In This Moment(55)

I’m not sure if I feel like laughing or crying or what, but I’ll admit that it’s nice to just be… feeling. I smooth my hands over his hips and lay my cheek on the scratchy fabric of his jacket. One of the discoveries of this night is that Cole Everly can seriously rock a suit and tie.

We stay like this for a long time—me two steps off the stone walkway with my back pressed up against stucco and Cole pressed up against me. No one is around. We might be the only two people left of the planet.

Finally, my thumping heart settles and my legs steady beneath me. I manage a shaky smile. “They do say that honesty is the best policy.”

He touches his lips to my temple and muses: “They do say that, don’t they?”





Cole



“I have an idea.” I reluctantly peel my body from hers. Damn, she feels nice.

Aimee’s cheeks are flushed pink, her mouth is pursed in an oval. “What is it?”

“An idea,” I say elusively as I trail my knuckles down her biceps and watch in fascination as the tiny hairs on her arm spring up in the wake of my touch. “I’m going to pay our bill so they don’t call the cops on us. And you should go inside to get your purse and meet me back here in a few minutes.”

She narrows her eyes and makes a sharp clucking sound from the back of her throat. “We’re going to leave the restaurant in the middle of dinner?” I nod once. “Where are we going?”

“Not far.” I chuckle, enjoying her confusion. “You’re going to have to trust me on this. Remember when I told you that a million things could happen?”

The crooked valley on her forehead deepens so I explain myself. “That first day when you tripped over me, I said that if you told me your name a million things could happen…”

Her eyes crinkle at the memory. “Uh-huh. I’m following.”

“Well, Aimee Spencer, this is one of those things.” I kiss her nose and pinch her butt playfully. “Now go get your purse or we’re going to miss it.”

“Miss it?”

I make a shooing motion toward the front door of the restaurant. “Go!”

“Okay, okay…” She laughs and skips up the stone walkway toward the door.

I glance over to the moored boat that caught my eye a few minutes ago. People are milling about the upper deck. I can hear the faint tinkle of music and voices.

I inhale and adjust my tie so that it falls straight. I have about two minutes to make this happen. It’s a good thing that I’m fast.





Aimee



I lean my chest into the cool metal railing and tip my chin up so that I can see his face. “I can’t believe that you expect me to lie. I’m a terrible liar.”

Cole’s right arm is wrapped around my waist and his left hand is resting on my shoulder. He bends his mouth close to my ear. “I don’t expect you to lie. I just want you to act happy for…” he surreptitiously checks the enlarged photograph hanging above the appetizer table. Two names are emblazoned in a silvery metallic font across the bottom. “Eric and Bailey. And, honestly, who wouldn’t be happy for them? They’re damn adorable.”

I can’t help it. Cole’s dimpled grin is contagious. Ten minutes ago he grabbed my hand and tugged me down to the docks and we boarded the Island Lady, a chartered dinner yacht complete with a small band and twinkling white lights affixed overhead. At first, I was all coiled nerves and pinched breathing, but so far no one has questioned our presence and I have to admit that it is a beautiful night for a cruise.

“The hostess at the restaurant told me that this is an engagement party,” Cole continues, his hot breath lingering in my hair. “And the beauty of crashing a wedding or an engagement party—especially when you happen to be dressed for it—is that everyone on Eric’s side thinks that we’re with Bailey’s side and everyone on Bailey’s side—”

“Thinks we’re with Eric’s side,” I finish his sentence. “I’ve got it, I just…” I run my hands over the smooth deck rail and leave my spread fingers there. “I’m new to the whole crashing scene and I’m slightly nervous.”

“But you’ve seen Wedding Crashers before, right?” I open my mouth but Cole puts his hands over my lips and shakes his head. “Never mind. Don’t answer that because I already know what you’re going to say.” He squints one eye and pushes my braid over my shoulder so that it falls down the center of my back. “We’ll put it on our to-watch list, but for now I think that I can talk you through the basics.”