Page 24

Twenty-three

KNOCKING ECHOED in Riley’s dreams. Sweet ones of her and Greyson chatting the night away, his hand in hers—the movement so comfortable and natural now. What was that ceaseless knocking? She opened her eyes and blinked, then it clicked. The door.

“Just a moment,” she called, sitting up, sunlight streaming through the curtains.

“Room service for the happy couple.”

“Just a minute.” She chucked a pillow at Greyson’s head on the sofa. She’d talked him into sleeping there rather than in that uncomfortable bathtub.

Befuddled, Grey grabbed the pillow and sat up.

“Room service is at the door,” she whispered. “Quick, put your pillow and blanket on the bed.”

He did so in a flash, and she mussed the cover on that side of the bed.

He strode to the door and looked back at her. Ready? he mouthed.

She nodded, pulling the blanket up to her shoulders.

Grey opened the door.

“Good morning. I have breakfast courtesy of the retreat,” the service attendant said, rolling in a cart of covered trays.

“How nice and unexpected,” Riley said.

“We aim to pamper our guests with a few surprises along the way. Miss Julie thought you might enjoy breakfast in bed.”

“May I?” the man asked, indicating lifting the dish covers.

“Please,” Greyson said.

The man removed one silver cover after another to reveal the delectable food underneath. “Brioche French toast, raspberry crepes, bacon, and seasonal fruit. May I pour you coffee?” he asked, reaching for the carafe.

“That’s very kind of you. Thank you,” Riley said.

“As I said, we want all our couples to be fully pampered. And, speaking of pampering, I hear you have a massage at nine.”

Apparently, the staff knew everything, or so it seemed. “Yes, I’m looking forward to it.”

“Oh, and fresh flowers for your room.” He lifted a vase from a shelf underneath the cart. He set it on the dresser. “Unless you require anything else?”

Riley smiled. “No, but thank you.”

Greyson held out a tip for the man, but the man shook his head. “Not necessary, sir. I’ll leave you two alone. Oh, I almost forgot.” He moved back to the cart and pulled up two leaves to make a round table. “Would you like me to move your chairs for you?”

“We’re good, thank you,” Greyson said.

“Enjoy, now.” The man headed for the door and waved once before shutting it.

Riley hopped from the bed. “Everything looks delicious. It was nice of Julie to send this.”

“Agreed.”

She took a slice of bacon and ate a bite while Greyson moved two chairs over to the pop-up table. “I better hurry if I’m going to make my massage.”

Twenty minutes later, she was headed for the door when Greyson exited the bathroom in a black Under Armor workout shirt that clung to his chiseled chest and a pair of matching black sweatpants.

“Going for a workout?” she asked, trying to keep her gaze off his handsome physique.

“Yeah. I figured it’d be a good way to try the lockers here without drawing too much attention. I’ll ask for one to hold my stuff while I hit the gym.”

“Sounds like a smart plan.”

A sideways smile curled on his lips. “I’m full of them.”

She shook her head. “Full of something else too.”

He laughed. “Shall we?” He indicated the door.

“Thanks,” she said, exiting as he held the door open for her.

They hurried across the snow-covered path to the gym and spa facilities building.

“Don’t forget to mention your coconut oil allergy,” Greyson said before they reached the building’s glass double doors.

“How did you remember that?”

He shrugged. “Just have a memory for details.” He opened the door and she hurried inside, stomping the snow from her shoes onto the rubber entrance rug.

They looked up to find Alvin at the check-in desk. “Here for your massage, Miss Bennet?”

“Yes.”

“I’ll be happy to get you checked in.” He looked past her at Grey. “Gym is through that door.” He gestured to it with a tilt of his head. “And down the hall to your left.”

“Thanks.” He nodded, then scooted close to Riley, pressing a kiss to her cheek. “Have fun.”

She swallowed. He’d never kissed her before the retreat. First a kiss on the head and now on the cheek. Had it been for Alvin’s benefit, or had he actually wanted to give her a kiss?

“You’re all set. I’ll show you to the lounge, and Annabelle will be right out for you.”

“Thanks.”

She hoped her masseuse or some of the ladies in the spa gossiped like the women at her Santa Fe spa. They needed a fresh lead before Kelly’s trail went cold.