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“Sadly, the ingredients for your breakfast were left behind,” he said, grinning. “These snacks are the only work you’re doing this weekend.”
I gave him a dirty look, aggravated he’d deliberately left behind the ingredients for my sausage and egg casserole and cinnamon rolls.
Everyone went to their bedrooms and bathrooms to change, leaving me alone with Holt in the kitchen.
“Looks like you’re gonna have to hot tub,” he said.
I looked away, unsure how to respond.
“It’s hard for you to let go and unwind, isn’t it?” he asked softly. “You’re so used to being busy and doing things for other people that you don’t take much time for yourself.”
I shrugged, feeling seen and not sure I liked it.
“Even that night on the lawn, you came there for Spence. Because he invited you.”
“Of course I did.”
“Just try it,” he said. “You’re with friends here. Let go and don’t do a single thing for another person. Don’t wash dishes or pour drinks. Just be. And have some fun.”
He didn’t realize how much he was asking of me. I’d never been a partier. I went from high school to cooking classes, then culinary school. Hospitality was a natural fit for me because I loved taking care of others.
Taking care of myself, though? That wasn’t even a thought. What kind of care did I need, anyway, besides showers, sleep and the occasional decent meal?
“I don’t think I have much choice,” I said, sighing.
A smile played on Holt’s lips as he looked at me. “I’ll get in the hot tub if you will.”
My lips parted as I tried to come up with an answer. The truth was that I felt self-conscious about wearing a swimsuit in front of him. I never exercised, unless the twenty thousand steps a day I got at work counted. My stomach wasn’t flat. I wouldn’t be wearing a skimpy bikini like some of the other women in the bridal party could get away with. I’d brought a modest black one-piece suit.
But I couldn’t very well sit with Harry and Bess while everyone else was in the hot tub. Grady had robbed me of my excuse—making dinner for everyone—by having our dinners catered.
“I guess I will,” I said.
“Good.”
He opened the refrigerator and took out the pitcher of margaritas, refilling my glass. The first one had gone down so easily that I knew I had to pace myself with this one.
Then again, though...
I took a big, reinforcing sip of the drink, steeling myself. If I had to wear a swimsuit in front of a bunch of people, one of whom was a former hockey player with a rocking body...alcohol could only help.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
Holt
I changed into my swim trunks in record time and was already in the hot tub when Shea walked out the sliding glass doors to join us.
She had a long robe over her suit, but she still took my breath away. Her long legs stole my attention until she stopped by a chair and took off the robe, and then my gaze just wandered up and down her body.
How could everyone else be carrying on conversations, oblivious to the beautiful woman right next to us? Shea had a tentative expression; she had no idea how stunning she was.
“There’s a seat right here, Shea!” I called out.
Carmen, who had moved to sit next to me as soon as I got in the hot tub, gave me a dirty look when I asked her to scoot over.
“Nice of you to make room for my sister,” Grady said to me from the other side of the hot tub.
He’d never give up on trying to intimidate me, but it wasn’t going to work. Shea walked over and sat down in the spot between me and Carmen, inhaling sharply as she lowered herself into the hot water.
