Seeing Clearly Read Free Page B

and pissed to enjoy it. 

 
    Chapter 3
    Gretchen
     
     
    The party was going off without a hitch. The people we hired to cater the event were organized and provided easy finger foods for the guests to munch on while they enjoyed the beautiful venue.
    Everyone enjoyed seeing the photograph of Collin and Rachel from three years ago when they first met and I was thankful that Caleb was willing to go pick it up. Caleb had been a lifesaver in more ways than one tonight. His being there helped with some tension that had been brewing between Rachel and her new mother-in-law. Apparently, Mrs. Blake was a big fan of Paradise Island. She had been wound up tighter than a rattlesnake at first, but was all-smiles once she realized Caleb Scott was here.
    All in all, I was really happy with how the party was going. Everything except for the cruddy mood Joel Perrin was in. He started the evening with a spiteful comment, and every time I saw him after that, he looked at me as if he wanted to see me burn at the stake. I wondered what I'd done to make him so angry with me, but I didn't have time to over analyze it since I had hosting duties. It was no surprise that his date was gorgeous, and I had trouble understanding why he couldn't just focus his attention on her instead of worrying about what Caleb and I were doing.
    Caleb spent a while running interference between Rachel and her mother-in-law. I had seen him from across the room, standing with Collin's family. It looked like he was entertaining them with stories. He let me know he was fine by shooting me a wink when they weren’t paying attention.
    As the evening started to wind down, I was finally feeling like I could take a step back to relax and enjoy myself. Satisfied with the overall success of the party, I decided to grab myself a drink and go out onto the terrace for a breather. Just in case something went wrong, I wanted to be firing on all cylinders… so the sour apple martini I was holding in my hand was my first drink of the night.
    I breathed in the cool night air and set off on the little footpath that extended below the terrace. I had seen this part of The Mirror Garden during the initial tour, but hadn't had the chance to co me out here yet.
    "Running away?" The voice came from behind me, but I could tell from the discontented tone that it belonged to Joel.
    "I'm just enjoying the night air," I said, turning to face him. I could see that he was alone, so I decided to let him have it. "I wish you were enjoying yourself too, Mr. Perrin, but every time I see you, you're scowling. If you're having such a bad time, then why are you still here?" I asked.
    He didn't answer the question. He closed the gap between us, and fell into stride next to me. "Are you having a good time?" he asked.
    I stopped walking, and looked over at him. His dark complexion next to his light eyes never failed to make my heart skip a beat. He was wearing a fitted black suit with a pale green shirt and tie. I had already noticed, during the course of the evening, that our outfits matched. But after the way he'd been acting all night, I was in no mood to make small talk about our clothes.
    "Yes Joel, I'm having a good time, despite the fact that I've obviously done something to upset you."
    "I almost kissed you, you know. When we were out here earlier, before Celia walked out here, I almost kissed you."
    "Well it was lucky you didn't, that would have been an awkward start to your date."
    He searched my eyes as if he were hoping to see some of his own angst reflected in me.
    "Celia is everything I'm looking for in a woman, Gretchen."
    I laughed with no humor. "That's great Joel, but why are you telling me this?"
    "Because I can't understand why I can't get you out of my head… even when she's standing right next to me."
    Joel reached out and grabbed me by the wrist. He gave a yank hard enough to make me fall forward, into his arms. My breath hitched at the feeling of being held against his hard body. He