Page 31 of Just One Summer with the Grumpy

As Chase rambled on, Ty caught sight of me and stopped in his tracks, pulling Veronica to a halt beside him.

I slid my arm beneath Chase’s and rounded his waist, liking how his arm wrapped easily around me and mindful of several pairs of watching eyes. “It’s fine,” I whispered. “I promise not to sue over something that isn’t even real.”

His jaw closed with an audible snap as Ty and Veronica approached, my ex practically stalking across the dance floor. His cheeks were the same color as yesterday while zip lining, and there was fire in his eyes. Next to me, Chase cocked an eyebrow.

“Beautiful event,” Veronica said when they arrived. “So sweet of you, Chase, to invite us to this reception so we could see how ours will go. I love how you’re going to so much trouble to make our wedding special.”

On the surface, she seemed genuine enough. The glint of anger in her eyes was the only indication of the poison beneath her words.

I rested my head against Chase’s shoulder. If anything, he went even stiffer at the contact, but I pretended not to notice. “He knows how to throw a party,” I cooed, echoing the sultry nature of Veronica’s voice. “There’s a reason he has the clientele he does. Right, honey?”

“Right,” Chase said, sounding strangled.

“We all know who deserves the praise,” Ty broke in. “Everything will be exactly how we wanted it, down to the black and white theme with red roses. Veronica is very pleased, and it takes a lot to please her.” His fiancée jerked and glared at him, but he continued smoothly, ignoring us both. “If our wedding is this elaborate, I can only imagine how expensive yours will be. Assuming this whole thing works out, of course.”

I saw his motives in an instant. Ty was fishing for information, testing the strength of our relationship.

“Of course,” I agreed evenly. “If it happens, we want our wedding to take place here too. Except it won’t be extravagant at all. Simple, actually.”

“Oh?” Veronica’s voice sounded nearly as tight as Chase’s. “In what way?”

“The entire island would be invited,” Chase broke in. “Open to anyone who wanted to attend. And everyone would be barefoot for the ceremony, a line of people standing in the sand.”

In an instant, the scene surrounded us. I could feel the ocean wind in my hair, the salty sea air caressing me, the soft sand between my toes, and Chase’s hand in mine.

Wait. No. My dream was of holdingTy’shand. Marrying him in Four Seasons Park in New York, or even the courthouse, for that matter. As long as I won him back from Veronica, it wouldn’t matter where the wedding took place.

But the wedding Chase described felt so blastedright.

The quartet’s jazzy number paused and a new one began, softer and slower this time.

Chase leaned over, his palm sliding down my bare arm and taking hold of my hand. It sent a wave of heat down my entire body. I was surprised Ty and Veronica couldn’t feel it. “Would you like to dance, my dear?” he whispered.

“Love to,” I managed.

“Aw, you guys are so cute,” Veronica said, her eyes shooting daggers that screamed the opposite. “So happy for you, Chase.”

“And I for you.” Chase placed his hand on my back and guided me through the crowd and toward the dance floor. I felt Veronica’s eyes boring into my back as he turned to face me, bringing my hands to his shoulders.

My brain fled altogether. I’d have to avoid intelligent conversation in Chase’s presence for the next few days or risk being outed.

Outed as what?something deep inside asked.Attracted to Chase?

It was a good question. Nearly every woman in this room watched him now, one of the world’s most eligible bachelors in the center of the ballroom floor on a tropical island. What did they think when seeing us together? A billionaire boss and his newest employee? A tailored man and a frumpy woman whose dress hadn’t quite gotten de-wrinkled and whose hair was poofing out from humidity? Easy competition? Temporary like all the others?

Iamtemporary,I reminded myself. It didn’t get much more temporary than a few days.

Chase’s hands slid around my waist, and he pulled me in close. If my back had felt warm before, now my entire body burned like a bonfire.

“They’re coming over,” Chase murmured against my ear, sending pleasant tingles down my neck.

“This is one of her favorite songs,” Ty explained when he arrived, as if feeling the need to explain their sudden dart across the dance floor.

Veronica scowled at him. “You know I can do my own talking, right? Is this how you’re going to be?”

“What do you mean? I’m just being myself.”

“No, you’re not. You’re being weird.”

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