A hotel room would do nicely.
We grabbed lunch in Leland, and while we sat at the table, Oliver reserved a room at an inn not far from Sleeping Bear Dunes, where we’d once gone as kids together. Then he called his mother.
“Hey, Mom. Just wanted to let you know Chloe and I are going to be one more night.” He paused, holding the phone tighter to his ear. Then he glanced at me. “Yes. She’s right here.” Another pause. “Yes. I’ll tell her.”
Tell me what? I wondered. And why was he looking a little nervous?
“No! You can talk to her later.” His tone was vehement.
Talk to me? Why on earth would his mother want to talk to me right now?
Then he rolled his eyes. “Same here, Mom. I know. We’re looking forward to seeing you too. It’s only one extra night.”
I sipped my iced tea, laughing when he made a jabbering gesturing with his hand, as if his mother wouldn’t stop talking. My mom was the exact same way.
“Okay, Mom, gotta go. Chloe’s waiting for me, and you don’t want to miss the tournament. Yep, see you tomorrow. Bye.”
“Tournament?” I asked. “What kind of tournament?”
“Croquet. It’s very serious in my family.”
“Oh my God. That is so Pemberton.” I laughed and set my iced tea on the table. “I’m going to use the restroom real quick. Be right back.”
“Take your time.”
I grabbed my purse and headed into the women’s room, thankful for a real toilet and sink. After I washed my hands, I quickly dug in my purse for my pack of birth control pills. Given what had gone on last night and what would likely continue for the foreseeable future, I’d have to be vigilant about them. Oliver and I needed a chance to make it work for the right reasons, real reasons—by choice, not because we were out to win a bet or prove something or impress each other. And definitely not because of a missed pill. But as I swallowed one, I found myself wondering if there would ever come a time when I wouldn’t worry about it so much.
Before I went back to the table, I decided to call April real quick. She picked up right away.
“You’re alive,” she said by way of hello. “Are you in a trunk?”
I laughed. “No. I’m in a restaurant bathroom in Leland, but last night we were camping on South Manitou.”
She gasped. “Alone?”
“Alone in a tent.”
Silence. “Did you?”
“We did.” I cringed, feeling like I had to defend myself. “But it’s not what you think.”
“You said you weren’t going to let him charm you.”
“I know, I know.” I bit my lip. “But he seems different this time.”
“What about Chicago?”
“We talked about it. He apologized.”
“What was his excuse?”
“That he was young and immature. Not ready to face his feelings.”
April sighed. “He still could have called you.”
I stared at some graffiti on the wall. “You think I’m being stupid?”
“No, of course not. I just know you tend to rush into things. But I also know that you two have a lot of history.”
“We do. And there’s just something about him I can’t resist, even though I know I should. He … gets to me. I don’t know how to explain it.”
“It’s good chemistry. You don’t have to explain it. Just take it slow.”
“I will.” A woman and her little girl came into the bathroom. “Listen, I have to go. We’re spending the night around here tonight and then heading to Harbor Springs tomorrow to see his family.”
She laughed. “That’s not exactly taking it slow.”
I laughed too as I went out the door. “I know. But it feels good right now, and we’re so excited about the distillery plans. I have tons to tell you when I get back.”
“I can’t wait to hear them.” She hesitated. “I like Oliver, Chloe. I really do. And if he can help you see your distillery dream come true, I’ll like him even more.”
“I feel like there’s a but coming.”
“But as your big sister,” she went on, “I just want you to be cautious. You have a tendency to leap before you look.”
“I know.” I looked up and saw Oliver smile at me, and my stomach went weightless. “I’ll be careful.”
But as I dropped my phone back into my purse and made my way back to the table, I couldn’t help feeling like my grip on caution was getting weaker with every beat of my heart.
Was I crazy to think this time it was real?
16
Chloe
THEN
“Chloe?”
I was in line for the bar at a hospital charity gala when I heard my name. The deep voice had come from over my left shoulder, and I glanced behind me. “Oliver?”
He grinned. “I thought that was you.”
“From the back? How did you even recognize me?”
“The tattoo.”
“Oh. Duh.” I’d forgotten I was wearing a dress with a low back, and my hair was up too, making the line of script across my shoulder blades plainly visible.
“How are you?” He leaned in to kiss my cheek, and I let him. He looked good, of course, perfectly turned out in a charcoal suit and striped tie.
“Fine.”
He grinned. “I’m fine too.”
“I didn’t ask.”
He tipped up his drink. “You look great.”
“Thanks. So do you.” I glanced at his legs. “Decided to wear pants to this occasion, huh?”
He laughed. “Indeed I did.”
I looked straight ahead again, wishing my skin didn’t feel quite so warm. It was like he radiated some kind of thermal energy my body was conditioned to respond to. I’d been perfectly cool a moment ago.
“I take it you’re still angry about what happened at Hughie’s party,” he said.
I shrugged.
“Come on, there are bigger crimes in the world than giving someone an orgasm.”
“Shush!” I glanced around, making sure no one heard. “That wasn’t the reason I got mad, and you know it.”
“What was the reason again?”
We moved forward in line. “Your moral repugnance.”
“Oh, good. I thought it was something serious.”
I gave him a dirty look. “What are you doing here?”
“In Chicago or at this event?”
“Both.”
“I’m in town visiting a friend. His mom is on the board at the hospital. What about you?”
“I came with my roommate. She works for the hospital foundation. And my company does their PR.”
“Ah.” He swirled the honey-colored liquid in his glass. “I’ve reached out a few times over the last year or so. Sent you a few texts.”
“Oh really? I didn’t get them,” I said. “Maybe you have the wrong number.”
He smiled, because he knew I was lying.
A moment later, we reached the front of the line, and Oliver asked me what I’d like.
“Vodka and soda with a lime, please,” I said to the bartender. I’d be damned if I’d let him order for me.
The bartender nodded and looked at Oliver. “And for you?”