“There is no such thing as acertaintime of the year for a fundraiser to support deserving charities,” I snapped at him. “Abandoned kids, abusive spouses, a shelter for the homeless—those who are ill, unable to afford healthcare. People need help all the time!” I grabbed my glass and gulped down the ice water, which did little to soothe my ire.
It didn’t help with him always giving me the damn tip. The two hundred dollars burned a hole in my bag. True, it helped to feed Wilbur and myself, but still…
“We’ll be there,” Max said, stroking my sister’s back, and probably stopping another heated squabble between Jack and me. “After all, I have fond memories of another festival that finally convinced Logan to give me a chance.” Faint color tinted my sister’s face, causing Max to laugh and then drag her close for a kiss.
Yup, he still called her by our last name. Apparently, when they first met, she’d refused to tell him her name.
Jack eyed me for a second, then nodded. “Very well, I’ll come—”
“You aren’t invited,” I snapped.
“Didn’t realize I needed an invite,” he drawled, leaning his corded forearms on the table.
How could anyone look that good just sitting?
“You don’t,” my sister said, slaying me with a sharp look. “Now, about tomorrow…” She brought the conversation back to the wedding. “I have an appointment with the caterer, and Max has a meeting he can’t get out of, but I need a second opinion. I narrowed it down to two menus…”
Ila’s cell rang, and she excused herself to take the call. I rose and started to clear the table, avoiding looking at Jack, still a little mad at him.
“So, the bachelor party?” Jack asked Max. “Want one?”
I bit back a snort. “Strippers and liquor, then shit happening? Yeah, Ila won’t be happy about that. She knows the players’ rep.”
Jack’s mouth tightened at my retort.
He didn’t like me referring to that, did he?
Max shrugged. “Don’t care for one. The bar is good enough for a few drinks.” His gaze flickered to Ila, standing near the window with her ear pressed to her cell. “As long as she saysI doin four weeks, I’m good.”
Yeah, Ila got the best guy. And that reminded me of my duties and the bachelorette party.
Man, this was going to be a hard one with my hermit sister.
Max rose and helped me clear the table. Jack watched us for a second, then pushed to his feet as Max disappeared into the kitchen with the serving platters. Jack finally got with the program—his way.
He simply took the plates I’d piled together, only he didn’t follow Max, he stopped in front of me. “You’re angry with me.”
This close, I could see the lighter striations in his gray eyes, giving them that icy hue. I fixed him with a flat stare. “Those fairs might sound frivolous to you, but they help people—”
“That wasn’t my intention,” he said quietly, “and you know it. You’re just pissed at me...” He leaned closer, a whisper of breath between our faces. “Because you’re too scared to admit you want me, too.” And with that parting shot, he strolled off to the kitchen with the plates.
Shock rooted me to the spot, my chin hitting my chest. Frustration coiled me tighter than a spring. It didn’t help that I recalled the feel of his mouth on mine, causing heat to spread through my body.
“So…” My sister made her way over, her call done. The way she said the single word, I knew, justknewthat I would hate whatever followed. “Are you going to tell me about this new guy? I know it’s not War.”
Jesus. “Sis, you know me, how cautious I am…”
Cautious? Ah! I didn’t care to get romantically involved with anyone, except for having my curiosity satisfied and my O-card filled. But that would never happen with the way my life was going currently.
I started gathering the water glasses. “Let me have a few dates and decide if he’s favorable…” Gah, I nearly choked on the word. “Then I’ll tell you all you want to know.”
Voices drew closer, and a grin started, one I quickly smothered. With my back to the kitchen, I continued like I wasn’t aware of them. “I’ll tell you this, however. He’s gorgeous, tall, totally into sports, and kisses like a dream.” Not that I knew what Calum kissed like, but hey, desperate times and all that.
“You kissed the bastard?” Jack stopped a foot from me, looking like a simmering volcano.
I wasn’t fool enough to linger near a furnace that might blow, and this one was steaming up pretty fast. I stepped back. “It’s none of your business.”
The doorbell buzzed, saving Jack and me from Max’s narrow-eyed stare. He went to answer.
