She lifted her head to look at him, and the temptation to kiss her right there on that dance floor in front of her whole family was almost overwhelming. Just one problem. She hates me. “I guess you wouldn’t.”
A suspicion entered his head. “Are you drunk, Bree?”
Her smile was dreamy. “Might be.”
“How much champagne have you had?” He hadn’t been counting, but now that he thought about it, she had drained quite a few glasses.
“A lot.” She put her finger on his lips. “Don’t tell my mom, ’kay?”
“Okay.” He held on to her as she slumped against him. “Maybe we should leave now?”
“Nice idea. Take me home, Rylan.” She chuckled. “Just you, me and the crazy animals.”
He beckoned to Phoebe, who was close by. “I need to get Bree out of here.”
“I see what you mean.” Phoebe cast an experienced eye over her cousin. “Don’t worry, I’ll tell my aunt Audrey that Bree has a slight headache.”
“Thanks.” He slid an arm around Bree’s waist and walked with her to the door.
“Bye, Phoebe. Love you.” Bree waggled her fingers over her shoulder.
When they stepped outside to wait for the car, the air was biting. A few flakes of snow drifted down and landed in Bree’s hair. Ahead of them, the lights of the gondola that carried Colton guests between The Chateau and The Lodge glowed gold against the white tip of Pine Peak.
“Weren’t we dancing?” Bree swayed as she hummed a few bars of the song.
The parking attendant brought Rylan’s vehicle to the front of the building. He had already turned the heater up full blast. After tipping him, Rylan reached into the trunk to retrieve the blanket he always carried. Once Bree was settled in the passenger seat, he tucked it around her.
By the time he’d driven a few miles, Bree was asleep. Rylan smiled. If she could see herself now, she’d be mortified. Her mouth was open, her hair was springing loose from its restraints and she was snoring. Not pretty dainty snores either. Oh, no. Bree Colton sounded like a wounded warthog.
She was the most beautiful sight he had ever seen.
* * *
Bree woke to the sensation of a rock being repeatedly hammered against her skull. Groaning, she rolled onto her back. It was a mistake. The room began to spin, and her stomach rebelled. Cautiously, she returned to her side and groped for her cell phone.
Deciding there must be something wrong with the display, she placed the cell back on the table at the side of the bed. It couldn’t possibly be nearly noon. Even Bree, with her morning aversion, never slept that late.
Lying as still as possible, she tried to piece together the events of the previous night, but it remained stubbornly incomplete. The gala, particularly the last part, was like a puzzle with missing pieces.
And why can’t I remember anything about getting back here?
She sat up slowly, reaching for the glass of water that had somehow appeared beside the bed. Even if the pounding headache and nausea weren’t enough of a clue, the sandpaper tongue and dry throat completed the picture. Bree wasn’t much of a drinker, but she knew a hangover when she was in the grip of one.
Ugh. Why had she drunk so much champagne? She knew the answer to that question and it didn’t make her feel good about herself. Beneath her congratulations for the cousins who had found happiness, she had experienced a profound sadness. Just a short time ago, she had been wrapped in a similar haze. Okay, so it had been early days for her and Rylan. Had she truly believed he was “the one”?
She sighed. Everything had pointed that way. He’d been perfect... Determinedly, she forced her thoughts off the self-pity carousel and in a different direction.
Seeing other family members settling into their new lives had reminded her of what she’d lost. Which was silly, because how could she lose an illusion? It didn’t matter. She’d gone ahead and drowned the hurt in champagne.
Such a good look.
And now, she was paying the price. Her gaze took in the dress she’d been wearing. It had been placed on a hanger and suspended on the outside of the closet door. Her shoes were neatly placed together beneath it. She lifted a hand to hair and found the pins had been removed.