Page 69 of Wedding or Not

As if I’m the only one he doesn’t think about as a sister.

I sure as hell hope he doesn’t see me as a sister.

That would put a real crimp in my plans.

CHAPTER 23

We get back to the hotel in the middle of the afternoon and mutually agree to rest for a couple of hours.

I get a bottle of sparkling water and a book and settle on one of the lounges on the balcony since it’s both warm and shady out there.

I can’t help but be happy when, a few minutes later, Wes appears to stretch out on the lounge beside me.

He also has a bottle of water plus his Kindle instead of a paperback book.

“What are you reading?” I ask, leaning over to look at the screen with no shame at all.

As far as I’m concerned, books are fair game for snooping.

I would have guessed some pretentious literary tome, but he’s reading a recent epic fantasy book, one in a long series. I’m reading a cute cozy mystery, so we chat for a while about our books.

Then we start reading.

I make it about thirty minutes before I fall asleep again.

I sleep for over an hour, which is very unusual for me. I’ve never been a napper, and usually I can’t manage more than a five-minute doze.

But today it feels like the day has moved on without me when I finally open my eyes.

Wes is no longer in the lounge beside me, which gives me an anxious flutter, like I’ve been lazing about while he’s been out and about and doing things.

“I’m awake!” I call out even though the balcony door is closed.

“What?” The voice is muffled until Wes opens the door. “Hold on a minute. I’m on the phone.”

Of course he is.

Wes would never accidentally fall asleep on his wedding weekend like me.

He’s probably been busy the whole time, doing business in there.

It doesn’t occur to me that it’s Sunday and there’s not much business he could be doing until I gather my stuff and go inside.

He is on the phone but not his cell phone. The hotel phone. And he’s standing next to the desk with his empty water bottle and Kindle next to him.

He’s still dressed in the khakis and camp shirt he’s been wearing all day.

Listening to the call, I realize he’s called down to the spa and is asking about whether they can fit us in again today.

They can.

I’m sure they’re giving us special treatment because it wouldn’t normally be so easy to reserve spots at a place like this.

I’m standing right in front of him when Wes hangs up the phone. “They can work us in if you want. Massages or something fancier if you prefer.”

“Oh, that’s great. Thanks for checking. What have you been doing?”

“What do you mean?”