“And miss my only sister’s wedding?”
“We could have postponed it. Hell, we probably still will. No one will make it up in this mess.”
Candace took Jessica’s hand in hers and gave it a squeeze. “I’m sorry.”
“I’m just glad you’re safe.”
“Hey, Candace!” Jessica’s fiancé, Travis, waved from behind Jessica before stepping forward to give Candace a hug. “Thanks for making it.”
“I wouldn’t miss it for the world.”
“Let’s get you checked in,” Brent said, tilting his head toward the front desk in the lobby.
Candace walked right up to the desk with no wait and checked into her room. She was on the fourth floor, as was the rest of the wedding party. But so far, only a few people outside of the four of them and Travis and Brent’s parents had arrived. The rest of the guests were due to arrive tomorrow or the morning of the wedding the following day, but looking at the weather, it didn’t seem like it would happen with several more feet of snow set to fall over the next few days.
Brent still waited with her bag in hand. She reached for it, but he took a step back.
“I’ll carry it for you.”
“That’s unnecessary,” she said, reaching for it again.
He clicked his tongue. “I’ve got it. I’ll lead the way.”
Candace frowned over at Jessica, who only shrugged in response. She hurried to catch up with Brent, who was already waiting at a bank of elevators. They had all planned a “family” dinner together at the resort restaurant. Since it had taken Candace so long to get to the resort, she had only a few minutes to get settled before their reservation.
Brent stepped inside the open elevator and held the door for her. She glanced around. Jessica and Travis had gone to the restaurant to grab their table. The lobby was mostly deserted, so Candace wouldn’t be saved by a random person in the elevator with them. Instead, it would just be the two of them. She sighed heavily, something she suspected she’d be doing often during this trip, and stepped inside.
Brent only smiled rather than commenting on her sigh as they rode up to the fourth floor. When the elevator opened, Brent held his hand in front of the door to allow her to go first. She walked past and followed the signs to her room, with him trailing behind. After letting herself inside, she reached for her suitcase. He ignored her and stepped into her room. He walked over to the bed and deposited her bag on top.
“Oh please. Come inside,” she said, her voice dripping with as much sarcasm as she could muster.
He threw her a smile. “Don’t mind if I do.”
She hung her dress in the small closet and turned around to face him, putting her hands on her hips. “I’ll see you at dinner,” she said, as a way of dismissal.
“I’ll wait. We can walk down together.”
“I think I can find my way.”
“I know you can. I’m just trying to be a gentleman.”
She rolled her eyes. That would be a first. The guy was far from gentlemanly. “Seriously, Brent. I need to change.”
He glanced at the bathroom, but instead of suggesting she change in there, he stood up and raised his hands in surrender. “All right. I’ll go.”
When he stepped back into the hallway and the door clicked shut behind him, she pulled out a change of clothes and quickly dressed. Glancing in the mirror, she decided she looked decent enough for dinner. It was already past their reservation time, so she needed to hustle. She grabbed her purse and opened the door to find Brent leaning against the opposite wall on his phone. He looked up and put his phone in his pocket. He no longer wore his wet jeans, boots, and heavy winter coat. She knew his room was on the same floor and suspected it must be close with how quickly he had changed and come back.
“Ready?”
“You waited?” she asked.
“Of course. I said I would walk you down.”
If she didn’t know any better, she would take his gesture as something nice. But sheknew better. This was a façade. The real Brent would turn his back on someone just as fast. She refrained from sighing and walked toward the bank of elevators with Brent at her side.
“When did you get in?”
She didn’t actually care about his response, but walking in silence was annoying.
