Risking the Crown (The Crown 2)

“A few thousand dollars definitely wouldn’t hurt.” He rubbed his jaw.

“I’ll organize the whole thing. You just keep working on the rooms and I’ll take care of the luau, and Grayson. I can do social media posts while he naps.” I stopped in front of Cole. “Really, all you have to do is promise to be my date.”

He hooked my waist with his right hand and drew me against his chest. “Deal. But you have to promise it will stay under control.”

“Nothing crazy. Promise.”

“And you’ll wear one of those coconut bras.” His finger traced the strap along my shoulder.

I laughed. “If I can find one.”

“A party planning business woman,” he teased as his head dipped toward the exposed skin on my chest. I leaned back to let him kiss me.

“Yes, and if I’m going to pull this off, I need to get started, and you need to get to work on showerheads or doorknobs.” I inhaled as his lips grazed the top of my breast.

“Yes, ma’am.”

Party planning was definitely less appealing than Cole taking me on the office desk again, but this was business. We’d have all night to play. After we put the little one to bed.

“Go. Go fix something.” I shoved him out the door and turned to face my new work buddy.

I pulled out my phone. I needed to call Sasha before I purchased the first tiki torch.

“Hey, you have a second? I could use your help. Cole says the luau’s a go.”

23

Kaitlyn

Sasha was a godsend. Her parents had a storage shed of party supplies. Her mother was a retired wedding planner on the island and had never emptied out her decorations.

“This is incredible. I’ve never seen so many swan cutouts in one place.” I pulled a pair of swans from the wall and dusted them off.

Grayson giggled at them when I pretended to make them fly. So far our fist day together had been easy. I offered to take him with me so Cole could work on the rooms.

“Ugh! My mom had some of the tackiest brides this side of the Guadalupe.” She had discovered a box crammed full of nothing but pink tulle.

“Well, it’s perfect for the luau. We can take these arches and cover them in leaves and grass. And bingo! There are at least fifty tiki torches here.” I pushed my way to the back of the storage building and started handing Sasha the torches.

“My mom will be glad someone is using this stuff. It’s been in here forever.” She started a pile next to her truck. “I guess things with Cole are getting pretty serious.” She nodded at Grayson.

We had moved the car seat into her truck. My nanny days were coming back to me. It was funny how some things with kids didn’t change.

I was knee-deep in paper bells.

“Yes.”

Sasha eyed me from across the scattered swans and plastic ferns. “And your brother? Have you talked to him?”

“Not yet. It’s not like I can call him in Afghanistan. And I don’t think he’d believe me if I emailed him.”

“I don’t see why he’d be upset. You two are great together. Cole is less broody with you around. I like him like this.”

“Less broody? I thought he was mysterious.”

She laughed. “Call it what you want. He’s different. I’m saying it’s a good thing.”

I passed over the last torch. “He is—I don’t even know how to describe it, but it’s like I’ve never been with anyone else. Being around him makes everything feel like the first time. That sounds cheesy, doesn’t it?”