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“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to startle you.” Mr. Not-So-Wrong hands me a towel.
I dab at my face, but who am I kidding? I’m a lost cause. “It’s not your fault. I was having a tug-of-war over the centerpieces with—” I look around, but the minion has gone. And, thankfully, taken all the flowers of doom with him. “Never mind. Anyway. Hi.”
I catch my breath, taking him in properly this time. The playful smile on his full lips. The sparkle in his warm brown eyes. The way his dark hair is just begging for me to run my fingers through it. I wondered what he’d look like out of that corporate suit, and now I know for sure.
He looksgood.
“We didn’t get around to the introductions,” he says, holding out his hand. “Josh Carlyle.”
“Carlyle,” I repeat, still dazed from our sudden reunion – and my unexpected plunge.
“Nephew-of-the-groom,” he explains. “Robert’s my uncle.”
“Oh! Right. Hi.”
I shake his hand, feeling the warmth of his palm curl around mine; the lingering squeeze of pressure.
Is it possible for a handshake to be sexy? Because this one sure is.
“So, should I just call you Butterfly Woman…?” Josh asks, finally releasing my hand.
I snap back.
“No!” I blurt. “I’m Hazel. Here to help out for the wedding, and stop?—”
“The decorations looking like a funeral,” Josh finishes for me. “Well, it’s great to meet you, Hazel. Officially,” he adds, with a twinkle.
Our eyes lock. And there it is: thatzingagain. Every nerve ending that wasn’t already woken up by my plunge into the pool suddenly comes roaring to life.
Hello, lover.
A hotel clerk joins us. “Mr. Carlyle, here’s your key. We have you in Cabana Five.”
“I’m in Six,” I can’t keep from blurting.
“So, we’ll be neighbors then.” Josh’s smile grows wider.
“I’ll try not to keep you up at night,” I say.
He arches an eyebrow, looking amused.
“With music!” I yelp. “Or, you know, late night wedding prep. Although, I’m sure the hotel has white noise machines,” I add, hearing myself ramble, but powerless to stop it. “If you even need them. The sound of the ocean is soothing enough, I think. Or the jungle. I mean, there’s noise everywhere if you think about it. Nature’s soundtrack!”
Shut up, shut up, shut up.
I snap my lips together, cheeks hotter than ever.
Way to be smooth and seductive, Hazel.Nothing gets a man turned on like white noise!
But if Josh is horrified by my babbling, he doesn’t show it. “I’ve been living in the city long enough, I can tune anything out,” he confides. “One time, I woke up to find the block roped off by the cops. Apparently, there’d been a screaming Mariah Carey sing-off in the street, and I’d slept right through it.”
I smile, relaxing just a little. “What even leads to a Mariah Carey sing-off?” I wonder. “Were they all set to beat each other to a pulp, and then at the last minute, someone saw sense and said, ‘you know what? Let’s let the Queen of Christmas settle this instead.”
Josh laughs. “You know, I didn’t think to ask.”
He grins at me, broad and tall and deliciously casual. And, for the next four days, staying in the cabana right next door to mine.
Is this the universe telling me it’s time for that sexy vacation fling? Because I’ve never really believed in fate, or destiny before now. But I’m prepared to give it a whirl, just this once.
