AllFreeNovel
Share Us
In fact, Brennan almost muttered it for her.
In true continental fashion—or maybe it was Asher simply being Asher—he brought her hand to his lips.
“Charming is such an overstatement.” Asher smiled, holding her hand a little longer than necessary in Brennan’s opinion.
Something flared in him, something he hadn’t felt in so long he almost didn’t recognize it. Jealousy.
“Somehow I doubt that,” Mary Paige said, her eyes sparkling with humor. “Brennan has warned me about your lethal charisma.”
“But he did not warn me of your absolute deliciousness. Bold choice, Miss Mary Paige.” Then his shark of a cousin swept his gaze down her body as bold as an eagle or another such predatory bird with no shame.
And with that, his sweet, gentle Merry Sunshine turned on the ball of her foot and executed a nonclumsy pirouette. Where had that awkward blonde in the ill-fitting skirt and Lycra gone? This woman taking her place flirted with his cousin with a skill he’d never seen her use outside of the bedroom.
“You have been holding out on me, cousin,” Asher said, not bothering to even toss a glance Brennan’s way as he muttered the accusation.
“No, I haven’t and why would I? You’re married, remember?” Brennan didn’t feel so happy anymore. He felt grumpy. Why did he have to be here gabbing endlessly with the same people he saw every day about where everyone would spend Christmas? Watching Asher eyeball what belonged to him? He wanted to grab Mary Paige, take her home where they’d snuggle on the couch, eat extra-butter popcorn, and watchCSIreruns.
But duty called.
As it often did for him.
So, he’d endure the party, the cousin who wasn’t quite himself, and everyone taking in the sexiness Mary Paige had on display. Then later he could have Mary Paige to himself.
That thought both excited him and alarmed him. When had she started meaning so much to him? When had he started putting her above his company on his personal priorities list?
Maybe they were moving too fast. Maybe he needed some distance from her instead of spending every moment he could with her.
The woman ever in his thoughts flashed dimples and said, “And your wife didn’t get to come to New Orleans for Christmas. You must be so disappointed to be without her.”
Asher nodded. “Of course, but I’ve found once a woman makes up her mind, it’s hard to steer her in a new direction. I’ll miss her.”
Perhaps Brennan imagined it, but there was a lack of sincerity in Asher’s words.
“Can I get you a drink, Mary Paige?” Brennan asked, touching her elbow. He could feel the warmth of her body, and all he could think about was stripping that dress from her and indulging in the naughtiness of what was evident beneath. Only a few more hours of chatting, dancing, and popping cocktail shrimp into his mouth and they could leave and go back to his place.
Or maybe he should start inserting that distance between them?
Mary Paige looked at him with smiling eyes and he decided he’d think about getting space from her next week. Tonight, he needed her beside him. “I’m drinking what you’re drinking.”
He looked at the glass in her hand and felt stupid.
“But we were toasting something, weren’t we?” she asked, linking her arm through his.
Pleasure flooded him. It was the first time she’d staked her claim on him publicly. Until now, they’d squirreled themselves away, keeping their personal relationship private while maintaining a friendly, yet polite distance in public.
Asher seemed to notice the gesture and something about his expression altered. An acknowledgment of what her touch meant.
An understanding of the intimacy, the claim.
Good.
17
MARYPAIGESURVEYEDthe buffet, snagging some delicious crawfish-stuffed meat pies and some sort of soft-shelled crab with a coconut coating, while she watched the employees of MBH laugh and freely partake of the free wine and champagne circulating the room. She’d seen a line of cabs waiting outside and knew many of the people surrounding her would need them when the party ended.
She caught Judy’s eye as she conversed with a woman wearing Elvis Costello–style glasses and a dress made of ivory lace with a neckline that plunged almost to the navel. A black patent and rhinestone belt cut the simplicity of dress and added the appropriate holiday sparkle. Obviously, the woman had been waiting for an introduction because she dragged Judy over to Mary Paige.
“Darling, who are you wearing?” she said, not even bothering to introduce herself.
