“Tradition.”
“Yes, but it started because people used to think that the vein from that finger led straight to the heart.” He drew a line from his finger up his arm and to his heart.
Emma smiled in a way that suggested she thought him—with his ghost stories and fun facts—a little endearing. “Why do you know all this trivia?”
Wyatt shrugged. “I’m curious, and Google makes it easy to learn weird facts about everyday stuff.”
Within minutes, they arrived at Smuggler’s Notch, an upscale renovated restaurant and bar.
“So who are the key players, besides Trip and his fiancée?”
“Kelsey’s the queen of the night. I doubt I even have to tell you what she looks like because you’ll notice her straightaway. She’s sort of a pinup girl, and will likely be on Trip’s arm for most of the night. Trip’s partner, Grey, and his fiancée, Avery, whom you met last Sunday, will be here, too.” She paused, as if giving a moment of silence to his near miss with that avalanche, which neither of them wanted to dwell upon. “I think Trip’s dad flew in this weekend, and Kelsey’s family. Then some friends from town.”
Wyatt opened the door for Emma, and the din of the crowd rushed out into the cold. “Lead the way.”
Noise echoed off the floor-to-ceiling windows, wrought iron, and reclaimed wood of the cavernous space. Trendy joint for such a small town.
Within a minute, Trip waved them over. He’d probably caught sight of them because his height afforded him a good view of the crowd. As Wyatt and Emma approached, he noticed Trip elbow the beautiful blonde to his left and whisper something in her ear. She abruptly turned to look at Wyatt and Emma with a saucy smile. What had Trip done or said now?
Up until this point, Emma had been pleasant and familiar. But seeing Trip caused her to stiffen and hesitate, as if steeling herself against whatever schemes she must’ve sensed in play. She placed a wider berth between herself and Wyatt and tipped up her chin before walking straight into Kelsey’s arms.
“I already had two cupcakes. After tonight you must make me stop, or I’ll never fit into a decent wedding gown.” Kelsey tossed her mane of hair over her shoulder. “And you must be Wyatt. Trip is having the best time with you on the mountain. Honestly, to hear him tell it, I’d think he was the costar of this little video.”
Little video? Her perspective certainly put a different slant on what he considered a make-or-break point in his career.
“He’s definitely made the days more fun, and safe.” Wyatt shook Trip’s hand.
“Glad you decided to step out for a night.” Trip drank from his bottle of Red Rocket. “Need a drink?”
Wyatt shook his head. “No alcohol. I’ll grab a soda water. Emma, you want something?”
“What a gentleman.” Trip elbowed Kelsey again while Emma rolled her eyes.
“No, thanks.” She turned to Kelsey. “I’m going to go say hi to your family. Catch you all later.” Emma strode off, effectively proving to Trip and Wyatt that she wouldn’t be manipulated for their entertainment. Wyatt realized his hope of using this night to get closer to Emma had been a miscalculation. She’d never let her guard down around the prying eyes of her friends.
Trip watched her go, his smile only growing broader. “Oh, it’s so on, Emma Duffy.”
Wyatt looked at Kelsey and then Trip. “Tell the truth, did you invite me here tonight as some ploy to win your crazy bet . . . one I never agreed to, by the way.”
“Now listen up,” Kelsey interjected before Trip could respond. “I’m all for fun and romance as long as no one gets hurt. So here’s my one and only warning. If you toy with Emma, you’ll answer to me.” Then she poked Trip in the chest. “That goes double for you, so you’d better know what you’re doing before you get in deeper.”
“Love it when you get fired up, princess.” He planted a big kiss on her lips that seemed to assuage her for the time being. Then he turned to Wyatt. “Let me introduce you to Grey. He’s a big fan.”
As the threesome made their way through the crowd, Wyatt noticed some people do a double take. One pulled out a phone and snapped a photo. Emma had asked him not to draw attention from Kelsey. Guess he’d need to park himself in a dark corner soon or he’d be forced to leave the party before he had a chance to observe Emma out among her friends.
Chapter Nine
“Looks like your knee is fine.” Avery smiled at Wyatt after he’d been introduced to Trip’s partner, Grey.
“Yeah, thanks. Lucky for me, my ego is the only thing that took a real hit.”