I grin. “I'm a digital nomad.”
“Ohh, so you're one of those people who travels around the world taking beautiful social media photos. Yeah, I can see that. The beautiful part, definitely.”
The breeze whips a lock of my hair across my mouth, and he reaches to brush it back. Oof. There's that pull in my stomach again.
Thank goodness we're on the same page — there's nothing worse than wanting a guy who doesn't feel the same way. It's why I almost never flirt or come on to guys while I'm working or traveling; they seem to always desire someone more connected, someone richer, someone thinner. Or they're dangerously skeevy and give off a cocaine cowboy vibe. So I don't even try.
Tonight feels like the perfect night to try, because I know Max feels the same way. His genuine smiles, the way he looks into my eyes, how he's asking lots of questions and not talking only about himself.
All signs point toyes, yes, yes.
“So you have no permanent address. Where were you before here, and where are you headed next? And where are you originally from?”
I move a little closer to him. His voice is the right tone of gravelly and low. There's no way I'm going to tell him about my complicated family back home in Ohio. Not with how warm and close-knit his own family appears to be.
Growing up, I was the one who kept everything running. I was an only child for ten blissful years, and then when my mom had three later-in-life babies in quick succession, I morphed into her nanny-helper-daughter. Leaving for college was a relief, and a source of guilt.
Now I’m grateful for the distance.
“I was in Italy, headed to Costa Rica after this. A luxury eco-retreat. I was hoping Kate...” I rein in my words. Nope. Can't spill those details. Especially not to the groom's brother. “I washoping to stay a little while in Cypress Grove to spend time with Kate. After Damien leaves, so she's not too upset, and not alone,” I say quickly.
He turns his head to look at Damien and Kate, who are standing on the other side of the bonfire. She's almost swallowed by his big arms, and I can't help but notice how her expression is positively blissful.
“An interesting situation, Damien and Kate, no?”
“Mmm.” Hopefully I sound noncommittal. I’m a horrible liar. I take a sip of my water and glance at his cheekbones, which are angular and lovely.
“Were you surprised they fell for each other so quickly?” He's studying my face, and I'm worried I'll betray her secret. “Because I was. We all were.”
“Nope,” I say briskly. I don't want to be the one who reveals Kate's secret to the Hastings family. “She talked about how she had a crush on him all through high school, and how he was the one guy who didn't bully her. I wasn't surprised at all. Sometimes love happens fast.”
“Guess so,” he murmurs, then opens his mouth.
I'm afraid he's going to ask more questions about Kate and Damien, and I’m a terrible liar. So I speak first.
“I really, really have to use the bathroom. Is there one by the pool?” I pretend to peer over his shoulder, but really, it's an excuse to get a little closer so I can smell him.
“I'll take you there. C'mon.” He gestures with his head, and I follow him.
The bathroom's not far and is, indeed, near the pool.
“I'll wait for you. Don't want you wandering around in the dark alone.”
I grin and open the door to the ladies' room. He’s such a gentleman.
Inside, I peer at myself in the mirror. I don’t really have to pee, but I did want to check my hair and makeup. The former is wild, and the latter has mostly faded in the warm night air. My cheeks are a flushed pink, and my eyes are wide and bright.
My hand goes to my purse before I even think about it. Old reflex: find the angle, find the light, figure out how to make this into something.
I let my hand drop. This is a different look for me, and I don’t want to package it, document it, or show it off.
Gathering the hood of Max's sweatshirt in my hands, I turn my head and take a sniff, then allow my eyes to flutter shut for a moment. Then I reach into my purse for a mint, because I suspect a kiss is coming soon. I pop it into my mouth.
With a huge grin on my face, I emerge from the bathroom.
“I was thinking,” I say, hooking my arm into Max's, “you should take me on a grand tour of Cypress Grove, since you grew up here and all.”
He looks down at me. “I like that idea. In fact, let's start tonight. There's something I’d like to show you. It's not far. Walk with me?”
