Not in costume. Of course. “I feel so at one with Middle Earth here.”
“Halloween isn’t until next month.” He took off his jacket and wrapped me in it. “Were you thinking you were actually going to a live movie set?”
“No.” I aimed for sounding a little hurt. It must’ve worked because he backed off.
“I mean, don’t get me wrong. You make a gorgeous … whatever creature that is.” He looked me up and down, his gaze lingering in a few strategic areas. “I’d ravish you if I were prince of the elves or whatever.” But then he pushed my hair back. “Are those pointy ears?”
“Do you want me to be myself or not?” I planted my foot and shrugged off his coat, shoving it back in his arms. “Then, this is what you get. I’m Amanda, queen of the elves, which means I require a king, not a prince. Are you man enough to be my king?”
Calvin straightened. “Oh, I’m man enough.” On either side of him, he hefted my two suitcases. “In fact, I’m man enough to hoist your luggage off the baggage claim. What have you got in here? Gold bars?”
“Please. Only dragons hoard their gold. And they keep it underground.” I patted his arm and headed for customs. He could be my porter. I was the queen—and enjoying every second of watching him squirm. We exited to the wide New Zealand world. “It’s all the things I knew I’d need for this trip. No sense traveling light.”
“No one would accuse you of sense.” He lofted my bags into the trunk of what must be our rental. “Look, there’s Parley. No weirdness, okay? Just be yourself.”
This was myself. My New Zealand self. The woman who could channel the strength to feign sincere interest in Calvin Turner. “I look forward to your introducing me to the peasants.”
“Amanda.” Calvin aimed the first serious countenance at me I’d ever seen on his face. “Quit it.”
Two people approached, obviously Parley and his bride Ellen. Calvin had coached me on their names, appearances, likes, and so on—as well as details of the other probable guests in the wedding party. I smiled at them like the Serious Girlfriend I was.
“Calvin!” Parley gave him one of those half-hug-half-back-slap hugs. “This must be Amanda—the girl who made you say the dreaded word girlfriend.”
“Next thing you know, he’ll be getting a houseplant. A live one.” I shook his hand.
“Or—gasp—a pet.” Parley turned to Calvin. “You made it just in time. I thought you’d be here half an hour ago.”
“We were.” Calvin smirked at me. “Amanda took a little detour disembarking.”
All eyes were on me. Ellen’s sparked to life. “You didn’t tell me Calvin was dating a movie star.” She had a Kiwi accent that sounded so cute. How could I get one of those? “I’m Ellen.” She inclined her head, as if I were actual royalty. Ha. I loved her already.
Parley didn’t seem at all fazed by my getup. “Nice to meet you, Amanda. There isn’t time for lengthy introductions. We’ve got too many activities planned. Follow me in your rental car and we’ll meet you on a foothill of Ben Lomond. Everyone’s waiting. Inflatable human hamster sphere rolling contest—be there or be hexagonal.”
“Be hexagonal! Now look who’s the nerd,” Calvin muttered after Parley and Ellen ducked into their car, and we got in ours. “Ellen had better not be changing him.” He maneuvered us onto the highway.
“Women always change their men—whether the men are aware of it or not.” I’d seen it many times.
“Men don’t change.” Calvin darted a look at me. “I can’t believe they didn’t laugh you off the planet. You’re not wearing that all day, are you?”
“Do you want me to take the time to change? Everyone’s waiting, they said.” I liked my dress. Besides the fact it was gorgeous, it bugged Calvin. Win. “I refuse to do this trip by halves. You should appreciate that.”
“Well, you didn’t live up to your girlfriend role back there.” He stayed right on Parley’s bumper as we drove. “Are you serious about wanting the trip to Hobbitville or not?”
“It’s Hobbiton,” I said reflexively, before realizing—again, too late—that he was baiting me. “There wasn’t time. Did you want me to attack you with kisses right in front of them?”
Their lead-car took us up a winding road to the foothills of towering, snow-capped Ben Lomond.
“Don’t forget your day trips are at stake, Amanda.”
Was that a warning or a tease? “I will live up to my commitment”—my voice lowered and was surprisingly husky—“when it’s not tacky to do so.”
Calvin swiveled his head toward me, an imp possessing his face. “I’ll be convinced when I experience it.”
I straightened my crown. “I’ll be the queen of convincingness.” Why was my heart pounding?
We pulled into the lot and parked beside Parley and Ellen. She ran up to my window. “I’m so glad you’re here. I have heard so much about Calvin but nothing about you yet. You’ll have to tell me all about yourself after this race.”
“Race? What race?”