Page 109 of Little Sunshine

I wanted to, though.

She moved the iPad off the cube and opened it to reveal it was actually a cooler. Grabbing two water bottles, she handed me one and kept the other for herself.

I took a refreshing sip.

“Last time I was out here and didn’t hydrate enough, I ended up with a major dehydration headache and a sore, spanked ass.”

And then I choked on the refreshing sip.

“Sorry,” she said, though she didn’t look it in the least. “I figured I’d address the elephant in the room. Or the Daddy.”

My body heated in a way that had nothing to do with the Vegas sun and everything to do with thoughts of Ash.

Because, again, I was an idiot.

“I saw your surprise about Maximo and me, and I didn’t want it to be a whole thing.” Juliet’s words might have been nonchalant and conversational, but the way she watched me was anything but.

She’s definitely more perceptive than she lets on.

I had no issue other than a swirl of jealousy so strong, it might as well have turned my skin green.

Since those were my own problems and not a judgment of her life, it was easy to keep my expression neutral. She didn’t volunteer any more information, and I didn’t want to push. Well, I wanted to, but I wouldn’t. I did allow myself to ask one thing because otherwise, I might’ve died of curiosity.

I might die from the answer, too.

“Does Ash…? Like, is he…?”

“A Daddy?” At my nod, she shrugged. “No idea.”

That doesn’t help.

With that in the open, the conversation returned to lighter topics, and we both relaxed.

A while—and two bottles of water—later, Juliet’s phone rang. A content smile pulled at her mouth. “It’s my husband.” She sighed. “I’ll be right back.”

When she stepped into the cabana, I stood because she wasn’t the only one getting a call. In my case, though, it wasn’t a gorgeously devoted husband calling.

It was nature.

I left her little corner of solitude and weaved through the crowd. That time, it didn’t take me long to realize I was being trailed again. A quick look behind me proved it was the same man.

What the hell?

In case Juliet was off the phone and watching, I didn’t acknowledge security. I didn’t want to bring him to her attention. I definitely didn’t want her to witness a confrontation that might or might not involve accusations of a wallet I might or might not have stolen. I played it cool. I didn’t make a scene. I lifted my chin and kept walking.

“Miss Price.”

That was harder to ignore. I stumbled and barely caught myself before I flopped into the pool.

Did I imagine that?

Like I’d spoken the question aloud, the man repeated, “Miss Price.”

I spun my freaked-out gaze his way.

The older man smiled and gestured toward the row of doors on the far side of the building. “The restrooms are through there.”

I could’ve come up with a million reasons to explain why he followed me. But his knowledge and use of my name narrowed it down to one.

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