“Good. He has no idea. Or he’s playing along.”
“That’s always that chance, but I don’t think so. Our cover is perfect. With luck, he’ll be comfortable enough to slip up.”
We work in silence for several minutes before Max stands to leave. “I’ll be in touch.”
“Enjoy the whiskey. I’ll be here until Callie’s due back.”
CHAPTER 39
CALLIE
Miles looks up from his phone when I get back. He’s sitting sideways in a chair, his feet propped on a table.
“You must be so bored,” I say with a frown.
His long legs swing out to the side, and then he gets to his feet. “Not really. How was your spa visit?”
“It was okay. My massage was shorter than I’d hoped since I had to coordinate a few things beforehand, but it was still enjoyable.”
“That’s good.”
What I don’t tell Miles is that it was probably a good thing I wasn’t lying there the full ninety minutes, because all I could think about was how I wished it was Miles and Max touching my body instead of the massage therapist, and those thoughts were the opposite of relaxing.
“Max didn’t come back yet?”
“Not yet.” Miles takes a drink of water, and I shamelessly watch the cords in his neck moving as he swallows.
Forcing myself to look away, I say, “It’ll be a fun rehearsal if the groom and all his men come back drunk.”
“Yeah, that would make it interesting, especially if tomorrow comes and they don’t remember anything they rehearsed.” As I’m laughing at this, he asks, “Would you like me to come to the rehearsal?”
“No, that’s not necessary. Only the people in the wedding need to be there.”
His face goes serious. “What if Rick is there?”
I stand taller, pushing my shoulders back. “He shouldn’t be, but if he is, I’ll be okay.”
Miles gives me a long, steady look, as if he’s trying to gauge the honesty in my assertion. “Remember that we’re here for you if you need us. All you have to do is send a text, and I’ll come right down.”
“Thank you. I appreciate that.”
That sweet exchange replays in my head while I get undressed in the bathroom and get in the shower. As I soap up, I think again about what it would feel like to have the men’s hands all over me. Max said he was tempted to touch me last night at the pool party, and I would have let him.
Miles offered to share my bed tonight, and I’m already looking forward to having his big, strong arms wrapped around me. It was wonderful cuddling up to Max’s warm body, and I expect it’ll be just the same, yet somehow delightfully different, with Miles.
Thinking about how the twins are different reminds me of how Max said he needed to kiss me so that I could compare, but he never did ask me to rank them, thank goodness. I’d rate both ofthem twelve out of ten for kissing, and I could never pick which one was better.
It’s funny how I’d been dreading this long series of wedding events, but now I’m starting to feel sad that after tonight, we’ll only be here two more days. Is there any way I can go on seeing both Max and Miles when our long fake date is over?
I may have talked a big talk, but I find myself holding my breath each time someone new arrives at the rehearsal site on the resort’s side lawn. Luckily, time after time, there’s no sign of Rick, and I’m especially relieved when Alexis walks in alone.
Adam and his groomsmen arrive late, and they do seem like they’re feeling the whiskey, but not to the extent that it should affect the proceedings.
Mom and the wedding planner run the show, letting all of us know how things will go during the ceremony and what will be expected. After a couple of run-throughs that go smoothly, we’re dismissed to get ready for dinner.
When Sadie’s friends pull her into a discussion about their hair, Alexis is left standing off to one side, and I impulsively seize the opportunity.
“Want to walk back with me?”
