She hadn’t expected anything like that. Wade had had a look on his face as though he were being marched to the guillotine. Clenched jaw, blank eyes. He hadn’t wanted to kiss her. And yet, once he did…everything changed. And it really did feel as if everything was different. In less than a minute the way she thought about Wade, the way she looked at him, the way she perceived him shifted on its axis.
Tori dragged her fork through the streaks of whipped cream left on her dessert plate and pondered the kiss. There was a tenderness in his touch that surprised her. A need thrummed through the glide of his fingertips across her skin. It made her want to wrap her arms around his neck and pull him close. Wade! Of all the people to make her react like that… A part of her wished she had found herself under the mistletoe with any of the other brothers. They were all handsome and successful. She could do worse, even considering scowling Brody.
But it had to be Wade, the one she was determined to keep her defenses up against. He was out to push her aside and get what he wanted at any price. She had to remember that.
But somehow that kiss had put a dent in her armor. Sitting so close to him during dinner, Tori couldn’t help but wonder if he knew it. He’d made it clear that first night that he would do whatever it took to change her mind, including seducing her. But the mistletoe kiss wasn’t planned. And she got the feeling from his reaction that it wasn’t just a scheme.
So what was that kiss all about? He’d blown off her question when she asked. She didn’t know why. It was more than just a kiss. More than his ruthless drive. At least, it felt that way to her. Maybe it was just her old attraction to him coloring her impressions.
Tori glanced at Wade beside her. He was watching her. He was facing Heath as his brother talked, but his gaze had strayed to her. There was no anger or animosity in his green eyes. Only desire swirling with the flicker of candlelight. His eyes invited her closer. Dared her to stand under the mistletoe with him again.
No, she had been right. It had been more than just a simple kiss.
Taking a deep breath, Tori turned away and found herself facing Brody. He stiffened when he noticed her move toward him. She could tell he was extremely uncomfortable with her there. While almost everyone else at the table was relaxed and chatting, Brody was board straight in his seat and quiet. He wouldn’t look at her, but every now and again his gaze would stray to her, then nervously back to the others at the table.
She hoped she wasn’t the cause of his discomfort. Tori would hate it if his holiday was ruined because of her surprise arrival. Why had they seated him beside her if he would be miserable? She didn’t know what she could do to make it better. Speaking to him made it worse. So she shifted back toward Wade and felt Brody subtly relax into his chair.
“Can we open a present tonight?” Julianne asked as she got up from the table with a stack of dessert plates she had collected.
“You know the rules,” Molly chided. “Only Tori gets her present tonight.”
Tori was in the process of standing with her own dish when she paused, hearing her name. “What?”
“Why does Tori get to open her gift?” Heath asked. “Not once in eighteen years have you ever let one of us open a gift early.”
“Stop whining, Heath,” Ken said. “Tori is getting her present tonight because she won’t be here in the morning when we do gifts.”
Tori frowned and pushed in her chair. “No more, please. Having me over for dinner was kind enough, really.”
Molly shook her head. “It’s too late. If you don’t take it, it will be a waste.” She turned on her heel and headed into the kitchen, ending the argument.
The next few minutes were a blur of activity. Tori was shooed from the kitchen but watched the activity with interest for a while. Everyone took on a task. Not just the women as she had expected. Wade and Brody pushed up their sleeves and started washing and drying pans. Ken brought in dishes from the dining room. Julianne loaded the dishwasher. Xander loaded plastic containers with extra food. Heath bagged the trash and carried it outside. Molly watched over the process like a tiny drill sergeant.
Feeling useless, Tori went to sit in front of the fireplace. Brody and Heath’s fire was quite excellent, and it warmed her back. The old house was beautiful, but a touch drafty, and being near the blaze was a prime spot.
Looking around, she found the same decorating enthusiasm from the gift shop carried over into the house. The fireplace and railing up the stairs were draped in garland. There were candles and poinsettias and other sparkly things everywhere. The tree was the grand centerpiece of the living room. She had expected a tree decorated with coordinating ribbons and glass globes, but this was a family tree. There was a mishmash of ornaments and pieces made with felt, clothespins and glitter glue. Crafts from the children’s younger days. Multicolored lights. A shiny gold star on the top. It was perfect.