Total pages in book: 75
Estimated words: 74940 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 375(@200wpm)___ 300(@250wpm)___ 250(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 74940 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 375(@200wpm)___ 300(@250wpm)___ 250(@300wpm)
“Is that why you’re here, then? To find someone to care about you? Are you looking for love? Or are you simply looking for a friend?”
She’s quiet another moment, but then she stands and picks up the Chanel she was sitting on. “This was a gift from my mother for my last birthday. It came by courier along with a diamond pendant with a typed card.”
“It’s a gorgeous piece,” I say. “It should be on a padded silk hanger, not thrown on a sofa.”
“You’re right, of course.” Misty gazes around the room at the garments strewn everywhere. “I guess I take my clothes for granted. I don’t really care about them. They’re how my mother shows her love and it frankly pisses me off. A typed card!” She scoffs.
I stand, gently picking up the Herrera sheath. “Let’s put these away, shall we?”
One by one, Misty and I pick up her designer dresses and hang them in the bedroom closet.
Once done, I turn to her. “These are things, Misty. Beautiful things, but they’re just things, and that’s coming from a fashion designer. I love what I do. I create beauty. I help women feel beautiful when they wear my clothes, but true beauty comes from in here.” I touch my chest. “I’m sorry your mother showed her love with mere things, Misty. I am. But some people don’t know any other way.”
Misty nods, swallowing. “You asked why I came here.”
“I did.”
“Can you tell me why you came here?”
“To meet a billionaire,” I say succinctly.
It’s not a lie. It’s just not the whole truth.
Misty looks at the gorgeous array of clothes in her closet and then she turns and meets my gaze. “I came here for one thing. One person. River Barrett.”
I draw in a breath to stay calm, even though I want to claw Misty’s eyes out for touching my man. Except he’s not my man. I don’t even want him. Which of course is an acidic lie.
I’m not surprised at Misty’s words. Sienna told me as much. But since then, I’ve had some incredible sex with River...and some budding feelings I didn’t expect.
I gaze into Misty’s blue eyes. Does she know about River and me? Was this little chat intentional on her part?
“Well, they’re all gorgeous and rich, right?” I say. “You could fall for Brett or Alex. Sebastian is sexy, and that voice...” For a moment I recall the orgasm he gave me in his suite the first night. Where it might have gone if we hadn’t been interrupted.
But the look on Misty’s face contorts to one of... Is it determination? Resolve? Tenacity? Or downright vehemence? She narrows her eyes. “It has to be River. He’s the only one I want.”
EPISODE 81
BETRAYAL AND BLACKMAIL
River
I’m pretty damned close to pulling out my hair in large clumps. First Brett and his secret love for Jake has morphed into some warped need to have Misty—Jake’s supposed half-sister—stay on the island. Second, there’s Emily and my incessant attraction to her. But she probably fucked Brett in the hot tub and has accused us of monitoring the women’s rooms. Third, Seb and his edicts. Who the fuck does he think he is?
But truly, what’s aching at me the most is all the secrets I’ve been forced to keep—we’ve all been forced to keep—because of Brett’s idea all those years ago.
Brett, who, as it turns out, I don’t fucking know at all. My trusted best friend.
Fuck it all.
I draw in a breath and attempt to calm down. Doesn’t work. I grit my teeth and storm out of my suite with my carry-on bag.
When I pass Evangeline’s door, I’m surprised to find it open. She’s standing inside her living area puffing on a cigarette—even though this is a non-smoking facility.
Yeah. Who the fuck cares? I could use a smoke right now myself. Either that or a bourbon. Or a fucking knock on the head with a mallet.
She motions me in. “River, there’s a problem,” she says. “Close the door.”
A problem? Shocking. What else could go wrong? This must be Murphy’s Law at its finest.
“What is it?” I throw my bag onto her plush carpeting and pace to the window.
“It’s Rachel and Ginger.”
Jesus fuck. Of course it is. I turn and meet Evangeline’s gaze. “What about them?”
She blows out the smoke she inhaled and gulps audibly. “They’re gone. They left the hospital overnight against medical advice. The hospital won’t give me any information except to say that they’re gone.”
“Of course they won’t give you any information,” he says. “Doctor-patient confidentiality and all.” I sift my fingers through my hair. “Fuck. How far could they get? Have you tried all their contact numbers?”
“Of course, I have. Nothing.”
“Maybe they’re on their way back to the States.”
She nods, her lips trembling as she takes another drag on her cigarette. “That’s my assumption. But Sebastian wants them back here. He told me to do whatever it took to make things right and get them back on the island. That’s why I called the hospital this morning.”