Page 31 of Broken
“We’ll put your gift on the table,” Jericho said, as a server appeared with a push cart filled with various beverages.
“Make yourself at home,” Liv said before she and Jericho left.
With a glass of champagne in hand, Jaqueline walked through the two-story foyer. In the living room, she glanced around.
While the invitation had said, “dress comfortably”, she was glad she’d worn a bright orange dress, cinched at the waste with a shawl draped over her shoulders. On her feet she’d worn her favorite four-inch stilettos. At five seven, she considered herself average height, until she slipped into those shoes. Now, she towered over most everyone. And she loved it.
As she made her way around the throng of guests in search of her close friend, she admired the layout of the home. It was open, with perfectly placed sofas and coffee tables. While the rooms were large, each felt cozy and comfortable. Various-sized vases with beautifully arranged bouquets of tulips had been set around the room.
There had to be seventy people chatting in small groups. Most were inside, but some were clustered by the covered swimming pool. A few played horseshoes on the lawn.
Excitement coursed through her. Addison was one more reason why Jacqueline was so happy to be back in the area.
A small table, near the sliding glass doors, was filled with framed photos of Addison and Hawk over the years. They’d been friends first, but Jacqueline knew Addison had it bad for him, though she denied, denied, denied.
While she admired the pictures, someone slid open the glass door and stepped inside. She glanced over at him and a hit of adrenaline spiked through her.
Ohmygod, it’s him.
Her heart took off in her chest.
Mac looked even more handsome in the light of day. His tailored sport coat clung to his perfectly sculpted shoulders while his bright white shirt accentuated his tanned face and made his blue-green eyes pop. Oozing wealth and power, he was the epitome of sophistication and class.
He glanced over, then did a double take. “Jack, what are you doing here?”
She froze. No words.
Her chest heated, the warmth spreading up her neck to her cheeks.
Say something, anything.
“I saw a bunch of cars and thought I’d crash the party.”
His laugh sent a bolt of lightning charging through her.
In the bright afternoon light, it was so much easier to appreciate his tousled hair with its sun-kissed ends. But it was the fire in his eyes that kept her cemented in place, like a mannequin. All she could do was stand there and drink him in. She made a mental note of the light dusting of freckles on his nose, his full, perfectly sculpted lips and chiseled jawline. She wanted to press her mouth to his, her cheek to his, her body on his.
Wow, just wow.
For all the gawking as she was doing, he was doing plenty of his own. He devoured her with his hungry gaze while a shiver of desire skirted through her.
His massive body blocked the doorway, and a man with long, blond hair had been waiting to come in. She curled her fingers around Mac’s bulging bicep—because shehadto touch him—and tugged him toward her.
He mistook that for an embrace and leaned down to drop a lingering kiss her cheek. Her eyes fluttered closed while a whoosh of heat burned through her like a raging forest fire.
“Babe, you’re blocking traffic,” said the man who’d been standing behind him.
Mac flashed him a smile. “Sorry, brother. Come on in.”
With a wink, he continued into the house.
Still standing close, Mac peered down at her. His stunning male beauty mesmerized her.
“Fuck, I want to kiss you,” he murmured.
“Are you insane?” she whispered. “I’m not even supposed to know you. What are you doing here?”
“My brother’s getting married. What areyoudoing here, party crasher?”
