Page 51 of Lush

Jennie glared at Reese. “You haven’t told Laurene about the party? She has to come.”

“We’ve been busy,” Reese said.

To avoid upsetting Jennie, I smiled. “I’ll gladly come.”

Grinning, Jennie playfully punched Reese then left. “Good. You better make sure she’s there, Reese! Black tie!”

The staff gestured toward the far end of the terrace. “Should we keep going?”

We were led through the resort, and at certain moments they pointed out details for our ceremony. My heart did a little flip when she led us to the bridal suite. The room’s muted tones unsettled me, especially the empty space for the bridal gown.

Will this all be over before the wedding?

I noticed something strange on the dressing table, and I stepped closer to investigate. A hairpin and a bracelet scattered near the edge—and a vase of white lilies.

I stared, transfixed by a sudden chill.

I looked back at Reese. When he recognized the flowers, his face tightened.

Thebraceletwas Conrad’s wedding gift to me. The first thing I’d tossed into the trash at the airport after everything fell apart. How was it here? How could it be here?

“Are these from the last bride?” I asked, trying not to let my panic show.

I lifted the hairpin, another gift from Conrad I’d thrown away.

My heart pounded in my chest, a sharp rhythm, like a countdown.

“Sometimes they leave personal things behind, but I wouldn’t worry.”

I didn’t love Conrad. Our engagement was just a show, a way for the family to stay in control.

“This way.”

The ornate double doors swung open, revealing a private room. Cakes were on a table in the middle. Reese bristled as the planner told us we would be cake tasting for our wedding cake.

“Do we really need to decide on this right now?”

“I know wedding planning can be overwhelming, but this is one of the fun parts!” They looked between us. “Mrs. King insisted you two choose the cake.”

Reluctantly, Reese and I sat at the table, facing the food. My stomach started growling as the planner stepped out in the hallway. Reese immediately noticed.

“Did you eat anything today?”

How could I eat with everything going on? “Honestly, it didn’t cross my mind.”

He sighed, shaking his head. “Skipping meals like this is bad for you.”

This was an old argument we’d had a hundred times. Reese reached over, grabbed a fork, and swiped a piece of cake from a nearby platter and held it up to my mouth. “Eat.”

My eyebrow rose. “Are you serious?”

The cake and frosting looked delicious. But I’d gotten back into Pilates and yoga, and that couldn’t be disrupted.

“C’mon, don’t act like I haven’t fed you before,” he said, a playful smirk tugging at his lips.

There had been countless late nights, me curled up in his lap, sharing bites of takeout while the glow of the television flickered across our faces. We’d laugh until our sides hurt, the world outside forgotten.

“You know you love it when I take charge.”

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