it takes to be doing things right, from day to day.”
“Your low standards aren’t without their appeal.”
He leaned over to smirk down at her. “Neither are yours,” he said, clearly meaning her romantic standards of late.
She stared up at his handsome face, that bone-melting smile. Their shared gaze lingered longer than was platonic, and she wished he’d lean down and kiss her, window be damned. Instead he reached over and swept her hair from her face, gently finger-combing it into order. His attention had drifted from her eyes to her throat or chin, and she watched him swallow.
“I better let you get some sleep,” he said.
“You, too,” she agreed, though the last thing she wanted was for him to leave her side. “I hope your plane’s okay out there.”
“She will be,” Will said, getting to his feet. “She’s seen far worse than this. Anything else you need, madame guest?”
Leigh shook her head. “No, I’ll be okay.”
“I’m sure you will.” He opened the door to the steam room and murmured a discreet, “Sleep well, Leigh.”
“Good night, Will.”
6
L EIGH WOKE IN UTTER confusion, scrambling to remember where the heck she was. It came back in a flash and her body relaxed, then tensed all over again as she wondered how poor Bethany was faring with her labor. A knock on the sauna door cut off her fretful thoughts, and she found Will’s face framed in the window, his eyes shut.
“I’m decent,” she called, sitting up, tossing aside the blanket and knotting the robe. She rubbed her tight back as Will slipped inside.
“Sleep okay?” he asked.
“Not bad. I wish Bethany could say the same.”
“I went to see them early this morning. They used your suite, then the labor really kicked in and Bethany was moved back to the infirmary.”
Leigh breathed easier to hear their scheme had gone off without a hitch. “And the baby?”
“Still taking its sweet time.”
“Speaking of time...” Leigh found her phone under the pillow. “Nine o’clock. My goodness.”
“The storm’s just about over. I already went to check and make sure my meal ticket still has both her wings. Most everyone’s already eaten, so forgive me for running off, but I’m starving and the workers’ breakfast will be over soon.”
“Can I join you?”
Will’s expression turned hesitant.
“It’d be more fun than going up and ordering room service and eating by myself.”
“The staff will wonder why you’re eating with the workers.”
“Let them. Let them think I’m a dimwit who wandered in thinking it was a buffet.” Leigh slipped on her sandals and tidied her hair. “We all just survived a wind storm. I’m sure they’ve got plenty of things to worry about besides one misplaced guest.”
Will relented. “Fine. You slept on a bench last night, after all. Guess you’ve earned some indulging.”
He gathered her bedclothes and slipped outside, leaning against the door and blocking the window while she dressed. He gave her a signal when the coast was clear. Leigh and her bag exited without detection, and Will led the way back to the pool area. A buffet station was set up against one wall, only a few workers still eating off their laps on lounge furniture and sleeping pads. Oscar and Bethany’s kids were back. Their babysitter was beside them, reading a book, but they were conked out. The little girl had fallen asleep with her feet dangling in the pool, her normally noisy mouth slack and silent. Her older brother was curled into a snoring ball.
Leigh and Will fetched food and sat on deck chairs, facing the pool’s calm blue water. She had to laugh, not just at the kids, but at everything.
He shot her a curious smile. “What?”
“Just my honeymoon. That I slept in a steam room, and here I am eating breakfast on a deck chair with you.”
“Can’t blame the storm or your fiancé on those two particular facts,” he said.
“Ex-fiancé. And no, I wasn’t blaming anyone. Just thinking,
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