If that was only the practice run, I can’t imagine what Luke has in store for later tonight…
Finally, when my skin has turned red from the heat of the water, and I smell like the hotel soap, a delicious lavender scent, I step back out of the stream and towel myself off. I already picked out a different outfit, a skirt and blouse that are a little fancier than the sundress I traveled in this morning. Besides, that’s wrinkled on the floor by the window. And the panties I was wearing are soaked through, so I change those too. I hope I packed enough pairs of panties for the weekend, or I’m going to wind up going commando at some point.
My belly tightens at the thought of that, and at the thought of what Luke would do if he found me panty-less on some outing this weekend. I drive dangerous thoughts of his lips and fingers from my mind, and hurriedly get dressed. Back out in our room, I catch Luke still naked, smirking as he leans against the window and watches me exit the bathroom. Unless I’m mistaken, he looks a little disappointed I’m dressed already.
But, “My turn,” is all he says, and he crosses into the bathroom next. I’m still drying off on the bed when there’s a knock at the door. I go to answer it and freeze at the unfamiliar face on the other side.
“Oh, uh…” It’s a guy I’ve never met, handsome enough in his own way, though he can’t hold a candle to Luke.
The guy’s face, on the other hand, brightens with recognition. “You must be Mrs. Rossfield, right?” My heart skips a beat at the words. Especially when he adds, “Luke’s told me so much about you.” He sticks out a hand, and I stare at it for a beat, before I spot the woman beside him, also smiling. “I’m Paul,” he adds, and it all clicks now.
“Celia,” I say. “Nice to meet you. Luke’s just getting ready.”
“This is my fiancée, Meghan.” Paul gestures over his shoulder, but Meghan’s already sweeping past him into the room to hug me.
“So nice to meet you! I can’t believe you managed to tie down the infamous Luke Rossfield.” Meghan swats my arm with a playful smile. “You must be every bit as amazing as Luke claims.”
I laugh, wondering for the first time exactly what Luke told his friend about me. Did he make it all up? Or did he really tell them about me and just invent the marriage part? “I’ve heard great things about you both too,” I say, mostly just to buy time. To be fair, Luke did say a lot of nice things about Paul, and that anyone who caught his friend’s eye for the long-term must be special.
Luckily, I’m saved by the sound of the water shutting off, and moment later, Luke sticks his head out, a towel wrapped around his waist. “Paul! I thought that was you. Give me a minute.”
“Your room is amazing.” Meghan is pacing around it, wide-eyed with appreciative awe. I’m glad. It means I’m not the only one who’s not used to staying in places like this one.
“Check out the view.” I demonstrate, to the sound of appreciative gasps, while behind us, Luke steps out of the bathroom, fully dressed this time in a pair of jeans and a loose button-down shirt, the top few buttons undone. Still, he manages to make me catch my breath, even dressed casually like that. He looks like he just walked out of a catalogue and into our room. I watch with appreciation as he grabs Paul in one of those tight, back-slapping hugs guys love.
Meghan catches me watching, and grins. “So the shine doesn’t wear off once you’re married? That’s good to know.” She glances down at her hand, where she’s wearing a diamond almost as large as the one Luke bought me. I remember what Luke said, about Meghan and Paul’s wedding coming up soon.
My throat tightens a little. I feel guilty, suddenly, about pretending to be some kind of wise married woman who could dispense advice. I don’t know what I’m talking about—I’m just here playing pretend. But I force a smile anyway. “I find it hard to imagine a time when it could, to be honest,” I say, because it’s the most truthful thing I can.
Meghan sighs and smiles back happily. “I know what you mean.” I catch her eying Paul in the same way, like she’s drinking him in. It makes my smile turn genuine. “You know, I used to never think I’d settle down?” Meghan confides. She flashes me a sly grin. “I used to be kind of a wild child. But then I met Paul, and it was like… oh. Yeah. I could do this, with him.”