Penelope reminded the group to look over their activity options for the week. “Don’t worry, you don’t have to make your selections this minute. Everyone starts tomorrow with the first big kickoff activity.”

“Breakfast?” the dark-haired girl asked, unrolling her silverware and placing her napkin on her lap.

“Breakfast first, of course,” Penelope agreed. “Followed by a walking tour of the hotel and grounds led by the resort owner herself. She is looking forward to showing off everything Notting Hill has to offer.”

“I saw you had paintball on the itinerary,” Carrie said, a feral gleam in her dark eyes.

“We most certainly do,” Penelope confirmed.

“Uh-oh,” Julia muttered under her breath.

Luke glanced at her and leaned closer. “What?” he whispered.

“Andie”—she tipped her chin toward her friend—“I mean Carrie, is rather, um, competitive.”

“That’s a good thing, right?” he asked, making a mental note that he’d correctly recalled her friend’s name was Andie.

“It is, as long as she wins.”

Luke chuckled.

“Oh, you laugh now. Just wait.”

“Not that I’m complaining,” Curt said, cutting into his chicken marsala, “but what’s paintball got to do with romantic stuff?”

“Paintball is a staple of many romantic comedies,” Penelope assured him.

“I never thought about it before, but that’s true,” the blond one, Bridget, whose real name he suspected was Kat, piped up.

Nice of her to join the conversation. Luke was being uncharitable, but knowing that she was here to judge everything he’d created, knowing that her opinion, and how she expressed that opinion on a very influential website, could have a significant impact on the success of this launch—not to mention his future—was gnawing at him.

“Oh, yeah?” Curt asked.

Luke was beginning to think that particular phrase made up ninety percent of this dude’s conversational skills. “Yeah,” he said, unable to stop himself.

“Like what?”

“Uh…” Luke regretted opening his mouth, and he felt his sister’s attention turn to him while he fumbled for an answer. “There’s the one with the guy who still lives with his parents.”

“Failure to Launch.” Julia supplied, saving him.

“Right!” Carrie/Andie laughed. “Sarah Jessica Parker kicked everybody’s ass in that.”

“And there’s my personal favorite,” Julia added, “10 Things I Hate About You.”

“Good one.” Bridget sighed wistfully. “Oh, Heath.”

“One of the greats, gone too soon,” Zach agreed solemnly, wrapping a comforting arm around her. She melted against him, her head resting on his shoulder.

Luke watched the exchange with annoyed curiosity. How had Romeo in skinny jeans established such an easy connection with her so quickly? The guy was good. He should be pleased. It made his job easier. He wanted to make sure the reviewer enjoyed her experience. Mission accomplished.

Still. Maybe it was just his natural pessimism, but Luke couldn’t shake the kernel of worry lodging in his gut.