The Honeymoon Prize by Melissa McClone

Author:Melissa McClone [McClone, Melissa]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781940296524
Google: ApIuBgAAQBAJ
Goodreads: 22604588
Publisher: Tule Publishing
Published: 2013-12-31T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 6

The next few days, Nick fell into a comfortable rhythm each morning with a run followed by a swim. The exercise kept him in shape and let him burn off energy. He wasn’t used to relaxing for this long or pretending to be a husband. Nick didn’t mind, either. That surprised him. But hanging with Addie filled him with contentment, a way he hadn’t felt in a long time, so long he couldn’t remember when. Maybe he’d found the key to a happy marriage his parents had missed—marry your best friend and don’t have sex.

On the patio, he rinsed off the sand from his legs. A quick shower inside, a change of clothes, and he’d be ready for breakfast once Addie woke. After that, the work would begin.

Not really.

Playing “in love” honeymooners wasn’t a tough gig. He couldn’t believe they’d planned to go their separate ways during the honeymoon. That wouldn’t have been fun. Spending time with Addie was the best part.

Kissing Addie was his second favorite. Who cared if the kisses were for the camera? A kiss was a kiss, and she was a great kisser. He kept reminding himself not to get carried away again. Emotions were easier to push aside than the physical stuff.

He walked into the bure taking soft steps. After years of getting up at the crack of dawn, Addie preferred waking without an alarm clock. She’d also ditched wearing shoes and ponytails unless she needed her hair out of the way for an activity. All steps in the right direction.

Island life agreed with her. Her tired eyes and stress had disappeared. The weight she’d been carrying had lifted. She looked happier, more beautiful, without the baggage of the past dragging her down.

Nick glanced at the bed. Empty. “Addie?”

“Bula, bula, Mr. Nick.” Out on the patio, Mama Lani poked her head inside the bure. She carried an overflowing tray of food along with glasses of juices and two tall mugs with straws sticking out, most likely smoothies. “Your wife is in the bathroom. She woke up early. So excited to go snorkeling you’d think she’d never seen the ocean before. Reminds me of one of my grandbabies.”

Nick joined their mama bure outside. “Addie’s re-experiencing many things during this trip.”

Him, too. The feelings for her he’d buried back in high school kept coming back. But he wasn’t about to risk their friendship for something fleeting. All he had to do was hold on and stay in control until they returned to San Diego. His upcoming job assignments would give them some distance and let their friendship return to normal.

“Addie told me about her grandmother and what happened with the cottage.” Mama Lani set the table. “Such a shame family would do that to their own.”

“Greed makes people do strange things.” As if he were one to talk. He’d married a friend to keep his job. Maybe Emily and he had both sold out Addie for a paycheck. The realization didn’t sit well, though he knew she was getting something from the marriage, too.

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