* * *
Every muscle tensed at Kat’s question. What made him decide to sign up? Zander had asked Duke that question at least a dozen times, but he had yet to get a serious answer. Usually he simply shrugged and said, why not?
Zander imagined what Duke might say to Kat in this situation. Knowing his light-hearted twin, he’d probably give her the same answer he’d given everyone else. But Kat wouldn’t be satisfied with that answer.
It came to him then, a possible reason Duke had signed up. Hadn’t they just watched their baby brother take vows? With an incredible woman, too. It’d been enough to get Zander’s wheels turning. And that was even before Betzy and Sawyer took their vows.
The weddings had caused Zander to start thinking about marriage as well. Had him wondering if he’d ever recover enough to propose to a woman again.
“Oh, looks like we’re getting some company,” Kat said while nodding toward the distance.
Zander spun around to see Randall, Marsha, and the camera crew—equipment in hand—headed down the boardwalk.
“To be continued?” she said softly. “I think that… some of the things we want to discuss should be just between us. Don’t you?”
He couldn’t agree more. And the truth was, the less the cameras were on them, the less Duke could scrutinize Zander’s actions. “Yes,” he said. “I wonder what they have planned for us.”
“Hopefully not dinner,” she said with a laugh.
Zander joined her. “Right. Maybe we shouldn’t have eaten yet.”
“I hope you two are hungry,” Randall boomed as they neared. “We’ve got a buffet fit for royalty waiting in there for the two of you.”
Zander shot a look at Kat in time to see her eyes widen in worry. She looked at him, a hint of amusement pulling at her full lips.
He quickly got to his feet and moved to help Kat do the same. “Sounds good to me,” he said as he took her hand.
“Oh, me too,” she agreed with a nod. Zander liked the way she tucked a hand into the nook of his arm after he’d helped her up. They started toward the group, but suddenly Marsha held up a hand to stay them.
A spark of concern raced through him as she scrutinized them. Him, then her, then Zander once more. Sweat broke out over his palms. Had she caught wind of the ruse? What if they’d secretly been steps ahead of them and somehow recorded his call with Duke?
“They said casual wear,” Randall said, seeming to guess at Marsha’s thoughts.
Zander glanced down at his clothes, then looked over the outfit Kat wore.
“You’re right,” Marsha said. The woman pointed to the camera crew in turn. “You come film from behind as they walk toward the resort. And you go on and shoot as they head your way, staying a good five or six yards in front.”
They waited for Marsha to give them the final go before taking slow steps toward the resort. Once they were likely out of earshot, Zander squeezed Kat’s hand. “You are in trouble.”
She giggled. “So are you.”
“Not really,” he countered. “I could take down another meal easy.”
“Not me,” she admitted. “I just hope they have dessert on that buffet. My appetite for sweets is endless.”
He couldn’t help but laugh in return. Absently, he gave her hand another squeeze. “Then here’s to hoping.”
Inside the resort, they were greeted by the owners, a kind couple who had their kids there to help. The children ranged from school-aged to an older teen who, turned out, was their cabana attendant. Savoh gave Zander a knowing look as he shook his hand. “Hope you brought your appetite,” he said. “We have a selection of seafood, salads, and desserts too. Please, help yourself.”
A corner of the dining area had been sectioned off for filming. The crew got situated as Zander chose from an array of Indian and American cuisine. He wasn’t kidding when he said he could eat another meal, especially when that meal was something as light as crabmeat.
He glanced over to the dessert portion of the spread and noticed Kat drizzling melted fudge onto a mound of ice cream, a pleased smile at her lips.
Dang, she was cute. He imagined coming back here on their fiftieth anniversary—both of them old and gray—her at the dessert bar, him piling crab legs onto his plate. The image made him smile, until he replaced that picture with Duke instead of himself.
Snap out of it, dummy. You’re not the one married to her. It was a good thing Duke was heading out there to take his place. Zander’s mind might know reason. His feelings, on the other hand, did not.
Once they were seated at the table—a high-back booth giving them a private feel—one of the owners’ small children approached them, a large tray in her small hands. A fancy-looking dome rested over what Zander guessed to be a special dish of sorts. Just how much would they have to eat to pull off this night?
