Page 101 of He Loves Me Knot

Funny how I had that thought, too.

Quinn’s gaze darted to Callum’s face, then he looked back at Elle. “Don’t worry about my mum. It’s our wedding. She can be out of her comfort zone for a few days.”

“Yeah, that’s easy enough to say. She adores you. I’m just the daughter-in-law, and she’ll blame me.” Elle shook her head. “Maybe Kat’s right about doing the wedding inside rather than tempting fate and doing it on the beach. The weather is too unpredictable this time of year.” The ship yawed to the left, and Elle held onto Quinn, who held her close.

Liddy lifted her head from Callum’s chest and exchanged a look with him.

She didn’t have to say anything. He knew what she was thinking from the troubled look in her eyes. This might have been a fun idea, but they hadn’t considered the risk—that it would only put further doubts into Elle’s mind about her wedding plans.

In which case, Liddy is going to feel like we failed.

ChapterTwenty-Five

Liddy slammedher hand on the handle of the shower, shutting off the water, and shivered.

This day has been a total disaster.

They’d got back on land after a harrowing trip in the storm, at which point several of the guests had been seasick from the rough waves, including both her parents and Quinn’s dad. Once on shore, Kat had been the hero of the hour, waiting with beach towels and dinner for all—delivered to the comfort of their rooms, of course—and a deep, scathing frown for Liddy.

She’d given Liddy an earful about going rogue and not keeping her in the loop with plans, treating her practically like a toddler, then squirreled Elle away for “pampering and planning.”

And Elle hadn’t answered any texts since.

Kat probably took her phone.

Liddy ignored the dinner Kat had brought in and went to take a shower, only to get doused with freezing water halfway through shampooing her hair.

Which, frankly, tracked for this trip.

Liddy stepped out of the shower and dressed in her pajamas, then towel-dried her long hair. She would give anything to be at her apartment right now and make a cozy cup of tea. Read a book. Fall asleep on the pages.

At this rate, she would need a vacation from this vacation.

She opened the door to the shower, then pushed her way out to find Callum sitting in the sole chair in the room, staring at his phone. He gave her a wry glance. “Penguins?”

Liddy looked down at the fuzzy gray pajama pants, which featured cartoon penguins sliding down hills in the snow. “They’re my favorite animal.”

And I never intended for you to see my pajamas.

“Very cute.” Callum put his phone away and stood. “So bad news. My sister arrived here a bit ago. I haven’t seen her yet, but apparently, she couldn’t get the wedding dress. Despite the call we made where we explained the incident, who was going to collect the dress, and your permission, the airline wouldn’t release it to her. They will only give it to you with your passport.”

“Are you serious?” Liddy groaned.

Just one more thing to do tomorrow.

“We’ll figure it out.” Callum grabbed a few things from his bag. “If nothing else, we’re still partners in crime.” He headed into the bathroom, then shut the door behind him.

Liddy stared at the closed door. Since that kiss on the boat, they’d seemed to fall back into the easy camaraderie they’d formed over the past few days.

Not that a hot kiss solves anything.

The water started, and she drew a breath, then stepped forward to warn Callum.

Then she stopped short, a smile coming to her lips.

A yelp, followed by a“Holy fuck,”came from the bathroom.

She suppressed a giggle, then went over to the bed. Turning on the light on the bedside table, she grabbed a book from her bookbag and sank against the pillows, her back aching as she did. She winced, trying to stretch her shoulders back.

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