“They look adorable together,” I gushed.
“They do.”
“How long have they been dating?”
Melanie sighed. “They’re not. I pretty much had to threaten Trevor’s life…and inheritance…to get him to bring Scarlett this evening.”
I let out a giggle. “Oh no, Melanie, you didn’t?”
She nodded. “I did. I’m tired of hearing rumors about my youngest son sleeping with nearly all the women in this town. It’s time for him to settle down a bit.”
Chewing my lip, I looked over at them. Trevor placed his hand on Scarlett’s lower back and ushered her on to the next group.
“They sure look like they’re comfortable with each other,” I observed.
We looked at one another and a mischievous smile grew across Melanie’s face. “Indeed, they do.”
My brow lifted. “Why do I get the feeling you’re playing matchmaker, Melanie Parker?”
She placed her hand over her chest and gasped. “Me? Interfere in my children’s’ lives?”
A gentleman wearing a white tux approached us. “Mrs. Parker?”
Turning, she gave him a polite grin. “Did you take care of that request, Smith?”
He nodded. “I have, ma’am. The seats at the family table have been adjusted like you asked.”
“Thank you.” Melanie faced me and laughed. “Now, what makes you think I would meddle in my kids’ love lives?”
There was a look in her eye that screamed she was up to something. She lifted her glass to mine and said, “A toast. To butting in.”
Laughing, I replied, “To butting in.”
Little did I know, Trevor and Scarlett weren’t the only peoples’ lives Melanie was meddling with.
For the last fifteen minutes I had stood there and listened…or pretended to listen…to Bobby Hansen’s discussion of the budget for the Oak Springs City employees Christmas party. It was fucking April, and he was worried about a damn party that was eight months away.
“What do you think, Tripp?”
I had been scanning the large tent hoping to get a look at Harley again. The moment I saw her my cock went rock hard, and I’d had a hell of time hiding it. I glanced around looking for her. She must have moved to the next tent to find her seat for dinner.
“What do I think about what, Bobby?”
The older man groaned. “The budget. Honestly, Parker, for a man running for mayor you need to be more involved.”
Slapping him on the back, I gave him the smile I knew could charm any woman or man. “Bobby, tonight is not about that. It’s about enjoying the company of family and friends and making a difference in a cause close to my mother’s heart. The budget for a party eight months away is not something I think I need to focus on right now.”
I glanced around at the other men in our small group, who all nodded. Some even raised their whiskey glasses to me. I was positive they wanted Bobby to shut up as much as I did.
“Now, if you’ll excuse me, gentlemen, I’d better find my mother. We’ll be sitting soon for dinner.”
Bobby seemed to be angry at first, until I mentioned the reason we were all gathered in my parents’ backyard under tents that were made to look like they were ballrooms in a five-star hotel.
He gave me a slap on the back in return, and I walked away. I took a long pull from my rum and Coke. I was going to need a shot of something straight if I wanted to make it through this night. I hadn’t seen Toby with Harley yet, but I had seen them separately. The thought of him dancing with her this evening had my stomach in fucking knots.
“Who’s the lucky lady who will have the honor of dancing with you this evening, Tripp?”
I turned to see Claire Montigo standing there. She was the younger sister of one of my best friends from high school, Scott Montigo.
Giving her a kiss on the cheek, I looked down to her rather large, pregnant belly.
“I heard you were expecting another baby. Scott told me a few months back.”
Her cheeks blushed. “Baby number three.”
I grinned. “Exciting.”
She nodded. “It is. So are you going to answer me?”
Leaning my head in a bit closer, I asked, “Answer what?”
“Who are you dancing with? I noticed you didn’t come in with anyone. Rumor was you were dating that woman who owns the little shop on Main. Mallory, I believe her name is.”
Jesus H. Christ. The people in this town. Even when they don’t live here they are in on all the gossip.
“Now how in the world would you know all that, Claire? You don’t even live here anymore.”
She laughed. “The gossip mill is high tech now. Text messaging and email make it easy for us out-of-town folks to keep up, my sweet Tripp.”
It was my turn to toss my head back and let out a round of laughter.
“Well, considering both my sisters are married and their husbands are here this evening, it looks like I’ll be sitting that dance out with Trevor and Cord.”