Julianne frowned, looking around the living room. “Where’s Wade?”
“Bringing in the last of the Christmas presents from Brody’s car. How exactly did I get saddled with this job on my own? What are all of you doin—”
Wade stopped in front of the Christmas tree, his arms overflowing with brightly wrapped packages. His gaze zeroed in on Tori in the crowd of his family members. Her hair must have made her stand out. For a moment, a confused mix of emotions played across his eyes. There was a flash of anger, irritation, concern, surprise… Then his gaze flicked over to his father, and Wade’s jaw tightened to hold in whatever words Tori’s sudden appearance brought to his mind.
“Wade, have you met our new neighbor?” Ken seemed oblivious to his son’s consternation.
“Yes, I have.” Wade lowered the presents to the floor, leaving them beside the small mountain of gifts that was already arranged there. He dusted his hands off on his jeans and pushed the sleeves of his hunter-green sweater up the strong bulge of his muscled forearms. He took a deep breath, cast a few meaningful glances to his siblings and walked over to the group. “Mama introduced us in the shop a couple days ago. I didn’t realize you were coming to dinner tonight.” Wade speared her with a sharp, accusing gaze.
Tori straightened and put on a polite smile. He was unhappy about her being here. Good. He shouldn’t be the only one who got to run around town with a smug grin on his face. “Yes, Molly insisted I come tonight so I wouldn’t spend Christmas alone. She’s very sweet.”
“And stubborn,” Heath added with a grin.
“Glad you could join us tonight,” Ken said, with a reassuring hand to her shoulder. “Dinner should be ready soon.”
From there, the group seemed to disperse. Julianne and Ken disappeared into the kitchen to help Molly. Brody and Heath went back to building the world’s greatest fire. Xander made noises about presents in his car and slipped out the back door where Wade had just come in. It left Tori and Wade alone in the entryway, surrounded by twinkling lights and Bing Crosby crooning in the background.
Wade watched her intensely for a moment, letting the pressure of his anger out while no one was watching. His face had grown a bit red from the strain of holding it in for so long. He quickly threw a glance over his shoulder for witnesses before he spoke. “May I take your coat?” The words were stilted. Formal. As they’d been Saturday in the gift shop.
Nodding, Tori stuffed her gloves into her pockets and slipped out of her jacket. Wade took it from her and walked a few feet to the closet. She watched him slip the coat onto a hanger, meticulously straightening it as he spoke. “What the hell do you think you’re doing?” His voice was extremely low, almost a hiss.
“Having Christmas dinner,” Tori retorted. “Your mother invited me, and there was no telling the woman no.”
Wade turned toward her, his brow furrowed. He was still irritated, but some of the red blotches were fading from his neck. He had to know there was no arguing with Molly Eden. She was a force of nature. “You could’ve had the decency to fake the swine flu and cancel.”
Tori crossed her arms over her chest. “It’s Christmas Eve. So sue me if I’d rather spend it with other people than sit alone in my trailer. It was a nice invitation, and I accepted it. You can stand there and believe it’s part of my supersecret plan to undermine your dastardly plot. And maybe it is. But there’s nothing you can do about it except smile and eat some turkey, unless you want to make a scene and ruin your mother’s holiday.”
Wade thrust her coat into the closet and shut the door as forcefully as he could without audibly slamming it. He turned to her with venom in his dark eyes. “I told you my family is the most important thing in the world to me. It’s the reason I’m willing to pay you more than anyone in their right mind would pay for that land. To preserve my family. You can come here and have dinner. But you’d damn well better know that I won’t sit back and let you toy with any of them.”
“I’m not out to manipulate people like you are, Wade. I have no intention of doing anything to your family.”
“You’d better hope you’re right.”
“Or what?” Tori challenged.
Wade opened his mouth to answer, but his gaze moved over her shoulder to someone behind her. His defensive posture melted away, his expression softening.
Then Tori heard Heath’s amusement-laced voice behind her. “Hey, you guys are standing under the mistletoe.”