Page 17 of Heartsmashed
“Maybe we should have a code word.”
“For when you want to hold my hand?”
He gave the hint of a smile. “Any time you’re feeling overwhelmed and need to get away, you say the word and I’ll get us out of there.”
A code word… Yeah, that sounded like a good idea. Smart.
“I like it,” I said. “What word?”
“You tell me. It’s your escape plan.”
“Hmm.” I glanced around the car, looking for something that might work. Something I wouldn’t normally say but could fit into conversation if it had to.
But as I met Beckett’s gaze again, it became obvious what it should be. The one thing that already seemed to be able to steady me when I began to spiral.
“Cobalt,” I said.
He nodded once. “Done.”
I was relieved he didn’t ask why. That would’ve been too awkward to explain, and there was no way I was up for more mortification.
I unbuckled my seatbelt and hesitated. “Too soon to say it now?”
“Let’s at least get inside first.”
“Right. Yes, good plan.” Another deep breath and I popped open the door, making a quick apology to the valet before handing over the key fob.
The mountain air was crisp and cool—and silent. Waaay too silent. It was more than a little unnerving not to hear the hum of a city in the background, all the sirens and horns and construction that went on at all hours of the day.
Apparently this was what relaxation meant. Who knew?
“We’ll make sure your bags are in your cabin when you arrive, Mr. Montgomery,” the valet said, unloading the trunk and giving me nothing to do with my hands.
Shit.
But as the lodge doors swung open to greet us, Beckett held his hand out toward me like a lifeline.
I took it, but only after admiring once again how damn good he looked. Navy pants that fit him like a glove and showed off muscular thighs. A lightweight cashmere sweater that looked soft enough to snuggle into. Beckett was…wow. He was wow.
Hopefully I didn’t introduce him as “wow.”
His large hand enveloped mine, warm and strong, and God help me, it set off the butterflies in my stomach in a way that had nothing to do with my anxiety over the situation we were walking into.
Nope. This was something else entirely, but I was absolutely not going to think about that right now.
Beckett brushed his thumb against my knuckles like it was the most natural thing in the world and led me inside. Immediately I was hit with warm, low ambient lighting, the crackle of a massive stone fireplace, and?—
Oh. Oh no.
Was there a pre-welcome-party invite I’d missed? Because why was my entire family congregated in the seating area off the lobby, drinks in hand and several animated conversations happening at once?
“Sawyer! Honey, over here,” Mama called out, her wild red-and-silver-streaked curls falling over her shoulder as she and Mom rose from one of the couches and started toward us.
“Hey,” I said as we crossed the lounge to meet them halfway. “We made it.”
I didn’t know if it was the fact that I’d said “we” or that Beckett was just so damn handsome you couldn’t look anywhere else, but their steps faltered as they both looked down at where I still held his hand tightly…then slowly back up to the two of us.
I’d mentioned bringing someone, but we hadn’t exactly had time to get into who, and it was evident by the surprise on both their faces that they hadn’t expected me to be holding someone’s hand.
