Worth the Risk_ A Contemporary - Megan Hart Page 0,24

a deep breath and forced herself to think rationally. Her family might be expecting her and Hal to be sequestered in their room and knocking boots all day and night, but the reality of the situation was that they barely knew each other.

"We could just take a walk around the grounds," Laila said. "It's a beautiful resort."

"Okay."

"We--we might run into my family all over the place."

He nodded. "That's okay, too. We're here to spend time with them, right?"

"Right." She took another deep breath. "You ready?"

He stepped aside so she could lead the way out the door. The sun dipped low in the sky, and the air was fresh and crisp. Laila raised her face to the breeze, willing it to whisk away all the crazy feelings she'd been having. Laila reflected that a simple fall breeze wouldn't be enough. She'd probably need a hurricane.

Hal took her hand as they walked, almost as naturally as if they truly were a couple. "Hey, guys!" Ruth called to them from a short distance. "Where'd you disappear to?"

"We were a little tired, so we headed back to the room for a nap." The lie slipped out so easily that Laila felt guilty.

Ruth smiled and winked. "Sure you did."

Hal put his arm around Laila and bent to nuzzle her cheek. "Sure, we did."

Ruth laughed. "You crazy kids. Oh, to be young and in love again."

"You talk like you and Frank are old farts sitting around knitting socks," Laila said. Ruth was only three years older than she.

"Honey," Ruth said in a forced, thick, New York accent. "When youse've been married as long as me and Frank, getting a little action means getting the kids to bed early so you can fall asleep watching television together."

Hal put up his hands in mock fear. "Ruth, you're scaring me off. Laila's just about convinced me that walking down the aisle is the greatest thing since sliced bread. Don't ruin it!"

Laila glanced at him shrewdly. Just about convinced him? Hal was good, really good. He was setting things up nicely for a break up.

"Yeah, Ruth," Laila chimed in. "Don't talk like that to Mr. Commitment-Is-A-Dirty-Word, here."

Hal laughed a little too hard. "C'mon, Laila. You know I've always said that in order to be committed, you have to be insane!"

Now Ruth looked uneasily at them. Laila knew she'd better ease off. She didn't want to ruin Bubbe and Zayde's celebration, which meant the break up couldn't happen until just before the week ended. They still had to get through four more days.

"Oh, David," Laila said with as much forced joviality as she could muster. She punched his arm playfully. "You're such a joker."

She was proud of the way he caught on. "Oh, Laila. You know I'm insane. Insane for you!"

He lifted her in the air and twirled her around, smacking kisses on her cheek that made her giggle. When he put her down, Ruth just shook her head at them.

"Anyway, thanks for your help with Henry earlier. He's so accident-prone, it's a wonder I don't have a head of gray hair." Ruth smoothed her dark hair back from her forehead.

"Any time," Hal answered smoothly. "I hope he's doing okay."

Ruth paused before answering to point into the distance. Henry ran after Noah, who in turn chased one of the girl cousins. The children ran around and around the baseball field, sending their laughing shouts through the crisp fall air.

"I'd say he's doing fine," Ruth said wryly. "And I'm off to get a massage."

Laila oohed. "That sounds nice!"

"Lots of us are getting one. You should get one, too!" Ruth rolled her head on her shoulders, wincing. "They come right to your room and do it."

Laila thought of her already rapidly depleting bank account and shrugged. Even with Ian's insurance money to pad her bank account, this trip was costing a fortune. "Maybe some other time. It's pretty expensive."

"Then just get your man there to give you one," Ruth said, setting off. "He looks like he'd be pretty good at it!"

When Ruth had passed out of hearing range Hal said, "I could give you a massage, if you want."

"Hal, that's not part of the package." Laila headed toward the small bridge spanning a chuckling stream. In the summer time, there'd be ducks. Today only the water rippled through the grass.

"No, I mean it." Hal followed her over the charming log bridge and along the trail through a small patch of woods. "A real massage. That's what I'm going to school for."

That stopped her.