The Unexpected Honeymoon by Barbara Wallace

disappeared. “Good thing I decided against having a third piece of cake or they’d still be waiting.”
    â€œWould you like—” He had his hand half up, ready to flag Miguel, when she grabbed his forearm.
    â€œThanks, but I’ve already had two pieces too many. As it is, I’ll have to starve myself tomorrow to make up for the calories.”
    â€œAh, but surely you’ve heard calories don’t count in paradise.”
    â€œTell that to my hips.”
    â€œYour hips have nothing to complain about.” Her flush must have made him realize how his compliment sounded because she caught a tinge of pink creeping across his cheekbones. His gaze swept downward, to his forearm where her hand continued to rest. She knew she should move, but she couldn’t. Like when you touch a hot stove and are unable to pull back quickly despite the sizzle.
    Finally, he broke contact with her, sliding his arm free so he could straighten the paperwork. “Thank you again for all your assistance.”
    â€œUm, my pleasure.” Larissa grabbed her water, hoping to hide her embarrassment. “What else was I going to do tonight? Take myself for a moonlit stroll?”
    What Larissa didn’t want to tell him was how much she enjoyed his company. Once you got past the stiffness, she discovered he had a very easy way about him. They worked surprisingly well together, too. Carlos was genuinely open to her suggestions, limiting his challenges to budgets and logistics. He contributed a few ideas of his own as well, which surprised her. Not that he had ideas, but the kind of ideas he put forth. For a man who claimed to be “empty” he had a knack for suggesting small, romantic gestures to complement her big picture ideas. More than once, Larissa wondered if his suggestions came from professional or personal experience. Did he, for example, leave orchids on his wife’s pillow? If so she’d been a lucky woman, Larissa decided, with a pang in her stomach.
    â€œI’m afraid you may have to take that stroll anyway,” Carlos told her. He pointed to his watch. “The last launch departed ten minutes ago.”
    â€œIt did?” She’d truly lost track of time. “And here I swore tonight I’d get a better night’s sleep.”
    â€œFortunately, you’re on vacation. Going to bed late is part of the bargain.”
    â€œYou mean like calories not counting?”
    â€œExactly.” Slipping the papers into their file, he rose to his feet. “I’ll walk you back to your villa.”
    â€œThere’s no need. I’m sure I’ll be perfectly safe.” Wasn’t as though she was wandering some anonymous street in Mexico. “If not, I’ve got pepper spray in my bag.”
    â€œI won’t ask how you got a weapon through customs,” he said with a chuckle. “But I do insist on walking you. Even in the safest of resorts, unexpected accidents can occur.
    â€œBesides,” he added, the words coming out low and close to her ear. “It would be rude of me to let you travel unescorted.”
    Heaven forbid,
Larissa thought, tugging at her shawl. With the way his voice sent shivers traveling down her spine, she’d rather the rudeness.
    Â 

CHAPTER FIVE
    â€œT ELL   ME   ABOUT New York City,” Carlos said once they’d left the restaurant. “What do you do there?”
    â€œYou mean, when I’m not planning weddings?” She gave her shawl another tug. If she pulled any tighter, she’d choke herself with the silk, but at least the action gave her something to do with her hands. She’d tried leaving them down by her sides, but felt awkward swinging her fingers near the edge of his jacket, like she was waiting for him to snatch her hand in his grip. Larissa wondered if he felt the awkwardness, too, because he had his hand stuffed deep in his pockets.
    â€œI work for an advertising