Best Man with Benefits (Wedding Dare, #4, McCade Brothers, #3)(43)
It did, which only went to show how far-gone she was. She needed to get out of there and figure out what the heck she was doing before she said something lame. “It’s the best offer I’ve had all day, but…” too late… “I need to go. I have some work to do, too. Plus my parents are arriving tonight. I have to mentally prepare for that.”
“Wow. They’re arriving together? I didn’t think they spoke to each other, much less traveled together.”
“Lord no. They’re arriving separately. We hope the resort offers enough neutral ground for them to occupy at once.”
“That bad, huh?”
“I should be used to it. I was too young when they split up to remember them any other way than how they are now. They’re just very different, and”—she shrugged—“incompatible. Mom’s outgoing and likes a busy social calendar. Dad prefers his own space and company.”
He kissed her forehead. “I’m sorry. But do me a favor and remember different doesn’t always mean incompatible.”
“I don’t know about that.”
“I do. See you tonight at the rehearsal?”
She nodded and walked to the door. “Yes.”
When she reached out her hand to grab the knob, Logan stopped her. “I think you’re forgetting something.”
Was she? She turned around and surveyed the room, and then looked up at him. “What?”
“This.” He lowered his head and kissed her. Within seconds, all thoughts of conference calls and closing dinners fled from her mind, to be replaced by vivid memories of exactly what had gone down the last time she’d been standing between Logan and the door. She wrapped her arms around his neck while her body revved up for a repeat performance.
Logan groaned, tipped his head, and changed the angle of the kiss, and then groaned again when a voice from the other end of the room called, “Logan McCade. Paging Logan ‘Pantyripper’ McCade. Please return to your conference call.”
“Oh, goodness.” Sophie jumped, turned, and would have run smack into the door if Logan hadn’t grabbed her shoulders and pulled her back against him. He opened the door for her, kissed her again, and whispered “Bye, Soph,” before she floated out into the hall.
Back in her room, she showered, changed, and tried her best to push her whirling thoughts about Logan and his sort-of dinner invitation out of her mind. Work proved to be a decent distraction, but after a few hours, she’d answered all her emails, taken care of a couple quick projects, and received a text from her mom telling her she was on her way to the resort, as well as an email from her dad saying his flight had just touched down.
Great. Two and a half hours before the Bickermans hit Beaver Creek. Even as a divorced couple, they presented a strong argument for staying single. Forever.
Feeling restless, she changed into loose sweatpants and a long-sleeved workout shirt and went for a run-walk along the paths surrounding the resort. Somehow she found herself back at the same dress shop where she’d dropped her life savings yesterday. The same nice saleswoman talked her into “a sexy-but-classy wrap dress the exact same shade as your eyes,” a pair of black patent leather sling-backs, and another naughty set of underwear in deep violet this time. The shopping killed another hour and another three hundred bucks.
On her way back, she contemplated ordering a late lunch from room service and spending the rest of the afternoon indulging in her favorite guilty pleasure—reading. She had several new titles on her Kindle, but for once, an afternoon immersed in erotic tales didn’t sound enticing. It sounded isolated. And that’s when it hit her. She was tired of her own company.
Sophie Brooks, introverted lover of solitude, craved interaction. Lunch alone in her room held no appeal. Instead of cutting through the lobby to the elevator, she made her way to the Berlitz Bar, a Swiss chalet-style pub, with the idea of ordering some food and people-watching. The place was mostly empty, save for a foursome of seniors who looked as if they’d just strolled off a golf course, and a cozy couple lost in their own world, whispering and giggling at the end of the bar. She walked to an empty stool at the other end of the bar, tucked her shopping bags beside the stool, and took a seat. Her gaze wandered the room, searching for a bartender, and inadvertently landed on the couple.
Correction, make that Colt and Kady lost in their own world, whispering and giggling at the bar. As she watched, Colt tipped Kady’s chin up and kissed her.
Right. They were perfectly balanced. No need for a third wheel. She’d just sneak out before they noticed her. She hopped off the tall barstool, unbalancing it in the process, and then watched in horror as it proceeded to topple the next three barstools like a big, loud line of dominoes.
Every head in the place turned toward her. So much for sneaking out unnoticed. She busied herself picking up barstools.
“Hey Sophie.” Colt strolled over, took the stool from her hands, and set it on its feet. “What’s up?” He leaned over and picked up the next fallen soldier.
“Oh, you know, nothing much.” I’m sleeping with your best friend. She grabbed her bags. “I was just heading upstairs to—”
“Don’t rush off.” He righted the last stool. “Stay and keep us company.”
“I don’t want to intrude…” She looked past Colt to Kady, who smiled wide and patted the seat next to her.