to blackmail him into getting married, but that had nothing to do with why he’d proposed their Christmas engagement. “Have a good time.”
“I will, darling. I always do.”
“Thank you, Willow!” Paige piped up, loud enough that his mother heard it through the phone.
“Tell her it’s my pleasure.”
“I will, Ma.”
“You should thank me, too.”
“I thought I already did.”
“Not for the party, darling...”
His gut clenched when she said that.
She laughed again. “I knew you would choose Paige. You just needed that nudge we discussed at Thanksgiving.”
Matricide. Illegal. He had to remember that. “Bye, Ma. Safe trip.” He hung up fast.
&nb
sp; Paige was watching him. “You okay? You look a little pissed off.” Her expression was tender and definitely sympathetic.
Maybe right now would be the best time to come clean, explain everything and reassure her that what was happening between them had zero to do with the property.
But then, what if she didn’t believe him? He’d only just managed to convince her to give their engagement a go.
Uh-uh. He needed more time with her before he went into all that.
Paige raised a hand and waved it in front of his face. “Carter? You in there?”
He caught her wrist and pulled her out of the chair. “Right here.” He hauled her close and wrapped his arms around her. “God, you feel good.” He gave her fine bottom a two-handed squeeze.
“You are insatiable.”
“Insatiable.” He bent down and bit her neck. “I like that word.”
“I need to get the guest list finished,” she groused.
“In a minute. Right now you need to kiss me.” He tried to capture her mouth.
But she got her hand up between them and pressed her fingers to his lips. Tenderly, she instructed, “Let me go...”
“Kiss me first. Help me forget that my mother drives me crazy.”
“One kiss is not going to solve all your issues with your mother.”
“Stop talking about my mother.”
“You’re the one who—”
He didn’t let her finish. Pushing her fingers to the side, he captured that sweet mouth of hers.
By the time he let her go back to her laptop, he felt a whole lot better about everything.
* * *
Wednesday, Carter took Paige to a tree-decorating party out at the Bar-N Ranch, where his cousin, Rory, lived with her fiancé, Walker McKellan.
Most of the family was there—his sisters and brothers, and his half siblings, too. Some brought dates. Clara came with her husband, Dalton. Quinn brought his wife, Chloe. There was lots of food and plenty to drink and Christmas tunes playing nonstop. They all worked together to get the ranch house decked out right for the holiday season.
With everybody pitching in, the work went fast. The day before, Walker and Rory had cut down a beauty of a tree and set it up in a stand in front of the great room window. In record time, they had the lights strung and the decorations hung. Then they stood around the fire, shooting the breeze.
Carter Bravo's Christmas Bride Page 13
