Page 68 of The Love Hoax
“I can’t believe you’re real, Ronna!”
Adam pulls his sister off me. “Whoa, Steph, she’s turning blue.”
Stephanie steps back, assessing me. Her eyes flicker to Adam with a split-second of surprise then return to me. “You’re gorgeous.”She takes my hand, ogling the engagement ring. “Granny Bess would love that you’re wearing her ring.”
I’m speechless. Not that there’s a chance to speak. All the words and breathable air are being consumed by Adam’s little sister. I remind myself that the rambunctious woman is also a federal officer.
“Hi, Stephanie, so nice to properly meet you.”
An amused smile crosses Steph’s lips. “Sorry about the surprise attack. I’m just so excited. I always wanted a sister.”
Anna emerges from a nearby hallway dressed in a bright orange pantsuit, the hue not far off from her daughter’s striking hair color. Her pointy heels click-clack on the parquet flooring. Heavy earrings pull on her earlobes. I can’t explain why but I find the look endearing.
“It’s true. Steph used to beg me for a baby sister,” she says, greeting us with kisses on our cheeks. “Nice to see you again, Ronna.”
I feel warmth toward Anna. She’s fun, bold, and stylish in her own out-of-the-box way. She’s also closer to my age than Adam is. Under other circumstances, maybe we would be good friends, contemporaries. Remarkably, Anna and now Steph seem to be going with the flow despite the apparent age gap between Adam and yours truly, the woman they believe he’s going to marry. I wonder if I would be as gracious if the situation applied to one of my boys.
Adam asks Stephanie, “Where’s Dad and Brad? I want to say hi and introduce them to Ronna.”
“They’re getting dressed,” she says, glancing at her chain-link watch. “Yikes! Dinner starts in a half hour.” She points to Adam’s nose. “Don’t be late.”
Adam looks exasperated. “We just arrived and need to get ready. We are going to be late.”
Steph pouts. I imagine it’s the same expression she gives her older brother when they’re little. If I’m reading the room correctly,Steph is the spoiled little princess who has everyone wrapped around her little finger.
Before Steph can make a comeback, Anna guides her away. “Come on, let’s see if the caterer did what you asked.” And with that, Adam and I go to find our room.
Chapter Forty-Nine
Evie
The room at the Grand Colorado has lush carpeting and lots of wood. A completely different aesthetic than the hotel in Salt Lake City. We set our bags down beside the singular bed. Another bed.
My thoughts revert back to last night. The feel of Adam beside me, his breath on my neck. His lips devouring mine. The attraction between us is nothing less than a force of nature. I shake my head clear of the memory and stare out the window at the panoramic view of the mountains.
“Look at me, please,” Adam says.
I haven’t made eye contact with him since the last pit stop, three hundred miles ago. I hesitate, then try for light chat. “Steph seems fun.”
“Please?”
I turn and see the look of concern and something else in his eyes. Something unidentifiable.
“What is going on in that beautiful head of yours?”
I swallow hard. Last night’s bizarre situation doesn’t seem to bother Adam at all. “There’s something I need to tell you.”
He tilts his head and smiles. “Funny, same here.”
I study him. Something is different in Adam’s demeanor. He’s calmer, lighter. He looks happy.
And hot as all hell. His hair has fallen just short of his eyes. His jaw is covered in a sexy five o’clock shadow. Despite myself, I can’t help but smile back.
A knock on the door is followed by a cheerful shout. “Hurry up in there!”
Adam grins, rushes to the door and flings it open. “Hey, Dad!”
A man, dressed in a sharp pin-striped suit and open collar, stands in the doorway. His once-black sideburns are now tinged with silver. He reminds me of a later-in-life Cary Grant. Other than the choice of attire, he’s Adam thirty years down the line. He brings his son in for a bear hug. “How have you been?”
