Page 15 of The Bride's Secret

“No way. I just want to see if you’re as good with your mouth as you are with your hands.” She stopped and her face heat. “I mean…” She dipped her head while he laughed. “Ho ho. That was amazing.”

“Very funny. Ok. Stop. Forget that came out of my mouth. I absolutely don’t mean that like it sounds. Here it comes.” She held it out and then tossed it high and slow like he had, only it went off course far to the right and splat on the ground. She winced. “One more time.”

He opened his mouth. This time it went right in.

She raised her hands in the air. “Yes!”

The waitress brought their plates, steaming and smelling delicious.

After her stomach couldn’t fit one more thing, Wyatt had the bill sent to his room and they made their way back to the elevator. He draped an arm over her shoulders and the weight felt nice even though it did press on her so much more than she expected. “Wow, your arm is heavy.” She lifted his hand and let it fall back on her shoulder, playfully.

“Too much?” He lifted it like he would take it away, and she grabbed at his large hand. “No, it’s nice. Kind of like those weighted blankets people buy.”

She felt the vibrations of his chuckle at her side, pressed to his. “Glad I can be so amusing.”

“You are. You’re awesome. I’m always smiling about the things you say.”

“Okay I’ll see if I can say a few more.” Heath had always been clear about how beautiful she was, how he loved her body, but he’d never once commented on anything else about her. Wyatt’s funny reaction meant more to her than he would ever know. Her arm circled his back and she rested her hand on his hip. She wished the elevator ride were longer. “I don’t know what I’m going to do when I have to stay at a hotel in a normal room. You’ve spoiled me forever.”

He grinned. “like I said, you deserve it. I hope the trip is relaxing and helping?”

“And distracting.” She eyed him until he dipped his head a fraction of an inch in acknowledgement. “Everything has been just what I needed. I don’t know how to thank you. Not really. Are you looking forward to our excursions?”

“I am. I have a business meeting tomorrow over lunch. So I’ll just hit the afternoon outing. What are we doing?”

“Volcanoes. It’s your first choice.”

“Excellent. I’ll meet you there.”

They entered and he tossed the remote to her. “Why don’t you pick our movie and call up the room service.”

She squealed. “I didn’t think I could eat another bite, but when I think of ice cream, suddenly all kinds of cravings kick in.” Romcom had its own category and she wickedly chose two of the chickiest flicks she could find. He had told her to pick, hadn’t he? Then she flipped through the restaurant guide and room service options.

Wyatt had left. Down to his room. So after she made some selections for him and for her, she went in search of another blanket or two. Her phone dinged. Heath.Baby I love you. I know we can make this work.

She didn’t know how to respond to that. The conversation they would have must be in person. Who broke up with their fiancé over the phone? She snorted. Who ran away on the day of their own wedding? As she began to feel more normal and in control of her life, she couldn’t believe she had let things with Heath progress as far as they had. She knew she didn’t love him. But she had hoped she could love him, that she would eventually love him. Every time he pressured her for a date, she hedged until she set one so far out, she thought for sure by then, she’d be good and in love. But no. Her sigh let out some of the tension.

“What is this sigh about?”

She handed him a couple blankets from the storage drawer and then showed him Heath’s text.

He grunted.

“What?”

“Do you believe that?”

“I didn’t last time I was with him, but look, he’s not even acting angry. Just says he’ll wait. Isn’t that something? If not love, what? Tenacity?” She laughed, even though it wasn’t really funny.

“I’d go with your gut on this one.” His eyes were sharper than she’d seen them. For the first time, she wondered what he knew. He’d said she made a good decision.

“Tell me what you know about Heath.”

They sat close on the couch, pulling blankets around them. She turned so that she was facing him and pulled her feet up to cross her legs.

“Wow, you’re settling in for some big story.”

“Or a small one. What do you know about him?”

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