“Parr and Gail may want to eat first,” Mary Beth suggested.

“Cake and coffee is enough for me.” Gail finally took a seat.

“Same here,” Parr agreed. “Go ahead with the celebration.”

Alma gave Eve a hand up and they went into the kitchen. Mary Beth longed to join them. She felt uncomfortable snuggled in Bobby Joe’s lap while Parr and Gail sat watching them.

Parr’s dark gaze still stayed mostly on Mary Beth, so intensely that she blushed. If he didn’t stop staring, somebody was going to start wondering what was going on. She wasn’t quite sure herself, but she knew she had to get away from those ebony eyes. When she pulled away and stood up, Bobby Joe shot her a questioning look.

“I think I’ll look at my gifts again,” she explained as she went over to the corner desk where several opened presents lay. She fingered the delicate crocheted collar Alma had made by hand for her, then picked up a bottle of very expensive perfume from Eve’s family. The pale yellow peignoir set that Bobby Joe had presented to her in front of everyone, much to her embarrassment, stayed in its box. He had assured his mother and cousin that it was something he expected his bride to wear on their honeymoon.

Parr watched the beautiful birthday girl as she inspected the fine silk of the gift he knew his brother had chosen for her. God, he could imagine exactly what she’d look like in the soft, lemon silk gown. When would she model it for Bobby Joe? Tonight? Pain shot through him like a razor-sharp blade, cutting to the bone. It shouldn’t matter to him that she might very well be sleeping with his brother, but it did.

“If you’re here overnight,” Bobby Joe asked lazily, “where is Gail staying?”

Parr had been so distracted watching Mary Beth that he barely heard the other man speaking. “Huh?”

“Your assistant. I believe her name is Gail,” his brother said. “Where is she sleeping? Not in your bed, I know that. Not in Mother’s house.”

“Hell no,” Parr muttered. But his reply came out louder than he’d intended. Several of the others pretended not to hear.

Mary Beth’s hand dropped to the boxed gown and clutched it so tightly it wrinkled in her hand. The last thing she needed was to hear about Parr’s current sleeping arrangements, on the road or anywhere else.

Gail only laughed at Bobby Joe’s remark. “If it’s any of your business, I’ll be staying at your local motel.”

“Not alone, I bet.”

One more snotty comment from his brother, and Parr would have to ask him to step outside. “Cut it out,” he growled.