"See you around, Clara."
"I cannot believe all the men in your family are this good-looking," I tell Blake once Landon is out of earshot because I cannot pass up the opportunity. Blake sets his jaw. Jealous looks good on him. Hot. Still, I'm not heartless, so I elbow him lightly. "Relax. I was just messing with you. God, you're intense."
"You have no idea. Come on. Let's introduce you to Valentina. No messing with me. Or else."
Is it bad that I'm dying to find out what that "or else" entails? Sighing, I lick my lips.
"Stop licking your lips or I'll forget we're supposed to attend this party and lock us both in the bedroom."
I inhale sharply, nodding, even though I'm so tempted to keep pushing him. This man has the strangest influence on me.
Valentina and Landon brought gifts too, and when I glance at the presents pile in one corner of the room, I can't help giggling. I bought gifts for all of the kids, thinking that if only the birthday boy gets something new, the others will be jealous, or just plain sad. Judging by the size of the pile, I wasn't the only one thinking along those lines.
It looks like Christmas has come early.
Jenna Bennett is next to the pile, sitting on the windowsill. Some of the other kids played with Will's presents, unwrapping them before he got the chance.
"I'm going to help your mom wrap up the presents," I inform Blake.
"You don't have to do that. Will is going to rip up the paper anyway."
"Exactly. He loves that part," I exclaim, vividly remembering that, as a kid, unwrapping a present was half of the fun.
Winking at him, I take off, joining Jenna.
"I'm here to help."
"Bless you. I wasn't expecting so many gifts. It's so good to see Landon and Valentina."
I sit on the windowsill, following Jenna's lead. She's been smiling even more than usual since Landon and Valentina arrived.
"Their mother is your sister, right?"
Her smile falters. "Was. She and her husband died years ago."
"Oh, I'm so sorry. I didn't know."
"Landon and Valentina were freshmen in college. They practically kept their family from falling apart, raised their siblings."
I follow her gaze at the other end of the room, looking at the cousins in question with admiration.
"I didn't have a chance to ask before, but how is it living with Blake?"
"He's a great neighbor. And it was awfully generous of him to help me out." I press my lips together, afraid that if I continue talking, I'll give myself away. At any rate, I'm not going to share any spicy details with his mother, but better safe than sorry, so I keep my mouth shut.
Jenna studies me inquisitively, and I focus on smoothing out the folded paper on one of the presents I've just wrapped. I run my thumb over it even after it's smooth as hell until Jenna looks away. Pippa might be able to smell out evasive maneuvers, but Jenna is really the master at reading people.
She's also far more subtle than Pippa, which makes her even more dangerous because she typically makes me spell out my deepest secrets before I even realize it. So, I focus the conversation on Will and the presents. Once we're done wrapping everything, Jenna pulls me into a half hug, which I return wholeheartedly.
I always have to keep myself in check so I don't lean in like a kitten starving for affection. I've always been touchy-feely, but more so with Jenna and her motherly hugs. The way I see it, I have some solid years of catching up to do in terms of hugs.
I honestly never think I'll get my fill of motherly hugs, and Jenna seems willing to dish them out often, almost as if she can sense my hunger for them. Given her ability to read people, she probably can.
Just as I pull from Jenna's embrace, Blake catches my eye from across the room and smiles at me. I smile back, but at the same time, a small fear grips me that I'll have to give all this up-the Bennetts' warmth, and Jenna's hugs-because I can't keep my hands or lips off Blake.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
Blake
I'm counting the minutes until someone questions me about Clara. My money is either on my sisters or Christopher. He warned me from the get-go that I had zero chances of keeping things platonic with Clara if she moved next to me.
To my astonishment, I make it through almost the entire party before Summer approaches me, smiling sweetly, which is always a bad omen, but never more than today. She keeps looking between me and Clara, who is currently protecting Silas, Logan's boy, from Mia and Elena. The twins have taken to tickling Silas as often as they can.
Summer sits next to me at the large table, which is otherwise empty. She's munching happily on a piece of cake.