Read Online Worth the Trouble (St. James #2) by Jamie Beck - Free Book Online
Authors: Jamie Beck
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on?” Jackson leaned forward, resting his elbows on the table, and shot a disappointed look at David. He glanced down and shook his head. “Can’t we joke around like always without you getting all sappy? Seriously!”
“I didn’t stop your teasing,” David said.
“No, but you’re worried she’ll be hurt by a joke she’s heard from me a million times before.” Jackson winked at Vivi before spearing David with a withering stare. “Cut it out, man.”
David held his hands up in surrender, then brushed his hand along Vivi’s thigh and sat back. He scrutinized Cat with the intensity she’d come to expect from and love about her oldest brother. “You don’t look like yourself this morning.”
“Gee, thanks.” Enough already with being told how shitty she looked today. “I’m pretty sure I’m not the only one who had a few too many drinks last night.” Cat cast a quick glance at Jackson, who frowned and crossed his arms in front of his chest. David stared at Jackson for an extra second, then returned his attention to Cat.
“I noticed Marc and Eric sniffing around you all evening,” he continued. “Were they giving you trouble?”
Everyone’s eyes settled on her. Hank, in particular, seemed to be studying her reaction.
“No. I drank too much, but I’m fine.” She defiantly widened her eyes when David challenged her with a look of absolute disbelief. “Quit staring at me! Eat your breakfast.”
Fortunately they obeyed. The conversation turned to David and Vivi’s honeymoon plans, which involved a twelve-day trip to Italy and Spain. Cat’s attention to the details waned thanks to her preoccupation with Hank.
David and Vivi departed to make their rounds with the other guests.
“Cat, can you be ready in twenty minutes?” Jackson asked.
“Pretty much.” Cat forced another chunk of muffin down her throat, hoping it would absorb the remnants of alcohol in her system. “I just have to throw some things in my bags.”
“Okay. I’m going up to pack. Meet you in the lobby?”
Cat nodded.
“Amy, it’s been nice to meet you. Hank, see you tomorrow.” Jackson picked the last piece of bacon off his plate and ate it in two bites before he disappeared.
Well, this is awkward . Cat almost ducked out, too, but then a com pulsion to speak privately with Hank swamped her. She couldn’t leave without knowing whether he’d peeked at her journal. Now or never .
“Hank, may I speak with you for a minute . . . alone?”
His eyes flashed. For a second he looked dangerous, like a bear caught in a trap. “Sure.”
“Thanks.” Cat rose from her chair with as much poise as she could muster. “Sorry, Amy. I need five minutes.”
Hank stood and followed Cat into the lobby.
“What’s up?” He shoved his hands in his pockets, calling her attention to his jeans. His untucked shirt hid the waistband, but she could tell they hung low on his narrow hips. Despite wishing for a better view, she dragged her eyes up to meet his before he caught her staring.
Cat absently hugged herself then crossed her arms in full defense mode. “I’d like to know what happened last night.”
Hank’s chin withdrew. “Nothing.”
“Really? ’Cause I woke up in my underwear, and I remember you kissing me.”
Hank sighed and raked one hand through his hair before meeting her gaze. “I took you to your room to keep you out of trouble. You asked for a kiss goodnight. Rather than argue, I kissed you and left. That’s it, Cat. No need to worry.”
Sounded reasonable, but she sensed something more had happened. “Did you read my diary?”
His brows rose to his hairline. “No, I didn’t invade your privacy while you were passed out, Cat. But that sure confirms what you think of me.”
“I can tell you’re hiding something, so I’m left to wonder.” She peered at him more closely and poked him in the chest with her index finger. “Why did you think I was in trouble? As I recall, I was having fun.”
“Fun?
“I didn’t stop your teasing,” David said.
“No, but you’re worried she’ll be hurt by a joke she’s heard from me a million times before.” Jackson winked at Vivi before spearing David with a withering stare. “Cut it out, man.”
David held his hands up in surrender, then brushed his hand along Vivi’s thigh and sat back. He scrutinized Cat with the intensity she’d come to expect from and love about her oldest brother. “You don’t look like yourself this morning.”
“Gee, thanks.” Enough already with being told how shitty she looked today. “I’m pretty sure I’m not the only one who had a few too many drinks last night.” Cat cast a quick glance at Jackson, who frowned and crossed his arms in front of his chest. David stared at Jackson for an extra second, then returned his attention to Cat.
“I noticed Marc and Eric sniffing around you all evening,” he continued. “Were they giving you trouble?”
Everyone’s eyes settled on her. Hank, in particular, seemed to be studying her reaction.
“No. I drank too much, but I’m fine.” She defiantly widened her eyes when David challenged her with a look of absolute disbelief. “Quit staring at me! Eat your breakfast.”
Fortunately they obeyed. The conversation turned to David and Vivi’s honeymoon plans, which involved a twelve-day trip to Italy and Spain. Cat’s attention to the details waned thanks to her preoccupation with Hank.
David and Vivi departed to make their rounds with the other guests.
“Cat, can you be ready in twenty minutes?” Jackson asked.
“Pretty much.” Cat forced another chunk of muffin down her throat, hoping it would absorb the remnants of alcohol in her system. “I just have to throw some things in my bags.”
“Okay. I’m going up to pack. Meet you in the lobby?”
Cat nodded.
“Amy, it’s been nice to meet you. Hank, see you tomorrow.” Jackson picked the last piece of bacon off his plate and ate it in two bites before he disappeared.
Well, this is awkward . Cat almost ducked out, too, but then a com pulsion to speak privately with Hank swamped her. She couldn’t leave without knowing whether he’d peeked at her journal. Now or never .
“Hank, may I speak with you for a minute . . . alone?”
His eyes flashed. For a second he looked dangerous, like a bear caught in a trap. “Sure.”
“Thanks.” Cat rose from her chair with as much poise as she could muster. “Sorry, Amy. I need five minutes.”
Hank stood and followed Cat into the lobby.
“What’s up?” He shoved his hands in his pockets, calling her attention to his jeans. His untucked shirt hid the waistband, but she could tell they hung low on his narrow hips. Despite wishing for a better view, she dragged her eyes up to meet his before he caught her staring.
Cat absently hugged herself then crossed her arms in full defense mode. “I’d like to know what happened last night.”
Hank’s chin withdrew. “Nothing.”
“Really? ’Cause I woke up in my underwear, and I remember you kissing me.”
Hank sighed and raked one hand through his hair before meeting her gaze. “I took you to your room to keep you out of trouble. You asked for a kiss goodnight. Rather than argue, I kissed you and left. That’s it, Cat. No need to worry.”
Sounded reasonable, but she sensed something more had happened. “Did you read my diary?”
His brows rose to his hairline. “No, I didn’t invade your privacy while you were passed out, Cat. But that sure confirms what you think of me.”
“I can tell you’re hiding something, so I’m left to wonder.” She peered at him more closely and poked him in the chest with her index finger. “Why did you think I was in trouble? As I recall, I was having fun.”
“Fun?
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