by Vivi Holt
“Anything I should worry about?”
Heath shook his head. “Nope. Let’s go.” He pulled the door shut behind him, then nodded at Gwen.
She glanced at his parents, who were both watching them with great interest. “Good morning, pumpkin.” She stepped forward and planted a kiss on his lips. His eyes flew wide in surprise, and her heart skipped a beat as their lips met.
When she pulled away, Graham slapped him on the back with a chuckle. “Come on, son, you’ve got to put more into it than that if you intend to keep the spark in your marriage.”
Arlene nodded in agreement. “Marriage takes work, hon. And a wife needs to feel as though she’s adored.” She arched an eyebrow and caught her husband’s eye. He shook his head and pursed his lips.
Heath frowned at Gwen, but she shrugged, turned and strutted down the hall. What was he upset about? He was paying her to make sure everyone believed they were engaged – he could hardly think the cool greeting he’d given her would be good enough.
The four of them entered the elevator together and she put her hand in his. He glanced down at it, then met her gaze. “What’s wrong, pumpkin?” she asked with a smile. “You seem tense. You really should relax. After all, this is supposed to be a vacation.”
A muscle in his jaw twitched and he bobbed his head in assent.
“That’s right, hon. You really shouldn’t work so hard,” Arlene agreed. “Everyone needs time off.”
“Yes, Mom,” he said as he laced his fingers through Gwen’s, sending a bolt of electricity through her.
After breakfast, Gwen retreated to the side of the main pool. She laid her towel down on a pool chair and settled into it, booting up her Kindle to read the latest Claire Kelley mystery. She paused to glance up at the balconies overhead. Heath’s was up there, and she could picture him, cell phone attached to his ear. She shook her head. He worked more than anyone she’d ever known – a weekend at a resort in Oregon and he was up in his room, likely hunched over his laptop.
Never mind. She had no intention of wasting this opportunity – she’d take advantage of every luxury the resort had to offer. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d had a vacation, not counting camping out of the back of Ed’s truck in eastern Montana. She spent a good part of the morning swimming, sipping drinks brought to her by the pool wait staff, lounging and reading her book.
Just before lunch, Arlene and Samantha showed up, each in cool resort dresses that flapped around their slim legs as they walked. Samantha glanced down at Gwen over the top of her Ray-Bans. “We’re headed to the spa and Mom thought you might like to join us, sis.”
Gwen lifted the brim of her hat. “The spa?”
“We’ve booked massages, but I’m sure they could fit you in as well,” Arlene told her.
“And a facial and seaweed-and-mud wrap,” added Samantha with a flip of her hand.
A massage and a facial? Gwen jumped to her feet and dumped her Kindle into her purse. “That sounds just about perfect. I’d love to join you.”
They walked to the end of the pool where a sign above a glass door read Ariston Spa. Inside, they sat on a row of chairs to await their appointments. Gwen had no trouble adding her name to the appointment book. She flipped through a magazine, then felt Samantha’s eyes on her and met her stare.
“So what is it about you?” Samantha wondered.
“Sam!” chastised Arlene, resting a hand on Samantha’s leg.
“What do you mean?” asked Gwen, her brow furrowed.
“Heath’s only ever brought one woman home before to meet the family – Chantelle. But after only knowing you a few short weeks, he’s asked you to marry him and invited you to a family wedding. Why?”
Arlene tutted and shook her head at her daughter. “Sam, it’s not your place …”
“Mom, I want to know.”
Gwen swallowed hard and set the magazine down on the table beside her. “I don’t know. To be honest with you, it has been a whirlwind. But Heath’s a great guy – I mean, you know that. But he’s the kind of guy that a woman can fall in love with that fast. As to what he sees in me, I couldn’t say. Perhaps you should ask him.”
What else could she say? It wasn’t a strange question to ask, given the circumstances. She couldn’t fault their suspicions – they’d never heard of her before, and all of a sudden she was engaged to Heath. She was also surprised to hear he’d only introduced them to one former girlfriend. Yes, he seemed closed off, but so much that he wouldn’t let anyone get close? What had happened to make him that way?
“Leave Gwen be,” responded Arlene, red spots warming her cheeks. “If Heath loves her, that’s good enough for me. And it should be good enough for you.”
Sam nodded silently, but Gwen could see the doubt in her eyes. And she couldn’t blame her.
Heath studied the spreadsheet on his laptop screen and rubbed his eyes. The numbers were beginning to blur together, and he still couldn’t figure what was going on. Something just didn’t add up. And he still had the monthly financial reports to review and staff travel requests to approve.
Being at the top meant a never-ending stream of requests came his way all hours of the day and night. He could work twenty-four hours a day and never get it all done. He’d fought against hiring a full-time assistant, instead sharing Judy with Adam, but perhaps it was time he took the plunge. He hated the thought of having to train someone new – it seemed like just another task to add to his infinite to-do list. But if he didn’t do something soon, that list would suffocate him. And he’d have to train someone when Judy went on maternity leave anyway.
A knock at the door broke through his reverie and he stood with a groan, stretching his hands over his head. Hunching over a coffee table wasn’t the best way to work. “Coming,” he called before slouching toward the door.
Gwen stood in the doorway with a smile, her face glowing. “Howdy, boss!”
“Hi. What time is it?” His stomach contracted with hunger, and he was suddenly aware that he hadn’t eaten since breakfast.
“It’s lunchtime. Are you coming down to the restaurant? Everyone else is already there, but I thought maybe we could set tongues wagging and get a table to ourselves.” She waggled her eyebrows.
He chuckled and ran a hand over his face. “That sounds great. Let me just grab my wallet.”
When he returned to the door, she studied him under hooded eyes. “You work too hard.”
He frowned. “There’s a lot to get done.”
“I’m sure that’s true, but everyone needs a break now and then.”
He grunted and held the elevator door open for her.
She stepped inside and turned to face him. “I’ve got an idea. We’re only here for a couple of days, so how about after lunch you set work aside and take me out for a round of golf?”
He really should go back to his room to take that conference call Adam had organized with the finance team. But perhaps she was right. It was beautiful at the resort. He could get Adam to postpone the call. After all, what good was it to be acting CEO if you couldn’t move things around to suit your own schedule? “Okay.” The elevator dinged and the doors slid open. “Do you play golf?”
She shook her head. “Never have.”
He raised an eyebrow. “I guess I can show you …”
“That would be great.”
They walked together to the restaurant. Gwen linked her fingers through his and he found he liked it more than he’d thought he would. She was so different, so unlike anyone he’d ever dated before. Not that they were actually dating … but still, he couldn’t help thinking about it. What if they were together?
No, it would just complicate things. She didn’t see him that way – she made that clear every time she called him boss. He was paying her to be his fiancée for a weekend, that was the extent of their relationship. Still, his hand tingled where it touched hers and his thoughts strayed to how her silken hair would feel against his skin and how tempting her lips looked.
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nbsp; “There you two are,” called Heather. “Are you going to join us for lunch?”
Heath found himself feeling disappointed that he and Gwen wouldn’t get time alone together. “Sure, of course. If you’d like us to.”
“Yes, come and sit,” added Samantha, patting the empty chair beside her. “We’re all taking a walk along the beach after lunch. What are you two doing?”
Heath and Gwen sat side by side. “Playing golf,” Gwen replied. She released his hand and it felt empty and cold where it rested on the table.
He shook his head. What was wrong with him? He had to stop thinking that way. After this weekend, Gwen Alder wouldn’t give him a second thought. He’d pay her first month’s rent and they’d both move on with their lives. He didn’t need the complication of feeling things for someone who didn’t see him the same way.
“Golf? Ugh – boring,” responded Samantha in her usual blunt fashion.
“I don’t know. It might be romantic,” stated Gwen, amidst oohs and ahhs from the women seated around her. She glanced over her shoulder at him and caught his eye, and he swore he saw a flash of something behind the sky-blue.
The golf club felt heavier in Gwen’s hands than she’d thought it would. She practiced a swing while she waited for Heath to tee off. He’d seemed to find it inconceivable that she’d never played the game, but when she’d asked him when, pray tell, a working-class girl from Long Beach would have the chance to hit a small white ball around an exclusive country club, he’d shut his mouth. She’d smiled in satisfaction.
She watched as he swung the club high behind himself, then smoothly forward. The ball sailed down the center of the green and landed in the distance with a few short bounces on the neatly-clipped grass. He pivoted and smiled in her direction. “Your turn.”
She thrust out her chin and walked toward the tee. She had this. She could do it. She’d always been pretty good at sports. Surely golf couldn’t be any more difficult than basketball, and she’d won a championship in that sport – granted, it was when she was ten, but still. She stood in front of the tee and set her club beside the ball, her eyes locked on it.
Then she felt two hands slip down her arms from behind, and her skin goose-pimpled. “Like this,” Heath said, his hands adjusting her grip on the club handle.
She nodded, momentarily unable to find her voice. Her legs felt like jelly as his body pressed against hers and he cradled her between his muscular arms.
“You have to set your feet about shoulder’s width apart. Yep, just like that. Good.”
She inhaled slowly, breathing in his musk and her head swam. “I think I’ve got it …” She didn’t have it – she could barely breathe.
“No, don’t hold the club handle that way … turn it like this. Good.”
She focused down the causeway. There was a small hole down there somewhere. A flag shivered in the breeze. “Is that what I’m aiming for?” she asked, pointing toward the flag.
He let go and backed away. “That’s it. Just wait until …”
She swung as hard as she could, striking the ball and sending it flying off to the left. She watched it go, her mouth forming an O as it sailed toward a golf cart bouncing over the green. “Oh no …”
“… until that party moves out of the way, is what I was going to say,” finished Heath, his hands clenched at his sides. “Ball!” he shouted.
By then, two men had begun climbing out of the cart. They looked up and scrambled back in, just before the ball ricocheted off the roof with a thwack! Gwen grimaced, covering her eyes with her hands, then peered up at Heath between parted fingers. “Sorry.”
He put his hands on his hips and cocked his head to one side. “Nice shot, though.”
She waved to the men, now peeking warily out of the cart. They waved back, shaking their heads.
Heath sighed. “You do know that’s Dad and Uncle Dave down there, right?”
She covered her mouth with one hand. “No!”
“Yep. Good work.” He chuckled and set off toward where her ball had landed, waving his hand over his head to the other pair.
She rolled her eyes and groaned as she chased after him. Just great. She’d almost killed Heath’s father and uncle. She was off to a great start. “Sorry, Graham,” she said when she drew close.
Graham rested the edge of his putter against his ball, knocked it gently into the hole, then turned her way and laughed. “Never mind. You know this is our green? Yours is over that way.”
She grimaced. “I know. I’m so sorry – I’ve never played before.”
He shook his head. “I guess Heath will have to teach you some of the finer points of golfing … so you don’t maim anyone.” All the men laughed at that.
Her cheeks flamed. “Again, I’m so sorry. I’m just glad no one was hurt.”
“All’s well that ends well,” Uncle Dave replied, tapping his fingers to his forehead in a mock salute.
She smiled. “Thank you for being so understanding.”
Graham faced Heath. “Now don’t forget the rehearsal dinner tonight, son.”
Heath nodded. “Thanks for the reminder, Dad. We’ll be there.”
“And maybe you could sit beside your mother and I this time? We’d love to hear more about you and Gwen.” Graham walked away to get his ball.
When he was out of earshot, Heath turned to face Gwen. “He wants to hear all about us at dinner tonight.”
“Mm, I heard.”
“What are we going to say? You told that ridiculous story about how we met. What else is there?”
“My guess is they’ll want to know how you proposed.”
He frowned and rubbed his chin. “Should we brainstorm ideas?”
Gwen chuckled. “No, this one is all yours.”
8
Gwen spun to the right, then to the left, admiring the way the red dress hugged her figure. She’d never worn anything like it before and felt a little exposed. But with a small black shrug around her shoulders she also felt elegant, and it brought a shy smile to her face.
When she opened the door of her room, Heath stood with his fist poised to knock again. His mouth hung open and his eyes widened.
“Hi,” she said.
His hand fell to his side and he swallowed. “Hi.”
“Ready to go?”
He seemed to have lost his voice, and it made her skin tingle. “Is that one of the dresses I bought you?” he finally asked, almost choking on the words.
She nodded, her cheeks flaming.
“Wow. Um … I’m not sure if the bride will be quite as taken with it as I am, but … wow.”
She threw her head back and laughed. “Don’t worry, I’m wearing something much more subtle to the wedding tomorrow. But I figured you’d want me to dress elegantly for the rehearsal dinner … it’s not too much, is it?”
He shook his head and offered her his arm. “No, I’m just teasing. It’s absolutely perfect. I almost didn’t recognize you.”
Her eyes narrowed. She wasn’t sure how to take that.
He seemed to sense her change of mood. “Not that you looked bad before,” he stammered. “It’s just that you usually look like the pretty girl next door, but … sheesh. I’m really bad at this, aren’t I? Let me start over … you look beautiful. As always.”
She giggled. “Thank you, boss. You look pretty good yourself.” He wore a tuxedo perfectly fitted to his lithe frame. His hair was slicked back in waves away from his face. The way he’d tripped over his words was endearing. There were so many things about him she’d assumed and been wrong about.
This time, they were leaving the resort. A series of long black limousines waited in the curved driveway outside the front doors. Gwen and Heath climbed into one with his parents, Samantha, Brett and another man. Long upholstered bench seats ran down both sides of the vehicle and across the back. Gwen sat on one side, smoothed her skirt around her legs and leaned against Heath’s shoulder, lacing her fingers through his. It was strange, but the act
ion felt completely natural, and he seemed more accustomed to her touch as well.
“Gwen, I’d like you to meet my brother, Daniel Montgomery,” said Heath, indicating the man seated across from her. He looked younger than Heath, with hazel eyes instead of blue, but the same dark wavy hair.
She held out a hand toward him. “Daniel, how nice to meet you.”
“Daniel, this is my fiancée Gwen Alder.”
Daniel’s eyes widened as he shook Gwen’s hand and glanced at his brother in confusion. “Pleased to meet you.” His eyes narrowed and eyebrows arched at Heath.
Heath shook his head and shot a look at Graham and Arlene, who were involved in conversation.
Daniel frowned and cocked his head. “Engaged, huh? How about that? I’m happy for you, bro.”
“Glad you made it in time for the rehearsal,” added Heath, changing the subject of conversation. “I thought you might miss the whole thing.”
“Yeah, well, my boss is a real …”
“Would you look at the time?” interrupted Heath, with an exaggerated shake of his wrist, making his watch rattle. “I think we’re going to be a little late.”
Gwen watched the exchange with interest and a half-smile. “So, Daniel – do you work with Heath?”
He laughed and nodded. “Yep. He’s my boss, I guess you could say. He likes to remind me of it often enough.”
Heath chortled. “Come on, I’ve got to do something to keep you in line.”
“Yes, sir!” Daniel offered his brother a mock salute, but his eyes sparkled.
“Sounds like you have fun together,” she added, glancing back and forth between them.
“Eh, he’s okay – urk!” Daniel responded, just as Heath switched sides and got his brother in a headlock.
“Hey!” barked Arlene in a voice Gwen hadn’t heard before. “Don’t make me come over there and separate you boys.”
Both boys separated, hair mussed, and stared at their mother. Heath returned to Gwen’s side.
Gwen’s eyes widened. “Whoa, I thought your mother was a lamb,” she whispered.
