Silently making his way to her, he could barely contain the hope that threatened to bubble up. “Good morning, beautiful,” he said, sitting across from her.

Her head lifted, and her eyes narrowed as she stabbed a piece of helpless pineapple in the process. She had terrifyingly good aim. “It was a good morning.”

“Until I showed up?”

“Exactly.”

“And made it the best morning you’ve ever had,” he said, enjoying the way her eyes rolled and her nostrils flared slightly. If he couldn’t have her soft and sweet, then he would take her passionate hatred of him instead.

“Would you listen to yourself?”

“Rather listen to you, love.”

“Oh, I can go on for hours,” she practically growled at him.

His gaze dropped to her lips. “So can I.”

Her lips parted, twin rosy petals. Her tongue darted out, licking the bottom. His gut clenched. Then she seemed to compose herself, sitting up straighter.

“You really want to listen to me talk?” she asked.

“Yes.”

She studied his face, as if looking for the lie in his answer. “Fine.”

He tucked into his pancakes. “I’m all ears.”

Those lips of hers puckered and he bit back a smile, concentrating on chewing and swallowing instead. “I... don’t know what to say.”

“Where did you grow up?” he asked.

She blinked at him. “South Carolina. Little town called Knight’s Way.”

“Never been there. Would I like it?”

“I thought this was supposed to be about me?” she pointed out with a haughty look on her face.

“Quite so.” He waved his fork in the air. “Carry on.”

“I doubt you would like it.”

“Why?”

“It’s nothing but country folk. Only one stoplight in the entire town and most of the time, it’s on the fritz,” she said with obvious affection. “But Knight’s Way still has a drive-in movie theater and Beechum’s Drugstore. Best grilled ham and cheese around.”

“I’m a huge fan of grilled sandwiches,” he said, and her beautiful eyes narrowed. “All right, so I’m an indiscriminate fan of food in general.”

A ghost of a smile played on her lips. “You would find my grandparents’ grilled ham and cheese irresistible.”

I find you irresistible. “What about your parents?”

“My mom just retired from teaching, and my dad will retire from UPS next year. I don’t get to see them much with my work obligations.” She shook her head a little. “I don’t know why I’m telling you this. You already know.”

“I don’t make it a habit to snoop.”

“Except when you can’t help yourself,” she pointed out.

He didn’t want to argue with her. Didn’t want to bring up the beginning of their years of animosity—at least on her side. He’d never hated her.

“I didn’t look into your past,” he maintained.

Her eyes widened a little. “I can’t believe I’m admitting this, but I think you’re telling me the truth.”

“Haven’t I always?”

“I don’t know.”

That was a fair enough assessment. He’d teased and double-talked her to no end. “Honestly, I’ve not looked, Ella.”

“You’ve made it difficult to trust what you say.”

“What can I say to put your mind at ease?” he asked, desperate for the truth.

She shrugged, her gaze going to the ocean. Waves the color of turquoise splashed on pink sand. A gentle breeze blew through the palm trees.

“Nothing.”

“Then I won’t say a word.”

Her dark gaze focused on him. “Are you really going to hold me to eight dates with you?”

Though he nearly hated himself for it, there was no other way to get past her defenses. “Yes.”

She stood suddenly, her chair going back and her hat flopping wildly before she slammed her hand down on the top of it. “That’s one date down, York.”

“We’ve barely spent any time together,” he protested.

“You didn’t specify how much time we had to spend together, only the number.” She tilted her head to one side. “And the type of date. I’m done with breakfast, so our date is over.”

Grim determination set in. “Brilliant. I’ll see you tonight for dinner, at six thirty PM. My room. I’ll order for us.”

Her face paled a little. “I am not coming to your r—”

“Afraid of being alone with me?”

She sputtered. “N-no. Good grief, Blake, just because you’re handsome and have an accent does not make you God’s gift.”

“So you think I’m handsome?” He gave her a cheeky grin.

Her face flamed. “I’m not blind,” she said tightly, and then stormed off.

“You’re not immune, either,” he said, his mood considerably lighter.

Ella struggled to get her temper in check at his last remark. He had meant for her to hear him. She knew it. Blake had an uncanny knack for making her lose it. He knew just what to say.

But if she had to be honest, she wasn’t an innocent party in all of this. She gave as good as she got. Sometimes, she secretly liked their banter. Worse, she sometimes looked forward to it.

How she would get through eight dates with him, she didn’t know, but she would persevere. If only to prove to them both that she didn’t find him...well, she did find him attractive. In a hot, British guy sort of way.

He did have really nice hair—blond, thick, and wavy. His eyes were nice too—the color of the ocean right outside her balcony. And the way he was built—tall and lean. The man really ought to be on the cover of Men’s Fitness ...or GQ, considering the suits he wore to work each day.

“Stop,” she ordered herself.

“Stop what?” a familiar voice asked.

Ella drew up short. Just who she needed to run into. She glanced upwards and mouthed, Really, God, before turning to face the woman behind her. “Mrs. Montgomery.”

Warm grey eyes crinkled at the corners. “It’s Hannah.”

“Hannah,” Ella agreed, giving her a smile. Or at least she hoped it was a smile and not a feral baring of teeth. “Are you ready for the ceremony?”

“Mostly.” Hannah linked her arm with Ella’s and began to walk. Ella had no choice but to go along with her. “Want to know a secret?”

Please don’t be pregnant. She couldn’t handle that kind of happiness for her boss. And wasn’t she the most horrible person on earth for thinking that? “Sure.”

“The wedding isn’t for me. Drew thinks this is what I want, but really, I was happy to be married by the minister of beer.”

Ella’s jaw dropped. “The what?”

Hannah laughed. “Didn’t you know?”

“I had no idea.” The minister of beer? That did not fit in with her fantasy of Drew. Her Drew was sophisticated and—ohmigosh. He wasn’t her Drew. He was Hannah’s Drew.

“Desperate times called for desperate measures,” Hannah replied.

“At least he wasn’t so desperate he married Alexis George.”

“You got that right.” Hannah shivered. “She hadn’t changed a bit.”

Ella gazed at the blonde. “You know her?”

“Unfortunately, yes. Her family and Drew’s vacationed at The Magnificent Dunes. She was always scheming to get him alone, not that I can blame her.”

“Teenagers can be very dramatic”

“I’ve known Drew since I was eight,” Hannah replied. “But it feels like I’ve known him for far longer.”

Ella frowned. She hadn’t known that. She’d assumed Hannah was some girl from Drew’s past who needed money and, most importantly, wasn’t Alexis George.

“Are you okay?” Hannah asked, stopping in front of the resort’s spa.

“Fine. Just a lot on my mind.”

“Drew said you’re as bad as him when it comes to relaxing, which is why I went looking for you this morning.”

“He did? You did?”

Hannah nodded, clearly pleased with herself. “That’s why we’re going to have a girls’ day of pampering.”

Oh dear Lord. She was going to spend the day with the woman who’d married the man she loved. Or used to love. Or shouldn’t love. Either way, she was screwed.

“Yay,” Ella said.

“I’m going to pretend you’re excited and not feeling obligated.”