“Brought the family along this year. They’ll stay in our camper during the Enduro, but I promised them a pool, so we came a few days early.”
“Aw, you’re such a family man. Good for you.”
“I hear your brother is out for the count. Getting married?” Andrew’s eyes land on me and all traces of intimidation are gone. He looks at me kindly, with respect, much unlike the way Cain did. “And you too, by the looks of it?”
“Yes, meet Cateline. The future Mrs. Wolfe,” Connor says politely, carrying on with the charade. Perhaps he’ll be at the wedding tomorrow. I don’t know what Enduro means. I’ll have to look it up later.
Andrew and I exchange pleasantries.
“Leaving the chase and entering marriage will be the best decision you ever made, man. Chelsea will be happy to see you, too and meet you, Cateline. By the way, we’re expecting baby number four.”
“Will you be at the wedding too?” I have no idea what to expect from Cain’s wedding. In case things go wrong, maybe I can befriend Chelsea and take shelter in the camper.
“Cain’s? Oh, not a chance. No offense, Connor.”
“None taken. Wouldn’t endure it either if I didn’t have to,” he answers with no trace of sarcasm.
“No, we’ll see you the next day. Game on, friends!” They bump fists and Andrew continues to the lobby.
I follow Connor as he carries our bags down the hall and opens the door, then sets them on the table. He closes the door behind us. It’s a modest room and not necessarily a place I’d expect a famous football player to stay.
“Is this mine or yours?”
“Mine or your what?” he asks.
“Room,” I say simply.
“It’sourroom. Remember, we share things now.” He laughs.
I must look stricken because he grips my upper arms.
“And there are two beds. Don’t worry. The place is booked and the nearest alternative definitely has bugs. I want to get tomorrow over as quickly as possible, so I didn’t want to stay too far away.”
I swallow thickly, meeting his copper eyes.
His lips quirk. “I trust you brought your robe and bunny slippers.”
I playfully whack him. “I trust you brought something to cover your backside.”
“Oh, come on. Everyone loves #BruiserButt. Even you, Cateline.” He smirks.
My jaw trembles slightly.
“I didn’t want to lose our reservation, so we checked in early, but we’re not settling in just yet. Come on. There’s something I want to show you.”
He takes my hand and leads me back the way we came. We get in the Jeep and drive out of the small town and toward the woods.
“Where are you taking me?”
“You’ll love it.”
Hearing him use the wordlovedoes something to me inside. I’ll love it like I loved the Blue Ridge Burger or how I donotlove him?
My heart hiccups. “Ouch.” But that wasn’t why that word escaped my mouth.
Connor turns to me. “Are you okay?”
“Me? Oh, yeah. I’m fine. Just, um. Nothing. It wasn’t anything.”
