Page 13 of Holiday Hook Up

“Yes, and it’s about to get even better.” Her head tilted to the side as she smiled up at him.

Adam studied his ex. She had that look in her eye. The look she gave him back in the day when she was ready to get frisky. He remembered that look all too well, but never thought he’d see it again.

Before he knew what was happening, she latched onto his arm and pulled him across the room, raising her free hand high, holding her shiny, red credit card. “Betty, I have my Holiday Hook Up. Adam and I will be dating for the next two weeks.”

Bethany took a deep breath, pushing the ice-cold air deep into her lungs.

What had just happened?

Tangling her tongue with that of the man she was crushing on was not part of tonight’s plan.

She gathered the dress and sat down on a red picnic bench, yanking the wig off and setting it in front of her. Who was she kidding? Of course that was her endgame when she’d slipped on the gown and donned the wig: To be a seductive blonde that Adam Reed didn’t recognize and couldn’t resist.

And if they had continued going at it, that would have been fine. Once he told her his name and asked her hers, role-play was over. She had to get out of there. Luckily, Betty had announced that the Holiday Hook Up was about to begin.

When Adam had let go of her hand and turned his attention to hear what the waitress was saying, she’d bolted down the corridor and out the back door.

She ran her hands up and down her arms, trying to warm herself. Going back into the inn wasn’t an option, but she couldn’t go home because her car keys were in her coat now hanging on the rack in the foyer. There’s no way she’d go unnoticed if she attempted to retrieve it, and with her luck, she’d run into Adam.

“Hey, Bethany, everything okay?”

Bethany looked over her shoulder to see Josh Stevens a few feet away, holding a full garbage bag. He moved past her and dropped it into a huge industrial trash container.

“Hi, Josh.” She snatched the blonde wig and threw it underneath the table. “Everything’s fine. I just needed some fresh air. It was getting a little hot in there, um . . . er . . . with everyone gathered in the ballroom.”

“Glad I’m all done with that. Not that I ever participated in the event when I was single.”

“What? They didn’t have the Holiday Hook Up in New York City?” she asked, unable to resist teasing him. She’d always had a casual friendship with Josh. They’d even dated a couple of times while they were both in college, but it never went anywhere.

Josh had moved to Manhattan years ago, becoming a cosmetics chemist and bigwig at Kiss and Makeup, a global cosmetic company. He finally returned home to Buttermilk Falls shortly after marrying Caitlin.

“Hey, did Caitlin ever attend this event?” He put his hand up. “Don’t answer that. I don’t even want to know.”

Bethany brought her finger and thumb to her lips and pretended to zip them. Of course, Caitlin Reynolds participated in the Holiday Hook Up back in her single days. The event was probably created for her. Bethany mused how different her friend was now that she was married to Josh and had triplets. “My lips are sealed.”

He chuckled and shoved his hands in his pants pocket. “You’re a good friend, Bethany Wilson.”

“That’s me. Friend to the end,” she said with a tiny bit of sarcasm that Josh didn’t pick up on. Being friends with Adam had gotten her a seat out in the cold, too chicken to reveal her identity or feelings. She stood to go back inside because, afraid or not, it was freezing. “Hey, is there a back stairwell to the second fl—”

“Where did you get that?” Josh pointed at her.

“Get what?” Bethany crossed her arms over her chest.

“Who gave you that dress?”

“No one. I found it. Oh, my gosh. Is it Caitlin’s?” She’d seen Caitlin in her wedding dress and was pretty certain this wasn’t it. Bethany was also much shorter than Josh’s wife and would have been tripping over the fabric.

“No. It’s Mary’s.” He eyed her from head to toe, walking up to her. “At least it looks a lot like the one she wore.”

“Mary?”

“Mary Reed,” he whispered, reaching out and touching her sleeve.

“As in dead Mary?” She stepped back. “Adam’s distant cousin?”

“Yeah. I only saw her wear it once, right before she crossed over, but I told her she looked beautiful. Where did you find it?”

“Upstairs in a hope chest.” Bethany put her hand to her mouth, her fingers trembling. “Oh, my God. Is this the dress she was wearing when she drowned?”

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