Boy the rich really know how to take that whole “your mama” thing to an entirely new level.
I choke trying to get the words out. “My mother isnota murderer.” And why the hell are we stuck on my poor mom anyway?
“No.” Meg sharpens her eyes on me. “But maybeyou’rea gold digger.”
I suck in a breath. Good God if the Hollow Brook P.D. weren’t out in force tonight, I would have gladly clocked her.
Oh, what the hell.
I lunge in her direction, and a tall, navy suited officer catches me in the air like a pop fly. He kindly escorts me off the premises backward, with my heels dragging, my hands swinging into thin air. But it still feels pretty damn good because all the while Ryder is by my side.
Ryder
The officer dumps us off at the foot of the lawn before heading back into the house.
“Well, there’s that.” Roxy slaps her hands together as if she’s wiping them clean in a symbolic, we’ve just taken our mother out with the trash, kind of way. “I’ll get my things and take off. I think I’ll make up a plate to go. Baya, Bryson, you in?”
“We’ll pass.” Baya shoots a dirty look into the party before reverting her attention to me. “Take care of Laney for me, and if I don’t see you guys, merry Christmas.” She pulls us both into a quick embrace, and I knuckle bump Bryson.
“Will do,” I say. “Roxy,” I call my sister over and give her a hug. “Do what you want. It’s Christmas, and I know Dad is dying to get home to see you.” I press a quick kiss over her cheek. “We’ll get together and exchange gifts some other time.”
“All right, but I’ll be moving on the twenty-sixth, so maybe sometime later in the week.”
“Where you going?” I’m mildly alarmed. I can’t stand the thought of my entire family blowing apart and moving to the four corners of the globe, especially not Rox—we’re close and I want to keep it that way.
“I’m moving in with a friend.” She cuts a quick look to Baya and Bryson. “He’s got an oven, and there’s this big baking competition coming up with ten thousand dollars on the line and an internship at the Sticky Quicky—”
“He?” I’m stuck on go. Never mind the fact she just said the wordsStickyQuickyin the same sentence.“No way.”
“Relax.” Bryson holds up a hand. “It’s my old roommate. And Baya and I will be right next door. If Roxy so much as whimpers, I’ll be on it.”
Baya leans in. “Cole is her new roommate. He’s my overprotective big brother. I promise you, she’ll be safe.” Baya wraps her arms around Bryson, and they both grin like a couple of loons.
That’s all I want is for Laney and me to end this night happy as a couple of loons, so I opt not to fight my sister over the fact she’s using some guy for confectionary purposes. Roxy is plenty beautiful. There’s no doubt in my mind this moron is going to try something. I’m the one who will have to be on it. She can expect more than her fair share of visits from her own overprotective big bro.
“All right.” I hug Roxy once again and so does Laney. “Good night.”
Everyone says goodnight, and the girls scream merry Christmas until we’re safely tucked in my car, and I speed us the hell out of there.
Laney and I finally get to the penthouse, and I make a fire while she sits by the colorful, albeit seizure-inducing tree and admires it.
I land beside her and pull her beautiful body right into my lap. “It’s midnight. Merry Christmas, baby.” I plant a lingering kiss on her cheek. Technically it’s Christmas Eve, but every day with Laney feels like Christmas.
“You know what I’m hoping to find in my stocking this year?” She twists into me until we’re facing one another. “The Big N.P. and your face with a smile.” There’s a twinge of sadness in her eyes, and her lips quiver despite her attempt to make me laugh.
“Done and done.” I land a wet kiss over her trembling lips.
“My mom invited us to spend Christmas Eve with her and my sister. You think you’ll be up for that?”
“You kidding? Your mother loves me. I’ll be there with bells on, literally if you want. She still loves me, right?”
Laney winces while measuring a slim distance between her thumb and forefinger. “But the best part is, she still likes you better than me.” She pushes into me playfully as the smile melts off her face. “I feel selfish doing anything with my mother now.”
“Don’t.” I try to stop her from going to any dark places. “Everything that happened tonight—it’s over, and so is that part of our lives.”
She closes her eyes and sighs. “I hate that I ruined your family.”
“You didn’t ruin anything.”
