Page 51 of Scandalous Lover

Sam: Sounds like fun. Let the front desk know if you need a golf cart and they’ll set you up with one.

Naomi: Ooh. He lives! I was starting to wonder if I needed to go check on you.

I smile down at the screen, feeling a bit sheepish for never returning her messages. It’s not like me to leave someone hanging.

Sam: Sorry, I had an early morning.

Naomi: No problem. You just disappeared on me last night. *winking emoji*

Shame starts to creep up from my gut. I had no right to ghost her like that. I’ve been thinking a lot about how this whole thing affects me and my life, but there’s another person involved. One who has feelings and deserves my respect.

Sam: I should’ve said goodnight. Sorry. I was feeling a little…uneasy

Naomi: About the video?

Sam: About thewhole thing, really. It was my first time doing anything like that.

I wanted to be pissed about the stupid video.

But I wasn’t.

Naomi: You did great. *gold trophy emoji*

I laugh out loud just as the door to my office opens.

Dom.

I tuck my phone in my pocket and clear my throat. “Morning.”

He narrows his eyes at me but huffs out a good morning before jumping right into business.

“The produce truck is late. Would you mind calling down to the dock to find out if the barge made it in on time?”

“Sure thing.”

“And we’ve got a full tasting for next week’s wedding couple at noon today if you were planning to come down.”

“I’ve got it on my schedule.”

“I’m moving Naomi up to the house today. Her room has a check-in at four.”

I cough in surprise at the mention of her name but recover quickly. “Let me know if you need help.”

As if his words summoned her, my phone starts buzzing in my pocket. I reach down to hit the button without taking it out.

Dom just watches me. “I think we can handle moving a few suitcases.”

My phone buzzes again, and I jump, reaching down quickly to silence it.

“You gonna get that?” he asks, eyebrows raised.

“Oh, it’s not…I mean, yeah, of course. But I know who it is.” I stumble through the words. “Nothing important.”

Dom just stares at me for another long moment before turning and exiting my office without another word.

I flop back in my chair, relieved, as I pull my phone out.

Naomi: Seriously. It was like the second-best night of my life. *winking emoji*

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