Page 42 of Just My Luck
That was the thing—Iknewtrouble, and I was staring right at her.
SIXTEEN
SLOANE
Leavingour humble cave behind us, we opted to explore the Wild Iris Bed-and-Breakfast. It was delightfully ridiculous. From the outside, the Victorian-style estate was painted a soft lavender. The grand turret faced Lake Michigan, and I wondered what type of themed room it held.
Damn shame if it isn’t pirates.
With a stifled giggle, I wondered if Bug understood where she had booked our stay or if she knew the Wild Iris was exactly the kind of place that would make me giggle while simultaneously annoying the hell out of her uptight nephew.
Knowing Bug’s austere reputation, I suspected the latter.
Abel skulked closely behind me as I wound through the lobby and exited out the back onto the wide, open porch. Cozy chairs were arranged in groups of two or three with side tables adorned with flowers. More steps led off the back deck to a small boardwalk that directed guests to the beachfront. Near the shoreline, I spotted a bonfire pit with benches made from tree trunks split in half around it.
Waves ebbed and flowed onto the clean, sandy beaches. On the distant coastline, familiar sand dunes rose high above thewater, but at our particular stretch of beach, the open shoreline was flat and inviting.
Content, I sucked in a deep breath of warm lake air. “Isn’t it beautiful?”
When he didn’t respond, I turned to find Abel staring at me. He shifted under my attention, clearing his throat. “Yeah. Gorgeous.”
His gaze fell to my mouth, and heat flooded my cheeks in response.
“Hello!” An elderly singsong voice called from behind us. “Yoo-hoo!”
In unison, we shifted to see a woman exiting the french doors, balancing a small tray of what appeared to be a fizzy, cider-colored cocktail in champagne flutes. She waved wildly with her free hand as the glasses balanced precariously.
The woman was dressed to match the house in a flashy lavender jacket and flowing purple slacks. On top of her silver curls was a large floppy hat trimmed with lavender fringe and feathers.
“Good evening!” she called as she got closer. “Welcome to the Wild Iris. My name is Gladys. Ruby checked you in, but I just couldn’t wait to meet you! We love having newlyweds stay with us. Please, try this.” She moved the tray between us. “It’s called Wedded Bliss.”
Abel and I smiled, and each of us took a champagne flute from her tray. Each glass contained a bubbly drink, featured two slices of fig, and was garnished with a sprig of thyme.
“This looks amazing! Thank you,” I said as I took a sip.
Gladys grinned. “It’s got champagne, honey, orange liqueur, and apple cider. The Greeks used to prescribe honey for sexual vigor!” Her shoulders shimmied as she grinned.
I sputtered and choked on my drink. Bubbles fizzed up my nose as I gasped for air through my laughter. A hard thumplanded on my back as Abel tried to help clear the drink from my system.
Gladys winked. “Happy honeymoon, you two!”
Abel awkwardly raised his champagne flute, and I dissolved into another fit of laughter as Gladys sashayed away, in search of her next unsuspecting couple—of that I was certain.
I cleared my throat again as Abel’s hand softly thumped my back once more. “Thanks.” I smiled and took a more careful sip. “It’s good. You should try it.”
He eyed the cocktail as though one sip would have us tearing at each other’s clothing. Which, to be honest, wouldn’t have been the worst thing in the world.
My eyes dropped to his broad chest. It would be unreal to see him completely undressed and looming over me. It was almost as if I could imagine his large hands gripping my hips, pulling them down the mattress toward him. Tiny muscles fluttered low as a throb settled between my legs and heat spread across my chest.
Abel cleared his throat and I blinked up at him, realizing I’d just been caught ogling him and thinkingverynaughty things about my pretend husband.
I stared down at the drink in my hand.
Jesus, what is in this?
A playful smirk tipped up the corner of Abel’s mouth, and I squared my shoulders to stare straight ahead at the rippling water in the distance.
The Wild Iris was fully booked, and slowly Gladys made her way around to empty her tray. We offered polite nods and tight smiles to other guests as we relaxed on the porch or took a walk down the beach.