He took off his shirt. “I had the hotel set it up like we were on our honeymoon when we went down a little early.”
My heart thumped faster as I stared at those muscles of his. “Now let’s enjoy ourselves.”
He tossed off his pants, and I sat on the edge of the bed, expecting he would join me, but he asked, “What kind of wedding do you want?”
My heart soared as I realized he truly was a romantic. I scooted backward. “I always figured if I was getting married it would be in court, and I’d go out to drinks with friends after.”
He came beside me. “My family isn’t going to like that.”
Fair. I’d flown to a private island and now Hawaii. I met his gaze. “I guessed. What would you want?”
He kissed my hand. “Well, I was thinking Antarctica.”
“What?” A laugh escaped my lips.
He stared at the ceiling. “Well, the tropics have been done. I’m thinking a snow-white dress and a snow-topped setting.”
I narrowed my eyes. He was obviously joking. I asked drolly, “You mean an iceberg?”
He pressed his hand to his heart. “You’re not into it?”
I blinked. He was trying to see my reaction. So I shrugged and decided to play along. “Look, if you want to freeze me, then as long as you warm me up after, it’s fine, but how about somewhere my friends might want to go, like a ski lodge?”
His jaw dropped. “I was only joking about the snow.”
I continued on the path he'd started. “This could be a pretty picture you’re painting. I’ve only ever seen snow in Manhattan, which is so not what the storybooks speak of.”
He covered his lips, which was the opposite of what I ached for, then he dropped it. “I’ll fly your friends to the Swiss Alps.”
I nodded and held on to my laugh. “I like that.”
He traced my leg, and I turned to him. “Do you know how to ski?”
Heat rushed at me now. “No.”
He leaned closer. “Maybe the skiing idea isn’t for us.”
“Stop talking.” I tugged him closer.
As soon as our lips met, I forgot everything we were joking about. All that mattered was that Charlie was the one for me.
Chapter Forty
Hope
Two weeks later
* * *
My heart was beating super fast as I glanced at the clock. Today was the big meeting with Kir and the investors for moving our project to a fully funded company. We’d all stayed longer in Hawaii than anticipated, but we'd fit in work between parties.
But the second we were home, I dove into work. I needed to prove I was good enough for Charlie. He thought so. My friends thought so. His family thought so. Once I believed I was okay, then I would set the date—and maybe really plan the wedding.
However, his brother was late, and Charlie seemed perfectly calm with his spreadsheets and portfolio beside me in the conference room. He told me quietly, "Relax."
My shoulders were tense.
Then the doorknob turned, and I jumped up. “Kir, you’re finally back.”
