Page 42 of Perfectly Wedded

Deep-sea fishing

Putting lotion on Sloan’s back

“One of these is not like the other,” I say with a laugh. “Nor as challenging.”

He lifts an eyebrow. “As your husband, I will not let you burn, and that is a challenge to me. Since no one can reach that spot in the middle of their back, I volunteer as tribute.”

The thought of Vale stroking my back, rubbing me down with lotion, makes me feel like my face is melting off. He’s offering me the chance to enact the fantasy of every woman in America right now.

I clear my throat, trying to rein in my thoughts, which are running wild like a toddler in a candy store. “I’m warning you, I burn like butter on a hot skillet.”

“Challenge accepted,” he says, his gaze loosening the last of my defenses. “And I like butter. On everything.”

Holy moly, I’ve got to stop thinking about how much I like butter.

I turn back to his list, avoiding his heated gaze, even though it tips my heart over like a spilled glass. “You, um, actually think I could deep-sea fish or scuba dive?”

“I could teach you,” he says. “It would be my pleasure to.”

I set my book in my lap. “Vale, I wasn’t expecting you’d want to do things with me.”

“Why not?” He frowns. “I’m not going to Cancun to be alone, Sloan.”

I sigh. “I just don’t want you to feel obligated to hang out with me. I’m not exactly a daredevil. I’m more of a sit-by-the-pool-with-a-book-and-pink-lemonade kind of girl. If you stick with me, I’ll probably just end up holding you back from all the fun.”

“You would never hold me back,” he scoffs. “And I want to have fun with you. You’re my wife.”

There he goes again, calling me his wife!I glance at my book, pretending to read, hiding the way his words barrel though me. He makes me feel like someone he actuallywantsto be with, not just someone he’s stuck with on this honeymoon. But no matter how sweet or charming he is, I cannot let myself fall for my best friend. Because that will only make it harder when we end our marriage.

“Uh, Sloan? Is your book good?” he asks.

“Mm-hmm,” I mumble, refusing to meet his woodsy eyes that I know will only make things worse.

Without warning, he takes the book from my hands.

“Hey!” I protest, reaching for it.

He flips it around, smirking. “You can’t read if it’s upside down.”

I blink. “Oh... right,” I say, fighting the flush creeping up my neck. “Well, you don’t have to entertain me, Vale. I have a book.”

“You won’t get much reading done if you don’t know which way is up.” He lifts an eyebrow.

I shoot him a pointed look. “Listen. This trip might not be all rosy. What if the medicine doesn’t work? I don’t expect you to babysit me because I’m down with a migraine, like you did in Vegas.” I think back to our first night together, waking to Vale’s arm locked around me, and the swirl of emotions when I thought something more had happened.

“Okay, then how about a compromise? If you’re feeling well, you’ll go on one adventure per day with me. We won’t do anything too hard or scary, but you’ll let me pick the date.”

“Date... like arealdate? Wait, did Jaz set you up with this idea?”

He scoffs, pretending to be insulted. “I’m hurtyou’d think I couldn’t come up with this all on my own, without your sister’s help.”

“You know Jaz. Shelovesto help.” I lean my head back. “She’s basically planning my entire wedding while I’m gone.” After years of bossing everyone around, she’s used to pulling off last-minute events with seventeen color-coded checklists. I’m a fly-by-the-seat-of-my-pants kind of girl. As sisters, we couldn’t be more different. “Before I left, she wrote me a note with advice...” I immediately stop, but not before Vale notices my abrupt halt.

His face turns to mine. “What kind of advice? Like a list of activities?”

“No.” I shake my head quickly, hoping he’ll let it go. “It wasn’t important.” I fold my book into my chest, hiding my evidence. Only two seconds ago, I remembered the note is inside my book, holding my page. It was the only way Jaz could get me to take it.

“It sounds important,” he says, studying my unconvincing poker face.

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