Falling for the Groomsman (Wedding Dare, #1)(56)

Christmas Day

Tyler leaned back against the chaise longue, closed his eyes, and smiled. Mexican music played in the background, and all around him Spanish intermingled with English so smoothly it was hard to remember which was which. It had been a spur-of-the-moment decision, but he couldn’t be happier they’d decided to come back to the place where it had all started.

It would make his Christmas present for Christine all the more sweet.

Behind his closed lids, he pictured her sitting beside him, so young and sad. The first time they’d come here, he’d fallen in love with her. He just hadn’t known it yet.

The memory of their conversation in Mexico all those years ago washed over him like a soft wave from the ocean. It had been the same day he’d taken her virginity—only hours before, when the sun had still been shining. It had also been the first time he’d realized exactly how special she was. He’d been hooked on her ever since then.

Back then, he’d been teasing her about something. He couldn’t even remember what, but he’d been trying to make her have fun since she’d looked so sad. He’d said whatever it was he’d said, and she’d laughed, her dimple popping out before she turned away from him.

“I love that dimple, Red. You should stop hiding your smile from me.”

She shook her head, laughing lightly and dipping her head. “It’s stupid. Who has one dimple?”

“You, and it’s perfect.”

“No, it’s not,” she said, smiling that shy smile she’d always given him. “You’re just being nice.”

“No, I’m just being honest.” He reached out and caught her chin, turning her face up to his. “You’re beautiful just the way you are.”

She flushed. “You’re too kind.”

“You’re too modest.”

He wanted to kiss her so bad, and he’d swear he saw the same desire in her eyes. “Red…”

“Why do you call me that?”

“Because it’s something that only I do,” he said, leaning closer. “It’s our thing…”

“Hey,” present-day Christine said, ripping him from his memories. He lifted his heavy lids, watching her with a warmth in his heart he still wasn’t used to. She sat down on his lap, smiling down at him from underneath a floppy straw hat. “You sleeping on me again, Dresco?”

“Of course not.” But he was tempted to. They’d been up all night making love, and woken up early to go hiking to the top of a waterfall. He was f*cking beat. “I was just watching the backs of my eyelids.”

She snorted. “Sure you were.”

“I swear it.” He played with the strings of her bikini, his eyes on her. “There were dragons and monkeys and a flying cat.”

She laughed. “Really?”

“I solemnly swear it,” he said, grinning. “But if you’re worried you’ll lose me to my exhaustion, how about if we take a walk along the beach? Splash around in the water for a bit?”

“Sure.”

She hopped to her feet and picked up her fruity umbrella drink. He grabbed his Corona and smiled at her. He had no idea where all her energy came from, but he wished he had even a small portion of it. It’s one of the things he loved most about her, but sometimes he just couldn’t keep up with her. She was always going, going, going until she crashed at about midnight.

Then? She didn’t move until the alarm went off.

He grabbed her hand, entwined his fingers with hers, and led her toward the water. “Can you believe this vacation is almost over?”

“I know.” Her fingers tightened on his. “Tomorrow we go back to chilly Maine, where there’s three inches of snow on the ground.”

He laughed. “That’s nothing compared to Colorado. The other day, Kady said they had almost three feet at their place.”

“I know, but it’s a lot compared to this.” She pointed at the blue ocean. “Don’t you think?”

“I do.” He smiled. “But unfortunately, all good things must come to an end, and we have to go back to our apartments tomorrow.”

She shot him an annoyed look. “When can we move in together again?”

Lately she’d been getting antsy about moving in together, but he knew she actually enjoyed being alone. She loved him and wanted to be with him, sure, but she’d needed to experience being alone. Because once they lived together…it would be forever. He had no doubt about that. “We’ll talk about it after we get back from Guatemala.”

“It’s hot there, too.” She took a sip from her drink. “Another escape from the doom and gloom of winter.”

“Mmm-hmm.” He threw his arm over her shoulders, tugging her close. When he told her he wanted to volunteer overseas again, he’d been braced for her anger or even for her to be hurt. But instead, she’d asked to go with him. Her job was even excited about it, since she’d be working overseas the whole time. Maybe he could even convince her to go camping with him again. “We’ll only have to suffer through a month of snow before we’re back in the sweltering heat again.”

“And we can finally move in together,” she mumbled, snuggling closer to his side. “I can’t wait.”

“I said we’d talk about it—not do it.” He took a draft of his beer, his heart picking up speed the closer they got to his destination. “Before you get too mad, remember. It’s all part of the plan, Red.”