After the Christmas Party(50)

Those around her would be happier because she knew she was ruining Riley’s day and that was a shame, but she felt unable to snap out of her melancholy.

She’d had sex with him the night before. Amazing, beautiful sex where they’d not held anything back from each other. Today she could barely look at him for the panic filling her mind.

Would he dump her on Christmas, as Chase had? Perhaps publicly do so in front of his family? His affluent family? She might not know the actual values of cars but the cars in Riley’s mother’s drive weren’t at the low end of the market.

They couldn’t be more different.

They’d probably all lost their bets because she doubted any of them had bet on Riley bringing a charity case.

“Jake here thought you’d be tall and a buxomy redhead.” A woman who looked a lot like Riley clarified her earlier comment, oblivious to Trinity’s inner torment. “I thought you’d be tall, thin and blonde. Becky thought you’d be brunette.”

“And I thought you’d be the luckiest girl in the world to be here with my wonderful son,” Riley’s mom butted in, shooing them all further into the house. “Come on in so we can say a blessing for our meal.” The kids came running through with more packages. “Boys, y’all put those under the tree for now. We’ll open presents after we all have full bellies.”

“But, Nana!”

“Don’t Nana me. You heard me.” But her voice was full of love, rather than threat.

They were all being friendly, trying to include her, had smothered her with hugs and attention.

But Trinity felt the difference in Riley and knew she had no one to blame but herself. She’d known better than to come here, to become involved with him from the very beginning, and yet she had.

Because she had felt something when she’d looked at him that she hadn’t been able to resist and she’d made the mistake of falling in love with a man she could never have.

“Don’t pay them any mind.” A very tanned, very blonde woman who looked like she’d stepped off a vacation ad for Florida advised her. “The whole Williams clan are nothing but troublemakers.”

Trinity just blinked at the gorgeous woman.

“Hi, I’m Casey, Jake’s wife. You must be Trinity. Come and sit by me. I’ll protect you from the Williamses.”

“Hello,” Riley interrupted with a scowl, stopping Casey from taking Trinity’s arm. “In case you’ve forgotten, you are one of us Williamses now, too.”

The woman flashed pearly-white teeth that contrasted brightly with her tanned skin. “Happiest day of my life.”

Jake wrapped his arm around her waist and planted a kiss on the woman’s mouth right there and didn’t stop with just a quick peck either.

Blushing, Trinity glanced around, but no one was paying the couple any heed. Apparently showing affection was the norm at the Williamses’ house. No mistletoe required.

“Uncle Riley, will you sit with us?” the little boy Riley had called Timmy asked, jumping up and down near Riley as if he had ants in his pants.

“At the kids’ table?” Riley scratched his jaw. “Not this year, Timmy. I’ve brought a guest with me. She needs me at the adult table with her. I have to protect her from the big people.”

Not hiding his disappointment, the boy gave Trinity a disgusted look. “She’s just a girl, Uncle Riley.”

“Just a girl, he says.” Riley ruffled the boy’s hair. “I’ll have to remind you of that in a few years.”

Trinity found herself watching Riley’s family interact, watched the open affection, the laughter, the genuine gladness to be together, and she tried not to feel envious. She also tried not to feel guilty that Riley frowned more than smiled. She wasn’t the only one who noticed and, unfortunately, various family members would shoot them curious looks from time to time, but no one asked what the problem was.

They had to be wondering, though. Why would he bring someone who so obviously didn’t fit in with their wonderful lives? Why did it even matter? After all, she wouldn’t be seeing these people ever again. Riley wouldn’t want her to.

He’d given in to his nephew’s repeated requests to come and check out the new video game Santa had brought him or he’d just given up completely on her. Either way, he’d disappeared some time ago, which was probably for the best because something his brother had said to him had made him almost growl earlier.

In a room full of people, yet oddly alone at an open archway leading into the foyer, she took a sip of hot cinnamon apple cider, liking the mix of sweet and tangy flavors and wishing it would settle her nerves.