“Yeah. Let’s do it.”
“Let me grab my purse.” She enters the house while I remain outside, my gaze locked on her, watching until she disappears into the bedroom.
I shake my head, scrubbing my hand over my face. Across the back of my neck.
This woman is going to completely undo me before this little honeymoon is through.
I know it.
***
The restaurant isopen air and has a spectacular view of the ocean, which is now mostly shrouded in darkness thanks to the late hour. We ended up sitting in the bar for only twenty minutes before we were shown to our table and I notice the longer Charlotte sips on that giant pina colada she was desperate to order, the more relaxed she becomes.
“I love it here,” she announces once she’s slurped the last of her drink.
“Have you been to Mexico before?” I dunk a tortilla chip into a bowl of guac before I shove it into my mouth.
She shakes her head. “I’ve been to the Caribbean. Hawaii. But never Mexico.”
“I’m surprised. Figured you Lancasters travel all over the world.”
“Oh we do. Or we used to, when I was much younger. All Lancasters go to Lancaster Prep, so we end up spending most of our time there during high school,” she explains.
I’ve heard of Lancaster Prep. A very expensive, elite boarding school where the children of the best of the best—and the richest of the rich—attend. “All your brothers went there?”
“Yes, and Crew’s there now. He’s a senior. All of my cousins attended or are attending. It’s a Lancaster family tradition.”
“Your family has lots of traditions?”
“Oh definitely. Many of them are downright archaic.” She smiles faintly. “Like this arranged marriage thing.”
I can’t help the chuckle that slips out. “My mother tried to get every single one of my brothers and sisters to marry someone of her choosing.”
“Every single one?”
I nod.
“And did she succeed?”
I slowly shake my head. “Only with me so far.”
We’re both quiet for a moment, letting that sink in.
“Can I admit something to you?” she asks me once the server drops her off a fresh pina colada.
I watch as she takes a generous sip. “Go for it.”
“I was jealous of Ash.” She leans back in her chair while I absorb what she just said.
“Why?”
“I thought she was too—clingy towards you.”
I gape at her. “What?”
“She hung all over you the night of our engagement party.” A scowl forms on her face. “I didn’t like it.”
Wait a minute.