Chapter 37

Evie

Istifle a yawn as I step into the kitchen, actually looking forward to more time with Anna. The woman is a hoot. After my call with Daniel I fell asleep, waking up rejuvenated. I'm in a great mood, like I slept off all my earlier stress. Nothing like a power nap. And gainful employment.

My hair is pulled up into a high ponytail, and my face is refreshingly makeup-free. I'm close to singing A Natural Woman. If only Aretha was here, we could pull off a duet.

Anna sits at the breakfast table, sipping a concoction of what appears to be ibuprofen and tomato juice—a fabled hangover cure. I hope it works; she looks like any sound, even a whisper, might cause her pain.

Adam stands at the kitchen counter, waiting for the bread to pop out of the toaster. He looks absolutely scrumptious.

Seeing me enter, he seems relieved. "Ronna!" he chirps, though his demeanor betrays more weariness than cheerfulness.

I can feel Anna's eyes on us as Adam walks over and lightly kisses me on the lips. My heart does a somersault. Appearances certainly do rock.

Adam smells of argan oil, a scent I recognize from the resort I abandoned. It reminds me of how my birthday trip with Caroline has gone completely off the rails.

I wonder what the ladies in our Fab Fifty Club would think if they could see me now.

"Anna, how are you feeling?"

"Like I was hit by a steamroller," she groans. Then, she adds, "For the record, your future mother-in-law is not an alcoholic. It's just been a very intense few months." She looks at Adam. "You know Steph."

"Yep. She's like a whirling dervish. You better get out of her way when she's wound up. And?—"

In unison, mother and son said, "She's always wound up."

Adam adds, "You have to hand it to Brad, taking all that on."

It's amusing seeing how mother and son describe his sister.

"She can"t be that bad," I say.

Anna says, "Stephanie is not bad. Just intense. Very intense."

Adam explains further. "Good thing Brad is such a chilled out guy. She really lucked out."

For a fleeting moment, I'm not sure I want to meet this larger-than-life bride or run the other way, back to New York as fast as the airlines can take me.

Adam seems to realize how he and Anna are portraying things because his tone softens. "Steph will be thrilled to meet you. It"s going to be the wedding of the year."

I meet his gaze. Sharing a secret with this man feels intimate and exciting. "I"m still going . . . honey. Don"t worry."

Adam brightens and I can't tell if it's in response to my confirmation or the term of endearment. Either way, I'm stoked to have the power to make him smile. He's relying on me, his partner in crime.

After a snack of bread and jam, Anna stands, looking better by the minute. "Okay, time to hit the road."

"You're leaving already?" I ask.

"Aww, sounds like you'll miss me. How sweet. Yes, I need to get back to Colorado to help with last minute things. "You," she points at me, "were one of those last minute things on my very lengthy list. I was directed to set my own eyes on you. Now I can cross that one off."

Adam says, "I sent you the kissing photo you asked for. Why wasn't that enough?"

"It was for me," Anna says, offering an apologetic look. "Steph, however, was of the ridiculous belief that you paid a stranger to be in the photo with you."

I see Adam fighting to keep his face in check. He's going for offended and I admit he's doing a fine job.

But sheesh. Steph sounds like a drill sergeant.

Adam steps away, returning with his mother"s purse. "Okay, Mom," he says, kissing her on the cheek. "Thanks for the surprise drop-in. I guess we'll see you in a couple of days."

Anna winks at me. "Subtle, isn't he?"

I hug Anna who seems touched by the gesture. She's an unusual woman, to say the least. If she's the family matriarch, the rest of the crew will be an interesting bunch.

Adam closes the door behind his mother, turning to me. "We should leave soon as well."

Surprised, I ask, "Why?"

I won't admit it, but I'm excited for another day with him in this magnificent and secluded setting, alone.

I remind my slow-to-wake brain that he"s no more than a friend.

At best, an acquaintance.

No, he is a friend.

Not my fiancé.

I blink away the thoughts. If I"m not vigilant, our carefully-crafted pretense will start feeling all too real.

Or maybe that ship has already left the dock.

I ask, "Does Steph need your help as well?"

Adam shakes his head. "No. And anyway, I wouldn't risk my life showing up early and stepping into the line of fire. But we should leave fairly soon because we're driving."

"We are?"

If my geography is correct, we would need to drive clear across Nevada, Utah, and half of Colorado, all huge states. "Isn't Breckenridge really far from here? Wouldn't flying make more sense?"

Adam breaks eye contact. "I prefer driving. It'll be fun."

"How long are we talking?"

"It should take about seventeen hours if we don't stop."

"Seventeen hours?"

"Driving saves on emissions."

I hadn't picked up on Adam"s conservation vibes but Californians lead the way with that. "I don't see how we can drive that far and not stop."

Or be in the same car for so long together. Platonically.

"You're right. We"ll find a place to stay overnight and break up the drive over two days. We should arrive with hours to spare before the rehearsal dinner. No problem."

Adam turns away and walks into the living room.

I follow. "I'm not sure about?—"

"I can't fly."

"Sorry?"

Adam plops down on the sofa. The blissful one I've fallen asleep on twice. "I hate airplanes. Have for as long as I can recall."

"Oh, I see." I mutter, feeling like an idiot. He tried to keep his phobia to himself. Why did I have to push so hard?

I sit beside him. Close enough to touch. An awkward silence ensues. Adam chews on his bottom lip. I recognize it as his nervous tell. He runs a hand through his thick mane, the cowlick falling into his eyes. I want desperately to fix it.

Adam sighs. "When I was fifteen, my best friend's parents were flying to New York when the pilot made an emergency landing. Miraculously, everyone survived but Kevin's mother was left with a distinct limp.

Needless to say, he passed his fear along to me."

"You never fly?"

"There are times I have no choice. Business that can't be done virtually, where driving is not an option or when a deal is time-sensitive. Then, I take a sleeping pill. Knocks me out until we land."

I suspect that stating stats of how more accidents happen on the roads than in the skies is one he's heard countless times before. "Okay, we'll drive."

His shoulders loosen. "Thanks, Evie."

"I suppose I should go pack."

"Not yet."

He has a look in his eye, one I'm beginning to understand. Playful mischief.

"What exactly do you have in mind?" I ask, the butterflies in my stomach taking flight.

Adam stands, offering me a hand. "I want a rematch."

I grin, letting him help me up. "A game of pool?"

"What do you say?"

I'm already heading for the door. Over my shoulder, I call out, "I say, hold on to your wallet, Mr. Demetrius. You're about to get fleeced."