Page 115 of Scandalous Lover

It’s been coming for a while. I could see it like a boat offshore, careening toward the beach as if it had lost control entirely.

That’s a pretty good summation of how I feel. Moving too fast for the environment I find myself in. Speeding headlong toward an inevitable end. Blissfully unbothered by the coming impact.

I’ve passed the point of turning back. Of letting her go.

Now that I’ve experienced how it can feel to have it all—my dream job working at the resort I own and my dream home life with a woman I love waiting there for me—giving it up is no longer in the cards. It’s exactly what I’ve imagined all these years. A work life and a home life. Both equally satisfying. And gloriously separate. A home that’s still my refuge from the resort, as much as I love it here. I know that’s what I need.

I inhale deeply and breathe the air out, not wanting to sink into worry about what’s going to happen when we decide it’s time to go public. Not ready to ruin the high of this morning.

Unfortunately, my high is short-lived.

My office door gets pushed hard from the outsideand swings open quickly, hitting the wall and bouncing off again, only to be caught in the hand of Dom himself.

Speak of the devil.

It’s not that I want to think of one of my best friends that way, it’s just that, since this whole thing started, he’s officially the only thing standing in the way of having everything I’ve ever wanted.

No, it’s not him. It’s a conversation. A difficult conversation, sure, but a simple one. That’s what’s standing between me and my new relationship being more than a special little secret.

And I am nothing if not good at handling difficult conversations.

“Morning, Dom.”

He folds his arms across his chest and narrows his eyes at me.

Wait, does he already know?

My mind starts to reel, even as I keep my face calm and neutral.

Fran knows, but Naomi said she was going to keep it to herself. But that was before the little trip they just took to blow off steam after the wedding. Who knows what kind of drunken conversations went on.

I brace myself.

“We’re all meeting at the big table down at Reef.”

I blink at him and then glance down at my desk calendar to see if there’s a meeting scheduled for this morning that I somehow forgot about. Nothing.

“We?” I ask.

“Yeah. Me and the guys and Fran and Reina. You planning on joining us?”

I’m already getting to my feet, replacing the plastic lid on my coffee cup. “This is the first I’m hearing about it, but of course I’ll join you. Ben’s here?”

“He came toHonduras with us. Now he and Victoria are here for the day.”

“For this meeting. What’s this all about?” I’m starting to get nervous. I know I’m not going to get much out of Dom, but it’s worth a try. Better to be as prepared as I can for whatever I’m walking into.

“Resort stuff.”

I almost smile at his gruff, predictably short answer.

“Resort stuff,” I reply, tucking my phone into my pocket. When I glance up, however, he’s already gone.

I hurry to catch up as he storms through the hallways toward the stairs leading down to the pool patio. When we blow through the café doors, I find everyone already seated at a long table against the back wall. Ben, Avery, Fran, and Reina. They’re all lounging casually, drinking coffee and laughing. This looks nothing like the grim dressing down I was expecting after Dom’s gruff invitation.

“Morning Sam,” Reina calls, climbing to her feet. I offer her the embrace she’s expecting and find my seat.

“We missed you in Pristine Bay,” Ben calls out in greeting, a kind, knowing expression on his face.

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