Total pages in book: 101
Estimated words: 98324 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 492(@200wpm)___ 393(@250wpm)___ 328(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 98324 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 492(@200wpm)___ 393(@250wpm)___ 328(@300wpm)
My pulse flutters. “Okay. Well. So what have you learned about hedge mazes? Aren’t you supposed to turn right every time or something?”
“Yes and no. Look.” He waves me toward his screen. “There’s a caveat. If the maze has an island feature, you can get stuck in a loop. Like this.”
He’s showing me the basic strategy when a text message pops onto his screen.
Maribel: Bet you two can’t beat us through the maze!
“You see that?” he says. “I’m not the only one thinking about this.” His fingers tap out a reply.
Eric: Bet we can! Unless you’ve been practicing beforehand.
Maribel: GASP! We would never invite all our friends to a maze and then cheat! The fact that this occurred to you is worrisome. How do I know you didn’t look at Google Earth?
He turns to me, wide-eyed. “Oh, hell. That never occurred to me.”
“Don’t do it,” I insist. “We have principles. Except when it comes to deceiving our families.”
His smile turns sultry, and his gaze dips to where the sheet is barely concealing my breasts. “Looking pretty legit, Darcy. Not sure there’s any deception to worry about here.”
My face reddens because it’s true. This morning, anyway. “Want coffee?”
He lifts a hand to his throat, checking his pulse. “Yup. Still breathing. And let’s order breakfast.”
“Okay. I’m on it.” The problem is that I don’t have a stitch of clothing on my body or anywhere near this bed.
When I slip out of the covers and cross to the closet, Eric watches my every move with a sexy little smile on his face.
How is this my life?
If only temporarily.
An hour or so later, we’re outside on an emerald-green lawn, waiting our turn in the maze, the entrance to which is guarded by Tessa. She’s in her element, holding a stopwatch and telling everyone where to stand and when to move.
And yet her abrasiveness can’t even put a dent in me today. I’m too blissed out after eating breakfast with Eric in a hotel bathrobe. And by the way, he’s holding my hand.
“One-minute warning, Eric,” she says, consulting her clipboard. “Your start time is 10:14. When you reach the exit, my mom will note your time. But you can take a picture of the clock if you want proof.”
Eric and I exchange a glance. “Got it,” he says, squeezing my hand.
Once again, a feeling of unreality settles over me. Somehow, the Wedding Experience has already become one of the best weekends of my life. Who knew?
“On your mark,” Tessa says, squinting at the stopwatch. “Get set. Annnnnnd go!”
Eric’s grip on my hand tightens, and he launches us toward the entrance. Laughing, I hurry to keep up. As we make the first turn to the left, the walls of boxwood encircle us, and we’re enveloped in a world of green.
“Okay… second turn.” Eric’s grip on my hand is firm but gentle. “Let’s keep an intermediate pace—not too fast that we miss a turn, not too slow that we lose our competitive edge.” He sounds like he’s briefing troops before a special ops mission.
“Roger that, Captain.”
“Maintaining wall contact is essential,” he says, stretching to run his fingertips along the boxwood. “This is how the ancient Greeks defeated the Minotaur.”
“I’m pretty sure that was Theseus with a ball of string.”
“Details, Kendrick.” He checks his watch like a drill sergeant. “Deep breaths. And remember, we’re not just beating the maze, we’re beating Theo and Maribel’s time.”
“Let’s make ’em cry.” We trot along for several minutes, taking every left turn with military precision until we reach a small circular clearing with a bench. “Wait,” I say, tugging Eric’s hand. “Didn’t we pass this bench already?”
He stops, frowning at the ornate wooden seat. “Did we?”
“I recognize that heart-shaped water stain.” I point to the distinctive mark on the wood.
“Hell.” Realization dawns on his handsome face. “We’re in a loop. There must be an island structure. Glad you noticed. I didn’t. Rookie mistake.” He sighs.
“Chin up, Captain. Time to think like the Minotaur.”
He snorts. “Okay, new strategy. Time for advanced techniques.” He pulls out his phone and checks the time with a grimace. “We’ve already burned seven minutes. No time to backtrack. Let’s… go up instead.” Before I can ask what he means, he’s crouching down with his hands linked together. “Climb on my shoulders. You can see over the top and map our route.”
“Are you serious?”
“Completely.” His face is set with determination. “It’s a legitimate maze strategy. I read about it this morning.”
“Along with your breathing techniques and ancient Greek mythology?”
He gives me a look that’s half exasperation, half amusement. “Just get on my shoulders, Kendrick. It’s almost bikini time.”
“When you put it like that…” I place my foot in his cupped hands, wobbling slightly as he hoists me up. His grip on my legs is steady as I rise above the hedge line. “Oh, wow,” I say, taking in the intricate pattern of greenery below me. “I can see the whole thing! There’s definitely an island in the middle—that’s why we’re stuck.”