Feels Like Home (Southern Bride 5)

Bristol rolled her eyes and took a drink of her water. “I’m sure Annie is pissed right now, and that’s why she went to the restroom.”

I shrugged. “She’ll get over it.”

Bristol looked toward the ladies’ restroom. “Where is she, anyway?”

The waitress approached us with a wine list.

“Would you like to order a bottle of wine for the table?”

“No need,” Annie said as she walked up, a devilish smile on her face.

Bristol gave the waitress a grin. “I’ll have water for now.”

“I’ll take any draft beer y’all have.”

Annie turned to the waitress. “The lovebirds here have a change of plans for dinner.”

Bristol kicked me under the table, and I nearly cried out when the point of her high heel connected with my shin. I turned and glared at her. Her eyes went wide, and she gave me a look that said we’d been found out.

“I’m sorry, Annie, what’s going on?” Bristol asked, confused.

“Well, I realized what was happening—that the two of you have been sneaking around trying to keep your relationship under wraps—so I decided you needed a night to yourselves.”

Holy shit. This woman is about to call our bluff.

“Um, honestly, it’s totally fine. I can eat with Anson anytime,” Bristol stated.

Annie chuckled. “Nonsense. When do you find yourself in a beautiful, romantic historical inn like this? I stopped at the front desk, booked the most romantic room they had available, and I’m having dinner and a bottle of their finest champagne sent up.”

I thought Bristol was going to pass out on the spot. “H-how sweet of you.”

“Wow, Annie, that was so nice of you. But you didn’t get to talk about the tea or the subscription boxes with Bristol.”

Her eyes met mine, and she gave me what I was guessing was her best sexy smirk. Too bad it didn’t work. At least not on me.

“I’ll meet you at the tea room tomorrow, say nine? We can talk then.”

Bristol nodded. “Sure. Yes. Thank you so much, Annie.”

She raised her brows. “Well, come on, let’s go see your room.”

Bristol stood and then asked in a very confused tone, “You’re going up to the room with us?”

Annie laughed. “Only to make sure they did what I asked them to.”

“Have they even had time to do anything?” I said as I slipped my hand in Bristol’s. I nearly dropped to the floor when she squeezed it so tight my fingers felt like they might break.

“They already had it set up for a couple on their honeymoon. The husband fell and broke his leg at the reception. So, obviously, they had to cancel… How lucky are you two?”

“So lucky!” Bristol said. She was trying to seem excited, but she only sounded scared to death. “But so terrible for the couple.”

Annie moved to a door that led outside.

“Where are we going?” Bristol asked.

“The Saint John Suite. It’s in the chapel.”

I searched my memory for a chapel. It had been years since I had been here. Bristol and I had attended a wedding here once, and I didn’t remember there being a chapel.

“The chapel?” Bristol asked, fear laced in her voice. I could already see her overactive imagination running rampant. As if Annie would force us to marry on the spot and prove our love for one another.

Soon, the little white chapel came into view.

“There it is! How romantic is that!” Annie exclaimed. This time her voice was filled with excitement.

I peeked down to see Bristol’s eyes light up. “It’s beautiful.”

Annie walked up and punched in a code. After she opened the large doors to the chapel, we walked up the three steps into a beautiful open living space.

“Holy crap,” Bristol whispered as she pulled out her phone from her clutch and stood in the middle of the room.

Annie laughed. “Put your phone away, Bristol. Always thinking of your Instagram. You should be thinking about that king-size bed in the other room.”

Bristol and I both looked through the doors and to the bedroom area. Rose petals were sprinkled all over the bed.

“It’s so beautiful,” Bristol said as she walked in.

Annie glanced around the bedroom. “After seeing how adorable this place is, I don’t think we all have to rush back to Comfort first thing. How about we plan on meeting in the lobby tomorrow morning, say eight thirty?”

“Um, I don’t have a change of clothes or anything,” Bristol reminded her.

Annie winked. “Leave it all to me. Now, you two lovebirds enjoy each other.”

She turned and walked toward the doors. As she shut them, she waved and then laughed. “Enjoy your evening.” She gave me one final look and winked.

Once the door clicked, Bristol got to snapping pictures.

“Anson! Have you ever seen anything so beautiful!”

I sat down on the sofa, took my hat off, and set it on the coffee table.

“Bri?”

She was fluttering around the room taking shots from different angles. “I cannot wait to post about this place. I can’t believe I’m here!”