A Davenport Christmas: A Bad Boys Serial Novel (Always With You Book 1) Read Online Free Page B

can’t wait to get away,
so when he spots me standing behind the bar, he doesn’t waste any time getting
to me.  
    I smile when he takes a stool and says, “Whatever you’re
making, make one more.”   I smother a
laugh when he widens and then rolls his eyes.  
    “You got it.”
    Before I can ask why he’s already here, he offers an
explanation.   “Thought I’d come
early and help Livie get things in order, but… ”   He glances at
his ex-wife in the mirror over my shoulder and shudders.   “I see help has arrived.”
    I snort.   Help my
ass!   “Yeah. If that’s what you call
it.”
    We both smile this time and I’m glad for my father-in-law’s
sake that he got away from that woman.
    I hear a strangled gasp and look back at Olivia’s mother
where she’s holding a hand over her chest.   She was obviously still standing right in front of the door when my
manager, Gavin, opened it using his key. Must’ve scared the shit out of her.
    That’s enough to make me feel a little better.
    Gavin is closes the door behind him, his expression downright
comical as eyes her warily.   He,
too, immediately makes his way to the bar.
    “What are we having?” he asks, sliding onto the stool beside
Darrin’s.  
    “Vodka tonic,” I say, setting out another glass.
    “Make it a double for me.   That is one mighty bitch,” he says, just
like he says practically every time he’s around Olivia’s mother.   And I couldn’t agree more.
    “I didn’t realize my daughter was hosting a Christmas dinner
for every hoodlum in Atlanta,” I hear Tracey tell Lyle, her tone just loud
enough for all of us to hear.
    Lyle doesn’t bother to rein her in.   It’s my father-in-law who does.
    “Tracey, don’t start.   Olivia has gone to a lot of trouble to—” Darrin begins.
    “You never stopped defending her poor choices and look where
it’s gotten her,” she bites waspishly.
    Before their snapping can escalate, there’s another knock at
the door.   “I’ll get it,” I announce
quickly, figuring it’s probably best for me to greet visitors from here
on.   No one was supposed to be
arriving this early, but evidently not a damn one of the people my wife invited
can tell time.   “Gavin, can you
finish these up?   Make a couple
extra, too.   I have a feeling we’re all gonna need some help gettin ’
through this.”
    He grins, hoists himself onto the bar and drops down beside
me.   “I’ve got it covered, mate,” he
says in his Aussie accent.   Nobody
would ever guess my bar manager is about as deadly as the crocodiles his home
is known for.   But he is.   And then some.
    When I open the door this time, I find Marissa, Nash and her
parents on the other side.   I
thought Olivia was crazy for inviting so many conflicting personalities to this
dinner, but she’s got it in her head that social gatherings like this can make
us all one big, happy family.   I
love her, but I don’t see that happening.   I love her optimism, though.  
    “ Every body’s
early,” I say drolly as I shake my brother’s hand and kiss Marissa on the
cheek. I’m all too aware of her father’s disapproving glare.   I just meet his gaze and nod,
“Sir.”   And then to his wife,
“Ma’am.”
    The least I can do is be polite for a few hours.   For Olivia.   Anything for Olivia.
    I step back and allow them to walk past me, taking Marissa’s
coat as well as her mother’s.   “Have
a seat at the table if you’d like.   I’m making drinks.   Who wants
what?”
    Everyone orders something, which is a testament, I’d say, to
the level of general discomfort we all feel.   I’m thinking shit-faced is the only way
to do this without bloodshed.
    Within ten minutes, Ginger and my father arrive, making the
guest list complete.   And nearly a full hour early.   The food hasn’t even arrived yet and
Olivia still doesn’t know that anyone other than her mother is out here.   Tension seems to be creeping up by