Total pages in book: 97
Estimated words: 94072 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 470(@200wpm)___ 376(@250wpm)___ 314(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 94072 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 470(@200wpm)___ 376(@250wpm)___ 314(@300wpm)
Bryan shoots me a nervous look. Oh, I know what this is about. He wants to consult with Alex, Oscar, and Kellan about how to pop the question. It’s beyond sweet, so I gently squeeze my brother’s wrist.
“You guys should go,” I say. “Oscar’s dying to sample whatever cherry-cask single malt they’ve got stashed in there.”
Oscar’s brows shoot up. “You remembered.”
“I remember everything,” I shoot back with a wink.
Bryan laughs. “Are you sure, Kay? It can wait until later…”
“No, it cannot. Go. I’ll keep your girlfriend company.”
“We’re only going to gossip about you, anyway,” Callie adds.
The men trade glances, nod in unison, and follow the waiter from the sprawling dining room into the adjacent lounge. I can see the soft amber lights and black silk wallpaper from here. I imagine leather sofas and a whisper of cigar smoke completing the gentleman-club vibe.
Still, I prefer the restaurant, with its soaring windows framing the snowy mountainside and a high ceiling dripping with crystal snowflakes that scatter light into thousands of prisms overhead.
“God, she’s taking forever,” Callie grumbles, checking her phone.
“Who’s taking forever?” I ask.
She gives me a worried look. “Can I tell you a secret, Kay?”
“Of course—we’re practically family,” I say. “And in my family the skeletons stay in the closet.”
Callie laughs, but she doesn’t seem that amused. I’ll chalk it up to stress. It was a good joke. “So, here’s the thing,” she says. “I know why we’re here.”
“Oh?”
She winks. “Talk about keeping secrets. Bryan plans to propose.”
“Oh.” My voice comes out thin—no wonder. I didn’t expect that. “Okay, what gave you that idea?”
She sighs. “I saw the ring—before he even mentioned the trip. He’s not as good at keeping secrets as you, Kay, I’ll tell you that much.”
I laugh softly, unsure whether I should take it as a compliment, especially given the events of the day. Leaning forward, I give Callie a wondering look. “What’s the answer, then? What will you tell him?”
“Yes. A thousand times yes,” she says. “But… Knowing that this trip was going to be so special from the get-go, and seeing as he booked flights and accommodation for you and the Anderson brothers, too… and given some old history I don’t think you’re familiar with, I, um… I went ahead and booked my sister on a flight to be with us. Her own room, too.”
“Oh! I didn’t know you had a sister.”
She nods slowly. “We’ve had a complicated relationship over the years. Bryan doesn’t really like her, to be honest. But I want Mel to be here. She’s the only family I’ve got left…”
Honestly, Bryan doesn’t like surprises—not the kind that breed awkwardness, anyway. He’s also not one to hold grudges; he’s a golden-retriever soul through and through. What fascinates—and worries—me is that he never mentioned Callie’s sister.
Sure, I’ve been away for years, but still—how did that tidbit escape me?
“Okay, I see,” I say to Callie. “How exactly were you planning on springing this on my brother?”
“Melanie is supposed to get checked into the resort tonight,” she replies. “Tomorrow, at breakfast, I was going to tell him that she’s already here. I don’t know how to tell him without giving away the fact that I know about the incoming proposal. He’s worked so hard to make it perfect…”
I can’t help but chuckle dryly. “Just blame your sister. It’s what I would do if I were in your place.” I pause and adopt a nasal, feline tone for dramatic effect. “Oh, honey, all I did was tell Melanie that we were vacationing here in this wonderful place. I had no idea she’d want to pop in to enjoy it herself. But since she’s here… why not?”
“That’s not the worst impression of Callie I’ve heard,” a woman’s voice brings our conversation to a sudden halt.
Callie’s humor turns to surprise as she looks up, eyes sparkling with recognition.
I follow her gaze to see a beautiful, slim-figured woman approach our table. A black satin dress cinches her waist, and six-inch stilettos—undoubtedly painful—lift her already perky backside. If I passed her on the street, I’d never peg her as Callie’s sister; they look carved from different worlds.
“Mel!” Callie jumps up. “I thought you weren’t landing in Stockholm until after ten p.m.”
“I got the flight details wrong,” Mel replies. Her eyes sweep across the table, taking in the white cotton tablecloth and the fine china plates. Finally, her eyes settle on me and she smiles in a way that’s not entirely friendly. “I hope my showing up now isn’t a problem.”
“Makayla, this is Melanie, my sister,” Callie introduces us. “Mel, this is Makayla, Bryan’s sister.”
“So nice to meet you,” I say, standing up.
She shakes my hand—her grip tighter than I’d like. Melanie then gives her sister a long look. “You’re sweating bullets, sis. What’s wrong?”
I chuckle. “Callie barely looped me in. She hasn’t told Bryan about you joining the party.”