Secretly Hers (Sterling Canyon)(15)
She and her sister had always assumed they’d be raising their children together. At the rate Kelsey was going, Fee could be in high school before Kelsey had a diamond ring on her left hand.
“What’s that look about?” Maura asked as she approached Kelsey.
“Just appreciating the evening. This was really sweet of you.” Kelsey deflected her grim thoughts by wrapping an arm around Maura’s shoulder and directing her away from the group. “I may be pretty buzzed now, but don’t think you fooled me tonight. You railroaded Avery to get Trip over here, didn’t you?”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Maura did her best to appear innocent, but she didn’t fool Kelsey. “I asked Avery to invite a few friends, that’s all. But Trip did bring those gorgeous lilies, so he can’t be all bad.”
“He did?” Kelsey turned, tottering a bit on her heels, to look at the stargazer lilies in the center of the dining table, which she’d assumed her sister had added for decoration. “Are they for you or me?”
“I think he brought them as a hostess gift. I’d told Avery no birthday gifts because I thought you’d be uncomfortable otherwise.” Maura glanced at the flowers. “But you can take them home with you.”
“No, don’t be ridiculous.” Kelsey hiccupped and scrunched her nose before she said, a little too emphatically, “I don’t want flowers from him, anyway. And I already got a gift from Emma and Avery.”
“Did I hear my name?” Avery appeared out of nowhere. “Maura, the food was delicious. Thanks so much for including us. I think we’re going to get out of your hair so you can put the kids to bed. Can I do anything else to help clean up before we go?”
“No, no!” Maura waved her hands. “Bill and I have got it covered.”
“Okay. Well, our gang is heading out, then.” Avery turned to Kelsey. “Do you want to walk back with us?”
“There might be live music at On The Rocks tonight,” Trip chimed in from a few feet away. “Let’s move the party there.”
Kelsey hesitated, resisting the pull of his eyes. Already beyond buzzed, she knew drinking in a bar with Trip, of all people, would likely end badly. “You all go. I’m going to tuck my little lovies in and hang with my sister a while longer.” Kelsey looked down at Fee, who was now clinging to her leg. “Thanks for coming, everyone.”
She stood at the door and kissed everyone good-bye. When Trip passed through, he leaned close and whispered, “Sweet dreams, princess.”
He jogged down the porch steps and disappeared into the dark with the others. Kelsey closed the door, leaning against it for a minute. She told herself the tingling sensations jetting down her arms came from all the champagne she’d consumed, not from him. Nodding to herself, she pushed off the door and grabbed Fee’s hand to take her to bed.
“Who wants to hit On The Rocks?” Spending a couple of hours in the loving bosom of the Callihan family had left Trip rather desperate to get back into his familiar habitat—a bar filled with anonymous faces.
“I’m out.” Grey tucked his arm around Avery’s shoulder. “But something tells me you’re on a solo mission anyhow.”
Avery rolled her eyes. “What’s new?”
“Fine. You all go home at—” Trip glanced at his watch, “ten o’clock on a Saturday night. How pathetic.”
“Different strokes,” Emma’s quiet voice offered.
“Damn straight.” Trip stopped in front of the bar. “See you all later.”
As soon as he stepped inside the rowdy space, he felt better. The memories of Maura and Bill’s modest home, filled with comfortable furniture and lots of love, began to fade. Good thing, too, because watching the casual affection between Kelsey and her family had reminded Trip of the life he’d lost when his mother died.
A life that seemed more like a dream than reality after so many years. And the kind of loss he’d never suffer again so long as he didn’t risk re-creating a happy family for himself. Free and easy, the only sane way to live.
He cut through the crowd without stopping until he got to the bartender. “Red Rocket.” Trip threw his money down. While he waited for the cold bottle of beer, his thoughts ran backward again, first to the few hours he’d spent across town, and then to his mom.
In addition to old memories being dredged up by his dad’s recent visit, tonight he’d been forced to watch Kelsey in her element. The prickly vibe she gave off around him had disappeared thanks to her comfort with the group and multiple glasses of champagne. She’d smiled and laughed and patiently attended to Fee and Ty, love oozing from every pore of her body.