Page 75 of Without a Hitch
It’s the only time she seems to rattle him. “Well, once. It’s how I found out an ex was unfaithful. Antibiotics and a messy break-up got rid of both.”
The silence hangs in the room like a dark cloud that doesn’t know if it should open up and drown us or clear the way for the rainbow trying to peek through.
“Well, that’s one way to introduce your new boyfriend.”
I’m going to kill my sister. “Eli.” I clench my teeth so hard they’re likely to crack. “He’s not my—”
“Tilly prefers to call me ‘lover,’ but boyfriend works just fine. I’m Lochlan Blaine,” he says easily, crossing the room to offer my sister his hand. I’m forced to move with him because he has my palm in his giant paw with no indication he’ll let go any time soon.
“Oh, we know who you are.” Eli smirks. “We Googled you.”
“As you should, I suppose.” The slight frown marring his features turns into a brilliant smile that masks his thoughts when Mable opens her mouth again.
“You believe in love, boy?”
“I love lots of people,” he answers evasively.
“It’s marriage he’s opposed to.” It slips from my lips before I can swallow it down.
Delaney squeaks again. It’s a high-pitched sound like pinching the end of a balloon and releasing the air slowly. Hadley starts humming, a sure sign she’s as distressed as I am. I shoot her a pleading expression, but her gaze is sealed on Lochlan. It is truly unfair how handsome he is.
“You’ve talked about marriage?” Eli cackles. “Marriage? Already?”
“Only in how it relates to me spending three weeks with him.” I don’t have to finish. They all know what I’m getting at. Three weeks with this man is putting my heart on the line. Not only putting it on the line, but willingly putting it out there for someone I can have no future with.
“You,” Delaney, finding her voice, points to Lochlan. “Sit. Mable? Keep him company.” Dragging Hadley from the couch, she grabs my hand on the way by, forcing Lochlan to release me. She doesn’t say another word, knowing Eli will follow right behind us, and we don’t stop until we reach my room.
Eli scoots around me to open the door, and we all pile in, then scramble onto the bed and stare at each other.
Delaney breaks first. “We need a plan before that man out there chews up your heart and spits it out.”
I nod.
“If Mable doesn’t rip him a new one first.” Eli’s eyes dance with mischief.
“Three weeks, Till? With…with him?” Hadley’s hands twitch, and it’s only a matter of time before she starts pacing.
“What did Colton say?” Delaney asks.
“Nothing. I didn’t tell him anything, and neither will any of you.” I glare at the girls.
“You really think he’s just going to hand over his hotels at the end of this?” Eli asks skeptically even as she jumps from the bed to grab a suitcase and start filling it with all my sexiest underwear.
“Eli! Enough with the thongs.”
“You’re right. Think Mable still has those edible panties from April Fool’s Day?”
“Oh my God. Stop! Everyone, just stop.”
“Till?” Turning toward Delaney, I brace myself for the verbal beating I’m sure she wants to give me. “I—I know what you said on the phone. It sounds like a no-brainer. A deal you can’t turn down, but…” Her eyes go glassy, and she blinks feverishly. I have no doubt my empathetic friend is imagining herself in my shoes. “But do you think it’s worth your heart?”
“I know, deep down, that he isn’t going to try to hurt me.”
“That’s not what I asked,” she replies softly.
“I think it has to be. With his hotels in my back pocket, I won’t have to rely on anyone to get The I Do Crew going.”
“There are so many loose ends though. How do you know he’ll follow through with this?” Hadley asks with a shaky voice that matches her hands.
