Heart of Christmas (Curiosity Bay #4)

1. Chapter One

Chapter One

Audrey

Mae’s wedding defied all logic. The enchanted event set the mood for the entire Christmas season, and she managed to organize it in only a few months.

My sister knew how to throw a party.

No doubt about it.

The air was charged with magic. The Christmas trees sprinkled throughout the reception hall, adorned with twinkling lights and silver ornaments, exuded a delightful charm. The centerpieces on each reception table, brimming with red roses and lush greenery, added to the majestic ambiance. To say it was a perfect night was putting it mildly.

But the best part was watching the double doors swing open as my sister and Tyler walked into the reception as husband and wife. They were meant to be together, and fate screamed at them to finally take the plunge.

Everything about tonight filled me with joy, and I couldn't help but feel a surge of pride as I stood there as Mae’s sister and bridesmaid.

The ceremony sent flutters through me, reinforcing the hope that I could also find my love story someday.

It might not be this year or this decade, but darn it, he was out there somewhere.

Maybe.

Our family’s pug sat underneath the buffet table, hoping some clumsy guest would drop a piece of something—a total opportunist.

I glanced at the name tags on each table. The beautiful scrawl of Mae’s handwriting marked where we all needed to sit. I happily sighed when I found my spot. She didn’t seat the wedding party together since some of us had plus-ones and others didn’t, but I did have my sister Emily and her partner, Lucas, across from me. I spotted them at the bar and decided that was a good idea as I put my small bouquet on my seat.

Adjusting my hairpin, I felt the familiar edges of the flower along my fingertips. The hairpin was a gift from my mom when I was born. Each of us kids received a little something from her. She believed with all her heart that the pieces held some power or enchantment. It was a sweet thought, but nothing much had ever come of it for me. Regardless, the hairpin was beautiful and had become a part of me. I always found a way to wear it.

“Well, well…” The deep timbre of familiarity charged through me as I heard the man’s voice. It had been years, but I recognized the hum like I’d just woken up with him this morning.

I froze, kept my gaze on the bouquet on my seat, and clenched my eyes shut.

No. No. No. This was impossible. Tonight was too perfect for this.

“What are the odds?” The sultry tone swept through me like it had so many years ago. The mere sound put me in a trance, making me more disgusted with myself.

This guy was bad news.

I flicked my eyes open, my gaze landing on him, only to see him studying me like a predator views his prey.

My breath caught in the back of my throat as the green of his eyes heated with the same look that had made my knees weak so long ago. He brushed a piece of his short, dark blond hair back from his forehead and watched me.

How could tonight go from the most blissful time of the year to the most dreaded moment in my entire life?

And what the heck was he doing here?

My people didn’t run around with his people. We were good. He was terrible… very, very bad. He certainly couldn’t be Mae’s friend. He had to be Tyler’s, but Tyler was a good guy. He didn’t go around like this guy did, wreaking havoc and breaking hearts.

I frowned.

“I guess my run of luck has just run out,” I said through gritted teeth as Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree played over the speakers.

His brows furrowed in confusion, and why wouldn’t they?

He was the kind of guy who regularly did what he did, rarely thinking about the females he left behind.

We were merely notches in his bedpost and lines in his journal.

“Aren’t you happy to see me?” He studied my reaction, and for some reason, the inspection made my tummy dip like an uncontrolled roller-coaster ride.

My eyes narrowed on him.

MacGregor .

Hmph.

“Why would I be happy to see you?” That question probably caused my brows to get lost in my hairline.

“Well, I mean… We left things—”

I shook my head and pointed my finger at him. “No. You left things, and if you don’t mind, I’m going to get myself a drink and pretend you’re not here.”

He laughed a low rumble, tightening my fluttery belly as I spun around and scanned the room. Where were Emily and Lucas when I needed them? They weren’t at the bar any longer, so where were they?

I scrunched my nose in annoyance as I wove through the crowd.

Tonight had been perfect, and then he showed up.

As if nothing had ever happened all those years ago.

I squinted my eyes at the bar and shook my head. It was almost like he was ready for round two.

My fingers dug into my palm as I squeezed my fists tighter and took a deep breath.

Zen…

Ohhmmmm …

Nobody, absolutely nobody, was going to pull me out of my love bubble this Christmas season, and tonight, we were celebrating the wedding of all weddings.

MacGregor didn’t matter.

He was history, and I had to pull myself together and act like he didn’t mean a thing.

Because he didn’t.

I'd learned the hard way what sleeping with someone right away did to me.

It was a lesson I had no plans of repeating ever again.

Ever. Ever. Ever.

Maria Carey’s All I Want for Christmas is You danced through the air as I ordered my drink.

Tonight had quickly turned into a vodka martini night.

As the bartender handed me the drink, I thanked her and sipped.

“Perfection,” I told her. “I’m sure I’ll be back.”

She smiled and nodded as she turned to help the next guest. I looked at all the tables with happy guests—laughing, drinking, eating. How did I not wind up at one of their tables? Had I been sitting at any of the other fifteen tables, I might not have even known MacGregor was here tonight.

Instead, it felt like I’d gotten a sucker punch by the Grinch himself.

Thankfully, he was nowhere in sight when I reached the table. After another sip, I set my martini down when I heard his deep voice wash over me.

“I can leave, Audrey. I didn’t know…”

My spine tingled, and I hopped in the air and crashed onto my seat where I’d forgotten I’d put my bouquet.

I hissed as the stems poked into me. I stood up, grabbed the bouquet, and slapped it on the table.

My eyes met his, and I scowled. “No. It’s fine. You’re fine. We’re adults.”

He smiled. “If you’re sure.”

I laughed sarcastically and shook my head. “Now, you’re concerned about what I think?”

MacGregor’s jaw tightened, and he drew a breath. “I think the crudités are calling my name.”

“They’re called raw vegetables. Vegetables. Don’t pretend to be fancy.” I waved my hand in the air. “But go ahead and have at ’em.”

He snickered as he left, and my tummy fluttered even more.

I wasn’t going to become one of those bridesmaids who slept with any man on the bride’s wedding night. It didn’t matter how many martinis I planned for the evening. But I certainly wasn’t getting in bed with MacGregor.

Again.

I couldn’t help but chuckle at the last thought as I watched my sister and new brother-in-law wander over.

I looked up at Tyler suspiciously. “You know MacGregor?”

My brother-in-law looked puzzled. “Yeah. We played baseball together back in college. Why?”

I pursed my lips into a fine line. “No reason. Everything’s fine.” I wiggled my brows. “Go enjoy the wedding.”

A wry look covered Mae’s expression. I hated how all my siblings could read me like a newspaper.

“It doesn’t sound like everything is okay, Audrey,” Tyler tried again. “Do I need to kick him out? You know I totally would for you. Did he do something, try to pull—”

I smiled and shook my head. “No. Sorry. I just… it’s a long story, and I never expected to see him again, especially at a wedding—at a family wedding.” I held in an eye roll at the thought of Mr. Sexy in his suit, schmoozing with the female bartender, and stared at my sister.

Mae shook her head. “Now, you have to tell me what’s going on. I’ve never heard of a MacGregor, and certainly not Mac anything who would get you this riled up.”

I scowled with a chuckle. “I’m not riled up.”

Tyler’s brows arched as amusement filled his gaze. “That’s not riled up?”

I smiled, pretending to rub my palms together, and said, “Oh, I’ll show you riled up.”

Tyler chuckled and glanced toward the bar where MacGregor was getting a drink. He turned his attention back to me. “You’re family. If I need to ask him to politely—”

My cheeks flushed, and I shook my head. “No. Forget any of this is happening and enjoy the party. I’m just happy and emotional and…”

Mae touched her belly and smiled at me. “If you’re sure.”

“Positive. Now, go.” I smiled, watching Mae pull Tyler to the buffet line.

She looked over her shoulder and chuckled. “Under normal circumstances, I’d stick around for the details, but I’m starving. They say you don’t need to eat for two, and they’re right. I need to eat for the army I’m building inside.”

I happily waved at my sister while silently cursing my inability to hide my emotions from the world. Why couldn’t I be one of those women who could keep their feelings hidden behind a steel fortress?

What I should have done when I saw him was pretend that I didn’t even recognize him.

That would have been the cool move to make—great for my ego, not for his.

Darn it.

It really would have been slick, and the thought nearly made me giddy. And let’s be honest. He deserved to be knocked down a peg or two.

Shoulda-woulda-coulda.

I sipped my martini as MacGregor wandered back with a beer and a plate of vegetables and sat down.

I glanced at him, but he was already looking at me, studying me, and taking me in as if he cared. Sliding my gaze to the table next to us, my guard went up as I took another sip. I could get through a simple night with someone I detested.

No problem. There was too much at stake to show how I truly felt about the situation.

Emily bounded over with Lucas. Her eyes met mine, and instantly, she scowled as she sat down.

“You okay, Audrey?”

I shrugged and straightened in my chair. “Yeah. Why wouldn’t I be?”

MacGregor chomped on a carrot and glanced at my sister.

Emily looked at Lucas and then at MacGregor.

She had no idea about him, but I was obviously giving off a vibe.

“I don’t know. You look…” Her lips bunched together.

“I’m fine.” I stared at her, hoping she’d understand and drop it.

“Looks like they’re rolling out the buffet dinner,” MacGregor said, glancing in my direction.

For a split second, it felt like he was trying to help… like he knew how badly I wanted this moment to go poof .

The look in his eyes vanished as quickly as it came. He stood and gave a quick nod at the plate of unfinished vegetables.

My brows raised. “What? The vegetables weren’t enough—or, sorry, the crudités weren’t to your liking?” I stared at him, and I swore a smidge of a grin rode along his lips.

“They were excellent, but I need more sustenance.” His voice turned gruff as I narrowed my eyes on him.

My fingers traced the flower of my hairpin as I wondered if I could take it out and poke him with it.

The problem was that I didn’t expect the emerald green in his eyes to beat down on me like a direct thump to my pulse. Tickly tingles pranced over my scalp, down my neck, and to my spine.

He was just bad news.

I scowled at him and dropped my fingers from my hair. “Why can’t you speak like a normal human being? You’re not impressing anyone with your crudités and sustenance vocabulary.”

I ripped my gaze away as he turned and made his way to the buffet table.

My sister propped her elbows on the table and leaned forward in her seat. “What was that all about?”

I cleared my throat and took a sip of my martini. I had about one good swallow left. “Nothing.”

“Nothing, my butt.” She chuckled. “Tell me, or I’ll bug you until you do.”

I glanced at Lucas, who shrugged and shook his head. “We can’t protect you if we don’t know the backstory.”

My finger waved in front of me. “You two are both on the naughty list this year. I can feel it in my bones. Stirring something up that should be in the vault forever.”

Emily smiled and shook her head. “You know I’m only teasing, but I can definitely sense some history there.”

I swallowed back all the horrible things I wanted to spill to my sister and Lucas and polished off my martini instead.

“He’s an old acquaintance,” I said, glancing over my shoulder to the bar. “One I never expected to see again.”

Emily puckered her lips and let out a breath. “So, is it a good surprise or a bad one?”

I brought my gaze back to hers and shook my head.

“A very bad one.”