Page 40 of Scandalous Lover

I hurry to catch up, falling in step alongside Fran.

“Who’s the wedding for next week?” I ask her, mainly to have some reason to be with the group, rather than excusing myself to my room just upstairs.

Her face lights up just like it did when she mentioned it earlier. She really loves this wedding stuff.

“It’s an older couple flying in from Monaco. They have serious money and want to spend it on this party. One of the things they requested was gold-plated silverware, which Avery had to fly to L.A. to pick up and then fly back to the island in a briefcase with a wrist lock.”

My jaw drops. “Oh my god. Do you still have it?”

“The case? Yeah, it’s at our house.”

“We should stage that homecoming. Avery pulling up tothe resort with the case locked to his wrist. That would make such epic content.”

Fran shoots me a sly smile. “I never would have thought of that. You’re a keeper. Come by the house tomorrow morning? We have great coffee, and I’ll give you the full rundown.”

“Sounds great. I’ll be there.”

“Ride’s here,” Sam calls as Fran and I follow them into the lobby and toward the large double doors leading to the street.

“See you in the morning,” Fran says as she leaves me standing in the center of the lobby and heads toward the doors.

Sam and Reina are right behind her.

“Sleep tight,” Reina calls.

“Sam, wait.” I hadn’t meant to be so obvious, but he’s leaving with them, and I can’t let him go.

He turns to me with his head cocked to the side. “I’m going to get them settled and then head home. See you around the resort tomorrow?”

I grit my teeth. No. No, no, no. “I just…” What reason can I possibly offer to get him to stay without giving away everything in front of these women?

“Night, Naomi,” he says, opening the front doors and letting a rush of warm night air into the room.

“Sam,” I say but my voice is too quiet. He’s going to walk out of here.

“I…”

I can’t think of anything to say.

Except for the truth.

“I filmed us.”

Chapter Thirteen

Sam

It’s the last thing in the world I expect her to say, and it takes me a full moment to process.

Fran gets there quicker than I do.

“What?” she asks, looking over her shoulder at Naomi standing in the lobby.

I look at Naomi myself and see the truth of the statement written across her face.

I’ve got to get Fran and Reina out of here right away.

“I think I’ll walk Naomi up to her room after all.”

---