Total pages in book: 71
Estimated words: 73462 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 367(@200wpm)___ 294(@250wpm)___ 245(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 73462 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 367(@200wpm)___ 294(@250wpm)___ 245(@300wpm)
Jake nods. “I don’t want anything to spoil your big day tomorrow,” he says. “My story can wait. Tonight and tomorrow are about you.”
Staffers serve us a sumptuous dinner of grilled lobster dripping in garlic butter, jerk chicken with charred pineapple salsa, coconut rice, roasted plantains, and rum-soaked everything.
“Best Alex stories!” Sebastian shouts after swallowing a mouthful of lobster.
I open my mouth to speak when a few male staffers drag out the oversized woven rugs from the yoga room and lay them down in uneven circles across the ground. A few women scatter dried flower petals in a slow, methodical trail, like they’re marking a path.
“What the…” Brett starts.
The staffers continue, arranging beach stones and then pouring salt around them. One of the bartenders lights a bundle of dried flowers—lavender, maybe something local—and the air shifts. Smoky floral scents catch in my throat.
Someone pulls a speaker out from behind a potted palm and cues up a playlist full of drums and low, pulsing beats.
“What exactly did you tell Evie you wanted tonight, Al?” Seb asks.
Alex shakes his head. “This isn’t for me. I swear.”
“Is it for the women then?” I ask. “Emily told me they were celebrating on the beach.”
“Got me.” Alex shrugs.
We finish our dinner and instead of dessert, we sip on a smoky Armagnac. Damn, it’s smooth.
“So about those Alex stories,” Jake says but then widens his eyes.
“Hey, big fella.” A gorgeous blonde dressed in a flowing silk robe embroidered with dragons slides into view.
It’s Jazz, Ariel’s friend from home.
Shouldn’t she be—
She sheds the robe to reveal a lacy red teddy. “I’ve got a special present for our bachelor tonight.”
EPISODE 240
COMPLICATED
Emily
An hour earlier…
Evangeline put together a gorgeous beach party for Ariel’s sendoff. The tropical buffet stretches along a table lit with hurricane lanterns, the scent of grilled pineapple and roast chicken wafting through the ocean breeze. Coconut shrimp in stacked in carved-out coconuts, mango ceviche in halved passion fruits, and colorful skewers of roasted plantains, bell peppers, and marinated pork. Bowls of jasmine rice sit beside trays of spicy crab cakes and lime mahi mahi. Even the fruit platter looks like a work of art—dragon fruit, papaya, and starfruit fanned out like a sunset.
A champagne tower sparkles next to a rum bar. It’s indulgent, lush, and completely over-the-top—just like Ariel deserves. She’s a lovely girl, and the one I first got to know here on the island.
I still adore her, but I suppose I’m closest to Sienna now.
Sienna has a pretty smile pasted on her face, and her hair—is it light brown or dark blond?—is tied into a high ponytail. She’s wearing a yellow-gold sundress that brings out the gold flecks in her eyes. Evangeline was right when she said gold was Sienna’s color. Her fingernails and toenails are painted a neutral brown this evening, but the first night, they were painted gold.
She’s talking to Ariel’s mother about something as Ariel and Jazz take their turns at the buffet before sitting down.
June and Heather are standing together, whispering about something. The two of them are clearly up to no good. But what do I care?
River and I are good.
Better than good.
He does love me, and though he’s far from happy that I fucked Sebastian—I’d truly take it back if I could—he still loves me.
I don’t know if I’ll be getting a proposal anytime soon, but he got me out of my blackmail situation and he loves me. That’s good enough for now.
Ariel’s mother joins her daughter and Jazz at the table, and Sienna walks away from the party. I follow her.
“Hey,” I say, grabbing her arm. “Are you all right?”
She sighs. “I’m fine. This is about Ariel tonight.”
“I know that. But it’s also about all of us. One of the billionaires is off the market.”
Sienna gives me a weak smile. “I’d say two are, given that smile on your face. You look radiant, Em.”
Do I? I suppose I’ve got a bloody ridiculous grin on. “We…worked things out.”
She nods. “I’m glad. Truly.”
“And you? Brett?”
She shakes her head. “You wouldn’t believe it if I told you.”
“Try me.”
She shakes her head again. “We should join the party. We’re the bridesmaids, after all. This is for Ariel. Not for my pity party.”
“Oh, See…”
She pastes the smile back on her face. “I’m good. Fake it until you make it, right?”
I look over at the others. Misty has appeared and is serving herself from the buffet. Heather and June are behind her. A moment later, everyone is at the table with the staff refilling water and champagne.
“Misty looks better,” Sienna says.
“She’s fine,” I say dryly. “They won’t miss us for a few. Tell me.”
“You won’t believe it.”
“You already said that,” I remind her.
She breathes in, holds it a moment, and lets the air out slowly. “Brett is apparently in love with…”
“You?”
“Yes. But also with someone else.”