, to shake his brother’s hand and make a joke of his comment, but instead he just shrugged. “It’s no big deal, really.”
“Right,” his older sister said, wrapping her arms around him and kissing his cheek. “Great to see you, little brother. And Trinity.” She turned to a pale Trinity and did the same. “We’re so glad that Riley has finally brought a woman home with him. We’ve all been placing bets as to what you looked like.”
“Bets?” Trinity’s eyes resembled those of a doe in headlights. Her skin was pasty white and her posture stiff as a board.
Riley winced. “Sis, you’re scaring her.”
“Nah, if she’s with you, she isn’t easily scared.”
His siblings all burst into laughter but Trinity remained quiet, and regret filled Riley. He’d made a mistake, bringing her here.
After the disaster of a morning they’d had, maybe he should just admit that everything about them was a mistake. He couldn’t give her what she deserved and she didn’t want anything he tried to give.
Maybe she really didn’t like Christmas.
Or him.
Ending things as soon as possible was inevitable.
Trinity had made a mistake in coming here with Riley. Seriously, she should just hibernate through Christmas each year. She’d be a happier person if she did.
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.