Holding my breath, I wait to see what Harmony’s reaction will be. For a long moment, she stares at me blankly. Then blinking, stammering, she repeats, “To k-kiss?”
I nod, fully committed to this lie now. Drawing on the research I did into Aaron’s church and ministry, I scramble to find the exact right phrasing that might sell this idea to her. “I know it’s not conventional. But I made a promise to myself, and to God, that I would wait to share that gift with my future wife.”
Is that coming on too strong? I never did much of the church thing growing up. We went on Easter and Christmas sometimes, but definitely not always. I feel like a total fraud trying to speak this language—which, hey, is fitting since Iama total fraud.
But something in the speech must ring true to Harmony, because she nods slowly, and I see her expression clearing as she absorbs the words. “That’s certainly very ...”
Wincing, I wait for her to finish that last sentence. Have I just shot myself in the foot? Is this thing over now?
“... sweet.” Harmony smiles at me, the lines in her face smoothing out so she’s once again coy and adoring. “Your future wife is a very lucky woman.”
I know I’ve pushed the boundaries far enough that I have to give her something back now. So, squashing down everything inside me that tells me I’m a liar and an asshole, I smile flirtatiously back at her. “I’m definitely very gladyouthink so.” The strong implication there being that I want her to be my future wife.
Wrong. Wrong. This is all so wrong.
Harmony preens, clearly catching the subtext. “Can I kiss you on the cheek?”
“Of course.” I tell my body not to tense as she leans into me, pressing her lips to the side of my face. Thankfully, I know Nina isn’t here tonight, or else I don’t know if I’d be able to keep myself from reacting more visibly.
When Harmony pulls back, I take her hand and squeeze it. “I can’t wait to meet your family,” I tell her.
At least that much is true, even if nothing else is.
Chapter 36
Wes
Come to the roof,I text Nina on her FBI burner phone. Somehow it feels safer that way; plus, it’ll piss Morrie off if he finds out I was using it for this reason, so win-win.
I’m standing outside the Lodge, gazing up at the small window I know belongs to Nina. It feels hella romantic, even though I’m loath to make the inevitableRomeo and Julietcomparison. Romeo was kind of a doofus, and there’s the whole thing where the play doesn’t end so great for either of them. I want something better for Nina and me. I want to be ... Flynn Rider. Here to set my girl free from her tower.
A moment later, a text chimes back from her.
Nina: I think you’re forgetting the part where I’m not Spiderman?
I call her. She picks up before the first ring fully completes, her voice a hushed whisper. “Are you crazy?”
“We’re in this beautiful place,” I remind her, undeterred by her initial lack of enthusiasm for my incredible plan. “And I haven’t gotten to see any of it with you.”
There’s a reason for that, of course. We can’t exactly walk around town together. Someone from the show might see us. Someone from herfamilymight see us, God forbid. And I know there are worse things than being cooped up in a hotel room with my lady fair, but knowing that Nina spends all her time either in a hotel suite or in the wardrobe room or on set has made me increasingly upset. There’s a real magic to Green Valley, beyond just the ridiculously good-looking population. I want Nina to be able to experience it for herself.
From her pause, I sense she might be swayed, so I swoop in. “Sneak out of your family’s suite. If anyone catches you, just tell them there’s something going on with the show—a flannel emergency.”
She huffs a laugh, and I can practically imagine her rolling her eyes at me. “Oh, of course, one ofthose.”
“Then take the elevator to the top floor and find the staircase next to the ice machine. If you go up one more flight of stairs, there’s a door marked Roof Access. I’ll meet you there.” Waiting for her response, I decide I might as well sweeten the deal. “And I have pie.”
“I’ll be there,” she says quietly.
I’m grinning, even though I’m not entirely certain the pie wasn’t more of a draw than me. Oh, well. As long as it gets her up there, where we can spend some time together, I’m happy.
As promised, I’m waiting for Nina once she makes it onto the roof. I’m guessing she had to work herself up to sneaking out, since she arrives a few minutes after me. It gave me time to spread out my picnic blanket and pop our champagne, so it was worth it.
I watch Nina as she takes in the sight—not just the picnic, but also the forest stretching out around us, the stars overhead, the moonlight glimmering off Bandit Lake. Her mouth falls open in what I hope is pleasant surprise.
I can’t catch my goofy grin. There’s something about Nina that makes me want to surprise her all the time. Good surprises only, of course. Anything that will make her smile. She deserves to smile much more than she does.
It takes me a moment to realize there’s something ... different about her tonight. My brain must be a bit sleep deprived because I spend way too long trying to figure out what it is.
