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We’re here at the Hidden Pearl Resort for a week and a half, and at the end of it, Hazel’s gonna be leaving with this ring on her finger. I just need to make it perfect.
Chapter Three
Hazel
It takes an alarming amount of bobby pins and I burn myself with the curling iron twice, but the updo I put together for the Hidden Pearl Resort tree-decorating party is a work of fucking art.
Which is a good thing, considering the stunning dress Brendon’s chosen for me to wear. Rich red velvet, it clings to my curves with pinup perfection, and the off-the-shoulder neckline gives a peek at my cleavage that toes the perfect line between sexy and classy.
I keep the makeup relatively subtle, save for a heavy coat of mascara and a wing of eyeliner that make my eyes pop. I know even as I’m applying it that the shimmery lip gloss probably won’t last long, but I make the effort anyway.
Finally, I’m finished, dressed and ready save for shoes. But I decide I want Brendon’s first look to have the full effect, so before I step out, I crack the bathroom door open. “Close your eyes,” I order him.
“Okay,” he replies, chuckling.
“Are they closed?”
“Yes.”
“Promise?”
“Cross my heart.”
“Okay, good, keep them closed until I say so, all right?”
“Yes, ma’am,” he laughs.
With that, I dart out. He’s sitting on the edge of the bed, mostly dressed, but his tie is hanging undone around his neck. I dive into the suitcase with the shoes in it and after a few moments of deliberation, I choose a pair of black strappy heels: elegant, but nothing too flashy.
It takes me another moment to get them on, and once I do, I carefully peer into the mirror for a few tiny last-second adjustments before positioning myself in front of Brendon. “All right, love…open them.”
His eyelids fly open, and he gives me a full up-and-down appraisal. His face betrays nothing, and for a moment, I start to worry.
“Hmm…maybe I shouldn’t have put you in that one,” he muses, and my heart sinks.
“Oh, well, I mean…I can change if you don’t like it,” I stammer.
“Oh, that’s not it at all, darling,” he replies, “The problem is that I’m absolutely itching to rip it off of you.”
A wave of relief washes over me and a nervous little giggle slips out, but one look at his face tells me that he meant the words as no laughing matter. He’s eyeing me with an intense, hungry stare.
I swallow, hard. Even though my body is still feeling the lingering effects from earlier, I could easily jump his bones all over again right now.
The tension rises until he gets to his feet, blowing out a breath. “Let’s save that for later,” he says reluctantly, “After all, we wouldn’t want to miss out on all the fun, right?”
I nod, then reach up and tie his tie for him. I’ve seen him in a suit plenty of times, including this same one, but I still get a little weak in the knees at the sight. He just cleans up so damn good.
I finish, smoothing it down against his chest, and he offers me his arm. “Shall we?”
I loop my arm through his and follow him from the room. We head downstairs and make our way to the event hall where everything’s being set up.
It’s beautifully decorated so far, although employees are still hanging lights and bringing in boxes of ornaments for the massive tree in the center of the room.
Christmas music is playing, but to my relief, it’s of the more traditional variety. I’ve never been a big fan of the more pop-y stuff, and I’ve heard “Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer” so many times lately that I think it’s just kind of on permanent repeat in the back of my brain.
Brendon leads me to the bar, where they’ve got the usual range of what you’d expect, but they’ve also got a special menu of holiday offerings including mulled wine, eggnog, and a spiked hot chocolate that sounds downright decadent.
It feels a little silly getting hot chocolate when the low temperature predicted for the entire trip is like 72° Fahrenheit, but I order it anyway, while Brendon opts to give their eggnog a try.
