Total pages in book: 54
Estimated words: 52100 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 261(@200wpm)___ 208(@250wpm)___ 174(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 52100 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 261(@200wpm)___ 208(@250wpm)___ 174(@300wpm)
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.
“Isn’t it heavenly?” Allie said. “I haven’t been in a hot tub since before I had my kids.”
“Girl, you deserve a hot tub in your home,” Shea said. “And a masseuse.”
“I have Stan for that,” Allie said with a grin. “He considers massages foreplay, so he’ll rub me down from head to toe if it gets him what he wants.”
“Dang, I forgot my drink,” Shea said, leaning forward to stand.
“No, stay,” I said, bolting up. “I’ll get it. I need another one anyway.”
“Get me one, too,” Coulter said.
I ended up getting fresh beers for all of the groomsmen before passing Shea her margarita and climbing back into the hot tub.
She looked relaxed, ignoring Carmen as she chattered about how sore her abs were from a workout this morning. I put my arm around Shea, careful to keep it on the hot tub and not touch her.
Grady mouthed, “That’s my sister,” from the other side of the hot tub. I mouthed back, “I know,” and looked away. He clearly thought Shea belonged in a convent. I laughed inwardly about the very real possibility of having my invitation to be a groomsman rescinded this weekend.
This would be the longest break I’d had from my kids since retiring from hockey. Knowing they’d be having fun with my parents made it easy to come here. I’d grown so used to watching my language—mostly—and always keeping an eye on them that it was hard to get used to just sitting in a hot tub with other adults, not having a care in the world.
“Hey Grady,” I said. “How did you and Avon meet?”
They exchanged a look and a smile.
“She was lost and I gave her directions,” he said.
She rolled her eyes. “He chewed me out and said I looked like a tourist.”
Grady shrugged. “You did and you were.”
“We hated each other at first,” Avon said. “Every encounter ended up in an argument.”
Everyone laughed and I arched a brow. “Arguing with Grady? I can’t imagine.”
He gave his wife-to-be a big, tipsy smile. “She saw the light eventually. Can’t keep her hands off me these days.”
“Oh, is that how it is?” she asked, her eyes dancing with happiness.
I’d never had what they did. I thought I did with Andrea. We adored each other, but once we were married, everything changed. She became demanding and nothing was ever good enough.