Chapter 22

Chapter Twenty-Two

"Scoot it, buddy. You get to spend enough time with my sister," Liddy said as she got to the bus seat that Elle and Quinn occupied.

Elle threw her a warm smile, one that didn't speak of any anger or resentment.

God, she's such a good person. Elle hadn't even said a thing to her about her mother-in-law's takeover of the wedding or Liddy's disappearance for a few days—and if Liddy knew Elle, both were probably bothering her.

But she wasn't the type of person to hold onto that and get resentful.

She'd just . . . let go of what she had wanted.

"I thought the bus would be bigger," Elle mused, then glanced back at the other bus parked behind them. "But I have to admit it's nice that all the older crowd is taking the other bus." Taryn and Hunter divided the group, gently nudging the parents and their ilk into the second bus.

"We got to keep all the young'uns together," Granny chirped from the seat beside the driver. She checked the mirror. "Leo's back there with them, though, right?"

Liddy held back a laugh as Quinn moved to another row, and she sat beside her sister. She'd let Kyle and Granny in on Callum's and her sabotage plans—partially because she knew they'd be mad if she didn't and partially because even with Taryn and Hunter's help, they needed a small miracle to pull this off and keep Kat from finding out.

That was what Kyle now oversaw, in fact. He'd been assigned to monitor Kat and make sure she didn't get anywhere close to the tour bus loading area—and that Quinn's mom didn't talk to her.

"Granny, why'd you bring a man along if you weren't planning on spending time with him?" Liddy asked with a shake of her head.

Granny puffed out her cheeks. "It's more fun that way. Plus, I need someone to dance with at the wedding. And he's not a half-bad dancer when he's got a few drinks in him."

Quinn gave her an affectionate smile. "I'd have danced with you, Granny."

"No, no, no. You need to save it for the bride. And for baby-making later. I'm putting the request in right here, right now for great-grandbabies sooner rather than later. If Brenda's bad luck continues, my great-grandbabies could have a good twenty years to get to know me."

"What on earth do you mean?" Elle asked, looking shocked.

"Oh, you know. No woman wants her mother-in-law living till one hundred. Brenda's pretty good at not having things go her way, so I think my chances of living that long look swell." Granny grinned mischievously.

"To Granny," Callum said, catching the tail end of her comments as he climbed aboard the bus, a cooler of beer in his hands. "Long may she reign."

Liddy looked away from him.

"He's a smart one," Elle whispered in Liddy's ear, giving her a playful pinch on the forearm. "He knows how to butter up the matriarch."

"Yeah, he's great," Liddy mumbled back, her throat clenching at the words. Irredeemable bastard.

If only he'd get on the other bus with Leo.

She didn't have to wonder if Callum would sit next to her. He avoided her gaze and instead sat with Quinn and his brothers.

Elle looked from Liddy to Callum, then frowned. "Trouble in paradise?" She raised a brow.

So much for being a happy couple.

Elle wasn't the only one who had noticed either. Rebecca, who had been sitting with Mason, gave her a curious look, then slid into the empty seat beside Liddy. "You okay?"

"I'm fine." Liddy put on a brighter smile. She had felt better until Callum had gotten on the bus. She'd done her best to avoid Callum, asking Taryn and Hunter to finalize the plans for the excursions with him, and had gone back to the welcome brunch. Spending time with her family had done wonders for her aching heart.

Because that was the only way to describe how she felt.

Callum's indifference to her now, after the past few days they'd spent together, was much more painful than his initial brush-off had been two years ago. She'd shared things with him she'd never told anyone.

And if she hadn't had that conversation with Miranda, maybe she would have been able to swallow her pride and understand that he needed her friendship, even if he hadn't given that impression at the hot springs.

But now I know better.

Elle leaned over and slipped her hand into hers. "You know, I can still have Quinn cut him from the wedding party if he hurts you," she whispered.

"I'm fine. It's fine. Just a long morning." Liddy nestled her head against Elle's shoulder.

God, I so desperately want to talk to my sister.

Elle would give me good advice.

But she'd made a deal with Callum, and he'd kept his end of the bargain. The proverbial deal with the devil, it turned out.

"Did you dye your hair so that you two would look different?" Rebecca asked, tilting her head. "Because I swear it never occurred to me how much you look alike until seeing you next to each other now."

A wave of affection came over Liddy. "Sort of. Elle's a natural blond. I started that way, but my hair gradually got darker over the years, and I didn't have time to get highlights before I left London, so I just went with box dye to match my roots."

"Next time, you should tell your boss to give you some time off to get your hair appointment in," Elle said a bit more loudly. "Ahem. Liddy's boss."

Callum checked over his shoulder at Elle. "All she has to do is ask if she wants time off."

Yeah, because you're so approachable.

Hunter, Taryn, and Kyle clambered aboard the bus, shutting the door behind them as the bus carrying the older crowd started past them. "Go, go, go!" Kyle told the bus driver. "Right now!"

Liddy turned to look toward La Hacienda. Kat was running toward the bus, her iPad bouncing against her chest as she ran.

Oh shit.

The bus lurched forward, with Taryn and Kyle holding onto the backs of seats while Hunter pitched forward onto Granny.

"Hello, handsome," Granny said with a gleeful laugh.

"Hello, gorgeous," Hunter returned with a wink.

Quinn and Elle gave Kyle confused looks and then looked back at La Hacienda. "Was that Kat?" Quinn asked.

"Cat? I didn't see a cat." Taryn squeezed in beside Rebecca, then gave Liddy a thumbs-up.

"Everyone got on?" Liddy asked Hunter as he plopped down beside Jasper, one of Quinn's friends.

Hunter gave her a thumbs-up.

Rebecca leaned toward the window. "Is something going on?"

Callum dug into the cooler. "Who wants a beer?"

Several hands shot up into the air.

With everyone else sufficiently distracted by the beer, Elle frowned at Liddy. "What in the hell is going on?"

"Okay, don't get mad. I might have kidnapped you. And all your wedding guests."

"It wasn't just Liddy," Taryn chimed in. "So if you get mad, don't blame her."

Liddy appreciated Taryn's show of loyalty, but she also didn't want Elle's friends to take the blame for this.

Quinn turned and knelt on his seat. "What do you mean, kidnapped?"

"Look, Elle. Quinn." Liddy reached out and squeezed Elle's hand. "I know you two. You didn't come all the way to Costa Rica for butterfly excursions or The Four Seasons. And I know you didn't pick this beach and this place by accident. So . . . I just figured I'd give you a little taste of the adventure you came here for."

"Meaning?" Quinn's expression was blank as though he still couldn't follow.

"Meaning we set up some alternate plans for the day. We're going to go on four-by-fours through the jungle trails while the parents and their friends go horseback riding or wild macaw viewing, and then we're all going to go on a sunset cruise on a catamaran. Surprise," Callum said, handing Quinn a beer.

Elle's lips parted with shock. "Are you serious?" Then she looked down at her long sundress. "I am so not dressed for a UTV."

"Are you mad?" Liddy asked with a grimace.

"Are you kidding? This is amazing." Elle's eyes shone. "I'm so excited."

Quinn lifted the beer toward Callum. "This is brilliant."

Liddy relaxed in her seat. "Oh, thank God. I was so worried that you'd be worried about Quinn's mom getting mad."

"Oh . . ." Elle's smile froze. Her eyes darted to Quinn's. "Oh, babe, do you think she will?"

"That's the beauty of it," Callum cut in before Quinn could respond. "She won't even know that Kat didn't set this all up until she gets back tonight."

Hunter lifted a backpack. "I stole all the old people's phones except Leo's. Granny said he could be trusted, so I figured it would be good to have one person we could keep in touch with. Told the rest of them it was an unplugged excursion. Kat won't be able to reach your mom."

Quinn looked from Hunter to Callum. "I-I guess it'll be fine, then. Besides, it doesn't matter. If this is what Elle wants to do and it makes her happy, I don't see what difference it makes."

Sweet Quinn.

Her sister knew how to pick a good man. Meanwhile, I just seem to keep crushing on men who make me feel like dirt.

Taryn seemed to know what Liddy was thinking. "Lucky woman, that one." She nodded toward Elle. "Everyone needs a Quinn in their life."

Rebecca grinned. "Mason's a good catch, too."

As Quinn shook his head and sat, the group resumed their chatter, making it easier for Liddy to talk to Elle. "So I take it you haven't told Quinn you absolutely do not want to do a wedding at The Four Seasons, and that's why Kat's running the show now?" Liddy stared at the back of Quinn's head. "Because you know he'd support you if you told him. I don't think he'd be afraid to stand up to his mother."

"Yeah, but why cause the drama?" Elle's gaze darted out the window. She looked back at Liddy with a taut smile, then sighed. "No, it's not what I planned or wanted, but clearly, this means more to her than I thought it would."

"It's your wedding, Elle. Yours and Quinn's." Liddy scooted closer to her. "I'm sorry I left. I know you needed my help, and you've been really stressed, and I didn't want to leave you with that. It's just . . ."

God, this would be so much easier if I'd just told Elle the truth from the start.

"No, I get it." Elle gave her a gentle look, swiping some tears from the corners of her eyes. "You needed time with Callum. It totally makes sense. Especially during those first few months of dating, when you're walking on the clouds, and everything is perfect. I totally understand."

I don't deserve how good she is to me.

Her words also made Liddy's heart give a painful lurch.

Elle might understand what that was like, but Liddy didn't. Her relationships had always been disastrous. No one had ever made her feel that valued. That loved.

And Callum made it clear he's not interested in doing that either.

At moments like this, Liddy truly hated their ruse. She needed her sister. She wanted to be honest and talk to her about the feelings she'd developed—the unrequited feelings. But I can't and probably never will be able to.

This time, she couldn't stop the tears that slid onto her cheek. She turned away so Elle wouldn't see her crying and swiped the moisture away. Elle does not need my drama on top of everything.

Rebecca caught her eye, then leaned over toward Taryn, whispering something in her ear.

A moment later, Taryn stood and pushed her way between Elle and Liddy. "All right. My turn with the bride."

Rebecca pressed a tissue into Liddy's hand. "What's going on?" she mouthed.

If only she could be as honest about this with Rebecca as she'd been with Miranda. She needed a friend who was here, not back in London.

And even though Liddy had sworn Miranda to secrecy, the fact remained that she was uncomfortable with one of her friends knowing the truth but not the other.

Then again, she and Callum had discussed an exit strategy for when they got back from the beach. Maybe implying things were rocky wasn't the worst idea.

"I just...you know how Callum can be. Hot and cold." She twisted her lips. "And when it's cold, it's cold."

Rebecca grimaced. "I hoped that wouldn't be the case. How'd you two get together in the first place?"

Um. We really should have talked about this. "Late night at the office one time. One too many glasses of scotch."

"Oh my God, have you had sex in his office?" Rebecca hissed, her eyes sparkling. "I would be so afraid to do that with all those windows."

Liddy tried not to visualize it. Or think about how weak in the knees that makes me feel. "Loads."

"Raarr. I'm so proud." Rebecca wrinkled her nose, then became instantly more serious. "But really, Liddy. If he's not always making you completely happy, don't put up with it—even if he's our boss. He's handsome and probably has a lot of money by now, but you deserve to be completely, blissfully happy. And you know you can count on those of us who love you to have your back. Go and get what you want and deserve. Want some?" She held out a beer.

Liddy nodded, then sat back, her eyes darting toward Callum. She sipped the beer he'd handed back to Rebecca.

Rebecca's talking as though I'm the sort of girl who knows how to do that.

And maybe if Callum hadn't been so assertive himself, she would have tried. Because that kiss they'd shared had made it clear she wanted Callum, even if it was just raw sexual desire.

Then again, Callum hadn't eliminated that as a possibility.

He'd just said he didn't want a relationship.

She contemplated the thought for a minute, then sighed.

Yeah, no.

She wasn't about to get involved with Callum sexually. Especially not after what Miranda had told her. That would just be stupid and complicated. Not to mention the fact that she didn't think she was capable of emotionless sex.

But, then again, why shouldn't she just have fun? She couldn't complain about gatekeeping if she was the one doing it to herself, could she?

"Oh, by the way," Taryn said in a low voice, then dug into her bag she had belted around her waist. "The woman from the front desk asked me to give this to you." She handed Liddy an envelope.

Liddy frowned, then opened the envelope. A stack of neatly folded papers was inside. She tugged them out of the envelope, and when she opened them, a credit card tumbled onto her lap.

Callum's.

Then she checked the papers—and her heart froze.

Holy shit.

She hadn't even asked Callum how these alternate plans had been paid for. In her distress, she'd just asked for it to be done and sent him on the errand without giving two thoughts about the logistics.

He paid for it?

The total for all these people to do tours for the day was close to ten thousand US dollars.

She nearly fell back in her seat.

But . . . why would he pay for something like this?

Maybe that was why Quinn's parents had picked a butterfly excursion.

How was she ever going to afford this?

Refolding the papers, she stuffed them into the envelope, along with Callum's credit card. She didn't want to make a big deal of it now and have Elle and Quinn find out how much this was costing them.

Because she needed to pay Callum back. And soon.

I don't want to owe him anything else.