Red & Green

 

I balled my hands in the pockets of my coat in a futile attempt to stay warm. Judging by the many rather expensive cars lining the street, a number of guests had already arrived at the Zenith Christmas party. Knox was forced to park halfway down the street from Patrick’s house, and even with our brisk pace, the cool night air was giving my bare legs goosebumps. Despite my reluctance to step into a party bustling with people, I hoped we would reach Patrick’s house soon.

Questions about last night’s events crept in, and I found myself wondering about the outcome. Had Theo and Jackson obtained any answers from the intruder? Did they end up calling the police? Distracted by my errant thoughts, I halted when I finally caught sight of the house, in awe of its splendor.

“Wow,” I whispered, not even sure I had said it aloud until Theo turned back and grinned at me.

“Pretty awesome, huh?” Theo asked as he and Knox led the way up the path to Patrick’s home.

Pretty awesome was an understatement; while Patrick’s house was always beautiful, this evening it shined like a brilliant star. White lights outlined the roofline and yard and blanketed the landscaping. The festive glow from inside the party silhouetted figures of the guests against the windows.

Chase extended his arm and I gladly took it, almost stumbling when he flashed me a smile complete with dimple. His typical casual attire had been replaced by a suit, and he looked sharp in the tailored navy slacks and jacket that seemed to intensify the blue of his eyes. Glancing at Knox and Theo, I was struck again by how fantastic all three of them looked; clearly, they could have their pick of girls, but I was inordinately pleased none of them brought someone to the party. Am I a terrible person?

The front door opened as we approached, music and chatter pouring out from the house and welcoming us inside. I released Chase’s arm, and he automatically moved to stand behind me in the foyer.

“Can I take your coat, Haley?” Chase offered.

His knuckles grazed my shoulders as he slid my coat over my arms before folding it over his forearm. Such a gentleman. Chase was pulling out all the stops this evening, almost acting as if he was my date. I tried not to let myself get too wrapped up in that fantasy.

I smoothed my skirt and turned around, surprised to find Knox, Theo, and Chase staring at me. Theo swirled his finger, so I bit my lip and twirled in my cranberry-colored dress, the skirt fluffing and sparkling with the movement. I felt a little like a ballerina in the scoop neckline that was fitted through the waist and accented with a jeweled belt. I had opted to wear my hair in a ponytail, the top pulled back high and away from my face, with curls cascading down my partially-exposed back.

Facing Theo, Knox, and Chase once more, I felt my face fall as I took in Theo’s serious expression. “Well shoot, you did such a good job, you’re not going to take me shopping with you anymore.”

I breathed a sigh of relief. I knew I didn’t need Theo’s seal of approval, but it was nice to have it. “Don’t be silly.” I smiled and squeezed Theo’s bicep.

Chase gave me a lingering glance, then whisked off to the coat check and promised to find us again. When I turned back around, Theo had already joined a conversation with a few guys who looked vaguely familiar.

Knox leaned toward me. “Of course. We’re here less than two minutes and the social butterfly is already fluttering around.”

I shrugged. “At least he’s not forcing us to mingle with him.”

Knox’s lips curled into a grin. “Good point. Let’s find Jackson; in the meantime, you can try and guess how many fresh trees Patrick had delivered.”

I followed Knox to the back of the house, admiring the decorations along the way. They were tasteful and beautiful, classic but not overdone. The fireplaces were blazing, and the smell of fresh pine wafted through the air. I counted at least one tree in each room we passed; all were lit with white lights and covered in ornaments, and while they varied in the specifics, each fit within the color scheme of gold, silver, and cream.

We stopped briefly in the dining room. Large cream pillar candles lined the center of the dining table, surrounded by glass hurricane lanterns and greenery. Moving into the living room, I noticed a few faces I recognized and smiled in greeting but wondered where the rest of the guys and Patrick were.

Scanning the room, I caught sight of Ethan looking handsome in a black suit set off by a tartan tie. When the crowd shifted, I realized that his arm was around the waist of a tall girl with blonde hair that had been curled in large waves and ended close to her ample cleavage. She was wearing an almost obscenely short gold sequin dress with an equally low neckline; it reminded me of the dress I’d seen on the mannequin in San Francisco, the one even the saleswoman said she’d never be caught dead in. Why am I not surprised that she is his type?

When Ethan leaned down to whisper in her ear, I forced myself to look away and attempted to ignore the jealousy pinging through my body. Would he use the same “sharing body heat” line on her that he’d used on me only a week before? Considering she was wearing next to nothing and likely to get cold sometime tonight, I wouldn’t be surprised. That glimpse of Ethan with his mystery date was enough to make me glad I’d pulled away from him in San Francisco; I didn’t want to be another girl panting after him.

“Good evening, Haley.” I turned to find Jackson at my side, his indigo eyes caressing me. “You look absolutely exquisite.” Ethan who?

“Thank you. You look quite dashing yourself,” I replied, noting the way his black curls were swept back, making him resemble a model even more than usual.

“Punch?” he asked, holding up a small crystal glass containing red liquid.

Pleasantly surprised, I took the glass. “Sure, thank you.”

“None for me?” Knox asked in a sardonic tone.

“Are you drinking punch these days? I didn’t realize,” Jackson responded glibly.

“You never know. I could develop a taste for it.”

“You’re more than welcome to sample mine,” I offered with a smile, assuming he would never go for it. “Just avoid this side of the glass,” I said, pointing to the slight lipstick smudge on the rim.

As Knox captured the glass in his large hand, I fought the urge to laugh at how delicate it looked, almost like he was a grown-up playing with a child’s tea set. Raising it to his mouth, he looked pointedly at me before placing his lips directly over the lipstick stain. Oh my.

“Sweet,” he said simply, handing the glass back to me. “Now I’d better go hunt down a bourbon before someone questions my masculinity.”

“I don’t think you have anything to worry about,” I muttered, trying not to fixate on the way his shoulders filled out his perfectly-fitted jacket.

Jackson slapped Knox on the back and pointed to the bar set up in the corner. “You’d better not risk it. And grab one for me while you’re at it.”

Once Knox walked away, Jackson looked at me intently, and I realized that he wanted time alone with me. “How are you doing?” he asked with noticeable concern.

“I’m fine,” I responded, knowing he was referring to the break-in and that this was neither the time nor place to discuss anything in detail.

Jackson answering smile was warm and reassuring. “If you’re free tomorrow, perhaps we can catch up since I’m sure you have questions.” I nodded and he continued speaking. “Also, I know we were interrupted before finishing our discussion in San Francisco, but I hope you now feel comfortable contacting me anytime you want to talk about things.”

“Thank you. I would like to discuss it further, but we can do that after the first of the year.”

“Okay, I’ll pencil you in.”

I scowled playfully. “What happened to ‘anytime I want to talk’?”

“You must have misheard,” he said with a grin. “That doesn’t sound at all like something I would say.”

Before I could respond, I heard an unfamiliar voice right behind me. “Hello, Jackson.” When I turned around, I found Kenneth James watching me. “Why don’t you introduce me to your lovely companion.”

Jackson’s posture stiffened almost imperceptibly. “Kenneth James, this is Haley Jones. Haley is a friend and a member of our administrative staff.”

I couldn’t help but notice Jackson’s use of “friend.” Did he say that so I would sound like more than a fellow employee or less than a girlfriend? Maybe both?

Mr. James held out his hand. “Miss Jones, it’s a pleasure to meet you. How long have you been working for us?”

“It’s nice to meet you as well, Mr. James. I’ve been at Zenith almost three months.”

“Excellent. I trust everyone is treating you well?”

“Of course.”

“Glad to hear it. Well, I’m going to head outdoors and enjoy the California weather. D.C. is beastly this time of year.”

“That was odd,” I said to Jackson, watching Kenneth James walk away. Remembering how tense everyone at the office had been the last time he visited, I stated curiously, “But he didn’t seem so bad.”

Jackson lowered his voice. “He can be quite a tyrant when things don’t go his way, but the rest of the time he’s generally pleasant. Still, I wonder how he and Uncle have managed to stay friends for so many years. A mystery that may never be solved.”

“What’s a mystery?” Knox asked, handing Jackson a glass of amber liquid.

“Kenneth James. He came over and insisted on meeting Haley,” Jackson replied with a quirk of his brow.

Knox grunted. “I’m glad I missed him.”

When a waiter walked by with a tray of canapés, Jackson waved him over and selected a few for each of us. He held out a small plate topped with tempting bite-sized treats from sourdough bread topped with a cucumber and spicy shrimp to tiny herbed biscuits with creamy ricotta and onion jam. I couldn’t wait to try them all, but so far my favorite was the date stuffed with goat cheese and wrapped in bacon.

“Liam must be thrilled that Uncle hired his favorite caterer again,” Knox commented. “Although, I hope there’s some real food hiding around here. Man cannot survive on hors d’oeuvres alone.”

“You should check the game room; I heard something about a table of food being set up in there,” Jackson responded.

“Good.”

“So, how long has Patrick been hosting the Christmas party?” I asked as I let my gaze wander around the room once more, noticing how at ease most of the guests seemed.

Jackson appeared thoughtful for a moment before responding, “About ten years now. Ever since he moved into this humble abode,” he added dryly.

“It is rather grand,” I agreed, “especially since Patrick doesn’t seem the type to flaunt his wealth.”

“He’s not. It’s more of a status thing; showing off Zenith’s success is good for business. And, now he also uses the excuse that it’s large enough to house the entire team, which is a benefit even I can admit to.”

“Good point.” Turning to Knox, I said, “What about you, Knox? How many of these parties have you been to?” It wasn’t the subtlest way to ask him how long he’d been involved with Zenith, but I wanted to hear the answer, nonetheless. Jackson, Liam, and Knox were the only ones who referred to Patrick as “Uncle,” which suggested to me that Knox had been around longer than Ethan, Chase, and Theo.

“I was in the youth program for a few years before Jax convinced me to show up, so this is only my fourth Christmas party, whereas poor Jax has attended every one. It’s not so bad now, but at fifteen, it definitely wasn’t my scene.” At least seven years, then?

“Would you have shown up in jeans with a leather jacket and your hair falling over your eyes?” I asked teasingly, trying to picture a younger Knox at the elegant party.

“Well, I couldn’t afford leather back then, so trade the jacket for a hoodie, and you’ve pretty much nailed it,” he said with a chuckle. “Although, if you want to talk about fashion disasters, did you know that Theo went through a beret phase?”

“What? No!”

While Knox amused me with a history of Theo’s various fads, I noticed that Jackson had been approached by a cute brunette seemingly on the prowl. She was obviously flirting and attempting to draw Jackson into a conversation, but he appeared to be politely shutting her down. After another minute or so, he excused himself and headed for the bar. Interesting.

“There you are, gorgeous,” Liam said in a surprisingly loud voice as he latched onto my hand and started leading me away from Knox. “Let’s go out the patio; it’s such a lovely evening.”

I looked over my shoulder at Knox, and he shook his head with a smile. And then, just beyond him, I noticed a girl scowling at me. Upon closer inspection, I realized that she was the snotty girl I had accidentally bumped into not long after I began working at Zenith. What is her problem?

Liam lowered his voice. “That was a close call. Vanessa was marching straight for me, and I do not feel like dealing with her tonight.”

“Vanessa? Are you talking about the blonde who was giving me the evil eye?”

“Yes, sorry about that. She has been after me for months, and apparently she doesn’t take no for an answer.”

When we reached the patio, I was surprised by the number of guests clustered about, although I shouldn’t have been considering how beautiful the backyard looked. Large globe lights hung in the trees and hundreds of candles floated in the pool. The lights were dimmed, and the atmosphere outside was even more relaxed than in the house.

As Liam guided me to a relatively quiet corner of the patio, he asked, “Are you cold?”

“Surprisingly, no. Even though it’s chilly out here, those heaters really help.”

Finally dropping my hand, he gave me a wide smile. “Alone at last.”

I laughed, directing my gaze to the forty or more guests mingling in the outdoor space. “Yeah, completely alone.”

Liam inched forward until I had to tilt my head up to meet his heated stare. “Well, alone enough to tell you that every time I believe you couldn’t look any more gorgeous, I’m proven wrong.” Suddenly feeling too exposed, I tried to turn away, but he caught my chin and held it still. “I know what you’re thinking, but that wasn’t a line.”

Sensing the truth in his words, I responded softly, “Maybe I was just thinking that was an incredibly sweet thing to say, and thank you.”

“You’re welcome,” he murmured back, focusing intently on my lips.

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw a waiter moving in our direction and took advantage of the opportunity to step back. Liam’s company was always entertaining, and much to my surprise, I was beginning to feel comfortable around him. Yet, I wasn’t ready to completely let my guard down with him. I didn’t know what I was waiting for, but a voice in the back of mind whispered that it was only a matter of time before my walls would come crumbling down.

After Liam coerced me into trying all of the appetizers on the waiter’s tray, we moved a little closer to the house, and I inadvertently caught Kara’s attention. I waved and then watched as she tugged on the sleeve of the guy standing next to her and headed our way. Once he turned, I recognized him as Logan from Team Falcon.

“Hi, Haley. You look so pretty, and your dress is amazing!”

“Thanks,” I said, admiring her nude dress with a blue lace overlay. “I love yours, too.”

Kara gestured to her companion. “I don’t think you’ve officially met Logan Costa.”

I offered my hand. “No, I haven’t. It’s nice to meet you.”

“You too,” he responded in a smooth voice. “Hello, Liam.”

While the four of us chatted about random topics, I noticed that Logan and Kara appeared to be intentionally standing about a foot apart, and they kept skirting eye contact. Is there something going on between them? With his dark hair and dreamy brown eyes, I wouldn’t blame Kara for being interested. And unlike Scott, Team Falcon’s leader, Logan seemed like a genuinely nice guy.

Well, he seemed nice until he turned to me and asked, “So, Haley, are you dating Liam or not? You’ve caused quite a bit of chatter around the office, but no one actually knows anything.”

“Logan!” Kara smacked him on the chest and gave me an apologetic smile. “You don’t have to answer that.”

As my cheeks began to burn from the implication that I was the subject of office gossip, my tongue froze to the roof of my mouth. Mentally, I knew the answer to his question, but I couldn’t manage to spit it out.

Liam came to my rescue, casually slinging an arm around my shoulder. “We do make the most adorable couple, don’t we?” he said, exaggerating his accent. “I fancy a drink. What about you, love?” He gave me an impish grin, clearly enjoying the performance.

I resisted the urge to roll my eyes at him and said, “Sure.” Anything to get out of responding to Logan.

“Haley! There you are,” I heard Melissa’s voice say from behind me. I turned around to watch her approach and subtly pushed Liam’s arm off my shoulders. Once she reached us, she linked her arm with mine and spoke to the others. “Hello, Liam, Kara, Logan. Sorry, but I need to steal Haley for a few minutes.”

When she started pulling me away from the group, I gave in and followed. “See you guys later,” I said, before giving Melissa a questioning look.

“You and Liam sure looked cozy,” she said with a sly smile.

“That wasn’t what it—”

She interrupted me. “It doesn’t matter; we have more important things to discuss.” Lowering her voice to a whisper, she said, “Don’t look, but Chase and Tyler are over there, and I need you to come be a buffer so I can talk to Chase. Pretty please? With dark chocolate on top?”

Or I could leave the party for a root canal. That sounded like just as much fun. Nevertheless, I found myself agreeing because I couldn’t think of an excuse not to. This should be interesting.

“Hi, Chase. Tyler,” Melissa said in her usual exuberant tone.

I glanced at Chase before working up the nerve to make eye contact with Tyler. As always, he looked great, and despite my refusal to be his date, he gave me a friendly smile. “You both look lovely this evening.”

“Thank you,” I replied, feeling shy around him for the first time. Luckily, I could count on Melissa to keep the conversation going; otherwise, I might have attempted to escape the awkward situation.

“Are you guys doing anything fun over Christmas?” Melissa asked, looking at Chase. When he didn’t respond, Tyler jumped in and described the huge family get-together that he was looking forward to. I watched Chase and could tell that he wished he could escape as much as I did.

“How about you, Chase?” Melissa prodded when Tyler was done talking. Although I felt bad for Chase, I had to give Melissa credit—the girl was seriously tenacious.

He ran his fingers over the end of his tie before answering. “Nothing nearly as exciting as Tyler’s plans,” he responded vaguely.

“Oh, come on,” she urged. “Surely you’ll do something.”

Apparently realizing he was being forced to answer, he said, “The team will spend Christmas at Patrick’s house. And, I’ll visit my grandmother. That’s about it.”

“Your grandmother?” Melissa’s voice rose to an almost shrill level. “That’s so sweet!”

“What are your plans?” I asked Melissa, wanting to draw her attention away from Chase. He gave me a grateful smile as she started chattering about everything she had scheduled during her break from school.

She immediately dove into the next topic before abruptly asking, “Why didn’t you guys bring dates?” Oh, no.

Tyler shot me a smile and said in a teasing voice, “I had hoped that Haley would agree to accompany me, but alas, she did not.” I smiled back, relieved that he wasn’t upset with me. Hopefully, we could still be friends.

Melissa laughed. “Haley! You’re such a little heartbreaker!”

Feeling Chase’s gaze searing into me, I turned my head and slowly raised my eyes to his, unsure what I would find. His expression seemed more curious than anything as he searched my face like he was trying to figure me out.

“Chase?”

His head snapped at the sound of Melissa saying his name. “I’m sorry, what?” he asked distractedly.

“Where’s your date this evening?”

“Oh, um,” he stammered, quickly glancing at me and then away. “I’m not really seeing anyone right now.”

Melissa’s smirk was almost predatory as she said, “Well, that’s just a shame.”

I racked my brain for a subject change, and remembering Melissa’s mention of her upcoming ski trip, I asked, “So, what’s Colorado like this time of year?” It was a feeble attempt to avoid more dating conversation, but thankfully, it worked.

After a few minutes of listening to Melissa expound on the superiority of Aspen over Vail, I was relieved to see Theo heading our direction. “Haley! I finally found you! We’re going inside, no arguments,” he said merrily, resting his hand on the small of my back and leading me toward the patio doors. Looking over his shoulder, he called, “The rest of you are welcome, of course,” and I looked back to see Chase, Tyler, Melissa, and even Kara, Logan, and Liam all following.

As Theo ushered me to the stairs, I caught sight of Patrick and he gave me a friendly smile. I wanted to say hello at some point and compliment him on the party, but I hadn’t yet had the opportunity. He looked happy and at ease, the perfect host.

I was eager to escape to the game room, hopeful the change of scenery would relieve me from what had been a series of uncomfortable conversations. Doubtful, I thought. This entire party was like navigating a minefield. If nothing else, Jackson had mentioned a table of food, and that was something to look forward to judging by everything I had consumed thus far.

We entered a spacious room with large ceilings and, fortunately, few guests. I scanned the room, taking note of the large billiard table, dart board, and other games. Several girls lounged on the over-sized leather sofas, casting glances at Scott, Knox, and Ethan. When our group arrived, the girls turned their attention to us, and I felt like they were watching me, though I wasn’t sure why.

I darted to the food table, wishing for at least a few moments of peace and quiet, but Melissa followed close on my heels. “What is up with Chase? Why is he so frickin’ clueless?” Her exasperation was clear even through her loud whisper.

I shrugged. I couldn’t decide which would be more awkward, breaking the news to her that Chase wasn’t interested in her romantically or continuing to watch their game of cat and mouse.

“He admitted he’s not seeing anyone. Why won’t he ask me out? I’m practically throwing myself at him; I mean, what more can I do?” she whined.

Theo joined us, effectively cutting off Melissa’s rant, and we clustered around in a loose circle with our plates. Theo easily maintained the conversation, keeping the topics drama free, his friendly personality shining through. Although I envied his relaxed sociability, I was just thankful to have a moment's respite from all the drama.

Small groups of guests formed little cliques around the room, some talking and others playing billiards or watching. Melissa was summoned to join the group of girls sitting on the couch; they all seemed to be drinking, their voices getting louder and louder. Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed a few of the girls giving me dirty looks. What now?

Chase and Liam approached, and it almost felt like they were closing rank around me, sheltering me from unwanted questions and looks. Glancing past Theo, I noticed Ethan and Scott posturing, puffing their chests and clenching their fists as if anticipating a confrontation. Faces drawn, I couldn’t hear what had been said, but their body language sent a message loud and clear—they did not like each other. Knox straightened as he moved to insert himself between the two of them.

A moment later, Knox whispered in Ethan’s ear. Ethan downed the contents of his drink, slammed his glass on a side table, and stormed off in a huff. Scott and Knox shook hands, then parted, Knox joining our group. What was that about? Were Ethan and Scott the source of the animosity between Team Jaguar and Team Falcon?

Liam raised an eyebrow, and Knox issued a curt nod in response.

“Ugh, I hate when you guys do that,” I said under my breath, fed up with the insinuations and gossip of the evening.

“What’s that, gorgeous?” Liam asked.

“You know, your secret telepathic crap. Will you just tell me if everything is okay with Ethan?”

Knox chuckled. “Secret telepathic crap.” He took a sip of his drink, the ice shifting in his glass. “Let’s just say that Scott, Ethan, and alcohol don’t mix well.”

Theo rolled his eyes. “It’s not the alcohol, it’s the two of them. I may joke about the rivalry, but they take it too far.”

Searching out Ethan once again, I found him sequestered in a corner with his date, his hands grazing the sides of her rib cage. If he lifted his thumbs any further, he’d be touching her breasts, and they looked two seconds away from devouring each other. I got the impression that Ethan was avoiding the group. In fact, apart from the tense scene with Knox and Scott, I hadn’t seen Ethan interact with any of the guys all night.

When Liam challenged me to a game of darts, I gladly accepted. The five of us took turns playing each other as Melissa and several other girls inched closer, almost hovering on the edge of our circle. I slipped over to the food table to refill my punch when one of the girls sidled up next to me.

“How did you do it? How did you get in with Team Jaguar?” she asked, her words slurred.

Caught off-guard by her question, I must have made an odd face, because she continued speaking. “What makes you so special?” She leaned in, the smell of alcohol strong on her breath. “They’ve never given any girl, until you,” she pointed a finger at me, almost touching my chest, “the time of day.” Her tone was borderline angry.

Taken aback by her blunt, and rather rude, line of questioning, I shook my head, baffled by the one-sided conversation. Wow, just when I thought this party couldn’t get any worse.

After making an excuse about having to use the restroom, I walked away quickly. What the heck was I supposed to say? They didn’t pick me; they got stuck with me when they crashed into my life and ran my dad off?

I escaped to the hallway, planning to hole up in a bathroom for the remainder of the party if need be and caught sight of Chase heading toward a guest room. Curious, I trailed after him and was startled when he stretched an arm out of the doorway and clasped my wrist, hauling me into the room after him. Leaning casually against the wall, he pulled on my wrist until I was standing directly in front of him.

Even in the dim room, Chase’s smile was almost radiant. “Following me?”

“Not exactly. I was looking for a place to hide and saw you come in here. You okay?”

“Yeah, I needed a break from all of the people.”

“Oh, well, I can go,” I said, starting to move away.

Chase placed his hands on my hips to keep me in place and said softly, “Stay. I don’t want a break from you.”

Now a couple of inches closer to Chase, I looked down for a moment to conceal the pink I knew was staining my cheeks. “Okay.”

“Did something happen?”

I pressed my lips together, trying to decide how to respond. Not wanting to make a big deal of the scene in the game room, I simply said, “I don’t think most of the other Zenith girls like me very much.”

Chase pulled me into a hug, whispering, “I’m sorry” into my hair. After releasing me, he gave me a surprisingly naughty grin. “Do I need to beat up a girl, or three, for you?”

Laughing, I shook my head. “I can handle them.”

“I know you can. And, you do realize they’re just jealous, right?”

I nodded, knowing it was true. The negative attention I was receiving wasn’t about me personally; any girl in my position would have received the same hostility.

After a few more minutes of discussing some of the not-so-fun parts of the evening, Chase groaned. “I guess we better get back; otherwise, Knox might send out a search party for you.” He held out his hand. “I vow to stay by your side if you promise to keep distracting Melissa.”

“Deal.”