Rather than push her and risk making things worse, he let it go for the moment, but this turn of events was a total letdown after all he’d done to get to her.“Fine.”He couldn’t keep the annoyance out of his tone.He hated it when she held onto stuff, had been looking forward to spending this week with her, which was why he’d pulled every damn string he could to get here early.
The homecoming had gotten off to such a promising start, too.After him surprising her last night, she’d woken him up this morning with her mouth in the best way possible, and he’d practically been in a coma ever since.He’d slept the entire day away, until she’d woken him a half hour ago.Not for more sex, unfortunately, but to slap his bare ass, shove a granola bar and a banana at him, and order him into the shower because they had to meet everyone for dinner.
“You sure you still want to come?”she asked.
“Yeah, I’m sure.”While it was true that he would give his right nut for another orgasm, another few hours’ sleep, and the chance to avoid the crazy blue-haired woman who’d slapped his face off during their first introduction a little over a year and a half ago, he had limited time here with his wife.
He wasn’t going to waste any of it, whether she was annoyed at him about something or not.
“And just so you know, the old bird’s kinda growing on me.”Ruby had been shockingly well behaved during their wedding, so now that he’d made an “honest woman” out of Candace—Ruby’s words—he figured she wouldn’t try to hit him or anything tonight.
“Sure she is,” Candace said dryly as they stepped out into the carpeted hallway outside their suite.
Okay, change of subject.“What did you do all day, anyway?”He reached for her hand, wanting to put things back on an even footing between them again.
He’d thought it was strange that she’d left the room and let him sleep all day.Usually when they managed to be together she was as eager as him to spend every moment with each other.It bugged him that it turned out she’d been trying to avoid him and whatever confrontation was brewing.
“Hung out with Maya and Erin mostly.Sat around the pool and talked, had lunch.I came up to check on you after, but you were still asleep and I didn’t wake you up because I could tell you needed the rest.”
Her tone and expression weren’t annoyed, but she definitely had something on her mind.Had to be that phone call a couple weeks back.They’d bickered over something stupid, he couldn’t even remember what now, and she’d been kind of cool with him afterward.
The argument had been his fault.He’d been dead tired after being out in the field for the better part of three days, and had been short with her.That’s what had started it.He’d apologized the next time they’d talked, but maybe she wasn’t over their fight yet.
Downstairs he took her hand again as they exited their building and crossed the lawn via a flagstone path to the next one over.Life was too short, and their time was too precious together to let a stupid argument ruin it.
This resort was classy and for the filthy rich, so he was glad Ruby had pulled some strings behind the scenes and comped all their rooms, because a stay here would have cost them an obscene chunk of their military wages.Candace came from money and while it made him a little uncomfortable still, at least none of her family held it over his head.
The lobby was busy with guests checking in, and others sitting around the large stone fireplace in the center of the room with coffee or happy hour drinks.Maya and Jackson were waiting there with Erin and Wade.
He’d served overseas with Jackson but didn’t know Wade that well.Ryan liked the former spook well enough, though, and Wade was good to Erin, so he was glad he’d been able to make it here for their wedding.
“Where are Cam and Dev?”he asked after doling out handshakes to the guys and hugs to the ladies.The PJ and his former army helo pilot wife, Devon, had already checked in when he’d arrived last night.Of all the Bagram guys coming to the wedding, Ryan was closest to Cam, because they’d served over there the longest.They’d gone through hell together a few times and lived to tell about it.There was nobody Ryan trusted more to have his back, except for his wife.Even when she was pissed at him.
“Not sure.Guess they must have lost track of time,” Wade said with a wry smirk.
“Lucky bastards,” Ryan said, snaking his arm around his wife’s waist to give her a squeeze, still hoping to smooth things over.
Her curves never failed to turn him on.She was lush and ripe and soft in all the right places.He’d rather be upstairs losing track of time with her right now too, instead of down here and dreading arguing with her later.
He was proud as hell of the wakeup call he’d given her last night, but this morning had been nice too.Slower.Sweeter.And yet he could feel her distancing herself from him now that they weren’t in bed together.He pulled her closer, determined to put an end to it.
“Did everybody get the itinerary I sent last night?”Candace asked, leaning into him as she slipped her arm around his waist.That simple gesture eased some of the tension in him.
“Yep.Us guys have to be back from our trip by Friday afternoon, in time for the welcome dinner,” Jackson said.
“And don’t be late,” Erin added, poking her husband-to-be in the chest.“Our families will be here by then, so everyone will want to see you.Us, together.”
“Wouldn’t dream of it,” Wade answered, his lips twitching.
“We should go,” Candace said, glancing at her watch.“Don’t want to keep Grandma waiting.”
Jackson grinned.“No, we wouldn’t want that.”
Ryan shot him a look.“Trust me, man.You don’t wanna mess with Grandma, especially if it means keeping her from a glass of rye.”
Candace huffed out a laugh and tugged on his hand to get him moving.“She’s not that bad.”
As a group they crossed the lobby’s polished plank floor and walked toward the back of the building where piano music drifted out of the lounge.Someone was singing inside it.
