Page 44 of The Love Trick

I don’t know how to take what he says, so I just smile. “I’ll let you get to it, then.” And with that, I bail right out of the room, desperate to calm my racing heart.

I spend the rest of the day helping Aurora, and every time I pass the resort gym, I spot Blaze, sweaty and pumped, working out. His biceps glisten as he focuses on lifting weights, his jaw set in determination. The man isripped,and I can’t help but admire the way his muscles flex and bulge with each movement. So, by the time we’re at the rehearsal dinner, I’m left trying to getthatimage out of my head—as if I’ve never seen him work out before.

“You good?” Blaze leans over and asks me in a low voice.

I nod. “Of course. Are you?” I eye him in his slacks and dark button-up, which perfectly complements his eyes. Meanwhile, I’m wearing a light purple dress, which matches the wedding colors.

“Yeah, I’m good.” He smiles genuinely and takes a small sip of wine.

The rehearsal dinner is a lavish affair, the tables adorned with elegant centerpieces and soft candlelight casting a warm glow over the room. The ocean can be seen through the floor-to-ceiling windows, the waves crashing gently against the shore in the distance.

Blaze grabs my hand, sending a jolt of electricity up my arm. My heart leaps into my throat as he intertwines his fingers with mine on my upper thigh. I try not to show how it affects me.

I look across the table to my sister, who’s grinning at us.

Sothat’swhy he grabbed my hand.Got it.

“How’s your time here been?” my mom chimes, looking over at Blaze. “We haven’t seen much of the two of you.”

“Aurora said you two went surfing?” My dad asks, his gaze bouncing between Blaze and me.

“Yes. Blaze surprised me with surfing lessons. I was terrible,” I say. “Really. But it was a blast.”

“Sounds like it. Did you catch any waves?”

“I definitely crashed in some waves.” I laugh and look over to Blaze, who’s looking right at me.

He smiles and squeezes my hand, sending my heart into overdrive. “She did great.”

But does he really think that or is this part of the act, too?

He looks over to my parents, still smiling. “I’m really enjoying my time here.”

Dad returns the smile, which is shocking to me. Heneversmiles at my boyfriends. “Good, I’m glad. The two of you seem very happy together.”

“I can’t believe I’m getting married tomorrow,” Aurora cuts in. “It just seems like time flew by.”

“It’ll be okay,” Robert reassures her. “I think it’ll be perfect.”

“Oh, given all the effort we’ve put into it, it most certainly will be,” Mom chimes, clearly proud of herself. “It’ll be wonderful.”

I exchange a glance with Blaze, who’s staring at his glass of wine. I can’t read his expression right now, but I do wonder what he’s thinking. I know he thinks my family is a lot.

One more reason he’d never want to be more than friends with me.

I start downing my wine at the thought. Maybe it’ll chase away the memory of Blaze’s hands on me in bed this morning. And these confusing feelings.

The meal arrives, and we all finish eating as the DJ jumps up and the party commences. One thing about my sister is thateverythinghas to be a party with dancing and all that. She lives for it.

The waiter tops off my wine glass and I take another sip.

“You might want to slow down,” Blaze leans in and whispers as everyone stands from the table to start dancing. “You’re on your fourth glass, Addy.”

I swat at him, my head spinning as I feel the urge to giggle. “I’m fine,honey.”

He raises his brows. “Honey?”

“Yeah, would you preferbaby?” My head spins again.

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