I force myself up to take in the gorgeous room.
“You’re going to do your job, have a little harmless fun,” I whisper and climb off the bed. I walk to sit on one of the fluffy sofas in the living room with the fireplace. The windows are positioned in a way that you see the forest, hills, and fields. I can’t look into the other cottages placed perfectly in the woods around me. Whoever built this place was a genius.
Ridiculously, I pull one of the long matches from the box and strike it, tossing it into the fireplace to start the fire. It’s far too warm to have it going, but I’m living in microseconds of wonderment as I take it all in.
I sit for a moment before getting up to wander into the hallway where I find the most shocking thing.
A walk-in closet.
A huge walk-in closet.
A sigh escapes my lips.
I wish I had my phone to take pictures and send them to Claire and the girls. Sami stealing our phones makes sense. Even if I miss touching mine.
Forcing myself to continue the tour, I make my way into the bathroom and stop dead in my tracks.
“Oh wow,” I say to no one, stunned by the spa soaker tub, massive two-person shower, white tiles, and sparkling glass and marble. The window in the bathroom overlooks the woods, which is the only color in the whole room. Everything else is bright white, including the double sinks and fluffy towels. The counter is filled with products that are not only high end, but full sized. There’s hundreds of dollars’ worth of it all. Maybe thousands.
Touching the soft robe on the wall next to the shower, I could kiss Stan for forcing me to do this. He’s as old as Methuselah’s goat, but I could for reals have a make-out session for a room this nice. This is akin to winning the lottery. I’ve died and gone to girlie heaven. Rustic girlie heaven. It’s the sort of setting I needed for a work trip.
The bathroom lighting is some kind of magic. Or maybe it’s the fresh air. Whatever it is, I look good. Better than I should for how much crying and sweating I did yesterday.
Impressed beyond belief, I walk to the fully stocked pantry, gasping at what I find. Every snack food imaginable, including chocolate-covered jujubes, is here. Every kind of beverage sits next to them. I open the mini fridge to find ice cream bars in the freezer. Häagen-Dazs ice cream bars.
I have daydreams about the assault I’ll commit on this minibar, but first I tear myself away to explore the last door. I turn the knob and open it, finding another hallway. It’s crazy how big this place is. It’s a basic-bitch Narnia.
I stroll past another pantry as the door to the left opens, revealing a naked guy wiping his face with a fluffy white towel while he walks from the bathroom. Steam and the scent of men’s bodywash floats after him.
Pins and needles cover me.
My jaw drops and I’m about to scream when he lowers the towel and his eyes meet mine. I know him.
He narrows his gaze for a second, processing my frozen body in front of him, before a smirk slowly crosses his lips. “Are you part of the welcome gift? Because Sami got this one right. I mean, I’m as much a fan of lavender bath salts as any guy, but this is more my speed. Hello, gorgeous.”
“I—I’m—you’re in my room!” I manage to shout as embarrassment flushes my cheeks.
“This is my room, Red. But if you want, we can think of it as our room.” He winks and I step back, horrified. He loses the smug charm at seeing my reaction, which is no doubt sheer disgust. “Oh shit, don’t panic. I’m kidding—they’re adjoining doors! I thought Carson and Rich were my room neighbors so I didn’t lock it.” He lifts his hands, still holding the towel. My eyes are stuck on his penis.
“Cover yourself up!” I shout at him and turn, rushing back into my room. The door slams as I fling it back and lock it.
Lawrence Eckelston.
That was Lawrence Eckelston.
That was Lawrence Eckelston’s penis.
Fan—fucking—tastic.
6 Bridezilla
Lori
“So did you guys get a random redhead in your room as a welcome gift from Sami?” I joke with Nat, trying to throw her off her game as we play on the PlayStation she somehow snuck onto the property. God knows where it was stashed.
“What?” She isn’t distracted by talking. “You got a redhead in your room? Like a real one or a blow-up doll from Brady?”
“Yeah no, real girl. Though I’m surprised Brady missed the opportunity to leave a blow-up doll in my room.” I move quickly but she steals the puck. “Shit. Anyway, some chick I’ve never met showed up in my room when I was showering. It was weird.”
“No, we never got a girl. But I got you, baby!” Nat shouts, moving her player to the right and scoring again.
I clench but manage not to bitch, it only eggs her on. She loves gloating and talking smack when she’s this into a game.
“I’m going to spank you, Lori!” she says with a throaty chuckle.
“Just what a guy doesn’t want to hear his fiancée say to another guy,” Brady grumbles, coming into the room with a sandwich he no doubt convinced the private chef to whip up for him.
“Especially, when the guy is as handsome as me.” I grin and manage to steal the puck and skate for her end. My thumbs are killing me, but I can’t go down with this big of a loss.
“Just let her win, man. Save yourself some dignity and carpal tunnel.” He takes a massive bite and moans into the thick bread. “This is almost as good as Millie's.”
“Like you do?” Nat taunts him. I swear she hasn’t
