Total pages in book: 77
Estimated words: 77551 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 388(@200wpm)___ 310(@250wpm)___ 259(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 77551 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 388(@200wpm)___ 310(@250wpm)___ 259(@300wpm)
The memory of our kisses, our frantic fuck in the back of the car...
Already my groin is responding.
“Why don’t we all hang out?” June says. “You don’t mind, do you, Misty?”
“As a matter of fact—”
“That sounds great,” I say, wishing I could take Sienna in my arms and carry her up to my suite, “but Misty and I have plans.” I take her hand. “Come on.”
“Wait,” Sienna says. “That’s not everyone. What about Ariel? And Alex?”
“Oh!” June clamps her hand on her mouth. “You don’t know, do you? They’re off the market. Alex chose Ariel. She’s got a billionaire!”
“Alex chose Ariel?” Sienna says quietly.
“Yeah.” I regard her. She looks...not upset, really. Just surprised.
“One down,” I say, smiling at Sienna. I turn to the three other women. “Could you excuse me for a minute? Alex wanted me to say something to Sienna.”
“Oh. Sure. I guess.” Misty shrugs. “Come on, ladies.”
Misty, June, and Heather walk through the foyer and out of earshot.
“Hey,” I say. “This was all planned before...”
“I get it.”
“But tomorrow I want to see you, okay? Spend time with you and only you.”
She smiles, this time not as weakly. “That sounds good.”
I lean toward her and brush my lips over hers. “It’s good to see you, dancing queen.”
Her cheeks burn bright red. “Nice to see you too. What I really need is a shower. Maybe I’ll see you later?”
“You don’t want to wait until tomorrow?” I ask.
“Brett,” she says, “I don’t think I want to wait another minute.”
“God, you’re killing me, woman.” My cock is ready to spring through my jeans.
“Go on. She’s waiting.” Sienna heads toward the staircase.
I adjust things in my crotch and then go out the back way. Misty is waiting on the deck.
“Ready?” I ask her.
“Yes. I’m sorry I was late. It’s kind of in my genes, I guess.” Then she laughs. “Or not in my genes, after all, since it turns out I was adopted. But my whole life, my mother told me a lady is always fashionably late. She taught me all the rules about being a hotel heiress. But that’s about all she taught me. She let my father deal with everything else. And it was brutal.”
I imagine it was. She already told us how her father made her swim until her body ached, hold her breath until she nearly drowned.
We don’t talk much as we walk to the beach. We pass Sebastian and Emily, who are already on their dessert.
After a quick hello, we walk on to our table.
I hold out the chair for Misty and then take a seat across from her.
A server comes by and fills our champagne glasses, and Misty raises hers.
“To finding our roots,” she says.
I clink my glass to hers.
I know my roots. I try not to think about them, but being here with my three best friends has brought it all back.
So why not?
Why not go back? Tell Misty everything I know? I never talk about Jake, but perhaps it’s time. And if Misty is truly his sister—and I believe she is—she deserves to know.
I set my glass down.
“I’m going to tell you about someone truly special,” I begin. “I’m going to tell you about your brother.”
EPISODE 170
CATHARSIS
Sebastian
“What do you mean there were five of you?” Emily queries. “I don’t understand.”
I breathe in and set my guitar down. “I shouldn’t have said that.”
The server interrupts us with an appetizer of coconut shrimp with mango salsa. “The shrimp are coated in a crispy mixture of shredded coconut and panko breadcrumbs. The salsa is a mix of ripe mango, diced red onion, chopped cilantro, lime juice, and a hint of jalapeño for a touch of heat. Enjoy.” He bows and leaves quickly.
“Are you going to answer me?” Emily asks again as she swirls a shrimp in the salsa.
“No,” I say. “I’m not.”
She rolls her eyes. “Very well, then. This will be a long dinner if we don’t speak.” She takes a bite of shrimp.
We sit in silence, the only noise the clinking of our silverware and the crashing of the waves in the distance. I pick at my food, glancing at her every so often. Emily's icy blue eyes are piercing, yet so alluring. They hold a certain intensity that I’ve been drawn to since the first night.
The server returns with an avocado and citrus salad.
We murmur our thanks, and I take a sip of my bourbon.
Emily eats slowly and with sophistication. She seems so worldly, though maybe it’s just her classy British accent.
We finish our salads, and then our main course of grilled mahi mahi with pineapple and roasted root vegetables.
Silence...
Sometimes I like it.
Though I can tell Emily is biting her tongue to keep from talking. She’s usually pretty blunt, but her mind is clearly elsewhere. After all, she chose Alex for this date. I’m simply the consolation prize. Consequently, I don’t feel the need to be overly entertaining, despite the fact that I’d take her to bed in an instant.