by Robyn Neeley
That awesome vacation memory made them both laugh. “You might be right,” she said. “No wonder Luke needs our help. Although we aren’t—” She looked away, her gaze back on the mountains.
“We aren’t what?”
“Nothing.”
“You sure? It didn’t sound like nothing.”
“It’s silly, really.” The grin that had brightened her face minutes earlier had turned upside down. “We aren’t the experts in this area either. We didn’t have a song.”
“We didn’t?” All that time together. They must have had a favorite song. Surely they’d made love with music playing in the background. He tried to wrack his brain, but came up blank.
She looped her hair to the side, twisting it with her fingers. Her lips parted as if she was going to say something else but changed her mind. The next song came on.
“Oh, I love this one.” She touched her heart. “It’s my favorite Carrie Underwood and Brad Paisley song.”
Drew listened for a second to the lyrics. “Remind me,” he repeated the chorus.
“It’s about a couple who’s been stuck in a rut.” Her eyes met his. “Their spark is right there. They just need to remember what they once had.”
He moved off the seat, needing to listen to his beating heart. “I like this one.”
“I do, too,” she whispered, moving toward him.
“Can I have this dance?”
“In here?” She scooted toward the center.
“It’s never too late for our first dance.” He wrapped one arm around her waist, while threading his other hand with hers. If they did this, it would be on their knees and that might be uncomfortable. “We’ll just sway.”
Before the second chorus, she wrapped her arms around his neck and he held her tight.
“Remind me,” he sang into her hair and then cupped her face. His lips lowered to remind his one and only true love what they’d once shared. In just one second the wish he made earlier would come true—
Her iPad beeped. Or not. Someone was requesting a video chat. That person had lousy timing and he was pretty sure who that bastard was.
She unwrapped her arms from his neck and moved away from him, reaching for her iPad. “It’s Miles.”
“Of course.” He shook his head, not really surprised at all.
“She turned her back to him, holding the iPad in front of her. “Hey, Miles.”
“Lauren! I see you’re engaging in some recreational activities.” He lowered his voice. “Is Drew in there with you?”
“Yes, we’re just listening to Luke’s playlist. Haven’t decided yet on a song.”
“Okay. Well, just send the title over when you’ve selected it, and I’ll tell DJ Dancer.”
She laughed. “Like the reindeer?”
“Cheesy last name, but he comes highly recommended. I’m e-mailing you your assignments for tomorrow right now. Call me in the morning.” He paused for a second, and Drew heard him say, “I’ll be right there, love. The martini glasses are above the stove.”
“Miles, who is that?” Lauren asked.
Drew couldn’t see Lauren’s face, but irritation sprung from her voice.
“Gotta run, Lauren,” Miles chirped.
“We’ll talk about this tomorrow. Goodbye.” She tossed her iPad onto her towel. He guessed they were done listening to the playlist. Judging by the turn in her mood, they also probably weren’t going to finish their dance.
“Everything okay?” he asked.
Her eyes narrowed. “I think my roommate has a new BFF for Happy Hour.”
“Really? Who? Satan?”
“Close.” Her laugh filled with sarcasm. “Olivia.”
Drew sat up. That wasn’t the name he expected to hear. “Olivia and Miles are hanging out?”
“Appears so.” Her eyebrow shot up. “Does that bother you?”
“Not really. It’s not like it’d be the first time. For a guy who plays for the other team, he sure is attracted to my women.”
“Your women?”
Not the thing to say, Drew. “I didn’t mean it that way. I’m sure they’re working on the wedding. Luke’s probably given them a long list of assignments, too.”
“Probably.”
“Did I hear you say he’d send our schedule for tomorrow?”
“Yes.” She hopped out of the hot tub, cursing the coldness.
Drew slid back down, enjoying the show as her nipples peaked inside her bikini top. The moment passed way too quickly as she slipped into her bathrobe and walked toward his bedroom door. “Let’s go over it inside.”
He got out of the hot tub, grabbed his robe, and headed in. His heart galloped at the sight of Lauren sitting on the edge of his bed, legs crossed, and eyes fixed on her iPad screen.
What would she do if he ripped the tablet out of her hands and pulled her into the bed?
Her eyes grew big from whatever she was reading so he decided putting his fantasy into reality would have to wait. “Okay, lay it on me. What does Master Luke have us doing tomorrow? Dance lessons to learn how to waltz for him, perhaps?”
She smiled. “That’s not a bad idea. It’s not like you couldn’t stand in for Luke and dance with Kate. No one would ever know.”
“Not going to happen.” He came over and sat behind her, peering over her shoulder. “So what are we doing?”
“It says that you will be going to Candy Cane Lane.” She turned her body and showed him the tablet.
“Of course,” he said flatly. “And what exactly does it say I will be doing on this Lane?”
“It doesn’t.” She pointed at the screen. “It just says you’ll be at The Gingerbread House from nine a.m. until noon.”
Drew ran his fingers through his wet hair in frustration. “It’s official. My brother has lost his ever-freakin’ mind.” He paused, realizing she had indicated this was a solo trip. “So we won’t be together?”
“No.” Her voice held a hint of sadness, and she took back the tablet. “According to this, Luke has other plans for me.”
“Hey.” He touched her arm. That small act set off fireworks through his veins. “If it’s something you don’t want to do, I’ll do it. We can swap. You had a great time today at Santa’s Workshop. I’m sure whatever he has me doing at the Ginger Hut, you’ll enjoy, too.”
“Thanks.” She attempted a smile that he knew was a complete front for his benefit. “I don’t think you have the equipment to do what I’ll be doing.”
“Why? What is it?”
“I’m trying on wedding dresses … for Kate.”
“Why would you need to try on her dress? It’s not like she doesn’t know she’s getting married. It’s just the change-up in the location that’s the surprise.”
“It says Luke wants me to select a gown more suitable for taking pictures outdoors in the snow.”
Drew got up and began to pace. This was not a good idea, and he was sure as hell going to fix it. He owed it to the woman upset on his bed, regardless of how she felt about him. “You’re not going. Luke can’t avoid me forever. I’ll send him an e-mail tonight and let him know you’re not doing it.”
“Really. It’s okay.” She looked up at him, her eyes glossy. “I need to find my maid of honor dress, anyway.” She rose and tightened her robe, then tucked her wet hair behind her ears. “I think I’m going to call it an early night. I need to dry off, and I’m feeling a migraine coming on.”
Drew reached for her arm, not wanting her to leave just yet. Not when she was clearly upset. “But we didn’t have dinner. I could order us something. Maybe Chinese this time?”
“No, thank you. I’m not that hungry.” She offered a weak smile. “Besides, I have several dresses to squeeze into tomorrow.”
Drew’s heart grew heavy as he watched Lauren exit the room. He lay on the bed and stared at the stained wood ceiling. He was all but certain the last thing his former fiancée wanted to do was try on wedding dresses. Would she ever forgive him for ruining their speci
al day?
CHAPTER TEN
Lauren placed the Christmas Blend K cup in its holder and started the Keurig machine. She needed coffee STAT.
After lying about a migraine coming on, she’d fled to her room and barely slept a wink, unable to shake the near collision of Drew’s lips with hers. If Miles hadn’t interrupted them by Skype when he did, would they have kissed?
And if they did, what would have that meant, really? That Drew’s feelings were just as strong as hers? Or did he just get swept up in the nostalgia of the sweet country song?
His singing “remind me” into her ear made her smile and she repeated the chorus while waiting for her coffee to finish brewing. Last night had had potential until she’d read today’s agenda.
To say that it was a blow to her gut was an understatement. How could Luke do this to her? Didn’t it cross his mind that asking her to try on gorgeous wedding gowns might be like asking her to submerge herself into a bucket full of bees, all aiming their stingers straight at her heart?
If on the off chance it hadn’t crossed his mind, Miles should have put the kibosh on it. Surely her best friend must have known that this was the last thing she’d want to do.
She huffed, and her anger grew. Maybe Miles would have realized it if he hadn’t been so busy last night playing cocktail host to Olivia. How did that unlikely pair come about?
Well, it was time to find out. Moving around the kitchen island, she pulled out a stool and sat down. Her laptop was open, and, as luck would have it, Benedict Miles was online so she hit the Skype button.
“Hey, Lauren.” Miles greeted her with his eyes barely open.
“Hey, sunshine.” She tapped on the full screen button to widen the picture. “Don’t you have to work today?”
“I’m taking the morning off.”
“Oh, really. Rough night last night?” She reached for a banana on the kitchen island and peeled it back. While she and Drew had been gone yesterday, the caretaker had stopped by and stocked the refrigerator and cupboards. She’d also noticed this morning a stack of firewood in the living room that had definitely not been there the night before last when they’d decorated the tree.
“You might say that.” Miles reached for a bottle of water and took a long drink. “Hold on. I need to grab an Advil.” Moving slowly off his chair, he disappeared from sight.
Lauren finished her banana and then poured cream and sugar into her coffee. How much did he and Olivia have to drink last night and what on earth did they even talk about? That’s what she really wanted to know. She gazed at the screen, waiting for Miles to return. A pink wool coat was draped over the back of his chair.
Wait a minute … rewind. Her blood began to boil as she suspected she knew the owner of the trendy winter garment. Miles returned a few seconds later and sat down slowly, popped a pill in his mouth, and took a swig of his water. “Okay, where were we?”
“Miles, whose coat is behind you?”
Just then she heard a woman’s voice say, “Miles, I’m going to jump in the shower.”
He swung the laptop, blocking Lauren’s view of anything but their deep burgundy painted wall. “Nothing to see here.”
Lauren shut her screen halfway in utter disbelief and then yanked it back up. “Oh, my God. Did Olivia spend the night?”
“Shhh … lower your voice. We had a few drinks in the Village that turned into a few more. It was late so I offered her the couch. It was no big deal.”
No big deal? Lauren shook her head, furious at this new turn of events. “I can’t believe you invited her to stay at my apartment.” She raised her voice because she was done talking to their dining room wall. “Miles, I demand you turn your laptop around right now.”
Miles spun it back. “Stop shouting, and it’s our apartment. She was my guest.”
“How could you do this to me … or Luke or Kate, for that matter?”
“Don’t you think you’re overreacting?”
“Miles, she tried to break Luke and Kate up.”
Miles touched his head with both hands, massaging his temples. “You’re not going to want to hear this, but Olivia’s isn’t the evil wench I pegged her to be. She’s actually quite nice.”
“Nice? Coming between Luke and Kate was not nice. Seriously, Miles, where are your loyalties?”
“Okay, you are being a dramatic princess.”
“And you have crossed way over the line of our friendship.” Ready to lunge into her laptop and wring Miles’s neck, she didn’t see Drew enter the kitchen.
“Good morning.” He grabbed the empty mug she’d pulled out just for him and popped a K Cup in the machine. Both of them were huge coffee drinkers and had always enjoyed their weekend ritual of catching up over a fresh cup while taking in the morning beach serenity. She missed those times when it was just the two of them, the sound of the ocean, and a beautiful pink horizon.
“Hey.” She forced a smile. “I was just getting the scoop on today.” Her gaze zoomed in on the screen. “Miles, I’ll talk to you later,” she said with just enough sharpness in her voice for him to take the hint that their conversation was far from over.
“Great. I’m going back to bed.” He groaned before the screen went blank.
Drew grabbed an apple from the fruit bowl, washed it in the sink, and took a bite. “What gives?”
“What do you mean?”
“Miles didn’t sound like his perky, annoying self. Did Olivia wear him out last night?”
“Something like that.” Lauren bit down on her lip not quite sure how much she should share. It wasn’t like Miles and Olivia had hooked up. He was gay, for goodness’s sake. “This really doesn’t bother you that they were hanging out?”
“Not as much as it does you.” He leaned his body against the kitchen island, propping his elbows on the counter. “Look, I know she’s done some questionable things in the past.”
“Questionable?” He couldn’t be serious. “Well, that’s the understatement of the year.”
“I’m just saying she has other sides to her that are much more pleasant and fun to be around. Personally, I blame Luke for that mess in Hawaii.”
“You did not just say that.”
“What?”
“That mess was our wedding!”
“No, I didn’t mean it that way.” He pulled himself up and slid onto the stool next to her. “What I meant was Luke introduced Olivia as his girlfriend to Kate. That gave her a little hope. In her head, it meant he was ready to give her a second chance.”
“In her twisted head.” Lauren pushed off the stool, slid it underneath the kitchen island, and straightened her black wool sweater. “I really don’t want to talk about this anymore. We should go.”
“Okay.” He didn’t seem to want to defend Olivia any longer and that was fine by her.
“Okay, then.” They headed to the closet in the foyer and put on their coats, scarves, and mittens.
“Do you want me to drop you off at the wedding dress shop, and then I’ll head up to Gum Drop Avenue?”
“Candy Cane Lane,” she said, realizing how funny even her correction sounded.
He shrugged. “I’m sure both will lead me straight to hell.”
She couldn’t help but chuckle because, for a Scrooge like him, he was probably right. “You will be fine, Ebenezer. James is picking me up so you can take my car. He should be here any minute now.”
“James?”
“You know, the guy we met yesterday at Santa’s Workshop.”
“The elf?”
“Um … I wouldn’t call him that when you see him.”
“Have you noticed that most of these residents seem to be under five foot?”
She tucked her scarf inside her coat. Come to think about it, Drew’s observation was kind of correct. “They’re also very nice. I mean, how sweet was Natasha?”
“Yeah.” Drew nodded. “She was cool, but figures Luke would assign a mini-me Miles to you.”
“What are you talking a
bout? James is nothing like Miles.”
“Please, between his sweater vest get-up and all his jumping around yesterday—totally Miles.”
“Well, you’d better be nice when he gets here. He’s apparently got an in with Santa,” she teased, happy that their conversation had moved on to a lighter one. “Anything naughty you do to me, I’ll make sure it gets back to the guy in red.”
He winked and tugged on her scarf. “Promise?”
Her cheeks warmed as she buttoned the top button on his coat purely by habit.
“This feels familiar.”
His grin was contagious and she smiled widely. “What? Us bickering before leaving the house?”
“No.” He laughed and conceded. “Well, maybe that too. We always reconvened at the front door, and I’d kiss you goodbye since I had a longer commute, remember?”
That was true. His office had been in downtown Los Angeles, and the marketing firm she’d worked at resided in Santa Monica. Her heart galloped at the memory of his lips brushing hers each day and then his promising he’d text or call her later. What she wouldn’t give to be back in that routine.
Did he feel the same way?
He stepped back, his voice serious. “Hey, I’m sorry about what happened in the hot tub last night.”
“It’s fine.” Her heart fell as her hands went up and waved off his apology. She guessed she had her answer. “It’s easy to get caught up in a song.”
“Yeah.” He shoved his hands in his pockets. “We still need to pick out one for Luke and Kate. Maybe we could do that tonight?”
“Sure, or we could let DJ Dancer select it.”
“DJ Dancer. Right. He’d probably do a better job.”
The doorbell rang, ending their awkward conversation. “That must be my ride,” Lauren said.
“I wonder if he brought a sleigh and reindeer.” Drew turned and peered out the window. “Nope. Looks like Mini-Miles drives a Honda.”
“Stop calling him that.” She flung open the door to greet her companion for the morning. “Good morning, James.”
“Lauren!” James stepped in and kissed her cheeks twice. He really was just like Miles. A shorter, light blond-haired version. “Ready to try on wedding dresses?”
