Total pages in book: 61
Estimated words: 59690 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 298(@200wpm)___ 239(@250wpm)___ 199(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 59690 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 298(@200wpm)___ 239(@250wpm)___ 199(@300wpm)
“Hey, Blake,” Chase said, holding his hand out to his friend.
He ripped his gaze from Bailey and clapped his hand into his friend’s. “Chase, so glad that you’re here. And with your beautiful fiancée.”
Fiancée.
My heart stuttered at that word. I hadn’t even thought the word despite the rock currently on my finger. It was all so surreal.
He let Chase go to shake my hand. “Can’t believe this guy is getting hitched, but it had to be you, of course.”
“It did,” Chase said. “There was never anyone else.”
“Bailey,” he said, offering her his hand.
She had an amused look on her face. Then, she took another step into him and put her hand in his. “Hi, Blake.”
“Good to have you back at Holliday Ski.”
“Perfect time of year for me actually.”
“No skiing?” he guessed.
“Hot tub still works, I hear.”
“Year-round,” he said, still holding her hand in his.
“Excellent.”
Chase cleared his throat. “Shall we check in?”
“Yes, yes,” he said, dropping Bailey’s hand. “Let me introduce you to Ivy. Chase knows her, but for the rest of you. She’s in charge of basically everything. She’s going to make the day perfect.”
We strode inside, and I was shocked to see the place was empty. Of course, I’d known it would be empty, but it was different seeing it bare. I’d only ever been here in season. I hadn’t imagined what it would look like in the middle of the summer when no one was here. It was almost sad to see the huge, beautiful space not crowded with people. The snow dictated their entire lives.
A leggy brunette was standing at the reception desk when we approached. She tucked an iPad under her arm and shook our hands. “Good to see you, Chase. This must be Harley.”
“That’s me,” I told her.
“Excellent. I’m Ivy Holliday.”
“Nice to meet you.”
“It’s so good to have you at Holliday Ski. We had rooms prepared ahead of time. I wasn’t sure if you wanted separate rooms and then move into the honeymoon suite after the wedding or if you wanted to stay in there now. We let our couples choose.” She passed a key to Bailey.
“Suite is fine,” Chase said at the same time I said, “Separate.”
He laughed. “We’re on this again.”
“Just for tonight.”
Ivy nodded. “Of course.”
She handed out separate keys to us while Chase looked ready to argue. But Ivy seemed to be no-nonsense, and already, she was walking us around the property.
We could do nothing but follow her.
We saw the ceremony space, the spa and fitness center, as well as the bar, and salon, and the empty five-star restaurant on-site. Our luggage was already in our rooms, and if we needed anything, we were told to act like we owned the place. Because, ostensibly, for the weekend, we did.
“Hey, Bailey,” Blake said as we headed toward the elevators for our rooms.
I paused to wait for her, but she waved me off.
“I’m a big girl,” she said. “Have fun with your fiancé.”
“You’re sure?”
“Course,” she said and headed for Blake.
Oh, those two were trouble.
Chase and I took the elevator to the top floor.
He tapped the key card against his palm a few times before saying, “We could still take the honeymoon suite.”
“I’m not budging on this one.”
He slipped his arms around me and stole a kiss. “I thought we were doing this so we didn’t have to spend time away from each other.”
I laughed. “It’s one night.”
“I spent last night away from you, too.”
“Two nights won’t kill us. We went months and years in the past, Chase. By this time tomorrow, I’ll be all yours.”
“You already are,” he said. “This time tomorrow, you’ll be my wife.”
I shivered at those words, feeling indulgent with desire at them. Yeah, if he kept talking like that, I was going to give in and stay in his room.
“I can’t wait to be your wife,” I told him. The elevator dinged, and I stepped backward out of it. “But you can have me all you want tomorrow.”
“Devious,” he said as he followed me.
“Tomorrow,” I promised. “However you want me.”
“However?”
I nodded, tugging him in for one more kiss. “That’s a promise.”
Then, I opened the door to my room in the lodge and closed the door behind me. I leaned back against it, unable to believe that we were here, doing this.
Tomorrow, Chase Sinclair would be my husband.
20
CHASE
Blake handed me a drink.
I gulped and then took it from him. “Thanks.”
“Can’t believe you’re eloping, dude.”
I shrugged and took a sip of whiskey. He wasn’t wrong. This was not my normal behavior, but it was Harley, and so it felt perfectly right.
“I mean, you’re sort of the definition of follow the rules. But not with Harley.” He punched me on the arm. “I like that she brings that out in you.”
“Me too.”
“And this is what you want?” he asked as he tossed back his drink.