Page 15 of The Best Man's Secret

“Yeah, just a weird feeling in my belly.”

A moment later, the steward came over holding a tray with a cup of freshly brewed coffee, cream, and sugar. River took the cup and thanked the steward.

“You take it black,” he said. “I’ll remember that.”

“It’s not for me,” River replied, placing the coffee on the tray in front of me.

I looked at River and then at the steward, whose cheeks suddenly flushed.

“My apologies, sir. Would you like me to bring you a coffee too?”

“I’ll wait for breakfast. Thank you.”

The steward nodded and then left down the aisle toward the galley.

“You didn’t have to give me your coffee,” I said.

“I’d like to not see you getting sick when we’re going to be stuck in a plane for several hours. Plus, I know what undercaffeinated Adam looks like. Not pretty.” He smirked. I would have kicked his leg, but dammit, his gesture and the smell of the coffee grabbed my full attention.

7

RIVER

By the time we checked into the hotel, I was more than ready for a shower, a nap, and a drink, and not necessarily in that order.

“How about we drop our stuff off and meet at the bar in half an hour?” Lex called over his shoulder, already heading toward the elevators, holding Emery’s hand.

“Make it forty-five,” Noah said, winking at his husband.

“Great. I guess it’s you and me, buddy, because those four are going to spend the week in their suites,” Adam muttered as we walked toward the elevator.

“That’s a weird image.”

He scoffed. “In their separate suites. Bah, you know what I mean.”

I laughed. “I do, but you’re cute when you’re all bratty.” I mimicked his voice in an exaggerated deep tone. “I’m Adam, and I’m upset because my brothers want to hook up with their partners, leaving me all on my?—”

He pushed me so hard I almost tripped over his suitcase while laughing.

We were still laughing and messing around when he opened the door to his honeymoon suite, and it dawned on me that it wasthehoneymoon suite.

There were flower petals all over the king-size bed. An ice bucket with a bottle of champagne and a complimentary snack tray with cheese, crackers, and chocolate-covered fruit were arranged on the coffee table.

Adam stood like a statue by the bed, gripping the handle of his suitcase and staring at the arrangement.

“I forgot to tell the hotel,” he said, his voice tight as he brought his hand up to his chest and rubbed it.

I dropped my suitcase, walked over to the bed, and picked up each corner of the comforter before bunching it up and dragging the whole thing to the balcony.

I released a sea of flower petals on the guests sunbathing on the loungers near the building.

Sorry for the mess.

Without skipping a beat, I took the comforter back into the room, folded it neatly at the foot of the bed, and turned to Adam. “How about we each grab a shower to freshen up from the flight before we meet the others?”

“Sure.”

Adam went first, so while he was out of the room, I looked around and ensured there were no other “gifts” from the hotel for a honeymooning couple.