Kisses In The Sand: Blame It On The Kiss Part 6

"Sure thing," Bryce said, the words ringing hollow. His world had never felt smaller and he didn't feel sure about anything.

Chapter Four.

"You guys are spoiling me," Sophie said, a glow on her face. She sat on the edge of the guest bedroom bed hugging the short, cozy pink sweater robe to her body. "Thank you."

"Every bride needs an official getting ready robe," Julia said.

"Especially because from the moment you wake up tomorrow you're going to be photographed," Sophie's cousin and maid of honor, Emma said. "The moms are planning to capture everything."

Sophie scrunched up her nose. "I'm happy my mom and Zane's mom like each other so much, but they're like a tag team from My Fair Wedding.

Honor bounced onto the bed next to Sophie. "That's better than a tag team from Bridezillas."

"True. I can't believe I'm getting married in twenty-four hours." Sophie glanced over at the wedding dress hanging on the back of the guest bath door. Honor kept looking at the simple, but elegant gown with beading on the bodice, too.

"Believe it, Fifi." Emma gave Sophie a quick hug. "And you're going to be the prettiest bride ever, ever, ever. Now finish up in here while Julia and I go pick up dinner."

"Take one of the guys with you," Sophie said. She and Zane had planned a casual dinner for the wedding party and a couple of Zane's friends from out of town.

"Stop worrying. We've got it," Emma said as she and Julia left the room, closing the door behind them.

Honor stood. "Okay, let's finish packing your suitcase and then we'll make sure you've got everything ready for the big day."

Sophie laid the robe to the side and got up. Her arms wrapped tightly around Honor. "Thank you so much."

"You don't need to thank me, Soph." Honor squeezed her friend back. "I'm happy and honored to be a part of this."

"I do need to thank you." Sophie pulled back. "If it wasn't for you I wouldn't be here right now."

"What are you talking about?"

"Zane wouldn't have noticed me if it wasn't for your help and encouragement. From the minute you met me, you took me under your wing, and I'll never forget how kind you were. You're the first true friend I've ever had and I love you."

"I love you, too." Honor embraced her again. "And Zane so would have noticed you. He's a smart guy."

"Thank you for saying that." Sophie smiled and moved to the dresser to pull a small wrapped box out of the top drawer. "This is for you. Just a little something extra to tell you how special you are to me."

"Soph. You didn't need to do that."

"I know. Open it."

Honor tore into the token of friendship that meant more to her than she could say. When she saw what lay inside the box, emotion clogged the back of her throat. A silver bracelet with an infinity charm. She and Payton had worn similar bracelets as a symbol of their forever friendship. Honor had tucked both away when Pay died.

Staring at the piece of jewelry now, she blinked several times. She'd lost Payton and been given Sophie a few months later. No one could ever replace Pay, but maybe the universe was looking out for her.

"I love it. Thank you." She took the bracelet out of the box and put it on.

"You're welcome." Sophie beamed and twirled to her suitcase. "Now let's finish this up so I can mark it off Emma's checklist. She'll have my b.u.t.t if we're not done before she gets back."

"She does like cracking the whip," Honor said. "But that's because she wants everything to be perfect for you."

"I know. But all I need is Zane."

Honor sighed. Everyone could feel the love Sophie and Zane had for each other. "Then let's speed this up so we can have a celebratory drink."

Sophie raised her eyebrows.

"I promise it will go down so smooth, you'll want a second one." Honor had been there for Sophie's first alcoholic drink and well, spewing had been involved.

"You still might want to keep your distance," Sophie joked.

It only took a few minutes to finish Sophie's packing and line up all her wedding day accessories. They went downstairs and found Zane's friend Aiden in the kitchen.

"Hi Aiden. Where is everyone?" Sophie asked.

"On the beach. They'll be back in a few." He moved his attention to Honor, his gaze keeping for longer than casual interest. The other night he'd tucked toilet paper where it didn't need to be tucked, too.

"That means you two get the first shots." Honor grabbed the stuff she'd brought earlier to make drinks for everyone.

Aiden moved to her side, his arm deliberately brushing hers. "Need some help?"

"How are you with a knife?"

He grinned. "I'm good with everything." She just bet he was.

"Cut these lemons for me?" She put the produce bag in front of him. While he got busy cutting, she combined vodka and hazelnut liqueur and shook up the first batch of chocolate cake shots. She poured sugar into a bowl to dip the lemons in.

The three of them chatted and joked until Honor had three shot gla.s.ses lined up in a row. "Okay, so you drink this, then follow it up by sucking on the sugared lemon, and it tastes exactly like chocolate cake."

"Seriously?" Sophie said.

"Yes. You ready?" Honor picked up her shot. "On three." Sophie and Aiden lifted their cups in one hand and a slice of lemon in the other. "One, two, three."

"Holy heavens! Chocolate cake is in my mouth," Sophie trumpeted when finished.

"What's in your mouth?" Zane said, his voice echoing off the walls. He, Bryce, Danny, Mark, and two other surf friends of Zane's entered the kitchen.

Bryce locked eyes with hers.

Sophie spun around and wrapped her arms around Zane's neck. "Taste." And he did, with a kiss that lasted until Danny cleared his throat. At least she thought it was Danny since Bryce had her caught with his dangerous, dark eyes.

Aiden angled his head down so his mouth almost grazed her ear. "I'm all for taste tests in case you were wondering."

Honor blinked free of Bryce and turned to look at Aiden. "I wasn't, but I might be now," she whispered. Aiden had one night stand written all over him.

"We need another round," Sophie declared, spurring Honor back into action.

Grateful for the task, she kept her focus on drink making, all too aware that not only were Aiden's eyes on her, but Bryce's, too.

"Antiques, special events, bartender, you're a woman of many talents," Bryce said a few minutes later, his voice slipping over her warmer than the shot that had slid down her throat.

"I owe this one to my friend Cambria. She works as a bartender for a party planning company and taught me how to make it. Did you like it?"

"I did." He stood near enough that his minty, spicy, pure male scent surrounded her.

"Want another?"

"I'm good. Listen, about last night-"

"Don't worry about it," she rushed out under her breath. She didn't want to talk about Payton's list in a kitchen full of people. It infuriated her that he'd seen it. But really, it was her own stupid fault for keeping the list in the book. She'd worried she'd lose it otherwise, just like she lost every other note or reminder. Of course she had the list memorized, but having that piece of paper was like having a piece of her best friend and she'd wanted to keep it. Maybe Bryce didn't deserve her anger, but she suffered it all the same.

"Okay, how many shots do I need to catch up?" Emma said at the top of her voice. She and Julia strode into the kitchen with pizza boxes and brown bags Honor knew held salad, garlic bread, and spaghetti and meatb.a.l.l.s inside them.

For the next hour everyone ate and talked, sitting and standing wherever comfortable in the large kitchen. Bryce made no attempt to talk to her again, or get close enough for her to smell him, but their eyes did meet a few times across the room.

And each time she felt an uninvited flutter in the pit of her stomach.

Once everyone had finished and the kitchen was cleaned, the guys headed to the White Strand Inn. The girls were sleeping over with Sophie.

"I don't think I'm going to get a wink of sleep tonight," Sophie said, curled up on the couch in the living room. She wore her Beach Bride pajama set.

Honor, Julia and Emma wore their matching Beach Bridesmaid jammies. "Warm milk," Emma said. "Isn't that what they say?"

"With cookies," Julia added.

"Oh no!" Sophie leaned forward. "I forgot to give Bryce the note I wrote to Zane."

"What note?" Emma asked.

"Julia gave me the idea. I wrote Zane a love note and I need one of the guys to slip it to him right before the ceremony."

"That is so sweet." Emma sighed.

Sophie stood. "I hate to ask this, but would one of you mind running it over to the hotel? I'm afraid I'll forget tomorrow."

"If I go I might not come back," Julia said. "This is the first night I'm away from my new hubby and I miss him."

"I may not return either," Emma said, her voice taking on a coquettish tone. "Bryce is totally hot and I might-"

"I'll do it," Honor interrupted, hoping she sounded like she was doing everyone a favor and not at all bothered by Emma's admission. Because she wasn't.

Not at all.

The Kings were tied with two minutes to go, but Bryce couldn't concentrate on the big screen TV in the lounge at the inn. The other guys stayed absorbed in the action, but with Aiden sitting next to him all Bryce could think about was how the guy had flirted with Honor all night.

"Ohhhh!" Several people shouted at what Bryce guessed was a missed shot on goal.

The one time he'd gotten close to Honor, she'd smelled like gardenias, woman, and chocolate and he'd wanted to breathe her in until morning.

More yells and a few curse words rounded the room. Abruptly Aiden stood and said, "Hey."

"And here I thought I'd find you guys having a pillow fight in Zane's suite."

Bryce swung his head in surprise at the sweet, s.e.xy voice. Honor stood next to Aiden wearing pink and white striped pajama pants and a pink long sleeved shirt with Beach Bridesmaid written across the chest.

Aiden whispered something in her ear.

She tilted her chin to the side and gave him a small smile. Bryce's hands clenched.

Zane jumped to his feet. "Is everything okay?" Worry tainted his normally upbeat voice. "Is Sophie all right?"

"She's fine. Everything is good. I was sent over to talk to Bryce for a minute."

At mention of his name, Bryce connected with Honor's remarkable eyes. He pushed his chair back and an absurd amount of pleasure filled his chest when he stood above Aiden. "Should we go somewhere private?"

"Yes."

Shouts erupted in the lounge and everyone leapt to their feet. Bryce glanced at the TV. The Kings had scored with ten seconds left in the period.

Aiden put his hand on Honor's arm and said something Bryce couldn't hear.

She did one of the those slow blinks women do when they're flattered. Her lips pressed together in a barely-there smile.

Bryce ground his teeth together. Was she seriously considering whatever Aiden had said to her? Of course she was. This was her chance for a wedding hook-up. He shouldn't care one way or the other what she crossed off Payton's list. But if the tightness in his gut was any indication, he did.

With her eyes cast downward, she whispered in Aiden's ear. Bryce stared at her mouth trying to read her lips, and because their pink color drew him like a wrestler to the mat. Ready to take down the guy that might catch her interest.

Not his business, he reminded himself.

Aiden nodded and Honor waved her arm in a motion for Bryce to follow. She walked through the lobby and out the sliding gla.s.s door to the pool area. Landscape lighting lit the area in soft yellow and the pool, bathed in white light, gave off a turquoise glow.

They stood near the edge, Honor drawn to the water in a way he recognized from athletes who'd spent time swimming.

"You swim?" he asked.

"I used to."

"I'm pretty sure swimming is like riding a bike. You don't forget how to do it."

She gave him a side glare. "If this agent thing doesn't work out for you, you could be a comedian."