Hardin Scott has been madly in love with Tessa Young since the moment he first laid eyes on her, but there's no way she could ever see him as anything more than a friend. After all, he's a bad boy with a promiscuous past and she's a sweet and innoce...
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As I'm walking toward the door, I abruptly stop and turn around to face Hardin.
"What's wrong?" he asks.
"Nothing." I move closer to him and wrap my arms around his neck as I look up at him. "I just wanted to thank you again for this trip. This is going to be the best Valentine's Day and anniversary."
"I don't know, Tess... Making love on the roof under the stars will be hard to top." He chuckles.
"That's true." I give a shy smile.
"Unless... this anniversary we make a baby," he says as he tucks my hair behind my ear.
"Hardin," I begin to say as I gently caress his cheek. "I love you, but you're banned from saying 'baby' this weekend," I half joke.
"Then I guess I'll have to start calling you sweetheart." He chuckles.
"Come on, let's check in." I drag Hardin inside with me.
As we're walking through the foyer, I can't help but admire all the beautiful antiques and decorations adorning the cozy house. "Hardin, look at all these amazing Valentine's decorations!" I exclaim.
"Yeah... It looks like Cupid threw up in here." He cringes.
"Be nice! It's beautiful and very festive!"
"Tess, how about you check us in? When I called to book our room, that woman was way too chatty for me. I don't need to hear about how old this house is or how wonderful the view is for the hundredth time," Hardin groans.
"Did you just bring me here so you could complain all weekend?" I roll my eyes at him.
"No. I brought you here so we could f—"
I immediately cover Hardin's mouth before he can finish his sentence. "You said you'd behave!"
"Sorry," he mumbles while my hand still covers his mouth.
After I make sure Hardin isn't going to announce his sexual desires to the entire room, I go to check us in. "Hi! We booked a room for Tessa Young and Hardin Scott," I say politely to the older woman behind the desk.
"Oh, yes! The lovely young engaged couple!"
"Engaged?" Sometimes I forget Hardin and I are actually engaged and I still have an urge to call him my boyfriend.
"Yes. Your fiancé was very adamant on the phone about getting you the best room." She quietly laughs.
"Oh." I can feel myself start to blush. Just when I think the man is impossible to deal with, he does something like this.
"Here you are, dear!" she says cheerfully as she passes me a key and some papers. "This weekend we have some Valentine's themed activities for our guests to participate in. Just look them over and fill out which ones you'd like to do." She smiles.
"Oh, that sounds so fun! I definitely will." I smile back.
"I'm Betty, by the way. If you need anything else, you can just ask me or my husband, Ed. We hope you enjoy your stay, Miss Young."
"Thank you. And please, call me Tessa!" I smile before grabbing the keys and papers and meeting up with Hardin again.
As we're walking up the stairs to our room, Hardin questions me about the papers I'm holding. "What are those for?"
"Oh, they're Valentine's activities we can sign up for this weekend." I smile brightly.
"I know that look... Please, Tessa, don't sign us up for too many. We have lots of other things to do this weekend."
"Like what?" I ask curiously.
"Like making grandchildren for my mum." He smirks.
"Hardin! I thought I banned you from talking about that!"
"I didn't say the 'B' word," he says innocently.
"Smart-ass." I roll my eyes.
We finally reach our room and when I open the door I can't help but smile as I look around. It's perfect. It's both cozy and romantic. There are beautiful decorative cushions everywhere, a beautiful comforter set on the bed, a fireplace and a gigantic bathtub.
"Wow, Tess, this place actually has more of those froufrou cushions than you do!" He chuckles.
"Don't bad mouth those cushions! They're the only reason you got lucky on that rooftop," I point out.
"True." He chuckles. "Tess, is it okay if I leave you to unpack? I have to run out and get something."
"You do? What?"
"Uh... just something I forgot to bring."
"Oh, okay. I love you."
"I love you. Be back soon!"
While Hardin's gone, I take the time to unpack a few things and sit down to go over the list of activities. There are so many options. You can arrange flowers, make Valentine's cards, bake Valentine's treats and so many more. I pick a few of my favourites. Hardin was sweet to bring me here this weekend and I don't want to force him into too many girly things.
As I'm getting ready to go downstairs to drop off my list, Hardin finally walks through the door mumbling something to himself. "Hardin? What's wrong?"
"I just ran into the most insufferable woman on my way up here," he says angrily.
"Another guest?"
"Yeah. She accused me of running into her when she wasn't watching where she was going and then she looked me up and down, like she was judging my tattoos and clothing."
"Hardin, don't let her bother you. There's nothing wrong with the way you look. I find it quite appealing." I smile at him, trying to help calm him.
"Okay, Tess," he whispers. "I have something for you." He smiles that beautiful smile that really makes his dimple pop.
"You do?" I ask excitedly. "Is that where you really went?"
"Yes." He chuckles. "Here you are... sweetheart," he says and passes me a lovely bouquet of lilies.
"Hardin..." I say in shock. I take them from his hand and immediately bring them to my nose. "They're beautiful. Thank you so much. But Valentine's isn't until Sunday."
"They're anniversary flowers."
"I love them. How come you didn't get me roses?"
"I know lilies are your favourite."
"You do?"
"Of course, Tess."
"Wow," I say while I continue to smell them.
"I know Zed always bought you roses, and I thought about telling him your favourite flowers were lilies, but I decided to let him make an ass out of himself, hoping you'd dump him."
"That was a very diabolical plan, Mr. Scott." I laugh.
"Too bad you were too polite for it to work. So, what have you been up to while I was gone?"
"I finished picking out activities for us to do!"
"I'm afraid to ask..." Hardin groans.
"Come on, our first activity starts in fifteen minutes!" I place my lilies on the dresser before pulling Hardin out the door with me.
