Page 26 of Heartless

“Can I help you?”

The smugness in his voice made me grind my teeth together.

“You took my shoes.”

“I would never.”

“Those shoes are worth thousands of dollars, Wilson. I want them back now,” I said. He laughed. Out loud. The sound crashed into me like a wave. I had a hard time drawing in my next breath.

“Alright,” he said, the playfulness still in his tone. “Go to your room and wait there.”

“Fine.” I hissed and killed the call.

Fifteen minutes later, I had already opened the box when I received a text.

Parker: Is your underwear safe now?

I turned the sound off and threw my phone on the bed.

Chapter Nine

Parker

The list of hobbies Katie gave me laid on my desk for an entire week before I decided to take a look at it and give something a try. I had been examining it for half an hour and still couldn’t make myself pick something when my phone rang.

I glanced at the screen. Matthew Scott. The last time he called me, he demanded to be checked into The Emerald villa, something the receptionist had informed him was impossible, because it was already occupied. It was a long phone call.

“Hey, Matt,” I pretended I was glad to hear from him. “How is it going?”

“Good. Great. You?”

“Same old. Can I help you with anything?”

“There’s a rumor about Annie Foster getting married at The Gem. Is it true?”

“It is,” I said, while a knot formed in my stomach.

“I thought you didn’t do weddings.”

“We didn’t. But we hired a wedding planner. Why are you asking? Need a venue?”

I meant that as a joke, so I laughed. He didn’t.

“I do, actually. I’m getting married.”

So that would be marriage number four for the fifty-year-old movie director.

My laugh died in my throat. “Congratulations.”

“Thanks, man.”

I knew that there would be more weddings to come, but I still hadn’t completely come to terms with Annie’s.

“So,” Matthew cleared his throat. “Future Mrs. Scott heard about Annie getting married at The Gem and guess where she wants us to wed. Can you make it happen?”

Could I? Yes. Did I want to? Not at all.

“Yes. Of course. We’ll be happy to have your wedding here.”

---