Chapter 49

Evie

The room at the Grand Colorado has lush carpeting and lots of wood. A completely different aesthetic than the hotel in Salt Lake City. We set our bags down beside the singular bed. Another bed.

My thoughts revert back to last night. The feel of Adam beside me, his breath on my neck. His lips devouring mine. The attraction between us is nothing less than a force of nature. I shake my head clear of the memory and stare out the window at the panoramic view of the mountains.

"Look at me, please," Adam says.

I haven't made eye contact with him since the last pit stop, three hundred miles ago. I hesitate, then try for light chat. "Steph seems fun."

"Please?"

I turn and see the look of concern and something else in his eyes. Something unidentifiable.

"What is going on in that beautiful head of yours?"

I swallow hard. Last night's bizarre situation doesn't seem to bother Adam at all. "There's something I need to tell you."

He tilts his head and smiles. "Funny, same here."

I study him. Something is different in Adam's demeanor. He's calmer, lighter. He looks happy.

And hot as all hell. His hair has fallen just short of his eyes. His jaw is covered in a sexy five o'clock shadow. Despite myself, I can't help but smile back.

A knock on the door is followed by a cheerful shout. "Hurry up in there!"

Adam grins, rushes to the door and flings it open. "Hey, Dad!"

A man, dressed in a sharp pin-striped suit and open collar, stands in the doorway. His once-black sideburns are now tinged with silver. He reminds me of a later-in-life Cary Grant. Other than the choice of attire, he's Adam thirty years down the line. He brings his son in for a bear hug. "How have you been?"

"Good, good," Adam says, contentment painting his face.

Adam's father turns to me. "Who is this lovely creature?"

Adam puts his arm around his father's shoulders. "Ronna, this is my father, Ari. Dad, this is Ronna, the woman I love."

I freeze. The words sound so genuine. Not the woman I'm going to marry but the woman I love.

Ari takes my hand and in a classic Cary Grant fashion, kisses it. It's old-world elegant.

"Welcome to the family, Ronna. I'm so happy to finally meet you. And if I may, I apologize both for my wife's unannounced visit to Yosemite, as well as for what is likely to come from the Demetrius women this weekend." To his credit, he says this with a healthy dose of regret. "I learned a long time ago that when my girls get their minds set on something, my voice of reason is like spitting in the wind."

I laugh. "That's all right. I'm sure all will go smoothly. Steph and Anna seem on top of all the details."

"No question about that! Okay, you two. See you downstairs."

When Ari leaves, I ask Adam, "What was it you wanted to tell me?" It beats telling him I'm heading back to New York the moment this weekend is over.

Adam purses his lips. "It can wait. Steph will kill me with her bare lizard hands if we aren't down there before the foie gras is served." He points to the large wooden armoire. "You might want to have a look."

I open the cabinet. "Oh my god!"

Inside is what amounts to a couture wardrobe. "How?—"

"Let's just say Steph is detail-oriented. After meeting you, Mom estimated your size and Steph had these clothes delivered."

"I didn't realize she could afford Dolce and Gabbana . . . and Tom Ford." Every single item is just my style. There is even a pair of diamond earrings that look suspiciously real.

"She can't. I can."

I try to hide my surprise. "You paid for all this?"

He nods. "By the look on your face, I did good."

"You did," I say, impressed. There's more to his relationship with Stephanie than meets the eye. More than sibling rivalry.

I eye the armoire's contents, feeling a growing sense of worry about the price tag. "I'll pay you back."

"No need. Think of it as work expenses."

More like Christmas morning. These clothes are perfection.

I smile, holding back my excitement. If Adam wasn't standing right there, I'd be literally jumping for joy. "I'll go get dressed. I can be ready in twenty."

"Perfect. If you let me have the shower first, I'll meet you downstairs."

I watch Adam head to the bathroom then caress one of the stunning dresses, my fingers rejoicing at the silky satin fabric.

Maybe I need to rethink things once more.