“What are friends for?” I offered with a shrug, bringing the bottle of beer to my lips.
“Friends, huh?” he asked, arching a brow, likely thinking about the very unfriendly things he did to me Thursday night. I know I was.
I looked past him, spotting my mother near the patio door, watching us with hawk-like intensity. When she started over, I glanced back at him nervously.
“I’ll be back soon,” I told him, nodding politely before I walked away from him quickly, cutting off my mother before she could make it halfway across the lawn. I could feel his eyes on me, watching me go, and that only fueled my mom’s interest.
“Gwen, dear, who were you just talking to?” she asked, peering around me to assess Alaric.
“Dad’s latest hire, Alaric Petersen,” I replied, trying to keep my expression impassive. Mom had a tendency of making a big deal out of things, and while I’d welcomed it with Erik, I didn’t want her exuberance to scare Alaric off.
“Oh, that’s right,” Mom recalled, her lips curling reflectively. “Is he single?”
“Mom, seriously?” I rolled my eyes, hoping she’d think my flushed cheeks were a result of the heat. “Please don’t. You’ll not only embarrass me, but you’ll embarrass Dad and the company. Alaric is a new employee, not a contestant on The Bachelor.”
“I’m just saying, he’s an attractive man. A little hairy, but still. You two would make a cute couple.”
“Mom,” I groaned with exasperation—although her comment made my heart sputter happily in my chest. “Stop with the matchmaking, please. I really can find my own dates.”
Mom opened her mouth, about to defend herself, but opted to smile instead. “Of course, I’m sorry. I can’t help it—I want to see both my daughters happy.”
“Well, this daughter is content figuring out her happiness on her own terms,” I muttered, sending her a pointed look and hoping like hell she’d heed me.
“Fair enough,” Mom said, hesitating. “I am sorry about the dinner, Guinevere. When your father told me Grant asked you out, I figured I’d give you a gentle nudge.”
“I don’t need any nudges,” I assured her, folding my arms across my chest. She nodded with understanding, her eyes returning to Alaric.
I couldn’t help it, I glanced over my shoulder too. As if he felt my gaze, he turned, and my stupid blush deepened.
“I can see that now,” she remarked, a sly smile pulling her lips gradually up.
The garden gate opened, and Renly walked through with a case of beer in his hands, his boyfriend Brian trailing alongside him. Relief washed over as I sensed an opportunity to escape this awkward, never-ending song and dance.
“Excuse me.” I said before heading off to greet them. “You didn’t!” I squealed, noting the logo on the side of the twelve pack—my favourite craft beer from Niagara Falls.
“We did,” Ren sang, shifting the pack so that he held it in one arm and hugged me with the other. He kissed my cheek, and when we parted, I hugged Brian.
“We went to Niagara Falls for a little romantic getaway earlier this week, and we couldn’t leave without stopping at the brewery first,” Brian added, sending an affectionate grin to Ren.
“You guys are seriously the best,” I sighed, stepping back again. “Let’s get you fellas a drink.”
I pivoted and led the way through the patio doors and into the kitchen. “Do you mind if I use the bathroom? I’ve had to pee for the last hour of the drive,” Brian laughed as Ren set the twelve pack on the counter.
“Sure, it’s down the hall to your right,” I told him, and he nodded with relief before following my directions.
“I noticed Mr. Tattooed Thor is here,” Ren remarked once we heard the bathroom door close. Both of our gazes went out the screen door, where we could just make out Alaric’s form as he stood in the same place I’d left him. “Is he here as your boyfriend or?”
“Shh,” I whispered, looking around to make sure the coast was clear. I’d texted Renly to update him on the hot welder situation, and he’d seemed thrilled to hear we were giving it the good old college try. “We’re not here together, so act like you don’t know him. I don’t want him getting all bugged out by the amount of nosy family and friends I have.”
“Fair enough,” Ren raised his hands in surrender. “My lips are sealed,” he added, pretending to zip them shut.
“Good.” I nodded, relieved. “Now if only my mom would stop meddling.” Sighing, I tugged the twelve pack over and opened it, drawing three beers out and setting them on the counter.
“Meddling is what your mom does best,” Ren chuckled, shaking his head.
“Tell me about it,” I sighed, dragging my fingers through my hair and staring off down the hallway. “Speaking of meddling…how did the talk go?”
“Good,” Ren said, smiling and swiftly changing the subject. “I’m parched. Could I get that drink you offered?” He cocked a brow at me and looked pointedly down the hall.
I narrowed my eyes at him before turning to open the refrigerator. Renly didn’t want to talk about it right now, but I knew eventually, he would, so I let him have the win. “Is white wine okay?”
“Any kind of wine is fine in my books,” Ren replied. “We’ll be staying with my parents for the next few days, and I’m sure that will be fun.”
Ren’s dad still didn’t fully accept his son’s lifestyle. “I thought he had stopped with the comments after your Nan and mom laid into him last Christmas?” I asked sympathetically, pouring two glasses of wine before I put the bottle back in the refrigerator.
“He did, and he has,” Ren said quickly. “But, well, I think a part of him still believes that it’s a phase.”
“Well if he ends up being a dick, you guys could come crash at my place. I’ll sleep on the couch.” I suggested, shrugging.
“No, if it’s that bad, we’ll just leave.” Ren laughed. “Or get a hotel. But Nan wanted me to try. I think she wants us to fix things before…” he trailed off, his voice tightening with emotion.
“How’s she doing?” I leaned against the counter, nodding at Brian as he rejoined us in the kitchen. I handed him a drink and slid the other one to Renly, my gaze returning to him.
“She’s good, but she talks an awful lot about death.” He shook his head sadly. “I mean, she always has, but this time it feels different. Like she’s actually preparing for it.”
Brian put his arm around Ren’s shoulders, hugging him from behind. “She’s going to be okay. She’s a tough lady.”
“Yeah, she will,” Ren said, his voice distant, as his hand absently went to Brian’s arm. He patted it twice before shaking his head, jolting himself. “But enough with this gloomy topic. Let’s get back out to the party! I hope your mom made her deviled eggs,” Ren said, pasting on a smile.
“Of course she did, it wouldn’t be an annual Williams’ barbeque without Mom’s deviled eggs,” I replied dryly, grabbing two more beers.
The three of us made our way through the sliding door to the patio, and my eyes instantly went to Alaric, who was still keeping half an eye on the bouncy castle where Sawyer was still playing with the other kids.
He was dressed in a pair of beige cargo pants and a white t-shirt that clung to his muscular chest in a way that I—nor the rest of my little group—could ignore.
Alaric was single-handedly the hottest man in attendance, and I still couldn’t believe that less than forty-eight hours ago, his beautiful face was between my thighs.
Suddenly parched, I tipped the bottle back and took a heady sip.
“He looks lonely. Let’s go keep him company,” Ren suggested, tilting his head toward Alaric. He didn’t wait for me to reply before he and Brian were making their way over to him. I adjusted my hold on the two unopened beers in my other hand and sighed, trailing after them.
“Hey, I hope you’re not too bored,” I teased once we reached him, offering him a fresh beer. His head turned at the sound of my voice, and he gave me a small smil
e as took the bottle from me. His fingers brushed across mine again, and I drew in a breath, unsettled by how unnerving a simple, delicate touch from him was.
Noticing Ren and Brian, Alaric cleared his throat. “I’m not bored at all.”
“Sawyer’s still enjoying the bouncy castle?” I asked, hiding a grin.
“Remember that time we smoked a joint in there?” Ren cackled, and I shot him a withering look, hoping it would silence him, and glanced at Alaric with embarrassment. I expected to find him irritated, but the bemused smile on his face threw me off.
“We were seventeen,” I retorted defensively, bringing my gaze back to Ren to scowl at him. I didn’t need him sharing any high school horror stories with Alaric.
“Yes we were,” Ren teased, and I rolled my eyes, looking forward—at the bouncy castle in question. “You greened out so badly, you threw up all over the grass.”
“Yeah, well. In hindsight, it probably wasn’t a good idea to smoke a joint, eat a bag of cookies, and jump around like an imbecile.” I responded dryly. I’d learned since then, thankfully. Alaric laughed, his eyes warming as they slipped over me. I gave him a hint of a smile before turning my attention back to Renly. “Watch it, Brewster. I’ve got stories to spare about you, too.”
“Touché.” Renly bowed, yielding. “How do you like dear old Port of Hope?” he asked, looking at Alaric expectantly.
“I like it,” Alaric responded, lifting his beer to his lips as his blue eyes slid to me. I averted my gaze, looking out toward the horseshoe pit. My brow furrowed when I noticed Grant standing beside my dad.
Catching sight of me too, Grant said something and my dad nodded, walking off to speak to some of the other associates while Grant started over. He came to a stop to my left, and I turned, forcing my smile in place.
“Gwen,” he said, by way of greeting. “I’ve been sent over here by Russell.”
“Ah, yes. He did mention he wanted you to meet Alaric,” I recovered. “Alaric, this is Grant Hernandez, one of our contracted engineering architects.”
“I’ve heard a lot about you,” Grant said, smiling with ease.
Alaric huffed in response as they shook hands.
“Modest and hardworking,” I muttered, ignoring the curious look Grant sent me. I looked away abruptly, touching Ren’s arm. “Grant, you remember my friend Renly, right? This is his boyfriend, Brian.”
“Nice to meet you,” Grant said, shaking Brian’s hand and giving Ren one of those weird clap hand-shake things. “I’ve seen you on TV a couple of times now. Must be a pretty cool job.”
“It pays the bills,” Ren replied with an illustrious smile.
Catching Alaric’s questioning gaze, I explained, “Renly is an interior designer on the Home Renovation Channel’s Brightwood Interior.”
He nodded, the corner of his lip kicking up. I resisted the urge to fan myself like some shameless floozy.
“Is the drama real?” Grant added, leaning back with his hands in his pockets.
Ren tucked his chin in, smirking scandalously. “Every bit of it.”
I caught my lip between my teeth, trying to rein in my desire to take another peek at Alaric. I could sense his gaze on me, and it was making me feel all floaty.
Alaric
It was harder than I thought it would be to not reach out and touch her, the way I’d done a hundred times over the past week. Seeing her in the jumping castle with Sawyer had broken the last of the chains I’d wrapped around myself.
Witnessing Gwen and my daughter bonding opened my eyes to the truth; I’d lost control of keeping work, Gwen, and Sawyer separate in my head.I knew I was looking at her too much, but it couldn’t be helped.
The flash of jealousy that surged through me when Grant had joined us, his eyes targeting Gwen, only served to remind me how deep I’d fallen. I’d wanted to drag her to my side, make it known that she was mine.
But before I could do that, I needed to have a conversation with both Cheryl and Sawyer.
“Who’s up for a round of horseshoes?” Grant asked.
“We’ll play,” Renly volunteered, squeezing Brian’s hand and winking at him.
Grant turned to Gwen, gently touching the point of her elbow. “What about you?”
“Trust me, everybody here has learned not to give Gwen a horseshoe,” Ren deadpanned.
“It’s true,” she confirmed, nodding solemnly, her eyes landing on me.
“Alaric?” Grant challenged, watching me deliberately.
“Daddy! I’m hungry!” my daughter’s little voice proclaimed as her small body pushed between Grant and Gwen, who took the opportunity to step further away from him and a little closer to me.
Her perfume caught the breeze and dragged in the layers of lilies and magnolias with my next breath.
“I can get her a plate,” Gwen offered, her eyes flashing to mine, holding my gaze a little too long.
“All right.” I nodded, exhaling.
“It’s settled then. Game on,” Renly said, strolling toward the horseshoe pit.
I looked down at my daughter, giving her a stern look. “You listen, okay? Mind your manners.”
“Yes, Daddy!” Sawyer said, slipping her hand through Gwen’s and peering up at her. “Where’s the food?”
Gwen’s dimples flashed as she grinned down at her. “I’ll show you,” she laughed lightly, and the two of them started toward the patio. I watched them go for a moment before turning, unsurprised to see Grant was still there.
He offered me an amicable smile. “Cute kid. How old is she?”
“Five,” I replied curtly, heading toward the pit with Grant keeping up pace beside me.
“Alaric, you’ll be on my team,” Ren said when we approached.
“We decided we each got a beefcake, to even the odds,” Brian supplied, winking at Grant. I snorted and shook my head a little, moving to join Renly on the other side of the pit.
My gaze drifted to the patio, where Gwen was helping Sawyer fill up a plate. Her sister approached, smiling warmly at Sawyer while Gwen gestured to her, introducing her.
Sawyer had fallen asleep with her head on my shoulder, nestled in the crook of my arm. Her soft snores were muffled by my shoulder, her arms dangling limply over my back.
“That doesn’t look very comfortable,” Gwen remarked softly, her amusement evident. She paused beside me, turning her head to glance at us. “They’ll be setting off the fireworks soon.”
“She’ll wake for them,” I replied, knowing she would. Sawyer loved fireworks, and as soon as the first one took to the sky, she’d open her eyes. Which meant we didn’t have long to talk. “Thanks for hanging out with her.”
“You don’t have to thank me for that,” she told me, her eyes pinning me. She smiled, glancing at my sleeping daughter. “She’s a great kid. Better company than most adults in attendance.”
“I have to agree with you there.” I cocked a brow, lifting my chin, scanning the guests for Grant.
All night, he’d competed for Gwen’s attention, and I’d resented how he’d sauntered around, making his interest in her perfectly clear. But she brushed off his advances, slipping away discretely the first chance she got, her eyes always finding mine—even if she had to flutter about to draw her mother’s keen eye away.
“Are you jealous?” she asked, her lips twitching.
I tilted my head, my eyes smoldering. “What do you think?” I challenged.
“I think you are,” she smiled, like this pleased her.
My eyes locked on hers, the connection a perfect fusion. Before I had a chance to respond, the first firecracker went off, wheezing through the air. Sawyer’s head popped up, her eyes wide and very much awake as she took in the colourful explosions happening above us.
Gwen smiled, her eyes moving from Sawyer to me before she turned to watch the fireworks, too. The smooth column of her neck strained elegantly as she looked up, and I couldn’t swallow back the impulse to reach for her.
I purposely d
ropped the arm that wasn’t holding my daughter so that the back of my hand would brush against the back of Gwen’s. Surprised, she looked up at me. The fireworks looked more exquisite when reflected in her eyes.
“Ohh! Look, Daddy!” Sawyer said with awe, pointing to the sky, where a series of three fireworks were exploding.
“It’s pretty isn’t it?” Gwen’s dimples popped as she watched my daughter take in the show. Sawyer nodded in agreement. This time, I didn’t hesitate to curl my thumb around hers.
By the end of the twenty-minute show, Sawyer’s head was bobbing. Unable to fight it any longer, she rested her head against my shoulder and let out an exhausted yawn.
“Time to go, munchkin,” I said, shifting her to give my arm a rest.
“Okay,” she sighed.
We started back toward the house, Gwen strolling beside me until we reached the patio. “I hope you guys had fun today,” she said, smiling softly.
I nodded, resisting the inclination to invite her over. She smiled again—one that held so much understanding and patience in it—and headed to the sliding door, gliding through it. Casting one last look at me over her shoulder, she offered a parting smile before she disappeared deeper into the house.
Making my way through the backyard, I nodded at Grant as I passed him. Russell was standing by the gate, talking to the guests who were making their way to their cars. I paused long enough to thank him for the day.
“Thanks for coming,” Russell told me, smiling at my sleeping daughter. “Looks like she had a fun day.”
“She did. If she were conscious right now, she’d tell you.” I chuckled, knowing it to be true. Sawyer would chat the ears off a statue.
“See you Monday morning.”
“Bright and early,” I replied.
He nodded, clapping me gently on the shoulder. “Enjoy the rest of your weekend, son.”
“You too,” I said solidly, moving past him and slipping through the gate. I walked down the driveway, reaching into my pocket for my keys, hitting unlock and pocketing them before opening the passenger door. Sawyer was still gently snoring, exhausted from all the running around. She didn’t wake when I eased her into her car seat, buckled her in, or closed the door.
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