Prologue
Chapter One
PAIGE
Hotel Bellwether is famous for many things, but LoveTMis what it promises you, so when Skye—my cousin and platonic love of my life, also cofounder of our shop, Calm Candles—discovered that one of my New Year’s resolutions was to date again, she wasted no time in making me sign up for The Belle’s weekly speed-dating night.
Anytime I need a holiday, I come here. With the crisp ocean air, soft sand as far as the eye can see, Playa de Oro always carries the sense that anything is possible if you want it enough.
And, boy, am I hoping that works in my favor tonight.
“Scope out any hotties yet?” Skye asks.
I press my phone closer to my ear, just in case. I’m here ten minutes early and not entirely sure I shouldn’tescape before it starts, which is why I called her. Baby steps.
“Um …”
The ballroom is split in two—a lounge area, where I’m loitering at the edge, and a dining room. In reality, it’s a few sofas, a cash bar, and a rug on one side, then rows of two-seater tables, lined up neatly with numbers, on the other.
Scanning the crowd, I count about five, six guys I’d be interested in getting to know, based on little more than how they’re holding themselves. Nice, approachable guys.
Nothing like my ex.
“A few guys are cute, I guess.”
One thing’s for sure: everyone dressed up. I’m glad Skye talked me out of coming in jeans and a tank top, even though it’s what I’m most comfortable in. Except regular me doesn’t do so well on dates, so maybe Skye’s sundress will be the key to finding something new.
“Cute is a good start, but what you need is non-douchey.”
I take a slow sip of wine, but my nerves are so frazzled; it’s like throwing a thimble of water on a forest fire. “You know, that never came up as a preference when I was filling in my profile.”
“Well, it should be. How are you feeling now?”
I pick out a few nuts from the snack bowl in front of me, leaving the pistachios behind. Maybe food will help.I couldn’t stomach dinner before I left, and now I’m starving.
The room is really starting to fill out now. We must be starting soon.
“Good, I think.” And it’s the truth. “I wish you were here.”
Ever since I could remember, it’s been me and her, arm in arm for everything. But, no, tonight, Skye gets to be at home, eating jelly beans, while I face the terrifying prospect of pitching myself to total strangers in the name of love.
“You need to fly out of the nest, duckling.”
I smooth my dress over knees that are knobby and pale. I need a beach day soon.
“Ducks don’t have nests.”
“Don’t they?”
“Oh, I don’t know.”
An abundance of lamps around the room leaves everything feeling soft and warm. It’s casual and seductive, cool without being arrogant. Like people who never seem to run out of interesting stories, but always stop them midway to ask, “What’s going on with you?” as though your recent dentist appointment could compare to that time they snuck into a bed-making competition and came in third place.
Yep. If you’re looking for love, there’s nowhere better than The Belle.
Or it would be, if my ex hadn’t just walked through the door.
Fuck.
