“Now you’re just being mean.”
“Oh, I know you’ll spruce him up once you make things official. I’m sure the next time I see him, he’ll be in Thom Browne.”
“What about Tom Ford?” Olivia asked, eying Andrew’s suit knowingly.
“Let’s not get carried away. That’d be too much of a shock to the system.”
“Like how you can’t give a starving person too much food at once.”
Andrew raised an eyebrow. “That sounds like something your not-quite-boyfriend would accuse us of—denying starving people food for their own good.”
“So where does Emerson fall on this continuum? Is she closer to Zack or has she veered over to the dark side with you?”
“Hard to say. We don’t really have those kinds of conversations.”
“Really? So, what? She gets back from the Hague and wants to talk aboutLove Island?”
“Maybe notLove Island, but definitely not social stratification and the wealth gap.”
“How funny. That’s Zack’s kink,” she said, taking a page out of Liesl’s book. Why not invite Andrew to think about Olivia having sex?
“Arguing about economic policy in bed?”
“Sure, what’s wrong with that? Though now I draw the line when it comes to dressing as Marx. That was just too weird.”
“Oh yeah? Who wore the costume, you or him?”
“We liked to switch it up.”
Andrew laughed and patted her on the arm. “I always forget how funny you are when you’re relaxed.” She expected him to remove his hand, but he left it there, resting lightly just above her elbow.
“Trust me, I’m the furthest thing from relaxed at the moment.”
“Why? What’s wrong?”
“Oh… you know, family weddings are always stressful, aren’t they?”Especially when the bride is missing.
“Anything I can help with?” He squeezed her arm, and her breath caught in her chest.
“You’ve already done more than enough. I’d still be trying to get up those stairs if you hadn’t come to my rescue.”
“I’m a little pissed that Zack went back to the inn without you.”
“I told him it was fine.”
“I wouldn’t have listened,” Andrew said quietly, leaning toward her.
Oliva raised her chin ever so slightly, certain she was about to feel his lips brush against hers. Her mouth tingled with anticipation, and she was just about to close her eyes when Andrew stood up. “I’d better get to bed. It’s later than I realized. Do you need help getting up to your room?”
“No thanks. I’m on the first floor,” she lied. There was no way she’d let Andrew help her up any more stairs. She couldn’t press her body against him knowing that he was heading to wait for Emerson. Dylan was right—it was perfectly possible for men to flirt shamelessly with women who fell far short of their standards.
“Have a good night.” Andrew patted her shoulder in a decidedly platonic fashion and then headed inside.
Olivia pulled her knees up to her chest and squeezed, trying to staunch the spread of disappointment and embarrassment. What had she been thinking? Even if she hadn’t imagined the vibe between them, Andrew wasn’t the kind of guy who’d make a move on a woman with a boyfriend, especially when his own date was en route to meet him. In their shared room.
Her phone rang, and she sighed as she rummaged through her purse. It was Lulu. “Mom?” Olivia answered, suddenly trembling for an entirely different reason. She’d never forget the sound of her mother wheezing that time she’d called Olivia in the middle of the night, choking and terrified, unable to breathe when Bill was out of town. “Is everything okay?”
“Yes, don’t worry.” Lulu sounded tired but otherwise fine. “I’m so sorry to call this late, but there’s been some mix-up with the rooms. Apparently, the Varicks somehow convinced the front desk into giving them Aunt Harriet’s suite. She just tried to check in and was told they’re completely booked.”
