Page 65 of Scandalous Lover

“But last night was incredible. I don’t know what came over me. It was like I was under a spell or something.”

“A spell you put yourself under?” Humor still dances through her tone as I let my hand drift back up to trace her navel.

“A spell you put me under, princess.”

Naomi surprises me by spinning quickly in my arms until we’re face-to-face. “That reminds me. Did you miss your planethat morning? You told me you had plenty of time. That you could stay for breakfast.”

My mind reels wondering how she found that out. Who was she talking to about me? Who might know?

The answer comes to me quickly. “Fran.”

Naomi cracks a guilty smile. “I didn’t tell her. She just knew.”

I let my arms fall to my sides, taking a step back. “This is a tough place to keep a secret.”

“She’s not going to tell anyone. Not even Avery.”

I offer Naomi a small smile, even though the truth of the matter is far more complicated. This was always going to be a dangerous game. “I don’t know what to do.”

Naomi reaches down and pulls on the pink shorts, followed by a black tank top. I watch her in dismay. I’m not sure what I hoped would happen here, in a room at my resort with her brother on his way up, but it’s definitely not happening now.

“We don’t have to do anything. I know it’s scary that someone already found out, but I didn’t tell her much. And I didn’t make it seem like it was an ongoing thing.”

I’m equal parts relieved and heartbroken at her words.

And fully and completely fucked.

“Yeah, okay,” I respond, just to say something.

“She’s going to play it cool. So we just play it cool, too, okay?”

I nod.

“Speaking of playing it cool, though. Seriously, Sam, you missed your plane?”

I shake my head as I feel heat rise to my cheeks. This wasn’t something I ever planned on telling her. “I didn’t want to leave.”

Her smile, like the cat who caught the canary, is worth all my embarrassment. It twinkles up to her eyes and dimples hercheeks. “So, when you were sitting in my kitchen, telling me you still had a few hours…”

“My plane was probably boarding.”

Her mouth drops open. “You never should have come over at all. You should have gone back to Houston that night.”

“I had a car scheduled to pick me up at four that morning from my hotel.”

“You blew off your whole trip home to hang out with me? Not even knowing what would happen in my bed?”

I shrug. “Is that so hard to believe? You’re…you. Beautiful, smart, fun, and everything I’ve ever wanted.”

She looks away quickly, and I follow her face with my gaze, trying to read the expression she wants to hide. When she doesn’t respond or look back up at me, I take a step closer and catch her chin in my hand, turning her face to meet mine. The look she holds there is poorly masked sadness and regret.

My hand falls away, and she takes a step back.

“I wish you’d stayed longer,” Naomi says finally, meeting my gaze. Her eyes are fierce, brimming with emotion.

“Yeah. I wish I’d stayed longer as well.”

We stay locked in the heated stare for so long that I lose track of time.

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