“I can’t wait to see that.” I smile, it could only be Tanner’s kid that even knows what a tuxedo is, or be able to say it. And just when I think things can’t get worse, Luca asks;
“Have you seen Aunty Jade?”
My eyes bug wide as I mash my lips together, letting them pop after a moment. “I think she’s around here somewhere, but you know Aunty Jade, she loves to get up early.”
“Maybe she went for a walk without us,” Luca says, glancing up at his dad.
“We stopped by her cottage to see if she wanted to come play golf, but she wasn’t there.”
Fuck, there’s a damned good reason for that.
“It was Luca’s idea to see if you were awake,” Tanner goes on. “He insisted you said to give you an early wake up call.”
Thanks, Buddy.
“Maybe she went on one of those walking trails,” I suggest. “She was talking about doing that yesterday. Or maybe, just maybe, she went to yoga.” I nod down towards the little guy who bends to the ground, placing his hands on the deck and pushes forwards, kicking his legs up.
“Yoga!” he calls out with glee.
“Wow, you can almost do a handstand,” I muse. “Aunty Jade will be so proud.”
“Luca, be careful,” his dad warns, trying to grab him before he tumbles over. “We don’t want any cuts or scrapes before the wedding.”
I glance at Tanner once he’s got Luca back to a standing position. “He has a lot of energy first thing.”
“You’ve got no idea.” Tanner leans in the doorway casually and I can’t help but notice a little grin on his face as his eyes meet mine. A grin that stirs my already heightened heart rate and senses. Fuck. Why is he looking at me like that? There’s noway he’d be smiling his head off if he thought Jade was up in my room, naked or otherwise.
“You get lucky last night?” he quirks out of the side of his mouth.
“Huh, what?” I balk. Oh, fuck. He thinks I picked up some random chick.
Kill me now.
“You’ve got a girl stashed up there, haven’t you? Especially coming down here in the hotel robe. All a telltale sign.” He winks.
My eyes pop wide, my mouth parting to say something, stuttering a breath before I can continue to profess my innocence, which means shit by now. I’m well aware of it. “Nah, man. Nothing like that.”
Tanner shakes his head like he knows all too well and taps his nose like he’s in on the world’s biggest secret. “You always were a hit with the ladies. We can’t take you anywhere.”
“Would I do a thing like that?” I thumb towards my chest, covered with the white fluffy robe, which I’m sure looks a little ridiculous. “Now, how about I get showered and cleaned up, and I meet you guys for breakfast in an hour? Then we can have a round of golf after I wake up?”
“What do you think, Luca? Do you think you can wait until pancakes to play golf? We’ll go see if Mommy is awake and come back and have breakfast with Uncle JJ?”
“Yes!” He jumps up and down, excited as hell. “And Aunty Jade, if we can find her.”
I almost sputter a laugh. Almost. This fucking kid.
“Text me when you’re ready.” Tanner glances up in the direction of my hair. I can only take a stab at what I must look like. “That hero hair of yours might need some working over.”
“Hero hair!” Luca chimes and they both laugh. It’s a sharp contrast to my very nervous chuckle, one that in no way, shape,or form feels natural. And as they take off back to their room, with a little wave to me, I feel all kinds of emotions rush over me at once. Guilt. Panic. Disbelief. Confusion.
How unlucky could we be? almost being sprung by Tanner and his kid.
I’m not even sure how we thought we’d get away with this having the family so close. But as I step back inside and lean back on the door, I close my eyes for a second to recoup my thoughts and take a breath. When I reopen them again, Jade is standing at the top of the stairs, looking down at me with wide-brimmed eyes. She’s also wrapped up in her hotel robe, the belt looped around at the side, staring at me with her mouth open.
“Shit!” She finally lets out a cry, like she’s been holding it in.
“You can say that again.” I make it to the bottom step in seconds and dart up to her two at a time. I can see the panic and the same disbelief as I felt etched into her pretty features. “Tanner knew I had someone here. Thank fuck he didn’t suspect it was you!”
