Mary and Bright: A Christmas Romantic Comedy by M. E. Gorry

Author:M. E. Gorry [Gorry, M. E.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2023-12-31T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eight: Kate’s 30th Birthday Party –9 Days Til Christmas

“This place is packed,” a familiar baritone voice said close to Mary’s face, lips grazing her ear, making her insides tingle just like he always did. How did he always manage to sneak up on her? Why were they always meeting this way? “How does Kate even know so many people?”

“Out of your element surrounded by so many strangers, Mackenzie?” she asked without turning. She hadn’t seen him in a week but everything about him remained familiar…yet oh so tantalizing. It amazed her that less than a month ago she hadn’t even known him but now…well, now the expectation and anticipation of seeing him again somehow made the dreaded Belt Parkway traffic to get out this way a little easier to endure. With each invitation Kate had extended her way over the last few weeks, Mary had found herself hoping to find Bright in her company and more than a little excited each time by first the possibility and then the actuality of it happening.

“I would’ve thought you’d be the one out of your element in a crowd this size,” he retorted. Mary finally turned to look at him. Handsome as always, sporting a navy-blue blazer and tan khakis, his hair growing out again, curling around his ears and collar. She smiled at him, her heartbeat quickening.

“This is Kate’s family.” She waved her hand around the room, indicating literally everyone. “I’ve known them for years. And since they’re Jersey Italians, that makes me practically family as well.” Not wanting to sound completely pathetic, she didn’t add out loud that they were pretty much the closest thing to family she’d had in years and she was so grateful to Kate and the entire Corelli clan for taking her in and treating her like one of their own. Mr. and Mrs. Corelli already had four daughters but the moment Kate had brought her home one break during college they had willingly accepted one more.

Mary felt his gaze fall on her and she self-consciously tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. She wondered if he looked forward to these visits as much as she did, if he spent his drives out here hoping she would be here, too. She knew they had rubbed the wrong way a few times over their last few meetings, but she thought they’d kind of started to hit it off at the holiday housewarming. She thought they had struck up a nice rapport. But he hadn’t asked for her number before she left and she’d been too chicken to just come out and give it to him.

“So, what you’re saying is there will be no spouting of random facts to calm yourself in an uncomfortable setting today,” he teased. She blushed. She hadn’t realized he had tucked away any type of secret knowledge of her peccadillos.

“Kate’s family is my family,” she said by way of explanation, smoothing her hands down her hips, feeling self-conscious all of a sudden.

“Tell me something anyway,” he cajoled, nudging her playfully with his shoulder.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.