Page 26 of Grand Escape

“I wouldn’t say hitting on,” I said, holding up my palms.

“Pursuing then?” Jack said with a wink.

“I ...”

“She’s one of the best.”

I nodded. “I’m starting to understand that.”

Jack waved his hand toward the pool. “If you’re not going to do right by her, grab one of these bachelorette girls. They’re thirsty for it, know what I mean?”

“I got this,” I said. “Thanks for the beer.”

Standing, I slapped Jack on the back.

“If it doesn’t work out with Ry,” I said softly, “I’ll come and grab you.”

Jack gave me a big grin, lifting his glass to me in a toast. “I like you. Tenacious. Go get your girl and do her right.”

Smiling, I walked back toward my villa.

Do her right. Whatever that meant. Becca would be rolling her eyes at the prospect of me and some bachelorette party girl.

“See, Ad? It’s always what you want,” she’d say.

Rylan

Adam knocked on my door a few minutes early, and I finished applying my lip gloss before answering.

I checked my appearance in the mirror and went to get the door, my nerves fizzing like an Alka-Seltzer in my belly. I might have acted like going to the hotel restaurant was no big deal, but it was.

“Hi,” I said after yanking the door open.

Adam let out a low whistle. “Don’t get me wrong, I love the jean shorts, but this? Wow. Just wow. You look smoking.” He leaned in and brushed his lips across my cheek.

I swallowed, unsure what to say.

“Thanks, Adam. You look incredibly hot too would be nice,” he murmured in my ear.

This made me giggle. He did look hot in his linen trousers and black T-shirt.

“I like this vacation look on you,” I said.

“Okay, I’ll settle for that. Ready?”

I nodded, reaching for my keycard. My billowy green sundress brushed against my legs as I moved, heightening the tingles running through my veins.

Adam didn’t look hot. He looked on fire, with his hair an inch too long and curling at the ends, his skin tanned, and his muscles emphasized by his T-shirt.

Walking up the path toward the hotel, he said, “You really do look gorgeous. But mostly, I’m looking forward to spending time with you.”

The worry lines in Adam’s forehead were gone, as was the sad look in his eyes. Was it too soon? He’d been so sad, hung up on another woman when he’d arrived.

And then he took my hand in his. The pad of his thumb caressed mine when he asked, “Is this okay?”

“Last week, no, but this week, surprisingly, yes,” I heard myself say. Something about him made me relax my rules.

We ambled along the path toward the main hotel and veered to the right. Eye of the Sea sat off to the side of the main hotel with views of the ocean and the horizon.

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