she’s gorgeous...those can’t be her real eyelashes,” she said, leaning closer to inspect the picture of Kate’s former college friend, Trish. “Who is she?”
“Just one of the three single women attending the wedding that my sister would like to set me up with.” He clicked on the remaining two images. Three beautiful, successful, smart women. His sister had good taste—he’d give her that. But the other thing these women had in common was their desire to be Kate’s next wedding-planning client, and marriage was not in his future. He’d made that choice the moment he’d joined the police force. He’d seen what his chosen career could do to families...far too many times. He refused to put a wife and kids through the torment and possible danger. Relationships were not something he could do—he’d tried once and failed. He was done with anything more than casual sex. Unfortunately, his hopelessly romantic sister refused to believe that.
“I still like the first one best,” Hayley said. “What’s with the numbers on the bottom of the photos?”
“It’s Kate’s crazy rating scale.” He had to hand it to his sister, she was thorough.
Hayley laughed. “It’s actually a good idea. How do I help you with all of this?”
He tucked the phone away. “You need a fake fiancé. I need a date for the wedding so my sister doesn’t pimp me out all week to her lonely friends...especially now that you’ve terrified me with the knowledge that they’re ticking biological time bombs.” Not to mention, a part of him didn’t want to show up alone when the one woman he’d truly cared for would be there with his youngest brother—her new husband—sporting a five-month baby bump. He decided to keep the last part to himself. He still hadn’t quite worked through his feelings on that one. He’d only found out two months ago when Adam had been in town and they’d had dinner together. He’d dropped the bomb somewhere between the third and fourth tequila shot that he’d eloped with Chase’s ex-girlfriend and they were expecting a baby. “So, what do you think?”
“I don’t know...it seems kind of crazy,” she said, but he could see the wheels turning in her mind. “What night is the wedding?” she asked finally.
“Friday. Ceremony starts at sunset—around six thirty.”
She reached for her carry-on and pulled it free. Then unzipping it, she retrieved her daytimer. “Friday... Friday...” she muttered, flipping the pages that were full of different-colored highlighted sections and sticky notes and business cards, making the thing burst at the seams.
Organized, insanely busy woman.
Someone who just might be as busy and career-driven as he was and who wouldn’t demand all his time and attention... He shook the thought away. A date for the wedding was all he needed. And if they got tangled up in his sheets at some point during the week, he’d consider it a win.
“We have dinner and a guest speaker that night to wrap up the retreat but as long as I’m there for the opening speech at six and then back later... It could work.” She tucked the book into the seat pocket and bit her lip as she turned to stare at him. “You’d really do this for me?”
“We’d be helping each other.” Chase and his brother hadn’t spoken since Adam had delivered the news and he had no idea how hard it was going to be seeing his brother and ex-girlfriend together. Kendall had been the only woman he’d even considered trying to have a future with. Having a date would help him save face, and this setup was perfect.
No complications of a real relationship.
“During the day I’ll be in conference meetings, so your time would be your own... It would just be the evenings.”
“Where are you staying?” he asked, praying it wasn’t the same resort where the wedding was being held.
“The Westin Resort and Spa.”
“Down the beach from the Sheraton. Perfect.” He’d been to Maui with his family over a dozen times, so he knew the place well. Their hotels were in short walking distance, but far enough that their events wouldn’t collide.
She didn’t look convinced. She was silent for a long moment before finally shaking her head. “I’m sorry—I can’t. I mean, I’d love to. It would make my life so much easier.” She paused. “No, I can’t,” she said more firmly this time. “But thank you, Chase.”
He sighed. “Okay... Well, if you change your mind.” He held back—barely—before suggesting an alternate arrangement for that week.
“I won’t.”
Damn it. She probably wouldn’t. But for a second, this trip hadn’t seemed quite so bad.
* * *
CHASE SCANNED THE terminal at the Maui airport for the shuttle bus to take him to the car rentals. He insisted on driving whenever he was on vacation, liking the freedom to venture farther from the resort. And this trip he might need a car to escape the wedding party.
The open-air terminal looked exactly the same as it had when he’d visited years before. The fresh ocean breeze filled him with nostalgia. Those family vacations were some of his best memories. Days on the beach playing volleyball and learning to scuba dive, the incredible sunsets over the water and the hours spent checking out girls at the pool. Being with his parents—that had been the best part of all.
“Excuse me, I think you left this in the back of the seat in front of you,” a young woman said, coming up behind him just as the white budget car rental shuttle pulled up to the curb outside the airport.
Hayley’s daytimer.
“Oh... Actually, it’s not mine, but I can get it to the owner,” he said, taking it with a smile. “Thank you.” He adjusted his garment bag over his arm before rushing off to catch the shuttle.
He scanned the area one last time for any sight of her but didn’t see her. After deboarding the plane, she’d said a quick goodbye and rushed off before he’d had an opportunity to ask if she’d like a ride to her hotel instead of taking the shuttle that would stop at eight different resorts along the way. The truth was he had been disappointed to end their time together. For a woman he barely knew, he kind of liked her. She was funny, smart and sexy—an irresistible combination...and she’d had enough integrity to refuse his crazy scheme.
Nope. He wouldn’t miss another opportunity to see her. Boarding the shuttle, he took a seat up front, securing his duffel bag at his feet. The warm island breeze coming through the open windows rustled the multicolored sticky notes extending past the pages of the daytimer. He stared at it. This is private property—do not open it. Though, she had left it on the plane... She was lucky that he knew where she was staying so he could return it. One peek wouldn’t hurt, he decided, opening the book to that day’s date. Flight to Maui was written on the top of the page and highlighted in green. Wailele Polynesian Luau was listed toward the bottom and highlighted in pink. The rest of the page was blank. No harm done. Not much here he didn’t already know. He closed the book.
How busy was her week? Maybe he could show up somewhere some evening and buy her a drink? No, that was stupid. If she had wanted to see him again on this trip she wouldn’t have taken off the moment she was free from the confines of the plane. Besides, what good would come of a drink with a beautiful woman like Hayley?
His knees bounced and he looked everywhere but the source of temptation on his lap. He wouldn’t
