The bed was heart-shaped, and after she examined it, she saw that it was also motorized. It could spin in a slow circle, like a merry-go-round, or gyrate, or both. It had a grandiose, flamboyant lacy canopy overhead. White doilies covered every surface of the room—over the back of the red loveseat, under the old TV, over the back of the armchair, and in the middle of the desk. Cloth rose petals had been strewn all over the room, and several bundles of balloons floated in different parts of the room—Mylar hearts, and standard red, white, and pink. She counted three vases of actual roses—perhaps the only classy thing in here, but their heady aroma was almost sickening in this close, hot space. Heart-shaped streamers were draped from corner to corner, and cutout cupids and hearts had been pasted to the walls. In the little fridge, she found a bowl of berries, several different types of cheeses, water crackers, a local yogurt, of all things, some chocolates, and a chilled bottle of champagne.

The bathroom had been decorated as well, with cutout hearts, streamers, and another vase of roses. The bath had several bath-bombs near it, all in rose scent.

She walked back into the bedroom, looked around again, and laughed—real laughter this time. Finally, she grabbed the champagne from the fridge and took it into the bathroom with her.

She’d get Stuart back for this. That was for sure.

Chapter Three

Despite the cold weather, or perhaps because of it, the brewery was packed. Ryann paused on the small patio outside to collect herself before going in. She’d managed to delay this moment all afternoon, but this was finally it. Stuart and Jai were waiting for her, and if she tried to put off seeing them again, Stuart, at least, would come looking for her. She wasn’t entirely sure why she was so hesitant, but she was.

This morning in the hotel—was it only this morning?—she’d taken a long bath, called the airline, spent the extra money to have her found luggage expedited to her here, and then napped until it showed up in the late afternoon. Of course, only one of her suitcases had made it to Denver, but at least she had some more clothes, her chargers, her makeup, and her heavier coat. She’d slept some more, and then she’d finally called Stuart, arranging to meet him in the early evening rather than in her room right then and there. She tried to sleep a little longer, gave up, watched the market on TV for a while, and then got ready, putting herself into meticulous order before walking down the street to the brewery, some twenty minutes late now.

And still, she hesitated.