Page 70 of Second Chance Wedding
Ana stared at Cole, unable to look away. “No. Not yet. Quin…I have a problem.” It wasn’t like she could admit to her best friend that she’d been caught up in her own life so much that she’d forgotten about Quin’s bachelorette trip.
Cole leaned over and gently placed his fingers and thumb under her chin, drawing her face up so that she stared into his. “You don’t. Go,” he said softly. “I’ve got Ben.”
“Problem? What problem?” Quinley demanded.
Ana stared into Cole’s gorgeous, compelling gaze and felt another protective wall crumble. Even though she had to stay strong for his sake and Ben’s and…hers. “Um…”
“Ana?” Quinley asked, her tone uncertain and veryun-Quinley.
“She’ll be there,” Cole said in his deep male voice.
Ana’s mouth dropped at his audacity as Quinley’s throaty squeal and laughter filled the air.
“Is thisCole?”
“It is.”
“Oooh,someonehas some explaining to do given you’re there with her so early in the morning. Wheel’s up in two hours, Ana. Don’t youdarebe late!”
ChapterSixteen
Ana managed to avoid all talk of Cole during the flight and the fitting at the elite New York bridal boutique. But once the sky began to darken and the day drew to a close, they were chauffeured to yet another of Rhys’s family’s hotels and throughout check-in, Ana felt Quinley’s stare boring into her with renewed intensity.
She and Quinley were booked to share a two-bedroom suite, with Quinley’s two younger sisters sharing the adjoining the suite.
“Okay, we are finally alone,” Quin said the moment the door shut behind them, her demeanor changing from bride mode to demanding interrogator. “Spill every single detailnow.”
“Whatever do you mean,” Ana said in a droll voice.
“You’re kidding me, right? Ana. You hada man in yo’ housewhen I called you this morning. It’s, like, the first time that’severhappened. So hurry up and tell mehowit happened.”
Ana rolled her eyes and dumped her purse on the sofa table beside a bottle of chilled champagne before walking around the end to plop down on the luxurious leather couch. One thing was certain: first-class treatment had perks.
One of Rhys’s employees had met them at the airport and transferred their luggage to the hotel while a driver had taken them to the fitting, on to a late lunch, and then to the hotel to relax before they dressed for a Broadway show.
This, she thought, sighing as she sank deeper into the buttery-soft cushions, was the frosting on a very rich cake. So why did her spidey senses tell her something was off with Quinley?
“I let you off the hook with the sisters around because I know you like your privacy, but you aren’t going to avoid this conversation,” Quinley said as she made herself at home on the sofa perpendicular to Ana’s, a glass of champagne in her hand.
“Careful,” Ana said, opening one eye long enough to shoot Quinley a knowing stare. “Or any question you ask me will require you answering one of mine.”
Quinley set her chin in a determined slant and narrowed her gaze. “Why would that bother me? I have nothing to hide.”
“No?” Ana asked, pretty sure Quinley had some major bridal jitters going on she had yet to confide, if not full-blown cold feet. Andthatwas something Ana could totally understand. She’d been afraid of not being up to the challenge of being a military spouse, but God only knew what it would take to be married to a billionaire.
And while some might think it easy, Ana’s parents had proven money didn’t buy happiness. Not that they had anywhere near the cash Quinley was about to marry.
Quinley was gorgeous and definitely qualified as arm candy, but she had a brain and a God-born drive that proved she wasn’t the type to be content with spa treatments and ladies’ lunches. Though Quinley certainly wasn’t opposed to those things, either.
“No, I don’t. Now stop stalling. The last I knew you were upset with me texting Cole a simple question about whether that night was business or pleasure. Now you’re sleeping with him?”
“I am not.”
“Ana, I’m not passing judgement.”
“I amnot,” she repeated, forcing her lashes up when she really could use a nap. Between her sleepless night and dreams of the man in question, Cole’s morning surprise, the trip and the stresses of the day, she was exhausted. “When I woke up this morning, Cole was in my house. Ben had let him in after Cole offered to pick him up for work.”
“Oh. Well, that’s definitely a letdown.”
