Page 79 of Try Me

“We’re leaving,” Declan said. “Are you packed?”

“I’m ready,” she said, patting the bag over her shoulder.

Declan wished they had a few more days to be trapped together in Kauai, but it wasn’t possible. Pearl had an exhibition to win, and Declan had nightmares to face at Sunset Beach.

He wasn’t ready, but he knew he didn’t have a choice. It was time to go.

“I need to pack,” Declan said.

“Take your time,” McKenna said, his voice heavy with sarcasm. “The helicopter will wait.”

Pearl stiffened at the mention of flying. “You okay?” Declan asked.

She straightened her shoulders. “Fine.”

Declan took her hand. “It’s going to be okay,” he said, and then more for himself than her, “Everything is going to be okay.” He pulled her close and kissed the top of her head.

McKenna eyed them with open curiosity. “Go ahead and get that out of your system,” he said.

“Why?” Declan tightened his arm around Pearl as she started to pull away.

McKenna looked between Pearl and Declan. “You need to break up tonight,” he said. “At the dinner.”

The dinner. Declan had forgotten all about the pre-contest dinner where all the sponsors showed up, and even possibly the Duke himself. Declan’s blood ran cold as he realized McKenna wanted something dramatic to call attention to his athletes.

“Why at the dinner ?”

“I have something else planned for both of you.” McKenna blew a stream of smoke into the downpour of rain.

“What?”

McKenna flicked his ashes into the rain. “Don’t worry about it. It’s good for everyone.”

Declan stiffened. Now was as good a time as any to tell McKenna he was done with following orders. Declan gathered his resolve. It had been two years since he’d made a decision on his own without McKenna. Why not start with something that meant as much as his relationship to Pearl? He reached up to rub the back of his neck, preparing his words.

“No problem,” Pearl said, stepping out from under Declan’s arm. “It’s all a hoax anyway.”

Declan stared down into Pearl’s dark determined eyes. She didn’t need to speak to say what she wanted. She needed McKenna. Just as Declan had once needed McKenna to get his career started, Pearl needed him now. And she was right. Their relationship on paper was just pretend. It was what was in their hearts that counted.

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