White Oak Christmas by Aileen Fish

Author:Aileen Fish [Aileen Fish]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: anonymous
Published: 2023-11-29T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Two

Lauren shifted her carry-on bag under one arm as she, Nicole, Trevor and Ryan left the security check at the port.

Trevor asked his bride-to-be, Nicole, “Are you ready for this?”

“I couldn’t be more ready.” She giggled and bounced on her heels. “Let’s board this thing and get settled in.”

“Getting to our rooms won’t make your wedding day come any faster,” Ryan said with laughter in his voice. “It’s five days away no matter what.”

“Yes, but if we don’t board we won’t go to Kauai and the license is no good anywhere but Hawaii.” Nicole sounded like an overworked mom talking to her children.

Lauren listened to the banter, reveling in the happiness in her friend’s voice. Trevor sounded happy, too, but having just met him, she couldn’t judge how much so—as if it’s possible to measure someone’s happiness.

Trevor was very handsome, and he looked good with Nicole. His brother…man, he was hot! A little on the thin side for her tastes, but so muscular. His thick brown hair was cut short enough to stay neat on most guys, but was wild, untamed, very bad-boy movie star. His brown eyes laughed whenever their gazes met.

“Oh, wait, you guys,” Nicole said after they checked in. “I want a picture of all of us.”

A camera sat on a tripod in front of an ocean backdrop, and a photographer snapped a photo of an elderly couple. A line of people waited, but Nicole walked over to join them.

The others followed. When their turn came, Trevor and Ryan stood outside Nicole and Lauren. Just before the camera snapped, Ryan casually draped his arm around Lauren’s waist. There was a photo she could show off at work.

In front of her a pair of young women began chattering excitedly. Lauren glanced up, saw nothing of interest, and looked away. Then she heard what they were saying.

“It is too her. Look.” The blonde showed her phone to the other girl as they continued up the ramp. “See?”

The one with purple hair checked out the phone, then Lauren. “You’re right.”

The next thing Lauren knew, they were taking her picture. They walked so slowly they were blocking the ramp, but Lauren didn’t want to stop because they’d keep shooting pictures.

Ryan must have seen what was happening, for he stepped in front of Lauren, blocking their view of her. He continued forward with a purpose, forcing the girls to move or get run over. They chose to move. Turning their backs on Lauren and friends, the girls hurried up the gangway.

Lauren glanced behind her at Nicole and Trevor. “Why did they want my picture? Or is one of you a celeb and didn’t tell me?”

“You didn’t tell her?” Trevor asked.

“Tell her what?” asked Nicole.

“You didn’t watch the Kings game.” Trevor stated it as a fact, not a question.

“I don’t like hockey,” she said.

Dread crept up and began to envelop Lauren. She knew what had happened to her during the game, but why would the guys? Or total strangers? “Why should she have watched the game?”

Ryan slowed to walk beside her.

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