The Unexpected Honeymoon by Barbara Wallace Read Free Book Online Page A

now.”
    â€œWould you like some help getting down?”
    â€œI’ve got it.” She scooted her bottom forward, so that when she dropped, she wouldn’t land with much force. When she reached the edge, her feet still dangled six inches or so from the floor. “Funny, I remember jumping up with far less issue,” she said before sliding to the tile. No sooner did her toes touch down, than her ankles, numb from her sitting on them for so long, turned, causing her to wobble. Carlos immediately grabbed her elbows. They ended up standing hip to thigh. Larissa felt the roughness of summer wool against her skin, a reminder of how exposed she was beneath her robe. One little movement in either direction and the terrycloth would gap open. Warmth rose from the small space between their bodies. It joined with the coolness of his breath at the hollow of her throat, causing goose bumps.
    â€œAre you steadier now?” he asked.
    Larissa nodded. “Looks like you were right to worry. I’m not as steady as I thought.” More disturbing was the rush of awareness coiling through her system. She couldn’t remember ever reacting this strongly to a man’s proximity before, not even Tom’s, and here she’d reacted to Carlos twice. Afraid of what he’d think about her burning cheeks, she dropped her gaze to the floor.
    â€œPerhaps after your bath,” Carlos began.
    â€œPerhaps.” She wasn’t so sure. Relaxing her muscles when they were already like jelly didn’t seem like a smart idea all of a sudden. The solidness of his grip disappeared. Larissa reached back to hold the vanity.
    â€œI’m sorry I gave you a hard time a moment ago. It was very kind of you to be concerned.”
    â€œNo more than I would do for any guest.”
    Right. Because his job was to keep guests happy. She didn’t know what had her thinking she was any different. “Still, it seems as though you’re forever finding me in a bad way. Hopefully from here on in, I’ll be—”
    â€œLower maintenance?”
    â€œExactly.”
    â€œWe can only hope.” With a curt nod, he turned and left her alone. As quickly as possible, Larissa noted.
    One of these times, he was going to leave with a good impression. Thus far, she hadn’t done a very good job.
    In the meantime, she planned to soak away her hangover. Having indulged in her pity party, it was time to clear her head and figure out how she let things with Tom go so far south.
    But, it wasn’t Tom who came to mind as she sank into the lavender-scented water. It was a pair of deep brown eyes she’d known for less than twenty-four hours. And a strong touch she could still feel on her skin.
    * * *
    â€œYou have no idea how much this means to me. To us.” Paul Stevas played with the straw hat which, until five minutes ago, had covered his auburn curls. “Linda and I didn’t get to have a traditional wedding and there’s nothing I’d like more than to give her the wedding she always dreamed of.”
    Carlos studied the man sitting across from him. Kid, really, as he couldn’t be more than twenty-one or twenty-two. The young man corralled him as he was crossed the lobby, and asked for help marking his first wedding anniversary. “We’re delighted to help,” he said. “I promise, this will be the anniversary celebration of a lifetime.”
    â€œLinda’s going to be so excited. I was afraid because I asked so last-minute....” Carlos swore the boy’s eyes were growing moist. “I didn’t want to say anything to her until you and I spoke, in case things didn’t work out.”
    â€œLast minute is never a problem at La Joya. Our job is to make sure you and your wife have the perfect vacation. Give us a day to pull together a basic proposal package for you to work off of, and we can go from there.”
    â€œFantastic.” The young man pumped