mission: to fight his attraction to Karen at all costs. Oorah.
CHAPTER SEVEN
T he man had mastered the art of confusing her. Trying to decipher his odd behavior would only be an exercise in frustration, so Karen vowed not to analyze any of it. She maintained that resolve on the terminal’s moving walkway, up the stairs to ground transportation, and as she searched for their driver. Behind her, Mimi and Mark discussed the possibility of visiting El Yunque, a tropical rain forest on the northeastern part of island.
Blah, blah, blah. Yadda, yadda, yadda. Mark and Mimi’s carefree chatter irritated her, and she had no idea why. Rising on her toes to see above the heads of the travelers bustling around her, she scanned the area for a sign with her name on it. When she failed to locate their driver, she stopped short and spun around, which caused her to collide with Mark, who’d been walking behind her. “ Oof ,” she said against his chest.
Mark whispered for her ears only. “Admit it. You have a thing for my chest.”
Yes, I do.
She stepped back and shook her head. No. No, I don’t.
See? Confusing. One minute he’d reached out to touch a strand of her hair. The next minute he’d claimed to be grateful for their new friendship. And now he’d made a suggestive comment about his chest. His big, solid chest.
Damn him. She did not need this now.
She drew back and gave him her best “not in this lifetime” smile. “In your dreams, Lansing.” Then she linked her arm with Mimi’s. “We need to find our driver.”
Together, she and Mimi searched the crowd.
Her eyes finally found the sign that read, PENNINGTON AND RAMIREZ , and she waved to the driver who would take them the fifteen-minute drive from the airport to Hotel El Convento. As its namesake suggested, the hotel had once served as a convent. Gracie couldn’t resist the hotel’s old world charm, and its proximity to the numerous art museums in Old San Juan was an added benefit.
A tall man in a black suit and cap held a sign with Mark’s last name on it. He must have made his own arrangements then. She turned to Mark and schooled her features. “Where are you staying?”
His eyes met hers. “The Ritz-Carlton.”
Ah. Definitely more modern accommodations than hers. She’d never visited the Ritz, but she knew it was a favorite among international travelers who wanted the familiarity of a luxury chain.
“We’ll see you in a few hours for dinner?” she asked.
“Sure. Take care, ladies.”
“Bye,” Mimi called out as she put on her sunglasses. Shoulder to shoulder, they watched Mark walk away. When he was out of earshot, Mimi whistled. “That man’s ass is a force unto itself.”
Distracted by the view, Karen blurted out the first thing that came to mind. “I like firm butts and I cannot lie.”
Mimi stared at her in disbelief. “Wow. That man brings out a side of you I’ve never seen.”
Unfortunately for Karen, she didn’t know if that was a good or a bad thing.
* * *
Gracie had left Karen a welcome note at hotel check-in. Ethan had arranged a series of spa treatments for Gracie, the note explained, followed by a couple’s massage for the bride and groom. They’d see everyone later that evening. Which meant Karen needed to hightail it to Abuela Marta’s house to help prepare for the pre-wedding dinner.
Gracie had offered to plan a dinner at the hotel, but Abuela Marta had insisted that her home would be the perfect place for a small gathering of family and friends. Gracie had already pissed off their grandmother by choosing to stay in Old San Juan, but she’d justified the decision by emphasizing that, with only a few days to prepare, she and Ethan needed to stay close to the wedding venue. So when Abuela Marta had insisted on hosting the dinner, Gracie caved. Her sister’s sense of self-preservation had clearly kicked in, because an annoyed Abuela Marta was not to be messed with.
Karen’s cousin Alex picked her up at
CHAPTER SEVEN
T he man had mastered the art of confusing her. Trying to decipher his odd behavior would only be an exercise in frustration, so Karen vowed not to analyze any of it. She maintained that resolve on the terminal’s moving walkway, up the stairs to ground transportation, and as she searched for their driver. Behind her, Mimi and Mark discussed the possibility of visiting El Yunque, a tropical rain forest on the northeastern part of island.
Blah, blah, blah. Yadda, yadda, yadda. Mark and Mimi’s carefree chatter irritated her, and she had no idea why. Rising on her toes to see above the heads of the travelers bustling around her, she scanned the area for a sign with her name on it. When she failed to locate their driver, she stopped short and spun around, which caused her to collide with Mark, who’d been walking behind her. “ Oof ,” she said against his chest.
Mark whispered for her ears only. “Admit it. You have a thing for my chest.”
Yes, I do.
She stepped back and shook her head. No. No, I don’t.
See? Confusing. One minute he’d reached out to touch a strand of her hair. The next minute he’d claimed to be grateful for their new friendship. And now he’d made a suggestive comment about his chest. His big, solid chest.
Damn him. She did not need this now.
She drew back and gave him her best “not in this lifetime” smile. “In your dreams, Lansing.” Then she linked her arm with Mimi’s. “We need to find our driver.”
Together, she and Mimi searched the crowd.
Her eyes finally found the sign that read, PENNINGTON AND RAMIREZ , and she waved to the driver who would take them the fifteen-minute drive from the airport to Hotel El Convento. As its namesake suggested, the hotel had once served as a convent. Gracie couldn’t resist the hotel’s old world charm, and its proximity to the numerous art museums in Old San Juan was an added benefit.
A tall man in a black suit and cap held a sign with Mark’s last name on it. He must have made his own arrangements then. She turned to Mark and schooled her features. “Where are you staying?”
His eyes met hers. “The Ritz-Carlton.”
Ah. Definitely more modern accommodations than hers. She’d never visited the Ritz, but she knew it was a favorite among international travelers who wanted the familiarity of a luxury chain.
“We’ll see you in a few hours for dinner?” she asked.
“Sure. Take care, ladies.”
“Bye,” Mimi called out as she put on her sunglasses. Shoulder to shoulder, they watched Mark walk away. When he was out of earshot, Mimi whistled. “That man’s ass is a force unto itself.”
Distracted by the view, Karen blurted out the first thing that came to mind. “I like firm butts and I cannot lie.”
Mimi stared at her in disbelief. “Wow. That man brings out a side of you I’ve never seen.”
Unfortunately for Karen, she didn’t know if that was a good or a bad thing.
* * *
Gracie had left Karen a welcome note at hotel check-in. Ethan had arranged a series of spa treatments for Gracie, the note explained, followed by a couple’s massage for the bride and groom. They’d see everyone later that evening. Which meant Karen needed to hightail it to Abuela Marta’s house to help prepare for the pre-wedding dinner.
Gracie had offered to plan a dinner at the hotel, but Abuela Marta had insisted that her home would be the perfect place for a small gathering of family and friends. Gracie had already pissed off their grandmother by choosing to stay in Old San Juan, but she’d justified the decision by emphasizing that, with only a few days to prepare, she and Ethan needed to stay close to the wedding venue. So when Abuela Marta had insisted on hosting the dinner, Gracie caved. Her sister’s sense of self-preservation had clearly kicked in, because an annoyed Abuela Marta was not to be messed with.
Karen’s cousin Alex picked her up at
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