Page 44 of Unpredictable
“Awareness of food allergies is also a lot better than it used to be.”
He nodded, and we fell into an easy silence. I leaned back against the edge of the pool and closed my eyes, tilting my head toward the sun. Soaking in the rays as the water lapped at my skin.
“This is…” I sighed, feeling a sense of contentment. “I didn’t realize how much I needed something like this. I love my job, but it can be stressful.”
“That’s why it’s so important to take time for yourself to recharge,” he said.
I nodded, peering at him from across the pool. The sun reflected off the water, glinting in those green orbs. “Everyone keeps telling me that.”
“Maybe you should listen.” He inched closer but still gave me space. “Maybe you need to let go. Do something unexpected.”
I narrowed my eyes at him. But it was difficult to remain focused. He slicked back his hair, and I watched as a rivulet ran down the hard plane of his chest. “I remember what happened the last time you asked me to let go.”
“Then you’ll also remember the handful of orgasms that accompanied it.” His eyes sparkled with mischief, but underlying that, I saw something that told me I could trust him.
“Keep your voice down,” I hissed, whipping my head around as if someone might overhear us.
But we were alone. The other guests were out on excursions, and no one knew us here.
“Bottling up your emotions isn’t healthy either, trust me.”
“Yeah?” I sensed there was more to the story.
He let out a deep sigh, scrubbing a hand over his face. “After things fell apart with Cam, I tried to hold it all together. I was away a lot for games, but I tried to be there for Olivia. I was trying to act like everything was normal, like everything was fine, and it was…a lot of pressure.”
I nodded, encouraging him to continue.
“One of my teammates—this guy who loved to push my buttons—made a comment one day. I lunged for him and got in a few punches before Reg pulled me off. If it weren’t for Reg, I might have been kicked off the team.”
He glanced over at me and I sensed trepidation on his part, but I understood. Perhaps better than he knew.
“I get it. And I probably shouldn’t tell you this, but I lost it on a client recently. And mid-rant, I sort of fainted,” I blurted. “God, it was mortifying.”
He jerked his head back. “You what?”
“I know…” I sliced my hand through the air. “It was so unprofessional.”
“No.” He stepped closer, grasping my arms. “You fainted?” I nodded. “Recently?”
I lifted a shoulder. “Um, it was a few months back. Actually, the morning of the wedding expo.”
“Juliana.” He peered into my eyes as if searching my soul. I squirmed beneath the intensity of his gaze. “You have to stop.”
“Stop what? Planning weddings?” I shook my head, my blood pressure rising. The weddings, the stress of my job weren’t the problem. My memories, the nightmares that came out of nowhere, drenching me in sweat, were the issue.
“I love my job,” I said. “She just… Ugh. You can’t tell anyone this, but she’s the kind of client that makes me regret planning her wedding.”
“I’m sure you’ve had your fair share of bridezillas,” he said, dropping the matter—and my arms—at least for now.
“Most clients are great, but everyone has something they get hung up on. Cake flavors, the song for the first dance, honeymoon destinations. Which reminds me—have Olivia and Connor settled on a destination?”
He blew out a breath. “They’re leaning toward Virginia Beach.”
“And you don’t approve.”
He shook his head. “Olivia deserves…everything. Virginia Beach feels like, I don’t know, settling.”
“Do you feel like she’s settling by marrying Connor?” I asked, wondering if that was the real issue.
