SEVEN

Lily’s POV

I gasped and then swore. I didn’t want to miss any of Harper’s events, but I especially didn’t want to miss the hot springs. Running over to my suitcase, I threw it open and grabbed my swimsuit.

I changed in the bathroom and brushed my teeth before coming back into my room and finally realizing that Andrew was still there.

This fucker.

‘And unaware father of my child.’ A tiny voice in my head teased.

His eyes moved over my body and, if possible, his jaw set even harder.

“Three minutes.”

I pulled on a pair of leggings and a sweatshirt, then shoved my feet into boots.

“Who voted you to get Lily?”

“You need a jacket.”

Without thinking, I started searching for a jacket to throw on. Bending down, I searched through my suitcase for a few seconds before realizing that I was blindly following Andrew’s directions.

Snapping back upright, I put my hands on my hips and turned around to face him.

“I don’t need a jacket. I’m only going to be outside for a few minutes.”

He arched a dark eyebrow.

“Get a jacket.”

I shook my head. “No.”

He checked his watch and crossed his arms over his chest, his shoulders looking even larger.

Shit.

“One and a half minutes.”

“I’m ready to go now.”

Andrew just stared at me, a muscle in his jaw working.

He was so put together that it drove me crazy. His black hair was perfectly combed and coiffed.

This man could walk around in rags and still look like a god.

He was a majestic creature, but that didn’t mean he wasn’t an idiot. He couldn’t come into my room and boss me around.

I glanced around the room, trying to think if I needed anything else, but it was hard to think with Andrew standing in my room, looking so stern and hot.

“Do I need to bring a towel?”

“Just a jacket.”

I rolled my eyes and moved towards the door, but Andrew caught my arm and pulled me into his chest. Tilting my head back to see his face, I felt a pleasant shiver run down my spine and center itself in my core.

He leaned into me, his strong thigh pressed between mine. It had to be an accident; he couldn’t actually mean to brush his thigh against me there.

“You don’t like listening, do you?”

I swallowed and shook my head.

“Not to you.”

His eyes flashed and darkened.

“I’d enjoy teaching you to follow directions, Cookie.”

Anything smart I could’ve said flew out of my head and I found myself just staring up at him.

Something in me responded to the silent challenge in his voice and the idea of pleasing him sounded too good.

Before I could get anywhere with that slutry thought, Andrew gently pushed me away and shrugged out of his own jacket.

“You either bring your own jacket, or you wear mine.”

I eyed the expensive coat that I knew would smell like him and frowned. I couldn’t wear his jacket. Groaning, I stormed over to my suitcase and grabbed the first jacket I could get my hands on.

Thank goodness it was black.

“Fine. Let’s go.”

He walked to the door and grabbed the handle.

“Too bad. I’d have liked to see you in mine.”

I chose to ignore him and hurry down the hallway.

Despite my speed, Andrew had no issues keeping up with me. His long legs covered twice as much ground as mine. My heart was racing, but I was ignoring that, too.

I didn’t stop walking until I got to the bus and hurried to the back, scooting past Carden and Rune on the way. I made no eye contact and didn’t even breathe until I was sitting down in the back, next to another of the bridesmaids.

Grace looked up at me and smiled.

“Hey! You okay? You look like you wanna pass out.”

I forced a smile, wanting to brush off her concern. "Yeah, just a little out of breath from the rush," I replied.

From the corner of my eye, I saw Andrew get into the bus, taking his seat with his brothers.

He said something, and their eyes were instantly on me.

"Well, take it easy," she said, patting my hand as I refocused my attention back to her.

She must have said something I missed.

“We're almost there, and then you can relax in the hot springs."

I nodded gratefully.

Getting some distance from Andrew allowed me to clear my head enough to have a conversation.

“Yeah, you need it, it must be traumatizing, discovering a dead body.” Kenzie frowned from the other seat.

I bit down on my lip.

Harper nudged Kenzie with her elbow.

“Don’t say it like that.” She snapped.

And Kenzie surrendered, shooting me an apologetic look and I’d rather let it slide.

“Has her family been informed?” I asked, my question directed to Harper.

She turned to me, that distant look in her eyes and then she nodded.

“I called her boyfriend, turns out they had just broken up, but her mom will be arriving in a day of two to identify the body.”

My heart ached for Meg’s mum and how

devastated she must be feeling.

During my time with Meg, she had mentioned she was an only child.

It was all too bad and untimely.

Karly leaned to the back, where we all were.

“Do you think she killed herself because she was going through a tough breakup?” She whispered, her eyes flickering between us all.

“Don’t talk about the dead that way, we all don’t know and that’s why there’s an investigation going on.” Harper firmed, her lip on a thin line.

Kenzie leaned in. "I heard she was seeing someone else behind her boyfriend's back. Maybe she just couldn't handle the guilt."

Grace's eyes flashed with anger.

"Kenzie, that's enough! You have no idea what she was going through. Have some respect."

Kenzie rolled her eyes.

"I'm just saying, it could be a possibility."

Grace shook her head, her face flushed.

"You can't just make assumptions about someone who can't defend themselves. It's disgusting."

A tense silence fell over the group, and I shared a look with Harper.

"What's the plan?" I asked quietly.

Harper sighed, her shoulders sagging.

"Jason and I will visit Mrs. Hampton at her suite when she arrives. Rune offered to cover her expenses. We can't let her stay at the resort."

My ears perked up at the mention of one of the Blackwood brothers.

"Bad memories," I helped Harper say out.

She nodded. "Exactly."

"I'd love to come too," I offered, hoping to pay my respects and ease some of my own guilt.

"Sure," Harper agreed, offering a small smile.

"We all need this trip to the springs."

Harper turned to face the front of the bus, and I sank further into my seat.

Come to ye hot springs.

Once we got there, I wasn’t disappointed.

A tall cabin-like structure sat in front of us, on the peak of the mountain. The space around the cabin wasn’t large, and I knew from the brochure that the hot springs were behind it, the view off the back of the mountain stunning.

Snow covered the ground, and I was thankful for the jacket Andrew had forced on me.

With that thought, I looked over at him and found him studying me. My cheeks reddened and I jerked my head straight ahead to avoid looking at him again.

Glossy pale wood welcomed us into the cabin, the temperature nice and warm. Andrew made his way through the crowd of us to speak to the woman at the front desk, and I watched as she swooned under his gaze.

If only she knew how much of a jerk he is.

Or was.

I crossed my arms and looked away, yet again. Only when I looked away, I met Carden’s hot gaze. He closed the distance between us and smiled down at me.

“Hey, Cookie. If I didn’t know better, I’d say you were avoiding me.”

I glanced around and saw that no one was paying any attention to us.

“I’m not avoiding you.”

When in fact I was, I was trying to and clearly I was not doing a green job at it.

“Are you sure about that?” He leaned forward and lowered his voice.

“The suite isn’t the same without you.”

Rune walked over to us and grinned down at me.

“I wanted to come get you, but Andrew insisted it be him. He probably lectured you about being a good girl who shows up on time.”

A flutter hit low in my stomach and I crossed my arms over my chest.

‘Stop it’ my sanity would cry out.

I met Carden’s gaze again and saw the smirk on his mouth stretch wider. It was like he knew what was happening to my body.

Three bloody fuckers.

I was saved from having to own up to anything when the group of us were shown around the place. On each side of the cabin was a changing room, one for women and one for men. Doors at the back of the changing rooms led into a glass atrium that held a smaller hot spring for the faint of heart. Outside the atrium were the larger hot springs and I was pretty sure I was sticking to the inside spring.

Everything was absolutely stunning and I couldn’t wait to slip my tired body into the water. I stripped down to my bikini in the changing room and pulled a robe on to walk out.

I saw Harper and Jason heading out to the outdoor springs as I tossed my robe over one of the chairs nearby and slipped into the water.

I let out a low moan as the water came up over my thighs and then my waist. It was hot, and my skin tingled, but I loved it.

I settled on one of the rock seats at the side of it and sank down until just my head was out of the water. I sighed and let it work its magic.

The sound of someone joining me made me open my eyes and it was just in time to see Carden sitting next to me. Rune and Andrew weren’t far behind. They settled in the spring across from me, and I instantly felt naked under their glances.

Carden leaned over and pressed his fingers over my shoulder.

"You're still wearing my mark, Cookie."