People laughed.
“Wish big or go home,” someone yelled.
Paige picked up her star. “Guess I made the right wish.”
Wes wondered what she’d wished for—a cure for cancer?
“Goodnight, everybody,” Bill said. “Drive safe, and we’ll see you next year.”
Guests rose from tables. Some stood around. Others headed to the exit. Dash and Mason went to pay for the items they won.
“After-party at my place. I have food, drinks, and mistletoe!” Henry shouted over the crowd and then shot a pointed look at Wes. “Thanks to Laurel’s mad holiday decorating skills, I’m calling the place the Mistletoe Lodge from Black Friday until Epiphany.”
Both Laurel and Brett shook their heads, but Henry would expect no less from his friends and parents of his goddaughter.
“If you’re staying with Wes, park there, and rides will be provided,” Henry added, which meant the alcohol would be flowing. “Lots of fun still ahead of us.”
“We don’t have to stay long,” Wes whispered to Paige. He would rather go home, but she was there to get to know people. She’d spoken to Adam, Kieran, and Blaise, who’d already offered his help, during dinner. “But this will give you the chance to get to know Brett, Mason, and Dash better. Given Henry’s past parties, everyone might not make it to the brunch tomorrow.”
“That’s fine.” Paige ran her fingers along the edge of the star. “I know why I’m here.”
Wes didn’t like how her smile had disappeared. “You’re here to have fun.”
“And find benefactors.” She continued studying the star.
Using his finger, he raised her chin, so she was looking at him. “It’s called mixing business with pleasure. Emphasis on the pleasure.”
Her lips curved upward.
That was better. “Ready to see what Henry has in store for us?”
Paige raised a brow. “That sounds ominous.”
Wes laughed. “With Henry, you never know. But one thing is for certain, we won’t be bored.”
* * *
Henry’s lodge was slightly smaller than Wes’s, but the feel was similar except for the number of Christmas trees and decorations. Christmas carols played from hidden speakers. The scents of pine and cinnamon filled the air.
Paige stared in awe. “This is better than the hospital and dinner combined.”
“Henry does nothing halfway,” Wes explained.
Laurel nodded. “Henry made me add more after I finished. He said the house wasn’t Christmassy enough.”
Paige stared at a moving display of elves and snowmen in the entryway. Not even holiday movies went this far. The décor was over-the-top yet still tasteful. Laurel had done an excellent job. “I hope he’s pleased now.”
“He is, but the mistletoe was all him.” Laurel blew out a breath. “Frank helped him hang it.”
“Henry’s calling this place Mistletoe Lodge,” Wes said.
“I heard that.” Laurel rolled her eyes. “Please don’t encourage him, or I’m afraid of what he might attempt next year.”
They stepped into the great room to find mistletoe sprigs hanging from the ceiling. Dozens.
“I’ve never seen this much mistletoe in my life. Is there any room without it?” Paige asked.
“The bathrooms, but I haven’t checked each yet.” Laurel rubbed her forehead. “Henry means well, but the mistletoe is his way of pushing the unmarried couples together.”
“Dash and Raina.”
“You and Wes, too.”
Paige stiffened. “We’re not…”
Wes touched her shoulder. “He can’t think mistletoe will make a difference.”
“Henry only sees the possibilities,” Laurel explained. “It’s both a strength and a flaw of his. But he’s the reason Brett and I are together and have Noelle so maybe we shouldn’t try holding Henry back.”
“Holding him back?” Paige asked, not understanding.
“I asked Frank to remove half of the mistletoe they’d put up,” Laurel admitted.
Wes laughed. “Typical Henry.”
Paige looked up. Mistletoe hung every three feet. A serpentine path was required to avoid it. If there had been more… “Green sprigs must have covered the entire ceiling.”
Laurel nodded. “It looked festive.”
Paige grinned. “Guess that’s one way to make sure people kiss.”
“Friends.” Henry stood by a gorgeous ten-foot-tall Christmas tree and clapped. “It’s time for presents.”
“Presents?” Raina asked.
Henry nodded. “Christmas requires gifts.”
“This should be interesting,” Laurel said, before going over to stand by her husband, Brett.
“Don’t open yours until I say go.” Henry handed each person a large box decorated in cute Santa-patterned wrapping paper with elaborate bows on top. He picked up the one he’d set aside. “There’s even a present for me.”
The gift tag on Paige’s had her name written on it, but she had no idea what to expect. None of her friends gave out gifts like this. Okay, Henry was known for being eccentric, and he had billions, but still…
“Henry considers everyone in this room, little Noelle, and his staff, family. He likes to do things for those he cares about,” Wes whispered. “Whatever the gift, no matter how extravagant or not, just smile and say thank you.”
“But I’m not—”
“You’re here with me, so you are tonight.”
“Now on the count of three…” Henry’s face lit up with excitement. “I want you to open your present. Don’t wait for anyone else. One, two, three!”
Paige glanced at Wes, who was ripping the paper off his gift.
When in Rome…
She did the same and then lifted the lid off the box. White tissue paper came next, so she pushed that aside. Underneath were a pair of monogrammed snowmen-covered flannel pajamas and matching slippers.
Paige ran her fingertips along the soft fabric. “These are cute.”
“We match.” Wes held up his. “Well, except for the W and the P.”
“Thanks so much, Henry,” she said to him.
People spoke over each other to thank him and show off what they’d received.
Eyes gleaming and a satisfied smile on his face, Henry clutched Santa pajamas and watched everyone else. Bronwyn held the same pattern as Henry and kissed his cheek. Adam and Cambria had reindeer, including one with a red nose. Blaise and Hadley had the most adorable llamas on theirs. Brett and Laurel had penguins with an extra pair in a smaller size for their daughter, Dash and Raina pointed at the various gnomes on theirs. Kieran and Selah had the sweetest polar bears in hats. Mason and Rachael had gingerbread people and hearts.
“Go put on your new pajamas,” Henry announced.
The couples staying there went to their bedrooms. The others lined up to use the downstairs powder room.
Wes leaned closer to Paige. “I had no idea what Henry planned for tonight, but matching Christmas pajamas never crossed my mind.”
“It’s sweet.”
“Yes.” Wes sounded a little uncertain. “We’ll have to see if what comes next is as sweet.”
As soon as everyone changed, Henry led them into his movie room with comfy recliner chairs with drink holders and trays. A fully stocked bar was in the corner. As people walked in, they greeted the bartender, an older gentleman named Frank, who had been mentioned earlier.
Paige sat beside Wes in the second row of seats. Christmas-themed fleeces, one per couple, were passed out.
“Tonight, we’re playing movie drinking games. I have a triple feature for you.” Henry wore a Santa hat with his pajamas. “The first two are short shows that originally premiered before any of us were born. The third is a full-length film. After the shorts, those who aren’t staying here can go to Wes’s lodge if you’re tired.”
Adam raised his hand. “That would be us.”
“Same,” Blaise added.
Wes nodde
d. “Me, too.”
“This happens when you turn thirty,” Dash quipped.
Everyone shushed him.
“Each show comes with rules which I’ve printed out so no one misses anything,” Henry continued.
Frank placed a large poster board on an easel. Written across the top was The Grinch Who Stole Christmas Drinking Game Rules. Below it listed the times a person needed to take a drink.
Groans and laughs sounded.
Undeterred, Henry beamed. “Our first feature is a Dr. Seuss classic. The themes of loneliness, transformation, and community may resonate with some of us.”
“Thank you, Professor Davenport,” Mason heckled.
In the seats in front of Paige, Hadley kissed Blaise’s cheek. Next to them, Laurel raised Brett’s hand and kissed the top of it.
“Tonight’s beverage choices include mulled wine, eggnog, Christmas Cosmos, Merry Manhattans, Bah Humbug Ale from the Hood Hamlet Brewery, Candy Cane Shooters, and Peppermint Patty Shots.”
As Paige read the first rule, her muscles tensed. “I haven’t watched this since I was a kid, but I think they say the Grinch a lot.”
“Take small sips.” Wes leaned into her. “We can leave after the first show, okay?”
She nodded. At least the wine she’d drunk had been a while ago. “So all I need to do is make one drink last the entire show.”
“You catch on fast,” Dash, who sat next to her, said.
She grinned. “I have to with this crowd.”
Wes laughed. “That’s true, and you’re doing a great job.”
Feeling a rush of pride at his compliment, she straightened.
Henry cleared his throat as if to quiet people. “Pick a drink and a shot.”
Paige thought Frank must be an expert at this because he had everyone served quickly. Festive Merry Christmas bowls filled with popcorn and red and green M&M’s came next, one for each couple.
Wes placed his hand over hers.
Her stomach flip-flopped from his touch and seeing them wearing the same pajamas. It was silly, but she loved Henry’s gift. She’d never had matching pajamas with anyone, not even her brother, unless they’d been so young she had no memory of it. She and Wes weren’t a couple like the others here, but that didn’t matter to her. Being with him gave her a sense of belonging Paige hadn’t known she was missing. Yes, it would end shortly, but she was happy to experience the feeling tonight.
“Ready?” he asked.
“I don’t suppose you mean to leave,” she joked.
“Seriously, dude,” Dash said. “The doc’s a keeper.”
“Wonderkid is correct,” Mason said from the row behind them.
“Let the bet go, guys.” As he focused on her, laughter lit Wes’s eyes. “We’ll be out of here before you know it.”
And then what? Anticipating another kiss, her heart rate increased.
The lights dimmed, and the screen showed the opening title.
Paige enjoyed it and found herself teary-eyed. More than once, she caught Wes watching her. The third time she had to ask. “What?”
“Nothing,” he said before looking at the screen.
When the credits rolled, she still had half of her eggnog left. Wes’s bourbon had the same amount. Little sips had worked well.
Henry stood. “We’ll take a ten-minute intermission so refill your drinks and be sure to grab a shot.”
“Let’s leave,” Wes whispered.
As soon as she stood, he placed his hand at the small of her back. “Thanks for the after-party, Henry. We’ll see some of you tomorrow at eleven for brunch. If you’re not there, I hope your hangovers aren’t too bad.”
Some guys jeered. Others laughed.
No one else rose as if they were ready to leave. Maybe they wanted to watch the other short show. Downstairs, she and Wes gathered their things.
“Craig is pulling into the garage, so there’s no need to get dressed,” Wes said. “Put on your cape so you don’t get cold.”
A few minutes later, they stood in his great room. Christmas music played, and wood crackled in the fireplace. Warmth enveloped Paige like a hug. “This place is so homey.”
He glanced around “Not quite as Christmassy as Henry’s lodge.”
“I prefer this,” she said honestly.
“Me, too.” Wes hung his star on the tree. “But something is missing, so I borrowed this from Henry.”
She hadn’t noticed Wes carrying anything. “What?”
He pulled a sprig of green from his pocket. “Henry has so much he won’t miss this at all.”
Her pulse galloped. “Mistletoe.”
“Mistletoe kisses are a Christmas tradition.”
Standing in matching pajamas with her heart rate picking up with each passing second, she needed to know where things stood between them. Plus-one, friends, for fun, something else?
“Casual fun,” he added.
Her breath hitched. That was the answer she needed. Paige couldn’t deny her disappointment, but what he said wasn’t unexpected. He’d been honest. The problem was her. Seeing so many happy couples at the dinner and at Henry’s made Paige want that.
Not someday.
Sooner.
Now.
Knowing it wouldn’t happen grated.
But that wasn’t Wes’s fault.
Hope filled his eyes. “Will that work for you?”
Casual. Fun.
Paige repeated the words mentally. She was up for fun, but she had to be careful. Her heart was ready for more. “I might be up for another mistletoe kiss.”
Wes held the sprig over his head, leaving the next step up to her.
One kiss.
She rose on her toes and planted her lips against his. Hard. She soaked in his warmth and his taste. As his lips moved over hers, he put both arms around her. He was solid and strong and sexy.
Paige had wondered if she’d exaggerated how well he kissed. Nope. If anything, she’d understated his skills. No one had ever kissed her so thoroughly in her life.
Talk about swoon-worthy.
Thank goodness his arms were around her, or she might find herself on the floor. She lost herself in his kiss until warning bells sounded in her head.
She had no idea how long they’d been kissing but…
Enough.
Paige needed to protect herself—her heart. She drew the kiss to an end.
“Wow.” His gaze locked on her. The desire in his eyes was clear. “Another win for tradition.”
Not trusting her voice, she nodded. She wanted more time to calm her rapid pulse and breathing.
“We could try that again,” he said.
“We could, but that wouldn’t be a good idea.”
His jaw jutted forward. “Why not?”
“You want casual fun.”
He nodded.
Wes Lockhart was handsome, charming, and smart. He made her laugh and his generosity touched her heart. It would be so easy to give in, to do what he wanted, but Paige couldn’t. That wouldn’t be good for her.
She pushed back her shoulders. “I don’t.”
CHAPTER TEN
Morning came too soon for Wes. The clock read seven. Not as early as he thought, but that didn’t keep him from yawning. He’d barely slept, which explained why his tired eyes burned. An hour or two more of rest would help, but he doubted sleep would come.
Not when Paige’s words still played on an endless loop through his head. The way they had all night.
I don’t.
Wes hadn’t expected her to say that. Call him egotistical or vain, but most women he’d dated had settled for whatever he would give them. That included Annabelle.
Truth was, he’d never had to work hard to keep a relationship going. He wasn’t even sure he knew how to do that, but he’d thought Paige would be the same as the women before her.
Admitting that made him sound like a big jerk. Something he’d been trying not to be. But he’d assumed wrongly about her.
&nb
sp; I don’t.
The words echoed through his brain, making him feel an odd mix of emotions—regret over not pursuing more with her and relief at not being able to hurt her.
She hadn’t appeared upset. Based on the way her expression and posture relaxed, saying those two words brought her relief, too.
Wes didn’t like drama, and Paige had provided none. She hadn’t explained her feelings or tried to change his mind about what he wanted. Instead, she’d thanked him for a lovely evening and went upstairs to the guest room without saying another word.
He’d been tempted to follow her. He’d gotten as far as the staircase until he realized nothing he said would change anything.
And it shouldn’t.
He respected Paige for not settling for less than she wanted. Even if it meant not getting what he wanted.
I don’t.
Unfortunate, because spending more time with her—kissing her again—appealed to him on a gut level. But if she wasn’t interested in casual and he didn’t do serious, they were better off not starting anything.
Too late, a voice in his head mocked.
Wes ignored it. He hadn’t invited her to Hood Hamlet for a romantic getaway. This was more him being a not-so-secret Santa, a way to help her and the cancer center.
He had to face facts. Two kisses meant nothing in the grand scheme of things. Spending a day and an evening together didn’t mean much, either.
Still, a heaviness pressed against his chest.
Wes shook it off.
After the brunch, he would say goodbye to Paige. They would return to Portland and to their lives.
Separate ones.
Who knew when he’d see her again?
No big deal.
Except, the thought of not seeing her rattled him.
Weird.
Because she was just…
He wasn’t sure what Paige Regis was to him.
Which told him the sooner he put this weekend behind him, the better. All he had to do was get through this morning and brunch.
Wes climbed out of bed, showered, and dressed. At this hour, everyone except Nora and Jim would be asleep. His friends slept in whenever they stayed overnight. A few might even be late to the eleven o’clock brunch, but no one cared. He wanted people to feel as if his home was their home.
The Wish Maker (The Billionaires 0f Silicon Forest Book 2) Page 12
