Heart of Christmas (Curiosity Bay #4)

2. Chapter Two

Chapter Two

MacGregor

This had to be one of the dumbest things I ever could have done. First, I coaxed Tyler to seat me at Audrey’s table. Second, I hadn’t prepared myself for the breathtaking woman she’d become. Sure, she was beautiful in her twenties, but seeing her now…

I shook my head and waited for the server to stab some meat and shake it onto my plate. I moved down to scoop some broccoli and mashed potatoes next to it.

Someone tapped my shoulder, and I spun around to see Tyler staring at me.

“Anything you might want to mention?” His brows pulled together.

“Not on your wedding day.” I chuckled and shook my head, but he didn’t find it funny.

“Seriously, dude. I didn’t know something was between you two or I wouldn’t have sat you there.” He glanced at his sister-in-law. “I just thought putting together two single people might make a love connection, and you happily obliged.”

I patted his shoulder and nodded. “I’ll be on my best behavior. Everything happened eons ago.”

“So there was something that materialized,” he said flatly. “And you failed to mention it.”

“You could say that, but I got over it.”

Tyler cocked his head. “But did she?”

I clicked my tongue against my bottom teeth. “I think that’s a negative.”

“Just don’t screw up my night.” Tyler eyed me, and I gave a quick nod.

“Wouldn’t dream of it.” I smiled and let out a breath as he turned to join Mae. “But don’t throw the garter in my direction.”

“Not a chance,” Tyler said, waving behind him as I glanced toward the table.

Audrey’s gaze was locked on me, and it felt like I was about to stand trial if I returned to the table. I scanned around and spotted a table with only a few people sitting and no other place settings.

I made my way over there with my plate and sat, smiling at the woman sitting across from me. She looked eerily familiar.

“Howdy,” she said, smiling. Her green eyes rested on me, and I realized this woman had to be related to Audrey, Mae, and Emily. “You’re probably not on the bride’s side, or I’d know you by now.” Her smile widened.

“Tyler and I go way back,” I explained.

The man beside her swept a loose piece of dark hair along her cheek and tucked it behind her ear.

“I’m Amelia.” She cocked her head slightly. “Any friend of Tyler’s is a friend of ours. I’m Mae’s sister.”

My eyes widened. “Another one?”

Amelia’s gaze caught mine. “What do you mean, another one ?”

I cleared my throat and ran my index finger between my collar and tie. “No. Sorry. I just meant I’ve already met Emily.”

Her eyes lit up and fell on my ring finger. “So, you haven’t met Audrey yet? She’s single. Are you single?”

My hands flew up and waved into the air. “No. I mean, yes. I’ve met her. I mean, I know her, or I should say I knew her.”

Audrey’s sister eyed me suspiciously. “You know Tyler and Audrey, but not Mae?”

I’d never been this tongue-tied or twisted in my guts before, but as I looked around the holiday-themed banquet hall, I realized that there were a lot of Audrey’s relatives here.

Enough to chase me, find me, and… do whatever they did in small towns.

Remote small towns situated on islands in the middle of the Pacific Ocean.

I straightened in my seat and ate some meat, feeling Audrey’s eyes drilling into me. I glanced up to see her look away quickly, several tables away.

But then I saw Emily’s eyes stuck on me, too.

Audrey must have filled her sister in on things while I was gone from the table, or maybe it was my imagination. Paranoia churned through me with a vengeance as I felt all eyes on me.

Not that I even truly knew what happened all those years ago. I just knew enough to know that she was extremely upset with me, enough so that she rid me of her life as quickly as she brought me in.

“Great,” I mumbled.

“Pardon?” Amelia asked.

I slid my hands under my plate and stood. “Sorry. I should probably get back to my drink.”

And I could stop them from plotting my demise before serving the cake.

“Nice to meet you,” Amelia said wryly, looking at her partner next to her before bringing her gaze back to mine. “Maybe we’ll see you around.”

I gave a quick nod and wound my way through the tables until I took a seat back where I’d been assigned.

Audrey looked up from her plate. “I see you met my other sister.”

I nodded and took a drink. “How many do you have?”

Her brows rose. “Plenty.”

“Plenty?” As in plenty to beat me up, slip something in my drink, make my life miserable?

Emily’s gaze stayed on me as I looked at her sister. She must know something now.

She sent me a withering expression, and I had to hide a smile. Even when Audrey’s features looked stern, she appeared beautiful.

Emily dotted her mouth with a napkin. “Audrey said it had been over ten years since she last saw you, and it wasn’t pleasant.”

Not exactly how I remembered it, but to each their own.

I nodded and scratched my chin. The day’s stubble surfaced under my fingertips.

“Something like that.” I sliced into more prime rib and took a deep breath as the tension tightened around us with each passing second.

“I’d love to hear your version,” her sister said flatly.

“Version of what?”

“What you did to her.” Her brows quirked, and Audrey shot up from her chair.

“All water under the bridge. I’m going to get some food. Care to join me?” She looked directly at her sister, her eyes pleading.

Emily nodded and stood with her partner, doing the same. They all turned and stared at me as if I had four heads and breathed fire.

Great. The rest of the night ought to be fun.

“Enjoy,” I said, holding up my fork. “Incredible food.”

“So glad you approve,” Audrey said, rolling her eyes.

She turned around, and I noticed a rose petal stuck to her butt from when she sat on her bridesmaid’s bouquet.

“Uh, Audrey. You’ve got a little something…”

She glanced over her shoulder and flashed me a dirty look. “What?”

I pointed at her butt and twisted my bottom lip down. “You have a rose petal on your ass.”

“What are you doing looking there, anyway?” Audrey huffed and scowled at me as if I had put it there.

She spun around like a dog chasing her tail until her sister finally brushed it off.

Emily nodded and smiled, mouthing a quick “Thank you.”

“Whatever,” Audrey muttered as she followed them to the food line. “I need another drink.”

She veered off toward the bar, and I silently chuckled, wondering if the night had any hope of improving. If I were a betting man, I’d say no.

“Fancy meeting you here.” A woman’s voice crawled up my spine from behind me, and I froze.

Oh, no. I should know that voice, but her name didn’t pop into my head. It had a tinny, raspy quality and…

Dang. What was her name?

Ah, ex-coworker.

I slowly turned in my chair, but I was too late. She sat down next to me, and her eyes brightened when I politely smiled.

“Becky,” I said, nodding.

A slight frown surfaced. “It’s Bethany, but… it’s been a while.”

“I’m so sorry,” I said, shaking my head. “I’m awful with names.”

“Even with women you’ve slept with?” Her tone was oddly playful while keeping me extremely uncomfortable.

I tightened my fist around my napkin and silently chuckled.

Karma was having a field day this holiday season.

She grinned and leaned into me. “No matter. I’m sure I can get you to remember it after tonight.”

I cocked my head as my brows furrowed in bewilderment. She ran her finger along my arm and giggled near my ear.

“I live on the island,” she whispered.

Those words should have ignited fireworks and allowed me to skip the cake and leave the place with her.

But it did none of the above.

“What do you say?” she tried again.

I instinctively cringed, but she didn’t notice.

“I’m—”

“Oh, lookie here,” Audrey said, walking to the table with a plate piled with food. “Up to your same old tricks, I see.”

I shook my head as Becky, Bethany, or whoever she was backed away into her seat and dropped her hands into her lap.

“It’s not what it looks like,” I assured Audrey.

Audrey took a seat and drew a breath, her smile widening. “Oh, I’m sure it’s exactly what it looks like.”

She ripped her gaze away from me and looked at the woman.

“Hey, Bethany.” Audrey grinned and sipped her fresh martini before scooping mashed potatoes on her fork. “Be careful with that guy. He’s a real…”

“You two know each other?” Bethany asked, surprised.

“Vaguely,” Audrey said, motioning her hand as if to dismiss me.

Bethany looked annoyed and bent over, whispering her address in my ear before turning around and heading back to wherever she came from.

I looked over at Audrey, who blissfully stared at the bride and groom.

“They’re meant for each other,” I said, genuinely believing Tyler had found his perfect match. “I’ve never seen Tyler so happy. You know, he talked about Mae the entire time in college. I’m surprised it took him this long.”

She snapped her eyes back to me and ate the potatoes on her fork. Audrey didn’t say a word. She just stared at me while she chewed.

When she finally swallowed, she tipped her head and focused on me. “Why are you here?”

“To celebrate Tyler and your sister.”

She shook her head slowly. “No. I mean here .” She pointed at the table.

“Because it’s where I saw my name.”

I knew what she was getting at, but I wouldn’t go there. Not here. Not in the middle of a wedding reception.

“Did Ty really talk about my sister back in college?”

“He did.” I nodded. “Nonstop. It was sweet. None of the guys could understand why he didn’t just return to the island and give it a shot. He had it bad.”

But when my eyes met hers, I saw a challenge rising in her gaze.

Something was happening in Audrey’s mind that I couldn’t decipher.

“Had it bad?” she repeated.

I shrugged and nodded. “He was in love with her.”

She shook her head and sighed as we spotted Emily and her partner returning to the table.

“I just don’t understand why Tyler would be friends with someone like you .”

I pretended that didn’t hurt a little coming from her.

“What is that supposed to mean?”

“You know exactly what it means.” She took another bite of food and chewed slowly while I did the same.

“Listen, Audrey. I’m not sure our version of the events is quite the same, but whatever I did…” I shook my head. “I’m sorry.”

She pointed her fork at me and shook her head. “Oh, no. You don’t get to do that.”

I scowled. “Do what?”

“Apologize blindly.”

“I was just trying to tell you how bad I feel for whatever you think happened.”

Her eyes widened. “What I think happened?”

“Yes. Your version of events.”

She shook her head in frustration and lowered her voice. “MacGregor, there are no versions of events. There’s the truth. One version.” She held up her index finger and looked so damn cute doing so as fire rested behind her gaze. “So, until you man up and apologize to me for the actual event, I don’t want to see your grinning mug talking about my sister or brother-in-law. They’re my people. Not yours. Got it?”

I nodded and smiled, sipping my drink as I studied Audrey, wondering if I’d ever know what I did wrong.

A group of carolers dressed in old-fashioned garb gathered near the bridal couple and started singing.

I knew better than to do what I was about to do, but I couldn’t help myself.

When Audrey’s eyes connected with mine, I smiled wider. “Mind giving me a hint?”