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Angelica came up behind him and slipped her arm around his waist. “Enjoying yourself?”
“I am. I think the jeans were a mistake though.”
“You’re not wrong,” she said with a wink. “I like it but if anything it makes you look more formal because you just aren’t a casual person.”
“I’m not?”
“No, you’re not. Even at a party you are intense and everyone knows it. So they aren’t coming over to chat,” she said. “Is that what you want?”
“Maybe, if it was, got any ideas?” he asked her.
“Well, I’d start with some laughter and small talk,” she said.
“Waste of time,” he teased.
She started laughing and he noticed that heads turned and several people who had been avoiding eye contact with him smiled. Angelica always was teaching him things that he’d never noticed before. He’d miss that about her.
*
Angelica loved seeingMax relax as the night wore on. He’d suggested her parents host the party as their ranch house was large enough for a big gathering but less formal than the rooms in his mansion. They’d invited everyone that the Calloway brothers had suggested, as well as people that Sox had suggested.
“Look at you, little sister,” Nico said coming over. “From crashing a party and pretending to be friends with Logan to hosting a party for Max and most of the town. You’ve come a long way.”
“I know. I can’t believe it. That’s the magic of Christmas,” she said to Nico who wore his traditional red Santa cap. If anyone loved the holiday season it was her brother. Since he was technically not working this week, he’d spent most of his time here with her mom and her planning the party. She remembered her conversation with Cosima the other day and how her cousin was reluctant to move back home but having her family close to her was something that Angelica was learning to cherish more and more.
“It’s a little bit that and a lot you. You’ve changed since you met Max,” he said, snagging two glasses of champagne from a passing waiter’s tray and handing one to her.
“Maybe. I think it’s more finally letting go of the past and letting myself move on,” she said. “I think a part of me thought I should be punished for what happened.”
“I agree. You were not you. I mean you tried with the shopping and the attitude but your light was missing,” he said.
“Oh, ho, is Nico getting deep? I hate to miss that,” Jock said as he came over to them with his own glass of champagne in his hand.
She looked around for Ollie and noticed he was weaving through the crowd toward them. He joined them a second later. “Y’all look suspicious standing over here. What’s up?”
“Just giving Angelica props for this party and her reputation revamp,” Nico said.
“It’s a great party, but I heard that Max is planning another one with some art gallery owners and the like. Any chance you can get me an invite?” Ollie asked.
Her brother did limited-edition lithograph prints and one-of-a-kind western art canvas. He had an agent who handled his artwork and Nico ran his branding. He was known only by his initials but he had good following and sold a fair amount of his art.
She realized she was distracting herself by thinking about Ollie instead of the fact that Max hadn’t mentioned the party to her. She knew it was probably just an oversight.
“Sure thing,” she said with confidence but she wasn’t sure. She and Max hadn’t had a conversation about their relationship lasting beyond Christmas. Which for all her new attitude she hadn’t pushed for. She knew that was because she didn’t want to hear the answer she was pretty sure he’d have to give.
“If not, you can sneak in by saying you know Logan,” Nico said.
She punched her brother in the arm, letting him distract her. “What’s with you tonight?”
“Just in a good mood,” he said.
“So we all have to suffer?” Jock teased. “Any reason for the good mood?”
“Cressida’s—”
“Don’t you dare,” Cressida cut him off as she, Delilah and Colby joined them. “Not a word until I say so.”
Nico made the lips-sealed gesture as he pulled his wife close to his side and leaned down to whisper something in her ear. With all of her brothers and their wives around her, Angelica looked around for Max and found him deep in conversation with Logan. She edged away from her siblings and over to him.
