Maisey Yates - Tough Luck Hero

Lydia touched her hair again. “Or something.”

“She’s dressed a lot fancier than you,” the woman said, this time directing her comment at Colton.

“Yes, well she was standing outside a chapel waiting around for her groom. I just happened to show up.”

“I should have been waiting where you were waiting,” the checker said, winking at Lydia.

“If only you had been,” Lydia responded drily. “I’m just going to go change.”

Lydia disappeared for a few moments and Colton pretended to look at the merchandise in the store. Merchandise he would never in a million years consider buying. But it was better than attempting conversation with the woman at the counter. When Lydia reappeared her hair was still a disaster, and she looked a little like a Real Housewife of Somewhere. All she was missing was a small dog.

“Are you checking out?” the sales clerk asked.

“Yes,” Lydia said emphatically.

“In a hurry to start the honeymoon?” the woman asked with a grin.

“Something like that,” Colton said as they left the store.

While they waited in line to check out, Colton took his phone out of his pocket and dialed the airline. After giving all of the relevant information, he made a request for a change of flight.

“Mr. West, that is going to be an expensive fee,” the woman on the other end of the line—Julia, according to her initial introduction—said.

“I don’t care,” he responded.

“Four hundred dollars a ticket,” Julia continued.

He gritted his teeth. It didn’t really matter to him, in any way beyond principle, anyway. “I understand. But my new wife and I need to get back as quickly as possible.”

Lydia shot him a deadly glare. He shrugged.

“You’re on your honeymoon?” Julia asked, sounding surprised and delighted now.

“Yes. But regrettably we have to cut it short.”

“When you get to the airport, explain the situation,” she continued. “I can’t make any guarantees, but let’s see what they can do.”

He hung up after that, then smiled at the man behind the counter. This was an awful lot of human interaction for being this hungover. “Just checking out,” Colton said.

“Oh yes, Callie from the gift shop called over to let me know you would be over here. Newlyweds.”

He rubbed his hand over his forehead. “Yes.”

“Do you need transportation to the airport?”

“Yes,” Lydia supplied for him. “A taxi would be great.”

“I think,” the guy said, smiling as though he had just managed to procure them heaven and earth, “I can make that a little bit more special for you. The car will be waiting at the curb in a few moments.”

“That isn’t necessary,” Colton said.

“Of course it is, Mr. West,” he said. “We want to make sure you have the best possible service during this special time.”

Colton supplied his credit card and everything else, signing the bill before handing it back to the man.

“Thank you,” Colton said, keeping a tight leash on his temper.

Because that was what he did. Regardless of how he felt. Even when all was right with the world.

Then he walked toward the automatic doors that would lead them outside into the bright midafternoon sunlight. And when they arrived outside, they both stopped in their tracks.

CHAPTER THREE

“NO WAY,” LYDIA SAID, looking around the inside of the Hummer limousine they were currently taking to the airport. “There’s a stripper pole over there. In the limo.”

“Maybe it’s just so people have something to hold on to.”

“Well, that’s all I would be using it for.”

“This is our honeymoon,” he pointed out, probably just to rile her because there was no way in all the world Colton was sincerely suggesting she get up and dance.

“Does that mean you’re going to get up on the pole for me?” Lydia asked, leaning back in her seat and stretching her legs out in front of her. She was doing her very best to keep her tone casual, to keep from blushing. To keep from remembering anything that might have happened last night.

This entire morning—afternoon—had been a study in walking through the deepest darkest pit of hell as far as she was concerned.

A hangover like she hadn’t experienced in ever, a walk of shame in a ridiculously fluffy bridesmaid dress and rhinestone-encrusted high heels along with hair so large she would inspire envy in beauty pageant contestants everywhere.

But that wasn’t the worst part. Experiencing this with any guy would be traumatic. Experiencing it with Colton West was just too much. Her dignity was now a rare and endangered species. Like a spotted owl or snowy plover. She needed someone to come and protect it. Maybe if she had feathers people would be more concerned for her well-being.

Her dignity might have been damaged, but her sense of self-pity had never been healthier.

“You say that, Lydia, but I have a feeling you would actually pay me good money to stay off the pole.”

“True,” she said, gripping her purse tightly, as though it might shield her from yet more embarrassment. Plus, focusing on clinging to that specific item helped keep her brain busy so it didn’t do anything stupid like imagine how Colton might look if he were to engage in any sort of striptease.

Nope. No.

She might not be able to remember last night, but her memories of him shirtless in the hotel room were still way too vivid for comfort.

He was...he was everything a man should be. Broad-shouldered and lean. A chest and stomach so defined he looked like he belonged on the cover of a men’s magazine, making other men feel insecure about their lack of abs.

Except, in order to be on a men’s magazine he would have to be waxed bare. And Colton was not.

She swallowed hard, her throat dry. She did not need to be pondering his chest hair. Or his muscles. Or anything at all except the predicament they were in.

The drive to the airport seemed interminable. She could only hope they would be able to get seats far, far away from each other on the plane.

Of course, that turned out not to be the case. When they arrived at the airport check-in the very helpful, very friendly man at the counter offered them a free ticket exchange, and a bump up to first class. For the newlyweds, he’d said, overly cheerful.

Why was it that today of all days they were experiencing the height of customer service everywhere they went?

She was so accustomed to people not giving a damn, and in this situation she would have preferred it.

But no. Everyone was doing their best to make sure that Colton and Lydia got to spend as much time together as possible.

Still, she thought ruefully, as they sat on the small plane waiting to take off and the stewardess poured champagne into a real glass, it could be worse. She lifted the bubbly to her lips, needing a little bit of a crutch to boost her for the journey.

“Your attempt at a hangover cure?” Colton asked, nodding toward her glass.

“At this point there’s no making it worse, really.” Her head still hurt, in spite of the coffee.

“Don’t drink too much,” he said.

“You’re not the boss of me,” she muttered.

“No, but when you start drinking you find it difficult to keep your hands off me.”

She scrunched her face. “Colton, me being a little bit buzzed is the only way we’re going to make it through this flight without me doing you serious bodily harm.”

“So you’re saying there’s a happy alcohol medium you’re reaching for?”

“Yes. Totally sober I would like to strangle you. Completely trashed I apparently...” She let that sentence die as her face heated. “But a glass of champagne or two might just take the edge off.”