Yanking the door shut again, she closed her eyes and prayed. It wasn’t just for her and all the work she’d put into these perfect weddings. It was for Iris, Meredith, and Hope. Each bride was unique, beautiful, and sweet, and she loved them like the sisters she’d always wanted. She had two older brothers and they were great, but they weren’t girls.
It was too early to start making phone calls and too early to start stressing, at least that’s what she told herself. Pushing the stress away was tough. She put on a t-shirt and workout shorts and shoes and hurried out of her suite and down the stairs. The resort was filled to capacity, but it was spacious and beautiful and at five a.m., she’d bet she had the gym to herself.
Luckily, she was right. She spent some time on the rowing and elliptical machines and then did a circuit workout with hand weights, the cable machine, and even forced herself to do a set of burpees with each round.
By the time she finished, she was hot, sweaty, and tired, but she did feel more relaxed. Even if the snow messed up the plan, she would make it work. These brides were all great. They weren’t going to flip out like some Bridezilla and blame Ashley. The welcome party last night had gone amazing and all she’d heard from the Chadwick family and in-laws or future in-laws was praise and gratitude. She had to believe it would all work out just fine.
She walked from the gym, past the spa, and spied one of the indoor pools. She used her key and went inside, disappointed to find the lap pool wasn’t empty. She would’ve been tempted to strip her shirt and shoes off and swim in her sports bra and shorts. Turning, she would’ve left, but something about the man slicing through the water seemed familiar.
She crept closer. The man’s build was incredible. His muscular shoulders and back were on fine display as his strong arms cut through the water. He had a trimmed beard, which she glimpsed when he turned for a breath. He was in a good rhythm and didn’t seem to notice her. She crept closer still, hoping, praying it might be Chase Hamilton. He hadn’t chased after her yesterday and after that woman pulled him into her room, she shouldn’t be hoping to see him now.
She was at the edge of the pool when he did a kick turn and surfaced. He stood—the lap pool was only five feet deep—and tugged off his goggles. Those blue eyes and that handsome face. It was definitely Dr. Chase Hamilton. His scrubs and doctor jacket had covered his broad shoulders the first time she’d met him. Nothing covered them now. Wow. Swimming had done that body good.
“Ashley,” he said with a smile. “What are you doing here?”
“What am I doing here?” What right did he have to act like she was the one out of place? She straightened and glared at him, folding her arms across her chest. “I’m the wedding coordinator for three brides this weekend. What are you doing here?”
“Wedding coordinator.” His eyes grew thoughtful for a few seconds and then a huge smile spread across his face as if she’d just handed him the cure for skin cancer. “You’re a wedding coordinator?”
She nodded, wondering why he was so happy about it.
“So when you came to my office, you weren’t worried about your skin looking good for your own wedding but for somebody else’s?”
“My own wedding?” She put a hand to her chest. She’d planned her perfect day and thought she was marrying the perfect man. Engaged by Christmas and a spring wedding. Seven years in a row. She was definitely a slow learner, but she wouldn’t make the same mistake again. “I’m not married.”
“That is fabulous news.” He rubbed his wet hand across his bearded cheek. “Brilliant news.”
“What does it matter to you?” she demanded. He had walked willingly into that room with that woman yesterday. The lady who was going to “make all his dreams come true.” Ugh! Why was he acting so happy that Ashley wasn’t married?
He shrugged and the impressive muscles in his shoulders flexed. “Are you going to swim?”
“I just might, Dr. Hamilton.”
His eyebrows rose but he corrected softly, “It’s Chase to you.”
She swallowed. She wasn’t about to be that familiar with him, especially with the recent memory of him being led into that suite with the woman who wanted his “handsome body” in the room with her. His body was plenty handsome, but Ashley did not need another fake-charming, handsome, flirtatious, cheating man on her hands. Seven of them had been quite enough, thank you very much.
She gestured with her hands. “Go back to swimming. I don’t need you watching while I get in.”
He smirked at her. “Call me Chase and I’ll think about it.”
Ooh, he was infuriating. “Go swim.”
He arched an eyebrow and folded those beautiful arms of his across his chest.
She gritted her teeth to stop from drooling and then finally added, “Chase,” just so he’d swim and let her get in without him watching.
He grinned. “Thank you.”
Ashley ignored him, sitting on a chaise lounge by the pool and untying her shoelaces. She should go back up to her room and get her swimsuit on, but she would only get in for a few minutes to cool off and de-stress. Maybe float on her back and not worry about weddings and parties and Dr. Chase Hamilton. As she yanked off her shoes and socks, she glanced up. He hadn’t gone back to swimming as she’d instructed. The handsome man was still studying her. Not thinking about Dr. Hamilton might be difficult indeed.
She stood, tilting her chin imperiously as if him watching didn’t bother her in the least, and walked across the rough concrete and then down the pool steps. The lukewarm water felt great. She was overheated from her workout, the stress of the storm coming to mess up her weddings, and the perfect-looking doctor staring at her.
“You’re going to swim in a t-shirt and shorts?” he asked.
“What’s it to you?” she countered, plunging under the water, t-shirt and all. It kissed her cheeks and cooled her heated forehead and neck.
She rose back up. The five-foot deep lap pool covered her up to her neck and her black fitted t-shirt revealed nothing, thank heavens. She’d shown Dr. Hamilton plenty in that flimsy gown when she had a thick rash covering her entire body.
He chuckled as she emerged. “If you want to take your t-shirt off, I won’t look.”
“No, thank you, Dr. Hamilton,” she said primly.
He swam quickly up to her. She didn’t move, but her heart rate ramped up. Stopping right in front of her again, he stood. He was tall. At least half a foot taller than her five-six. The last time they’d been this close, she’d been sitting on a doctor’s table.
His gaze traveled over her. “I see a lot of skin in my profession. I’m not going to gape at you if you take your shirt off and swim in your sports bra.”
She leaned back to gaze deeper into his blue eyes. “Well, you might see a lot of skin, but you’re not going to see my skin.”
He smiled and then laughed. “I promise I’m not trying to undress you.”
“Just like you weren’t trying to undress me in your office last month?”
“Exactly.” He raised his eyebrows, all imperious and doctor-like.
In a flash of embarrassment, she realized what was going on here. She was insanely attracted to this man and he obviously didn’t reciprocate the feeling. Of course it wouldn’t bother him to see her skin; she was simply another patient.