Page 11 of The Bride's Secret

Her smile grew. “I like that.”

“Which one? We just met or we’re on our honeymoon?” His eyes darkened just a little bit, but he kept his face blank.

“Honeymoon, for sure. Then we can be close, have fun, be friends. Everything’s way more fun when you don’t have to have all the awkward first dates and everything.”

“I like this.” He grinned. “Wouldn’t it be great if this could be a thing in real life.” He laughed. “Can you imagine? “Let’s skip all the beginning weeks and just jump to the good stuff.”

“I know.” She sighed. “Though I do like those first few weeks, especially if you like each other.” She sniffed, surprised at her sudden emotion.

Wyatt reached his arm around her and she scooted closer.

“Heath sent me flowers every day for two weeks after we met. He made up a new reason on the card. ‘Because you’re beautiful’ evolved into ‘because you wear a toe ring on your pinky toe.’ She laughed. “He did all the right things. I wonder when he stopped caring.”

“I’m not sure he stopped caring.” Wyatt ran circles on her shoulder with his finger that dangled there. “Maybe he just wasn’t ready for the type of commitment marriage can be.”

Carisa had a difficult time concentrating on Wyatt’s words while so much of him was touching her. The muscles in his side and abs felt strong against her, his arm cushioned her back so she wasn’t leaning on the cement. His finger turning circles in a slow hypnotic motion drove her to crazy happy distraction. The hot water swirled around them, steam rising between. She turned and reached across him with her arm then faced him. “You, Wyatt, are too much.”

He raised an eyebrow. “Too much? I like the sound of that.”

“Do you? Maybe you don’t know what you are getting yourself into.”

His gaze dropped to her lips and she inched closer. “Maybe I do.” He lifted his hand and ran a wet thumb along her bottom lip, tugging it out in a pout. “Maybe you’re interested?”

She nodded and he pulled her onto his lap.

“Cannon ball!” A splash of hot water surged over them.

A little kid surfaced. “Gah! This is hot. Mom! This is not the kiddie pool.”

“Oh dear, oh no, come out of there right now. That can’t be good for you Alfie dear.”

Carisa laughed and waved goodbye but Wyatt shifted her off of his lap and stood. “It’s time I got back. I have some reports to write.” His face a mask, the spell broken between them. But wow, she hadn’t wanted to kiss someone that badly in forever, not since college maybe. She raised herself up out of the water to cool down. “Okay. I’ll get back to my book.” She watched him leave. He didn’t look back.

Chapter 7

Wyatt went straight to the workout room, turned the treadmill on fast and ran. Hard. With every foot pounding down on the moving runner, he told himself. “Stop.”

By the time he’d run five miles, he was feeling in control. Ideas for a work project were filling his brain, and he felt more like himself. He pulled out his phone during a cool down jog and called his partner, Ted.

“Wyatt! We going golfing tomorrow?”

“If you come to the big island we are.”

“Ha, that’s funny…wait. Are you serious? Why are you in Hawaii?”

“Dude, it’s the longest story. I’ll tell you all about it when I get back. But I’m calling because I can’t access the Wilmer files remotely. Can you email them to me?”

“Of course. Anything else you need?”

“I’ll let you know. Thanks.”

“So, is this business or pleasure?”

He thought about Carisa in the hot tub and picked up his running pace. “Business.”

“You going after the Aloha account?”

He hadn’t been, but now that Tate mentioned it, he should. “What’s the name of their CEO again? She’s from New York, right?”

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