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Cayden had kissed other women before, and while it had been a while, he thought he could still do a decent job. He took Ginny into his arms, smiled down at her, noted the way she’d tilted her head up toward him, and bent his head so his mouth lingered near her ear.
“Happy New Year,” he murmured. “Here’s to it being a great year for both of us.” He moved one hand up her arm and behind her head, holding her where he wanted her so he could kiss her.
He hesitated as Ginny whispered, “Happy New Year, Cayden,” and then his mouth touched hers. Pure heat poured through him, along with plenty of joy. A hint of relief did too, because she hadn’t pushed him away or dodged his advances.
She very much kissed him back, and Cayden fell into a familiar rhythm, his nerves quieting with his success. He wanted to accelerate the kiss, but he knew where he stood, and he knew who with.
He kissed her as long as he dared, and then he broke the connection he very much wanted to make again—and very soon. She giggled and pressed her forehead to his collarbone, and Cayden opened his eyes and glanced around to see how many people were staring at him and Ginny.
Hardly anyone, as they were all celebrating in their own way. Hugging, high-fiving, kissing, and laughing. They didn’t care about him and Ginny.
Then his eyes met Wendy Winters’, and Cayden actually flinched. She started toward him and Ginny, and Cayden bent his head again. “Your mother is headed this way.”
Ginny stepped out of his arms, and he watched her shake all of the improprieties off as she prepared to receive her mother. “Mother,” she said, dropping his hand as she stepped over to the older woman. She kissed her on both cheeks, her hands on her shoulders. “Happy New Year.”
“To you too,” Wendy said, her eyes cutting toward Cayden. “Hello, Mister Chappell.”
“Evening, ma’am.” He reached up and touched the brim of his cowboy hat. Then he extended his hand toward her to shake. She barely put her fingers in his, and he got a very cold feeling from her.
“Ginny, come meet Tristan Pike. He says he’s been looking for you all night.”
Ginny’s shoulders squared, and Cayden drew in a breath and held it. Time seemed to stretch, and then she said, “No, thank you, Mother.”
Wendy’s eyes widened. “No, thank you?”
Ginny pressed in close to her mother and said something. She turned back to Cayden, a slightly wild look in her eye. “Will you please stand with me by the door as people start to leave?”
“Of course,” he said quietly. He nodded at Wendy. “Ma’am.”
Ginny slipped her hand through his arm, glared at her mother, and together, they turned and walked away.
“What was that about?”
“She’s trying to set me up with Tristan Pike.” She scoffed, the sound angry more than frustrated. “Like that’s going to happen.”
“She saw us kissing just now,” Cayden said. “I don’t think she approves.”
“I told you she wouldn’t.”
“I still don’t understand why.” He could throw a party like this; he simply chose not to. As he stationed himself next to the door and next to Ginny, he realized that very simple fact.
Hechosenot to have parties like this. He chose not to hire waiters and invite over “friends” he barely knew. He’d rather spend the night with his rowdy brothers and bowls of candy they had to refill themselves.
It didn’t make Ginny’s choice worse than his; it just helped him realize that he wasn’t beneath her or all that different from her. He just chose differently than she did.
After only a few minutes, Wendy stepped to his side and linked her arm through his. Surprise ran through him, and she kept her smile on her face as she started talking.
“I don’t approve of your relationship with my daughter,” she said. “She carries far too much responsibility to be tied to a man like you. I can see you like her, and it’s obvious she is quite charmed by you.”
Cayden didn’t know what to say, and he had the distinct feeling he wasn’t meant to say anything.
“She will do almost anything to spite me these days, so I’m going to appeal to you to end this before things get too out of hand.” She laughed as an older couple hugged her, and she said a few things to them before they left.
Back at his side, she trilled out anther girlish giggle that didn’t fit her age or sophistication. “I trust you’re a smart man, Mister Chappell. I know you do many good things for the horse country and community. We are simply from opposite sides of Lexington, and if you respect her at all, you’ll make sure tonight is the last night you two are seen together. Horses and whiskey simply do not mix.”
She stepped away, gliding toward a man he’d seen her with earlier. She kissed him on both cheeks and continued on her way.
Cayden’s chest vibrated in a strange way. Wendy Winters had just asked him to break-up with Ginny. He’d just kissed her for the first time, and he wanted to do it again.
