23. Brooke
Istake out the main lodge until I see Elise emerge from the spa.
“There you are!” I descend on her with a broad smile. “I hope you had a wonderful massage.”
“How did you know I’d be here?”
“Luck, I guess.”
That, and Miles flirting with the spa assistant so I could sneak a look at their appointment list for the day.
“I was hoping we’d get time to talk. I wanted to explain what happened last night at the ceremony.”
Her brows lift. “It was certainly… unexpected.”
“I know. But I needed to make sure that all our sisters were mentioned.”
“Why?” she asks.
“It matters. I believe that we should champion one another, help every sister become who she wants to be in the world. And part of that is not putting judgment on her.”
She turns over my words. “You display a lot of leadership qualities, and I know from building my business that it takes more than a yes-woman to get things done.”
Elise reaches into her bag for a cream cashmere sweater and tugs it over her head. “But you’re not the only strong candidate,” she says, straightening the sleeves.
“I’m sure. But I think I can do the best job. For instance.” I nod to the sweater she pulled on. “Is that from your new collection?”
“It is.”
“So, I love the inset sleeve.” I point to the seam, my finger brushing the wool. “The crew neck is classic, but the sleeve makes it more modern. It’s obviously grade-A cashmere from the softness, the knit, and the fact you pulled it out of your bag and it drapes that well.”
Her lips twitch at the corners. “Is that all?”
“No. A lot of people look at clothing and think it’s either utilitarian or frivolous, but a great outfit is an experience. It’s who you are mixed with how you want to show up. If you’re down, a cozy sweater can lift you higher. If you’re afraid, a bold jacket can lend you confidence. In other words… it’s one thing to wear clothes, and it’s another to know why you’re doing it.”
Elise reaches into her bag for sunglasses, her lips curving. “I’m in alumni chapter events for the rest of the afternoon but will make my decision soon. There’s a big launch of winter clothes happening shortly, and we need to coordinate with our influencers.”
My heart leaps.
I catch up with Miles around the corner of the building, still giddy with anticipation.
“How’d it go?” he asks.
“She’s going to have her office call me after the weekend.”
He drags me into his arms for a hug.
Nothing feels as good as his strong arms around me.
I did this. We did this. It wouldn’t have happened without him.
The weekend is almost over, but I don’t want it to be.
Here, he’s mine.
Even if it’s all a game.
A sister goes running by with pink flyers. Midnight hot tubs. Half a dozen are located around the resort.
“Huh. There’s one near us,” Miles observes.
“We should do it.”
He rubs a hand over his jaw, his expression impossible to read.
“Am I that difficult?” I murmur it as if the answer won’t hurt.
“No,” he says, drawing out the word. “When we’re together, it’s easy, Brooke. It’s so fucking easy with you.”
His eyes are a thousand feet deep. I could drown in them.
Suddenly, I want everything he’ll give me. Even if it’s selfish. Even if it’s temporary.
“What do you say? One more night of pretending?” My throat is dry.
Miles lowers his face, his nose bumping mine. “Like a victory lap.”
I nod. I’m desperate to arch toward him, my fingers digging into his arms.
The hot tub promoter runs past the doors of the spa. “Let’s go, everyone! One night of partying! We’re a long way from Denver!” she hollers.
She’s right, I decide as I look into Miles’s intent, handsome face.
We’re a long way from Denver.
* * *
“Look who it is!” Caroline calls as we approach the outdoor hot tub situated in a common area between a few of the cabins.
We’d gone back to our room to change, the tension lingering in the form of little jolts of pleasure when Miles held the door for me and I brushed past him, or when he caught a glimpse of me changing and his eyes met mine in the mirror.
Now, we find a half dozen people already in the hot tub—including Caroline and Kevin.
I watch as Miles takes off his sweatpants. He”s wearing navy shorts underneath. I keep my eyes on Miles as he leans on the edge of the tub. It barely comes up to his thigh. He’s the biggest person here by far, and his sheer physical presence makes the world feel smaller.
He reaches back and pulls off his hoodie, and my breath catches. I’ve seen him before, but here, in the low lights from the torches, he’s beautiful. Every person in that hot tub and I are invested in the way he strips down before stepping into the tub and sinking into a corner seat.
I take my time unfastening my robe and hanging it on a hook. The purple bikini shows off all my curves. From the way Miles is looking at me, I stand by my decision.
His eyes trace every inch of me with unrestrained hunger.
I start to swing a leg over the edge, and he reaches out a hand to steady me. I take it as the bubbling water slips up my calves and I drop in. The heat seeps into my body, wrapping around me like a blanket.
My bare thigh brushes Miles’s shorts, my arm bumping his chest.
”Where did you two escape to earlier?” Caroline asks, cutting into my haze.
”A hot air balloon,” I say as I settle into the seat next to Miles. His leg brushes mine, my shoulder leaning into his bicep. The little ripple of awareness takes this from comfy warmth to scorching heat.
Her eyes widen. “That wasn’t part of the itinerary.”
“Miles arranged it.”
His fingers find the back of my neck, rubbing the muscles. It’s affectionate and possessive, and I relax into him.
“I’ve never been up in one,” Caroline admits, cutting a look at Kevin next to her.
“You’d love it. Looking down on everything,” Miles says, deadpan.
I stifle a laugh.
“I saw you talking with Elise outside the spa this afternoon,” another sister says to me.
Caroline’s face contorts. “About what?”
I stick a toe up out of the water, inspecting my pedicure. “Fashion.”
The other girl giggles, and Caroline shoots her a look.
“Let’s play a little game. You all know it. Anything you’ve done before, you have to drink.”
“We’re too old for this,” one of the sisters complains, but Caroline lifts her glass to silence her.
“I’ll go first. I’ve never gotten drunk enough I woke up outside.”
Two sisters drink. Caroline sweeps the hot tub with her mischievous gaze.
“I’ve never slept with someone in this hot tub other than the person I came here with.”
Kevin laughs. “The questions are supposed to rotate,” he says, nudging Caroline with a shoulder.
She doesn’t seem to care. “You have to drink.” Her chin nods at me.
“I’m good.”
My hands grip the edge of the seat underwater.
Kevin slides toward me, a slow smile on his face. ”You should relax, Bee.”
Miles pulls me into his lap, his arm banding around my waist. “You worry about your girl, I’ll worry about mine.”
Mine.
He says it as if he means it.
Honestly.
Truly.
Caroline reaches for a glass of wine resting on the ledge behind the hot tub and takes a long sip.
“Who had the biggest crush on someone in this hot tub through college? Used to trail after him and watch his basketball games every chance she got?”
Miles looks at me, curious. “That true?”
Caroline’s got endless ways to try to cut me down to size. If one doesn’t work, she’ll try another.
“You had a crush on me back in college?” Miles murmurs against my neck.
Embarrassment rises up, adding to the heat from the water.
It’s stupid to feel that way years later, but some tiny part of me wonders if he’ll think I tricked him into this weekend. Like I’m playing out some college fantasy by having my older brother’s teammate on his knees for me.
“I don’t…” I lift a shoulder. “Maybe a little one.”
When he grabs me and turns me in his lap so I’m facing him, straddling him, there’s fire in his blue eyes. His slow grin is the most genuine thing I’ve seen all weekend.
“Lucky me.”
The words unknot something deep in my chest.
I don’t feel judged or insecure.
Here with him, I’m exactly how I’m supposed to be. Who I’m supposed to be.
His hands find my ass, tugging me closer so I’m pressed against his abs, the hardness rising up against me.
Yes.
He tugs on my bikini bottoms, pulling me closer to him. His hand roams up my thigh and I inhale sharply.
More.
I grind a little against him, my lips a breath from his.
His large hands are on my waist and making their way north.
Slowly. So fucking slowly. His half-lidded gaze is intent, barely containing a need that matches mine.
When his lips brush mine, they’re soft and coaxing, as if this hot tub has cast a spell on both of us.
His hands span my back, trapping my breasts against his hard chest. His cock rubs against my stomach through the thin fabric of his shorts, and he groans into my mouth.
My hand goes to his hair. I want him to touch me. To devour me.
To do whatever he fucking wants, because Miles’s way has turned out far more enjoyable than the path I’ve been chasing this entire time.
I trace the cords of his neck with a fingertip. We’re kissing as though we’re the only two people in the world.
As though there’s nothing else but us.
“Get a room,” Caroline spits.
I’m breathing hard when Miles pulls back. His eyes are on mine. He’s breathing just as hard.
“Caroline,” he drawls in a deceptively pleasant voice, but he’s looking at me when he says, “That’s the best idea you’ve had all weekend.”
He shifts his body, moving my hips away from him only long enough that he can stand.
Then he reaches for my hand and helps me out of the water, and I follow him without looking back.