Page 66 of Frost Bitten
Aaron booked us this small bed-and-breakfast with an event room, right next to the foothills of the mountains. He even hired a company to come out and set off fireworks as a finale to the night. Set off, of course, at midnight.
Me? I am here to help Mom, watch Lily, help coordinate with the party planner, the decorator, the caterer, the baker for the cake, the nanny they hired to take Lily to the room when she gets tired, and not to mention the hair and makeup stylists. I have to make sure Mom’s dress is properly steamed; while it’s not a wedding dress, it might as well be. It’s off-white silk and absolutely gorgeous. But it needs to be handled with kid gloves, otherwise, the water from the steamer will leave spots.
Ella messaged me yesterday, saying she’d arrive with Ash, and they’d bring me lunch. She knew I wouldn’t eat. While I know she knew I’m doing all of this to not focus on the threat from Jason, she didn’t want Ash going into overbearing, big-brother mode. She knew that would only make things worse.
All is going according to “plan” – me avoiding everyone until the last minute possible – until Corey shows up, knocking in a comedic pattern on my door.
“Sunshine, wake up! It’s your boyfriends! Well… three of us, plus who knows whatheclassifies himself as.”
Lovely, he brought everyone. I seriously don’t want to snap at him, but I told him yesterday to let me be today. Instead, he brought the cavalry.
He knocks again, and I swear if I could shoot lasers out of my eyes, the door would be blown away right now. “Fine!” I grumble as I climb out of bed. I look a mess, but I don’t care at this point. My depressive mood only gets worse as I stew in my misery. It’s not like they will have to worry about seeing me looking this bad anymore…
I yank open the door, the stray hairs from my messy bun blowing from the force of the wind as I pull it open. “Whoa,” Corey says, jumping back. “Aw, look who’s a Grumpy Griselda! Come on, Sunshine, I brought you coffee.” He slides into the space between me and the door, smacking a kiss on my scowling lips as he sweeps by me. I shake my head in surprise. What?
Bast steps forward, cupping my cheek. “Good Morning, Angel. You look like you’ve been fighting with the sheets. I’d have paid to have seen that fight. Winner take all?” He smirks before brushing a soft kiss to my lips.
Before I know it, Dominic has replaced him in front of me, arms wrapped tight around me. “Are you ok? Is there anything I can do to help?”
Speechless, I shake my head “no.” I’m not sure which question of his I was answering, but it honestly fits both. He leans forward, placing an endearing kiss on my forehead before moving further into the room. I’m so busy looking at the three men who just shocked the hell out of me, that I missed Cam walking up beside me, closing the door for me, before walking further into the hotel room. Confused doesn’t even begin to explain my state of perception regarding this one.
I leave them to their own devices and walk to the bathroom. After I relieve myself, wash my hands, brush my teeth, and attack the rats’ nest that is my hair, I feel somewhat more prepared to handle the gaggle of ganders strutting around my room. I don’t know what else to classify these men. They just couldn’t take “no” for an answer when they asked if I wanted help, so I’m considering them geese. Stubborn and determined to do their own thing.
“Sunshine, we know you’re busy,” Corey says as he stands and hesitantly approaches me. “We just wanted to cheer you up. You’ve been running around crazy, and I know you’re super stressed. We wanted to bring you something to get you going.”
“I know a way we can encourage her,” Dom chimes in, a smirk covered by a hand.
“That’s it. I’m out. Call me when you all are done here,” Cam says, standing and walking toward the door.
“Don’t bother, they aren’t staying either,” I reply, matching his sarcasm.Fuck,even at odds, we’re too similar. Everyone stops and looks at me. “I said what I said. Everyone out. I’m not mad or upset, necessarily, but I have shit to do today, and I specifically requested this morning to myself. Thank you for the coffee, but I’ll see you all tonight.”
Corey’s pout was almost too pitiful to handle, but I managed. “Don’t give me that look. I can pull up the text I sent you yesterday if you’re ready for Exhibit A.”
With the most exaggerated eye roll, he finally relents. “Fine. But Sunshine?” I turn back to him after grabbing a sip of my coffee. “I expect the first dance. And the last… in my bed.”
I groan at his lame joke while the other guys herd him out of my room. When I strip out of my sleep shirt and turn to my suitcase, I glance over my shoulder to find Cam still standing in my doorway. Having him watching me isn’t new; however, I’m not sure what to do here.
With a look of pain in his eyes, he steps out and closes the door. Instead of continuing to my bag, I beeline for the shower. I need to wash away all the confusing feelings with the lack of sleep.
* * *
“Girl, you know Mr. Wilkins hired a security team for tonight. That’s the one thing youdidn’thave to manage.” Ella sits across the armchair in the sitting room of my suite, chewing gum and reading a magazine before we have to head to my mom’s suite. Ash is sitting quietly on the sofa, not paying attention to either of us girls. I love him so much, but only as a brother. I hope he can handle Ella when I’m not around.
“Girl,” I shake my disturbing thoughts away. “Thank god I didn’t have to. I mean, it’s not like they don’t have a team leader, but I ran most everything else. It’s not like one more thing would’ve made a difference.”
I stand in front of my suitcase, sipping my third glass of champagne, trying to find the button-down shirt I know I packed. I spin, holding the towel I have wrapped around me closed, desperate to find this shirt. Then, spying it on the floor, I realize I wore it here yesterday. Whatever.
I snatch it up, grab the leggings I stashed in my suitcase, and run to the bathroom. As soon as I shut the door, I drop the towel and don the change of clothes. I’m supposed to report for hair and makeup duty in approximately ten minutes, which means I have three to scarf down a slice of pizza to negate some of the alcohol I’ve already consumed. I still have to brush my teeth before they do my lips; heaven forbid I smear my lipstick.Speaking of, I need to bring my favorite non-smudge, matte tube.
I exit the restroom and head for the pizza. I scarf down that baby, thankful Ella knows that pineapple belongs on pizza. Especially when paired with traditional bacon,yum.
“Hey,” Ella says, approaching me as I devour the pizza slice, standing over the table like I’m guarding it.
“Mwya?” I ask, mouth full of pizza. I’m such a fucking elegant specimen of a lady.
“I just want to let you know I’ll be with you all night long. You have nothing to worry about, I promise. Now let’s go get beautified.” Ella throws her arm around me, and I freeze, not sure how to act. “Girl, I get it. You’re nervous. But you’re gonna be fine.”
I finish chewing the last bite before wiping my hand on a napkin. “Alright, I get it. Ride-or-die, bitch. I love you.”
