Chapter 12
Charlotte
I’m still a little shaken from the horse incident.
No matter how hard I try to brush it off, my mind keeps circling back to the moment Asher grabbed the reins and saved me.
He was so calm, so steady—like he knew exactly what to do.
And now I can’t stop thinking about how strong he felt when he caught me, how safe I felt in his arms.
Which is ridiculous. This is all pretend, right?
“Earth to Charlotte,” Melanie says, waving a hand in front of my face. “Are you even listening to me?”
I blink, realizing I’ve completely zoned out as we browse through a boutique on the resort’s main street. It’s a charming little place, all soft lighting and racks of designer clothes. Melanie is already carrying three dresses, none of which she needs. Typical.
“Sorry,” I say, pulling a silk blouse off a hanger and pretending to examine it. “What were you saying?”
“I was saying,” she says, her voice dropping conspiratorially, “you’ve been awfully quiet since the horseback ride. Still thinking about your knight in shining armor?”
I roll my eyes, but my cheeks warm at the memory. “No. I’m just... tired.”
“Uh-huh,” Melanie says, clearly unconvinced. She holds up a slinky red dress and grins. “You should get this. Asher would lose his mind.”
“Melanie,” I hiss, glancing around to make sure no one overhears. “Keep your voice down.”
She laughs, but thankfully, she hangs the dress back. “Fine, I’ll behave. For now.”
We move to another section of the store, and I decide to change the subject. “Hey, Mel, can I ask you something?”
“Of course,” she says, sifting through a rack of scarves. “What’s up?”
“What do you know about Wade?”
She pauses, her hand hovering over a pale blue scarf, and gives me a curious look. “Why do you ask?”
“I just... I don’t trust him,” I admit, lowering my voice. “He’s been hanging around a lot, and he’s made some threats. I want to know what I’m dealing with.”
Melanie sighs, dropping the scarf and leaning closer. “I’ve heard some things,” she says, her voice barely above a whisper. “Nothing concrete, but the gossip circles are saying Wade’s involved with some bad people.”
“What kind of bad people?” I ask, my stomach tightening.
“Shady business deals, connections to people who don’t exactly play by the rules,” she says. “Apparently, he’s been getting desperate lately. His family’s company isn’t as stable as it looks, and he’s been making risky moves to keep it afloat.”
The weight of her words settles heavily on my chest. If Wade is involved with dangerous people, that makes him even more of a threat—not just to my family, but to Asher and me.
“Why didn’t you tell me this sooner?” I ask.
“I didn’t think it mattered,” she says with a shrug. “But now, seeing how he’s acting around you? I think you need to be careful.”
I nod, the knot in my stomach tightening further. “Thanks, Mel. I’ll keep that in mind.”
“Good,” she says, her tone lightening. “Now, let’s talk about something more fun. Like this.” She pulls a lacy black teddy off a rack and holds it up with a mischievous grin. “You have to get this.”
I gape at her. “What? No. Absolutely not.”
“Oh, come on,” she says, waggling the hanger at me. “It’s perfect. Subtle, sexy, and just enough to make Asher forget how to breathe.”
“Melanie,” I groan, snatching the hanger from her hands. “You’re ridiculous.”
“And you’re boring,” she counters, crossing her arms. “Look, if you’re going to be engaged to a guy like Asher, you might as well have some fun with it. Who knows? Maybe he’ll surprise you.”
I glance at the lingerie, my cheeks burning, but a small part of me wonders what Asher would think if he saw me in something like this. Would he keep that cool, collected demeanor? Or would he lose his composure, just for a moment?
“Fine,” I say, my voice barely above a whisper. “But if you say one word about this to anyone—”
“Relax,” Melanie says, grinning triumphantly. “Your secret’s safe with me.”
As we head to the checkout, I try to push aside the swirling thoughts in my head. Between Wade’s threats, Melanie’s revelations, and the lingering heat from Asher’s touch, my emotions are all over the place.
One thing’s for sure, I think I may be falling for my bodyguard.
Melanie and I are almost back to the resort when I spot them—Nancy Sinclair and my mother, standing near the front entrance. They’re deep in conversation, their heads tilted together like they’re plotting something. My stomach does a little flip. This can’t be good.
“Uh-oh,” Melanie says under her breath. “Incoming.”
Nancy looks up first, her hawk-like gaze zeroing in on us. Her expression brightens, but there’s something calculating behind her smile. My mother follows her gaze and offers me a small wave, though there’s a tension in her shoulders that I don’t miss.
“Charlotte!” Nancy calls out, striding toward us in her designer heels. “Just the person I wanted to see.”
I force a smile, clutching my shopping bags a little tighter. “Nancy. What a surprise.”
“I was just telling your mother how excited we all are about your engagement,” she says, her tone dripping with sweetness that doesn’t quite reach her eyes. “And how curious I am to know all the details.”
Melanie gives me a pointed look but wisely stays quiet. My mother steps forward, her smile practiced and polished. “Nancy, I’m sure Charlotte and Asher would love to share their story—another time. Right now, the girls have just returned from shopping, and I’m sure they’re—”
“Oh, nonsense,” Nancy interrupts, waving a hand dismissively. “It’ll only take a moment. I’m simply dying to know more about Asher. How did you two meet again?”
I glance at my mother, who gives me the faintest nod, a silent reminder to stay calm.
“At a charity event,” I say smoothly, falling back on the story we’ve crafted.
“A few months back. Like I told you before.” Is she waiting for me to slip up?
I mean, I’ve told this story so much that I’m starting to believe it really happened.
I kind of wish it was real.
Nancy’s smile widens, but there’s a glint in her eye that sets me on edge. “How romantic. And when exactly did the sparks fly?”
“Right away,” I reply, keeping my tone light. “We stepped outside for some air and just... clicked.”
She hums thoughtfully, her gaze never leaving mine. “And how long have you been engaged?”
“Three months,” I say, sticking to the timeline we agreed on.
“Three months,” she repeats, her tone a touch too curious. “And you’ve kept it such a secret. Why is that?”
I open my mouth to respond, but my mother steps in, her voice smooth as silk. “Nancy, you know how Charlotte is. Always wanting to keep things private. Besides, with all the chaos of planning a wedding, it’s no wonder she’s been a little preoccupied.”
Nancy nods slowly, her expression unreadable. “Of course. Privacy is so important these days.”
My mother flashes me a quick look, one that says stay quiet and let me handle this. “Speaking of weddings,” Nancy continues, her smile returning, “have you thought any more about my suggestion? It would be so lovely to have the ceremony this weekend while everyone’s here.”
I can feel my stomach drop. I glance at my mother, who’s already shaking her head politely. “Nancy, as much as we appreciate the idea, Charlotte and Asher have their own plans. Isn’t that right, darling?”
“Yes,” I say quickly, forcing a smile. “We’re taking our time. We want everything to be perfect.”
“Hmm,” Nancy says, her eyes narrowing slightly. “Well, don’t wait too long, dear. You wouldn’t want people to start speculating.”
There’s an edge to her words, a subtle warning that sends a chill down my spine. I glance at Melanie, who’s watching the exchange like it’s a tennis match, her lips pressed into a thin line.
“Well, this has been lovely,” my mother says, looping her arm through mine and steering me toward the entrance. “But the girls really must be getting inside. They’ve had such a busy morning. And with the horse incident this morning, I’m sure Char is exhausted.”
“Of course,” Nancy says, her smile never faltering. “I’m glad you’re okay, dear. We’ll talk more later.”
I nod, my heart racing as my mother practically drags me through the doors. Once we’re out of earshot, she turns to me, her expression serious.
“Be careful,” she says quietly. “Nancy is... persistent. If she senses something’s off, she’ll pounce.”
“I know,” I say, my voice shaking slightly. “Thank you for stepping in.”
She squeezes my arm, her gaze softening. “Just keep your story straight, and don’t let her rattle you.”
I nod, but the unease lingers. Nancy’s questions weren’t just idle curiosity. She’s fishing for something, and I have a sinking feeling that she won’t stop until she gets it.
As we head back to the suite, Melanie finally speaks up. “Well, that was... intense.”
“You’re telling me,” I mutter, dropping my bags on the bed.
Melanie flops onto the armchair, crossing her legs. “So, what’s her deal? She seemed... off.”
“She’s always like that,” I say, but even as the words leave my mouth, I know it’s not entirely true. Nancy isn’t just nosy—she’s suspicious. And I need to figure out why before this whole charade comes crashing down.