Page 47 of The Jellybean Dilemma

It was the part where John Candy offered Kevin’s mom a ride with his polka band. And it lit a light bulb in my head. Maybe we can get Erin here after all. I kept the idea to myself, not wanting to get her hopes up. We finished the thank yous, our hands cramped from writing, as well as stuffing and sealing envelopes, but they were done.

“Tomorrow the fun begins. Rehearsal dinner, bachelorette party. Almost the big day—da-dum-dum-dum.” I grinned at her, and she beamed.

“I’m so glad Greg brought you.” She sagged against the couch, her smile turning soft. “I’ve never seen him so in love. He watches you constantly, like he’s trying to anticipate what you’ll need next. If he makes you feel anything like Peter makes me feel…” She shook her head. “I hear wedding bells in the not-too-distant future.”

A bark of laughter nearly erupted from me, but I clamped my mouth shut just in time. The idea that Greg loved me was absurd. And marriage? Yeah, right. I dodged admitting to anything by saying, “I’ve seen the way Peter looks at you. He’s head over heels, and you are a lucky woman.” It was the right thing to say because she gave me a big hug before leaving, the broad smile still on her face.

Mine matched, but only because I was still laughing at the idea of Greg being in love with me. When pigs flew maybe. When Marquette was snowless and sunny in mid-January. When Jamaica froze over.

Speaking of Greg, I had to break radio silence and actually talk to the guy. Fuck me.

Chapter Fourteen

I trotted up to our suite. Of course Greg was just getting out of the shower, only wearing a towel slung low on his waist. Droplets of water clung to his bare chest. Why couldn’t I have stayed with Mandy for five more minutes?

I stammered, “Um, I need to talk to you about my idea, when you have a second.”

He smirked, running his fingers through his damp, sandy hair. Leaning against the door jamb, he shrugged. “I’ve got time.”

Double fuck. “Since Erin can’t fly here, do you have any chauffeur friends near Minneapolis we could hire to drive her over? I know it’d be asking a lot with the holidays and the storm, but maybe it wouldn’t be too bad once they got out of that area.”

His towel slipped lower, revealing the sharp ridge of his hip bone. Memories of just what lay under that towel flooded back to me. My knees wobbled, so I went to lean back against the sofa and nearly missed, thinking I was closer than I was.

“Let me make some calls.” His smile was genuine, and when the dimple appeared, it pierced my heart like an arrow. “Good thinking, Jel—” He caught himself just in time. “Rhonda.”

“Thanks,” I muttered, then raced to the sanctuary of my room.

The next day was harder. I didn’t have anything to do until that evening besides avoid Greg. I ate breakfast with Mandy, talking about the plan for her bachelorette party that evening. Greg kept trying to get my attention, but I avoided looking at him.

Finally, he cleared his throat. “Rhonda, can I have a word?” He stood near the stairs, sounding so forlorn that I couldn’t say no. Not in front of Mandy.

So, I kept my mouth shut, reluctantly walking over to him. He led me upstairs. Evidently it was private, whatever he had to say. It better not be any sort of apology or explanation, because I’m not ready to hear it.

“Two things,” he said when we made it to our suite. “One, Erin should be here tonight. I pulled some strings, found a guy and paid through the nose, but they hope to arrive in time for rehearsal dinner.” He crossed his fingers.

Where even yesterday I might have flung myself at him or squealed and danced around, now I gave him a reserved smile. “That’s great. Mandy will be thrilled.” She deserved to have her friend at her wedding, and I was happy for her.

Greg cleared his throat. “The other thing is I’m sorry—”

I held up my hand, shaking my head and backing away.

But he stepped closer. “I know I hurt you.”

My wounds were too raw for this. I turned around, my hand on the door handle, but he held it shut.

“I know it’s too soon for an explanation, but I’m not giving up, and I want you to know that.” He stood close enough that I felt his warmth, and my body betrayed me, a thrill shooting through me even though I told it no. “You’re worth fighting for.”

The anger drained out of me at his quiet words, replaced with resignation. My fingers slipped off the doorknob. “Please, Greg. Just let me go.”

He stayed still for a beat, hovering behind me. “Only for now, Rhonda.” He stepped back, though he didn’t remove his hand. “I booked you and Mandy spa appointments this morning. I thought it might be a nice way to relax. Especially after yesterday’s excitement. You should get ready.”

This time he moved his hand, opened the door and let me go through, but I was too stunned to move. Any guy I knew would keep me close after a fight, to weasel his way back in my good graces. I wasn’t a stranger to apology gifts, but booking me a spa appointment? Only if it was a couples’ spa with a hidden agenda.

I stared at my bare feet, feeling off-kilter and unsure. “Thank you.”

He leaned over so his face appeared in my peripheral vision. “You deserve to be pampered. Now go tell my sister, or you’ll be late.”

Mandy was thrilled to say the least, her delighted squeals and exuberant hug making even my grumpy ass smile. The place Greg had picked was just the right amount of bougie—lavender permeating the air, dim golden lighting in every room. My masseuse talked enough that I felt comfortable, but she wasn’t a chatterbox. Her hot stones had my tension melting away until I was an oozing puddle of relaxation on her table. Ninety minutes wasn’t nearly enough.

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