Chapter 13
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
JOANIE
The community center is a flurry of activity as we all pitch in to decorate for the New Year’s Eve party Greg decided to have earlier this week. Mia, Nate, Rae, and I have been here for hours, hanging streamers, setting up tables, and generally helping Greg make the place look festive.
Since I didn’t think there would be any time to change, I did it all in my halter-necked champagne sequined bodycon dress. But if I can litigate in four-inch heels, I can sure as hell decorate in a tight outfit. I also got to watch Greg working in his own tailored black dress shirt and tight black pants. It was worth it.
Looking around, I’m pretty satisfied with what we’ve accomplished. Nate made a trip to Costco, and you can tell by looking at the two joined long, loaded buffet tables. We’re not lacking food or alcohol. And with Mia around, we’re never lacking for sweet treats. Positioned at one end of the tables are cupcakes with sparklers waiting to be lit; at the other end, round sugar cookies decorated to look like clocks striking midnight, and toward the middle, a large tray with two types of macarons, white chocolate ones arranged in the new year’s numbers and dark pink raspberry ones arranged around the numbers to make them pop.
Small bar-height tables with pairs of matched chairs dot the edge of the room, their plain black utilitarian look disguised by sparkly slip-on covers.
As I arrange a centerpiece with white flowers in a tall, blinged-out vase for the main tables, I hear the door open and turn to see Mia’s sister, Carrie, walking in. It was a pleasant surprise to hear that Mia invited her. I thought it meant both women were working past the bullshit their parents thrust upon them.
But instead of the excited smile I expected, her face is pinched. The obvious trauma on her features starkly contrasts the playful beaded blue sweetheart-neckline dress with a flared skirt she’s wearing, which offsets the long, wavy brown hair and blue eyes that run in the family. But as she approaches, I see those dark blues are red-rimmed.
Mia notices Carrie’s distress too and rushes over to her sister, enveloping her in a hug, careful not to snag the fringe of her silver sheath dress on the beads of her sister’s. “Oh no, Care-bear, what’s wrong?”
Carrie sniffs and wipes at her eyes. “When I told Mom and Dad I was coming here for New Year’s, they tried to guilt me into staying home. They said I was choosing you over them.”
Mia’s face hardens. “That’s not fair. Seeing me doesn’t mean you’re choosing sides.”
Carrie nods. “I know. Still. I hate being in the middle of this.” She gives Mia an apologetic smile. “Not that I’m blaming you.”
Rae and I exchange a look and move to join them.
“They’re just being assholes,” I offer by way of greeting, rubbing Carrie’s back. “Trust me, we’ve had our share of drama this week with the old farts in town.”
Carrie looks up, her curiosity obviously piqued. “Really? Drama in sleepy little Alpine Ridge? I’ve got to hear about this.”
So we fill her in on our confrontation with Jerry and the whole town council debacle. By the end, she’s laughing.
“Serves them right,” she says with a grin. “I can’t believe they thought they could get away with pretending to be in charge.”
“Yes, well, there are certainly enough power players in this town to be getting on with. Turns out my new boyfriend’s family owns most of it, and they’re as wackadoo as your parents,” I offer.
Carrie gives me a sympathetic smile.
“Hey, not all the landowners here are assholes,” Mia interjects.
I smirk. “Of course not. You, Nate, and Greg are all gems. And I’m sure whoever owns the old gold-mining museum is sane because they don’t seem to be making a fuss,” I add thoughtfully.
Rae’s eyebrows jump in surprise. “You didn’t know?” she asks.
Mia’s brow furrows in confusion. “Know what?”
Rae looks between us almost guiltily. “I own it. Well, now I do. It was passed down through my daddy’s family. He used to run it when I was a kid. But when he left my mom … well, you get the idea.” She shrugs sheepishly.
My jaw drops. “Seriously? Well, I guess it used to be owned by an asshole, anyway. Yeesh. I’m so sorry, Rae.” I pause, wondering if I should even ask my next question. But then again, why start holding back now? “Why haven’t you done anything with it?”
Rae shrugs. “Never had the time or money. But maybe now, with the town incorporating, we can figure out how it fits into the new Alpine Ridge.”
The wheels start turning in my head, but people arrive for the party before I can voice my ideas. Rae rushes off to change out of the T-shirt and jeans she’d showed up in and returns in a gorgeous mint-colored wrap dress that sets off her short, golden blond locks and brings out the green in her hazel eyes. I give her a thumbs up, and she grins at me across the room.
Nate also reappears, looking like hot business in grey slacks that look painted on his huge, muscled legs and a starched white button-front shirt.
Still, he’s got nothing on Greg, I decide as I watch the two men talk. Greg’s back is turned to me, and his gorgeous backside is calling my name.
But the community center begins to fill quickly with what seems like half the town before I can make it to him. However, it doesn’t take long before Greg weaves through the crowd to me, grinning from ear to ear.
“It looks like the festival got people excited about community events after all,” I comment as he approaches.
He slips an arm around my waist and pulls me close. “Seems that way. I’m glad we’re keeping the momentum going. Save me a dance?”
I nod, and he kisses me before disappearing into the crowd, presumably to ensure everything is running smoothly. I watch him flit around the room before sampling the food and getting myself a drink.
As the party kicks into high gear, the music is loud enough to dance to but soft enough to hold a conversation, and I lose track of Greg completely. I’m chatting with Mia and Rae when I spot Carrie across the room, looking uncomfortable as Greg’s cousin Ned corners her.
I remember the first time he approached me. He’s as sketchy-looking now as he was then. Wrung out, greasy, and sporting a leer that would make a prostitute turn tail and run in the opposite direction. The guy is bad news. And Carrie looks like she wants to bolt, but he’s got her trapped near the drinks. And I know Carrie. She’s too polite for her own good.
I’m about to intervene when I see Ned turn away and slip something into a cup, then try to hand it to her. He’s not subtle about it, but I can tell it was just out of Carrie’s eye-line, and the crowd around them is thick enough that she likely didn’t notice. But before I can react, Nate is there, snatching the drink away and grabbing Ned by the collar.
Mia catches the look on my face. “What is it?” she asks, turning toward where I’m looking just in time to see Nate drag Ned toward the door, fury etched on every line of his face.
“Oh shit,” Mia curses.
Rae’s eyes finally catch up, and she puts a hand to her mouth. Having lived here longer than us, I’m sure she’s more than familiar with Ned and his way of creeping on the ladies.
We watch as Nate tosses Ned out the door, pulling it closed behind him. Greg appears and, after a tense conversation with Nate, storms outside after Ned.
“I’m going to go check on Carrie,” Mia tells us.
“I’m coming with you,” I insist, following her through the crowd.
When we get to Carrie, she looks beyond confused.
“Are you okay?” Mia asks, checking her over like she’s looking for injuries.
Carrie nods, looking shaken. “I think so. What the hell was that?”
“Nate saw Ned put something in your drink,” I explain.
Both Carrie and Mia’s eyes widen. “He tried to drug me?” Carrie asks incredulously.
“He tried to drug her?!” Mia echoes, outraged.
Nate joins us, still seething and clearly having heard Mia. “Yes, but I took the drink before he could hand it to her. Fuck, I hope Greg is beating the shit out of that psychopath.” My eyes widen at how hard he grinds his teeth in anger. “Fucking hell. We don’t even have a damn police force to report it to.”
We all stew momentarily, the gravity of the situation sinking in. Then, raised voices draw our attention outside. Yes, from outside. That’s how loud they are. Murmurs start to ripple through the crowd, so Mia and I follow Nate to the door to help get things back under control so the whole town doesn’t know about this in the next two minutes. As we pass Rae, I ask her to go look after Carrie. She nods, and we continue.
Once outside, we find Greg in a heated argument with an older couple.
“... refused to believe all the other reports of his bad behavior, and now this!” Greg is shouting.
“He’s a good boy; he wouldn’t do something like that,” the woman insists. Ah. This must be his aunt and uncle.
Greg laughs harshly. “A good boy? He’s a predator. But you two are so far up Dad’s ass, you can’t see what’s right in front of you.”
“How dare you speak to us like that!” his uncle bellows. “You’re a disgrace to this family, turning your back on us, on the business. You’re nothing but a disappointment. Our Ned is twice the man you’ll ever be.”
I scoff loudly, but they’ve already turned and stormed off. Greg stands there, chest heaving, hands clenched into fists.
We all let out a collective breath. I’m relieved it seems to be over, but I’m worried about Greg.
I start to go to him, but Mia catches my arm. “Give Nate a minute,” she murmurs as her fiancé heads over to him.
We watch as Nate says something to Greg that is too low for us to hear. Greg nods, and they head back inside together.
Mia turns to me with a rueful smile. “Well, this isn’t quite how I expected to ring in the new year.”
I snort. “At least it’s not boring. Remember our last New Year’s together?”
“God, don’t remind me. My apartment. That sad little cake and cheap champagne ...”
“And the kiss at midnight since neither of us had anyone else,” I finish with a smile.
Mia chuckles. “We’ve come a long way since then, haven’t we? I mean, even with all this drama tonight, look at us. Look at where we are.”
I pause, unsure I want to unpack that with Mia right now. “Where we are is outside of the party. Let’s go back in, shall we?” I deflect.
She nods and leads the way, but as we head back inside, I privately consider her words.
She’s right. Two years ago, Mia was miserable at her job, and I was burning the candle at both ends and trying to find fulfillment in all the wrong places. And by places, I mean dicks.
And now? Mia is engaged to the love of her life, running a successful business she’s passionate about. She’s happier than I’ve ever seen her, even if she’s not exactly more relaxed these days. But that’s Mia. Like me, she needs a challenge, and now she’s got one that she actually enjoys.
As for me, I walked away from a going-nowhere career which gave me the opportunity to take a chance on something that matters. This incorporation project has meaning. Purpose. And in Greg, I may have found a partner who will support me and give me room to do my thing. That’s always been my biggest reason for not getting into relationships: losing myself. And on some level, I know that if this relationship goes the distance, that won’t happen with Greg.
The realization hits me like a freight train. I want that. I want him. Not just for now but for … no, I can’t think the F-word. I may have come far, but there are still things I’m not ready for, and forever is definitely on that list. Only time will prove whether we work together on that level.
As if summoned by my thoughts, Greg appears at my side. “Hey,” he says softly. “Sorry about all that.”
I shake my head and lean into him. “Don’t apologize. You were standing up for what’s right. I’m just pissed that that little weasel of a cousin of yours isn’t going to face any consequences for trying to drug Carrie.”
He presses a kiss to my temple. “He’ll get his, don’t worry. But I’m sorry because that is not how I wanted this night to go.”
“It’s not your fault,” I assure him. “And it’s totally last year, baby. Let’s start the new year how we want it to be.” I give him a suggestive grin as I slide my hand up his chest and sink my fingers into his dark curls.
As if on cue, the crowd around us starts chanting. “Ten, nine, eight...”
Greg smiles slyly and pulls me against him, his hands wrapping around my backside possessively.
“Seven, six, five...”
I run my nose along his.
“Four, three, two, one ... Happy New Year!”
As cheers erupt around us, Greg lowers his mouth to mine. He nibbles gently at my bottom lip, then swipes his tongue over it. I open to him, and he slips inside, meeting me in gentle strokes that get harder as his cock does against my stomach. His hands pull me tighter, sliding up my back and tugging at my hair. Still, he’s gentle and thorough, clearly devoted to making me feel the passion behind the kiss. But given the timing, it also feels like a promise for the coming year of the passion waiting for me. For us.
When we break apart, he rests his forehead against mine. “Is it too soon to tell you I love you?” he whispers.
My heart races in my chest at his question-slash-confession. “It’s never too soon to tell someone how you feel,” I reply honestly. “But I’m not sure I can say it back yet.”
He pulls back slightly, disappointment flickering in his eyes before it’s replaced with understanding. “That’s okay. I can wait.”
I smirk at his clear confidence that I will say it back when I’m not even sure I will. But then, as he pulls me back into his arms, I breathe him in, feeling the rightness of this, of us, settle into my bones.
I may not be ready to say the words, but I know, without a doubt, that I’m falling head over heels for this man.
And I’m not running from it for the first time in my life. So maybe he’s right after all, and I will say it someday. Perhaps even someday soon.
“Is it too late to tell you I want to be fucked thoroughly in your office for New Year’s?” I tease, deflecting the seriousness of the moment.
His pupils dilate as his cock twitches against me, and I bite my lip.
“It’s never too late for that,” he replies before his mouth crushes mine. But only briefly before he breaks off and pulls me through the room and to his office, where we ring in the new year properly. Twice. And if the crazy hot sex shoved up against his door is any indication, it’s going to be a good year.