“Would you have?” She knew her next move would be risky, but his cockiness drove her to distraction. She leaned in, placed her lips close enough to his jaw that she could almost taste his skin, and gently blew into his ear. His jaw clenched and she thought he might’ve even shivered, which made her limbs all tingly. “How’s that?”
He drew a deep breath and pinned her with those gorgeous green eyes. “If I were a smoker, I’d be lighting up a cigarette now.”
Kelsey shook her head, pretending to be annoyed. But deep in her chest, her heart clenched even harder than his jaw had. It didn’t help that he kept staring at her like she was some kind of whipped cream dessert he was dying to lick.
Avery cleared her throat.
“Well,” Trip said, looking a little dazed while rising from his chair. “I’ll let you ladies return to your lunch.” Then he leaned nearer to Kelsey. “Maybe tomorrow after you’re done helping me with Backtrax’s website stuff, we can revisit your birthday wish.”
Emma started to giggle and Avery rolled her eyes.
“If there’s one thing I know for sure,” Kelsey began, “it’s that you, Trip Lexington, will never, ever make my birthday wish come true.”
Emma and Avery both broke into peals of laughter, but Trip kept his focus on Kelsey. “You don’t know me well enough to make that statement. Who knows? I might surprise you one day.”
If only. The second that thought crossed her mind, her face scrunched up in horrified anger. What the heck was she doing fantasizing about this womanizer? “Bye, Trip.”
“Are you sure it’s a good idea to spend more time with that man?” Emma asked after Trip walked away.
Kelsey held up a hand. “I’m sure it’s a terrible idea. No doubt he’ll spend the whole time pushing my buttons. Don’t worry, though. Grey will be there to keep things clean. And anyway, those two yahoos need some help with their social media. But let’s drop guy talk. No Grey, Trip, Wade . . . none of it.”
She really did not want to think about Wade and his continued disinterest, or why Grey had rejected her for Avery, or Trip’s ability to whip up a flurry of hormones she had to beat back to avoid doing something stupid.
“Let’s get back to our Mexican extravaganza. I might be able to plan a five-star trip if my newest project with Wade comes through.” Kelsey fiddled with her fork.
“What new project?” Avery asked.
“He’s considering another lucrative land deal. If I can help him pull it off, I’ll have a bundle of money, most of which I’ll use to invest in small apartment buildings. Step one to building up my balance sheet and future income stream.”
“How exciting!” Emma beamed. “Look out, Sterling Canyon. I think Kelsey Callihan is going to end up being a big mogul . . . and not the kind on the slopes.”
“I’m so glad to see you focusing on your future this way.” Avery said no more, but Kelsey knew Avery had always worried about the emphasis Kelsey placed on romance and men. No reason to spoil Avery’s delusion that her true heart’s desire had changed.
“Cheers to that, too.” Kelsey raised her glass, and they toasted to future success.
Later that evening, she rang the doorbell at Maura’s house. She’d been looking forward to a home-cooked dinner, maybe a game of Apples to Apples, followed by a little cheesy reality TV while nestled on the comfy corduroy sofas in Maura’s living room. A perfect ending to her day.
Fee answered the door, dressed in a frilly summer dress, her curls pushed back behind a sparkly headband.
“Surprise!” she squealed, jumping up and down.
Kelsey’s brows had just begun to knit together when she heard groans and laughter coming from inside the house. Apparently Fee had just ruined some kind of surprise. Kelsey stepped inside to find not only her family in attendance, but also Emma, Avery, Grey, Andy, and Trip.
Her cheeks burned as she surmised her perpetually matchmaking sister had used this birthday as an excuse to throw Trip and Kelsey together. Poor Avery probably had no idea she’d been so easily manipulated as part of Maura’s schemes.
And poor Andy looked almost as uncomfortable as Kelsey felt. He was currently serving probation for his “post-happy-hour” vehicular assault charge, and had been keeping a low profile around town. Andy and Grey were polite to each other for Avery’s sake, but not exactly close.
She quickly took in the pink streamers and balloons, which looked like leftover decorations from Fee’s recent birthday party. Oh dear Lord. Any hope of a relaxing evening disintegrated within seconds of seeing Trip winking at her from across the room.