Page 65 of Blue Hawaiian
The last thing she needed was another guilt trip. “I don’t have time for that right now. Can youpleasehelp me? Please, Mr. Frodo?”
After a lengthy pause, Brody sighed. “Fine. I’ll help. This works in my favor, because the photos will go with the speech I’m giving tonight.”
“What speech? Doesn’t the best man usually give his toast at the reception?”
“I’m still doing that. This is different. Marc asked me to write a speech highlighting our favorite Big Bear memories. He thought it would emphasize the connection between our families. We could show your video after I’m done.”
She shivered in excitement. Gabi would be so pleased at the symmetry. “Sounds awesome. I can’t wait to hear it.”
“Thanks. I’ve been working on it for a while. I’ll email you and Connor the link for the photo site.”
After Brody ended the call and sent the email, Connor pulled up the site right away. “This is perfect. You have to see these.”
She joined him on the couch. She laughed at a photo of herself at age eight, clad in a neon green Little Mermaid swimsuit, her hair in pigtails. “Oh, my God. Is that me?” Next to her in the frame was twelve-year-old Connor, whose scraggly hair nearly reached his shoulders. “Check out your hair. I can’t believe how long it was.”
“That was the summer I refused to get it cut. I had this misguided notion it made me look tougher.”
As Connor clicked through each photo, she was overcome with memories. Even if they’d only spent two weeks of each summer together, they’d had so much fun. Swimming and kayaking. Hiking up to Castle Rock. Sitting around the firepit at night and telling ghost stories. Picnics and second breakfasts and endless s’mores.
We have so much history together.
That was why her two weeks of passion with Connor had meant so much to her, back when she was eighteen.
That was why she’d bonded with him so quickly once they established a truce.
And that wasexactlywhy she was falling in love with him all over again.
She couldn’t deny it. The more time they spent together, the more time she wanted with him. Not just another night or another week, but something that would last. A real, honest-to-goodness relationship, with all the joys and sorrows it entailed.
But she couldn’t tell him. She’d be breaking the rules. And if she so much as hinted she was falling in love with him, he’d run screaming in the other direction, like he had the last time.
“Jess?” Connor asked. “What do you think? Should we use some of these photos?”
“Definitely.” She gave him a bright smile, suppressing the ache building up inside of her.
She’d told him she’d have no regrets when they parted.
Now she realized she’d regret losing him more than she had the first time.
Chapter 24
After finishing the video, Connor and Jess watched it twice to ensure it flowed smoothly. While he was impressed at their editing skills, Jess’s reaction was more emotional than he expected. By the second viewing, she was openly weeping.
“It’s so beautiful. The music’s perfect. Gabi’s going to love it.”
“She’d better be grateful,” he said.
“I’m sure she will be.” Jess gave a satisfied sigh. “I finally feel like a worthy maid of honor.”
He wished she weren’t so obligated to her sister. By now, she’d done more than enough to prove her worthiness. Other than Tuesday, when she’d played hooky with him on the Road to Hana, she’d been the ideal maid of honor. But his irritation melted away when she gave him a seductive smile.
“Since we have an hour to spare, I’m all yours,” she said.
“You sure?”
“One hundred percent. How would you like me?”
He took her hand and pulled her up so she was standing beside him. “The first thing we have to do is get rid of all those clothes. Then I’ll think of something.”
