eyes crinkled irritatingly. “You should know I’d never bother with a posse when I have you.”
Scorn radiated off her. “Aren’t you supposed to be somewhere in New Zealand embarrassing yourself on camera?” She could cheerfully have bitten her tongue the minute the words were out.
As for J.J., he just grinned. “And here I didn’t think you cared.”
“News bulletin,” she told him, reaching for the package he held just out of reach. “I don’t.”
He lifted the box just a few inches higher. “But you do keep track of me. I’m flattered.”
“I keep track of nor’ easters, too, mostly because I’m hoping they’ll go somewhere else. And if you’d give me back that box, I’d go somewhere else myself.”
He burst out laughing. “Oh, Lainie, life just isn’t the same when you’re not around.”
“That’s funny, life’s always the same when you’re around,” she said sweetly. “You’re nothing if not predictable.”
That wiped away the smile. “Maybe when it comes to going fast.”
She shook her head pityingly. “Oh, Speed, everything you do is predictable. Where do I start? Let’s see… I’m betting that your last six girlfriends—the ones for this season, I mean—bought their lipstick using euros.”
“Give me a break. I live in Europe seven months out of the year. Who else am I supposed to date? After all, you never come to visit me,” he said with a leer.
Lainie folded her arms. “Okay, how about the CD changer in your car?”
“Yeah?”
“It’s got at least one oldie disc by Lynyrd Skynrd.”
“Lucky guess.”
“Not a guess. Like I said, Speed, predictable.”
It was his turn to scowl. “None of that counts.”
“Speaking of your car, twenty bucks says you bought a new one a week after you hit the ground in Montpelier last spring.”
“Yeah, so?”
“You did buy a new car, didn’t you?”
He shrugged. “Maybe. The question is what?”
Given his image, the ultrasexy sports car would be the obvious pick. But she knew better. “The biggest mean-ass four-by-four hemi on top truck in midnight-blue metal flake.” She smiled in enjoyment. “And if they didn’t carry it in midnight-blue metal flake, you had them do a custom job for you.”
To her infinite pleasure, his mouth fell slightly ajar.
“Well, am I right?”
He recovered. “You could have looked right out in the parking lot and seen it.”
“Maybe, except that if I know you, you tucked it away in the back row.” When he was silent, she merely crossed her arms and looked satisfied. “Oh, yeah, Speed, I know you. I know you through and through.”
And she plucked the package from his hands and walked inside.
Chapter Two
One thing she had to give him: he threw a hell of a party. At a glance, Lainie would have sworn the spacious lodge held the entire population of Crawford Notch, where Gabe lived now, as well as Eastmont. People crowded together in the main room, laughing, joking, sipping drinks. Off to one side, in the lounge, a band played U2. As far as opening events, it was a humdinger.
Then again, so was the lodge. Gabe and Hadley hadn’t bothered to renovate. Instead they’d just knocked down the old structure and put up something inspired, something open and airy and inviting. The cathedral ceiling of the main room soared overhead; skylights brought the day inside. The two walls of the lodge that faced the mountain were sheets of glass, looking out on the vivid-green turf of the final slope of the ski runs. In five months the grass would be covered in snow, dotted with the bright flashes of speeding skiers. Then this room would belong to the après ski crowd.
But for now it was theirs.
Lainie watched the bartender in the lounge pour a martini. Discreet waiters circulated with canapés. She took a blissful sniff as a tray of scallops wrapped in bacon passed by. Later, she promised herself. For now she needed to find the guests of honor and figure out someplace to drop her gift.
“Look who’s here, it’s Witch Girl,” she heard a loud voice say.
“Gabe!” She found herself swept up in a bear hug by her dark-haired cousin. “How have you been? It’s been forever since I’ve seen you.”
His teeth gleamed in a smile, and she thought, as usual, that he could have made a fortune in Hollywood. “Not that long. Nick’s wedding was, what, three months ago?”
“Two,” corrected the slender blonde who stepped up beside him. “Still too long, though. Thanks for coming.”
“Hadley, sweetie, no way would I have missed this.” Lainie hugged her in turn. “I am so happy for you guys.”
Hadley pushed back a sheaf of pale hair and gave her a skeptical look. “Don’t give me that. You’re happy because we’re keeping your parents off your back. You don’t fool me.”
Lainie grinned. “You love me and want me to be happy, don’t you? Besides, I really am thrilled for you. You’re perfect together.”
Gabe gathered Hadley against him, his dark hair mixing with her light. “That’s what I keep telling her. We’re made for each other. I was made to look good and she was made to wash my socks. Oof.” He released her, rubbing his side where she’d elbowed him.
Hadley smiled prettily. “We’ve already agreed, he’ll wash his own socks.”
Lainie laughed out loud. “I think you’ll both do fabulously.” And an arm looped around her from behind.
“What do you think, Lainie,” J.J. asked, “will you wash my socks? Ow!”
She removed her elbow from his side and turned to see him bent over. “I’ll wash my hands of you, if that’ll do.”
“You’re roughing up my best man, there,” Gabe said mildly.
“Consider it for the good of mankind.”
“That’s not very friendly,” J.J. complained. “What did I ever do to mankind?”
“For the good of womankind, then,” she amended. “On general principles.”
“Underneath that mask of hostility lies complete devotion,” J.J. told Hadley.
She stuck her tongue in her cheek. “I can see that.”
“If I wanted to be devoted to you, Speed, I’d have to line up behind the entire female population
