Chapter 50 Jude
JUDE
“Jude! Are you ready?” Olena calls out from the kitchen. My head snaps up and I slip my phone into my pocket. “Come on, we’re going to be late! We’re supposed to be at Carnival at seven!”
“Yeah, coming!” I call back.
“Are you wearing them?” she calls out to me. “Please tell me you’re wearing them.”
I walk out of the bedroom and our eyes meet.
I let out a breath; she looks stunning, like some kind of Viking punk pin-up girl, all smoky eyes and bare shoulders.
Most of her hair is swept over to one side, two tight braids criss-crossing from her temple, and back over her ear.
Fuck, I think, fighting the urge to cross the room and sink my hands into that hair.
I can feel my pupils dilating at the sight of her.
I’m suddenly not sure we’re leaving here anytime soon.
“Dear God,” I say, my voice low. “Turn around.” She indulges me and does a little spin.
Her silky-looking, sleeveless top plunges down in a deep vee between her breasts and she’s got on this glittering miniskirt that is entirely too short for me to avoid staring at.
I clutch at my chest, blowing out a breath when I see her stockings are the kind with the seam straight up the back of the leg. I’m not going to survive tonight.
She chuckles softly at my reaction, sweeping a hand through her hair as she walks toward me.
I move to meet her, my eyes roving over her body. I’m speechless.
“Um, you look fucking amazing in those,” she says, taking in what I’m wearing. Reaching for me, she runs a finger underneath the edge of my suspenders, taking a good long look.
I roll my eyes, smiling.
She grins as she pulls the elastic back a little and lets it go with a snap.
I flinch but my eyes don’t leave hers.
“Lumberjack fantasy majorly leveled up.” She gives me a giddy smile.
I adjust the collar of my white button-up shirt and she bites her lip, watching me with hunger in her eyes as she drags a hand down my chest. Running my hands up the backs of her thighs, I lift the hem of her tiny skirt and squeeze her ass.
I want to ravage her right this second, but I know if I kiss her even once, it’ll be my undoing.
“Come on,” I say, shaking my head and taking a deep breath. Using all my willpower to pull away, I take her hand and we head out to the truck.
As we arrive, the bass music is pounding and spills out into the warm summer air.
Wyatt and Sam’s families have reserved the entire restaurant and bar for the party.
Olena walks in ahead of me; I can’t take my eyes off her and need to remind myself we’re in public since openly ogling a woman like a Neanderthal—even the woman you’re dating—is frowned-upon.
Nonetheless, I still have to resist the urge to push her into the coat check and do unspeakable things to her.
As she leads me by the hand through the crowded room, Olena is lit up in pulsing blues, purples, reds, and greens that throb along to the beat of the music. She turns to me. “I wanna find Wyatt!” she shouts over the noise.
I nod.
“Can you go get us drinks?” she asks, miming drinking from a cup.
I nod again, letting go of her hand, and walk backward a step or two, running my hand down my face. I let out a breath as she disappears into the crowd. As I turn toward the bar, I bump lightly into someone and immediately move to apologize for not looking where I was going.
“Jude!” Carol pulls me into a tight hug before I can get my bearings.
Pulling away, I falter a moment. “Sorry. Hi. Wow, Carol! It’s great to see you.” I lean in so she can hear me. I had forgotten she and Charles were part of Wyatt’s family.
“What are you doing here?” she asks, searching my eyes.
“Um…” I trail off, unsure how to explain. “Olena and I—”
“Say no more, darling,” she interrupts with a cheeky smile. “Saw that one coming a mile away.”
I smile, looking at my feet. She did. Everyone did.
“Well, I’m glad to see you. Goodness, you clean up nice!” She winks at me and taps my chest with a finger. I smile awkwardly and thank her for the compliment.
Charles appears at her side and hands her a glass of some dark amber drink. He reaches out and shakes my hand.
“Hello again!” he says, smiling. “I was just thinking about calling you,” he shouts over the music.
My brow furrows. “Is anything wrong with the property?”
“Oh, no, it’s great, no issues there.” He waves a hand dismissively and I relax. “I was just going to tell you we decided on a name. For our romantic retreat.” He pumps his eyebrows and laughs.
“Oh, right,” I say, turning to look for Olena in the crowd. I catch sight of her standing with Sam, laughing hard. She’s beautiful. I turn back to Charles and Carol. “What did you decide?”
Carol leans in. “Starscape Manor,” she says, dramatically sweeping a hand across the space between us. “What do you think?”
I smile. “It’s perfect. Olena will love it.” Visions of our unforgettable night on the dock a few months ago swim into my mind. I clear my throat. “Make sure to tell her when you see her,” I say. “I won’t ruin the surprise,” I add, holding up my hands with a smile.
“You’d better not!” teases Carol. She and Charles both chuckle.
I gesture over at the bar, explaining I need to grab drinks, and we part ways.
I catch the eye of a pretty bartender with turquoise hair and order two glasses of white wine.
“The guests of honor seem pretty adorable,” she says, setting out the glasses. “Friends of yours?”
“Yeah, the blond one is my girlfriend’s ex-roommate.”
“Ex-roommate?” She raises her eyebrows as she pours. “Sounds like there’s a story there.”
“No,” I say, holding up my hands with a chuckle. “No drama, honest. I just stole her away.”
She slides the first glass my way. “Good.” She pauses. “But, if the party gets dull later, I’ve got a killer roommate drama story for you.”
“Noted,” I say with a smile, then pick up the glasses, nodding my thanks before turning to go.
Wine in hand, I wind my way back toward Olena. She’s standing with Nat, Graham, Wyatt, and Sam. The guests of honor grin, looking incredibly happy, as they hug an assembled throng of guests one by one.
A shouting chorus from behind me kicks off. I stop, turning to look at the source.
“Kiss, kiss, kiss, kiss, kiss…” A group of about eight young men dressed up in stylish party attire claps along with the chanted demand for the two fiancés.
I turn back to look at Sam and Wyatt. The crowd erupts in cheers as they share a long, dramatic kiss, holding their champagne glasses aloft. I smile and my eyes meet Olena’s as I finally reach her. I place her wineglass in her hand, leaning down to press a kiss to her cheek.
“Jude,” Graham says, shaking my hand, “good to see you, man.”
Nat smiles at me from beside him. She and Graham are both dressed to the nines for the party, looking sharp.
“Looks like you’ve got a fan club, Jude,” Nat says, grinning and eyeing the group that was just chanting behind me.
I turn and catch them staring before about half of them turn away, pretending to be looking elsewhere. The other half don’t bother hiding it. One of them waves at me and I awkwardly wave back, smiling politely.
Wyatt appears at my shoulder. “Don’t mind them, they’re shameless,” he says in my ear, then winks at me, and takes a sip of his champagne. I exhale and rub my chin, not sure how to respond.
Olena smirks at me, clearly enjoying the attention I’m getting.
“Hey, congratulations again, Wyatt. This party is… incredible.” I cast my eyes around the room, hoping to change the subject.
“Thanks, Jude, I—”
Sam jogs over to us, cutting him off. “Excuse me, I need my fiancé!” he intones with a flourish, pulling Wyatt toward the dance floor.
Olena places her glass down on a nearby table and slips her arms around my waist, kissing my cheek.
Hearing someone whoop from behind me, she raises an eyebrow, and pulls me into a deep, long kiss to a resounding mixture of cheers and booing, everyone laughing by the time our lips part. I throw a glance over my shoulder.
“I think they’re a little disappointed I get you all to myself,” she says in my ear, still laughing. She turns around in my arms to face her friends, and I pull her close, pressing a kiss to her neck. I have to remind myself to stop there.
A moment later, she pulls away.
“Mom! Dad!” She runs over to hug them both, bringing them back to our group.
“Jude, nice to see you again.” David shakes my hand.
“Likewise,” I say, giving him a genuine smile.
Lynn hugs Nat, then pulls back to admire her shimmering dress.
David glances at Olena, who is huddled with her mom and Nat, then motions to me, pulling me aside.
“Listen, I wanted to say… I was so glad you and Olena worked things out between you.” His tone is serious.
I raise my eyebrows and exhale. “Uh, you and me both, David.” I smile at him. “She’s…” I look over at her. “She’s incredibly important to me.” I return my attention to her father.
“I can see that,” he says. “You know, Lynn and I can see how good you are for Olena. Ever since you first came over for Marchmas, we’ve really gotten a good feeling about you.”
“Thank you.” I drop my gaze for a moment and smile, then meet his eyes again. “I feel the same way, to be honest.” They’d been nothing but warm and welcoming to me that night, as well as every time I’ve seen them since; they’ve treated me like part of the family.
He nods, smiling. “We got the feeling you’re… let’s say, in it for the long haul.” He gestures at me with the glass in his hand, watching my reaction.
I pause for a moment. “Yes, sir,” I reply sincerely. “I’m not going anywhere.”
“Good man.” He nods. “In that case, welcome to the family.” He holds out his glass, smiling.
His words hit me hard for reasons he doesn’t yet understand. “Thank you,” is all I can say, touching my glass to his, trying hard to maintain an air of casualness.
I turn to find Olena, but she’s not with Nat and her mother anymore.
Suddenly, she appears beside me, out of breath.
“Starscape!” she shouts over the music, breathing like she’s just run across the room.
“Starscape Manor! That’s what they’re calling it!
” Her eyes are dancing with excitement. “I just talked to Carol! Isn’t it perfect?
With the lights and everything?” She squeezes my hands, David still watching us.
“Yeah, it’s perfect,” I say, smiling, as she reaches up to my neck and pulls me into a hug.
“My girl, are you going to dance with your old man, or what?” David interrupts, putting down his drink, and holds out his hand to Olena.
She smiles up at me, raising her eyebrows, then kisses my cheek. “You’re next,” she says in my ear, then takes her dad’s hand, following him onto the dance floor.