Page 4 of The Charmer
She meets my eyes, searching their depths for a reassurance or a confirmation. Silence grows between us, heavy and thick. I stand up straighter and force myself to stop fidgeting.
If she says no, I’ll?—
“Yes,” she says, surprising the hell out of me.
I let out a shaky sigh of relief and grin as a wave of happiness crashes over me. “Yes?”
“Yeah, I mean, sure. Why not?”
My smile widens. “We leave Friday.”
“As in…tomorrow?”
I nod.
“Wait.” she shakes her head. “I don’t have a flight. I don’t know what to pack. I need a dress and?—”
I take her hand and she quiets, her gaze penetrating. Hard with a flash of vulnerability.
“Send me your details and I’ll take care of it. You just need to show up with a suitcase. Pack a casual outfit, a bikini, a cocktail dress, and pajamas. Anything you forget, we’ll buy.”
She releases a shaky exhale. “Just like that?”
“Just like that, Jayde. I’ll see you at the airport.” I squeeze her fingers.
“What time?” Her voice holds a frantic edge.
“I’ll text you!” I wave as I hustle back to my car, leaving before she can come up with a list of reasons to back out.
When I’m in my car, I text Mick.
Me: She’s in. We’ll see you tomorrow.
Mick: Rooting for you, Golden.
I grin, relief and excitement flowing through my veins. I’m rooting for me too. For me and for Jayde.
TWO
JAYDE
“I’m going to Turks and Caicos with Reese,” I blurt out to my boss, and if I’m being honest, my closest confidant.
Scott’s eyes nearly fall out of his head and if we weren’t about to discuss my personal, scratch that,romanticlife, I’d yelp with glee at catching him off guard. Scott clears his throat and sits up straighter in his desk chair. His eyes hold mine for a long beat and finally, he chuckles. “‘Bout damn time, Jayde.”
Um, what? “Excuse me?” I ask, convinced I heard him wrong. What’s about damn time?
“Come on, I know something went down between the two of you.” He arches an eyebrow, challenging me to call bullshit.
But I can’t…becausesomethingdid go down between Reese and me. One year ago, drunk and upset about my stupid ex and hurting, I threw myself at Reese Keller and he rejected me. Worse, he wasniceabout it. He covered my bar tab, escorted me home, and tucked me into bed like I wasn’t a pathetic, humiliating mess of feelings.
Afterwards, I could barely meet his eyes without feeling an unpleasant rush of mortification. If there’s one thing I detest, it’s being vulnerable and weak, especially in front of men. And thereI was, practically begging Reese Keller with my drunken words and desperate mouth to take me home and make me forget.
What hockey player, hell, what man would pass that up?
Reese did. And the hurt was worse than the embarrassment.
And now, I’m going to a wedding with him. A destination wedding. Anxiety blooms in my chest as the realization sinks in. “What the fuck am I thinking?” I blurt out, dropping into the chair in front of Scott’s desk and kicking my feet up on the corner. “I can’t go away with Reese. I can’t?—”
