Risking the Crown (The Crown 2)

“Promise.”

I unlocked the door and checked the hallway. Time to work.

30

Kaitlyn

“Where do you want all these flowers, Kaitlyn?” Cal called from the tailgate of his truck. He and Lance were loaded down with more cast-off wedding decorations.

Sasha had dug deeper into her mother’s storage building and found a luau themed wedding box. I only wished I had time to snap a picture of the guys in their cowboy hats and tropical flowers.

“Can you guys drape them on the edges of the pool fence?” I was trying to help the DJ with the sound system. I pointed to the entrance gate to the pool.

“We’re not decorators, but we’ll give it a try.” Cal clumsily started twisting the purple and orange silk flowers along the railing.

Sasha was in a deep conversation with Hank about the food. We were keeping it simple with

some barbecue and an assortment of finger foods. People weren’t really coming for the food, but it wouldn’t be a true luau without a roasted pig on the menu.

I had put everything on my credit card—a minor detailed I hadn’t yet discussed with Cole. I told him I would take care of everything and it wasn’t important enough to bother him with deposit funds. Hank was floating us the kegs until I could pay him back after the luau.

I watched my new friends scurrying around, putting the finishing touches on the party. The Dune Scape guests had already started emerging from their rooms. We had been able to corral them on the beach most of the day, but now that the DJ had arrived, they were ready to be a part of the action.

“Sasha, I’m going to get changed and I’ll be right back. Do you have everything under control?” My question was mostly rhetorical.

“I could throw a wedding in my sleep—it’s hereditary.” She laughed and I thought I saw a look of panic flash across Cal’s face. “Go get ready. We’ve got this.”

“You’re the best. Oh, and can you light the tiki torches?” I noticed there were twenty more in place than when we started setting up.

“Yes, ma’am. Go.” She shooed me with her hand.

I hugged her and jogged to the beach house. The day in the sun had created more than one perspiration stain on my shirt, and I was ready to change into something more girly.

Cole had given me a sliver of the sliding closet. I didn’t have much, so it was one time when a little closet space was more than enough. I pulled the dress I had chosen for the luau from the garment bag and held it up. Shower first, then dress I reminded myself. I didn’t want any traces of the day’s clean up and party prep on it.

I stepped into the cool shower. My shoulders were slightly pink from the sun. No amount of sunscreen could stop the sun in Texas. The water felt good. I emerged from the shower feeling silky smooth and more like a tropical flower and less like a cactus.

I pulled my hair into a twist and clipped a big pink flower on the side. Lisa had ordered all kinds of luau accessories for Tassels Surf Shop when she heard about the party. I pulled the yellow dress over my hips and reached behind to zip it to the middle of my back. My feet slid into the sandals I had bought the first day.

I laid the Hawaiian shirt on the bed that Lisa said was for Cole. He hadn’t exactly agreed to wear it, but in the spirit of the party, he might surprise me. He still wasn’t back from the mainland maintenance run. He had fixed the icemaker and the main dryer only to be plagued with two air conditioners that had gone out. He promised they were simple fixes but he had easily been gone three hours. I checked my phone for the time. Fifteen minutes until show time.

I headed to the party.

“Don’t you look like a ray of sunshine?” Hank greeted me in the parking lot.

“Thanks, Hank.” I hugged the bartender. “Wow, it looks like a real luau out here.”

“I can’t say that I’ve ever been to Hawaii, but yeah, you put something real special together for Cole.” He beamed at me like a proud parent.

“Have you seen him anywhere?” I searched the group mulling behind the food and beer table.

“Not yet. But he’ll be here. Sometimes the mainland has traffic.”

“Traffic, huh?” I knew Hank was trying to reassure me.

“Look at you, Carolina.” Cal and Lance had returned from a quick shower. They looked clean-shaven.

“You both look handsome.” I eyed the Texas boys in their Hawaiian shirts, boots, and cowboy hats.