Page 153 of Little Sunshine

She passed me the bag, and I carefully pulled out a long black dress. The fabric was soft and made it look almost casual. There was no stiffness or sheen like a formal gown might have. The high neckline of the halter secured with a thick band, and two slits went all the way up each leg. That should’ve been the sexiest part of it, but it wasn’t.

Not for Ash.

Because it wasn’t a true backless halter dress. Instead, strips of the fabric had been made to look like rope. Juliet had knotted and woven them together in an intricate design that connected the neckband to the low-cut back of the dress—while still showing a lot of skin between.

At a distance, it would look like I was tied with one of Ash’s ropes.

“You know,” I surmised.

She lifted her drink. “My husband may have let something slip once.”

I wasn’t sure I’d ever seen something so sexy and subtly naughty before. It would feel like an inside secret between Ash and me. And just thinking about how he’d look at me…

I needed a drink. Or maybe to risk a dip in the pool because my whole body felt overheated.

I carefully folded it exactly as she had it before returning it to the bag and offering it back to Juliet. “I’m sorry, I can’t accept this.”

Her face fell, but she collected herself quickly and forced a smile. “I totally get it. Like I said, it was just?—”

“I stole from you,” I blurted. “That’s why I can’t accept it. I already felt awful and like the worst piece of trash, and then you’ve just been the absolute nicest. And that was before you offered me this dress that looks like it should be on a runway, not on me. I get it if I ruined our fledgling friendship, and I really am so sorry.”

Juliet’s brows pinched together. “What could you have stolen from me?”

“Well, not you specifically, but from the resort.” I bobbled my head back and forth. “Well, not the resort specifically, but a guy who was here.”

“Are you talking about the wallet?”

My shocked gaze swung to her. “You know about that?”

She flushed bright red. “No.”

Oh my God.

“Does everyone know?”

“No,” she tried.

At the same time, Marco said, “I know.”

“Not helping,” she snapped.

“I don’t lie.”

I was tempted to run again, but only to hide in the penthouse.

Juliet looked at me with kindness, which was expected, but also understanding. “There was footage, but it’s gone now. Completely. And I’m not mad. No one is.”

That made me want to run more, but I didn’t. I faced the awkwardness. It was my punishment.

“That’s—”

My words were cut off when Juliet leaned forward. “Before Maximo, my life was the opposite of”—she flung an arm out—“this. My father and I lived in a tiny house. I was a dropout. We basically only had each other, which really sucked for me because he was not a good man. We had food, but there were times when we didn’t have enough. I’ve experienced…” She paused to find the right word. “Inconvenient hunger, and it was awful. You had true hunger. I can’t even imagine what that was like.”

I swallowed hard and could almost feel that connection strengthening like it was a sentient thing.

That was before she added, “And we don’t have a fledgling friendship. We’re just friends. Period.” She paused for a second. “Though while we’re making confessions, you should know that I helped Ash order you more clothes so you wouldn’t have a closet of only my designs. I may have gone overboard, and then Ash added even more.”

Unease prickled inside my churning stomach.

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