Page 83 of Try Me

Lady

Declan

Pearl couldn’t keepher promise to Declan.

McKenna gave them thirty minutes to shower and freshen up before he expected them downstairs for interviews with some of the other contestants. Declan knew it was the first of many punishments for his transgressions in Kauai, but he would gladly pay the price. If he’d have only caught a few waves at Tunnels before cutting out to meet the helicopter like he was supposed to do, then he would have never gone to the cabin. He would have spent that time in Oahu doing McKenna’s bidding instead of being trapped in the cabin with Pearl.

Declan walked Pearl to her room and kissed her goodbye at her door.

“Don’t worry,” he said, because she looked it.

Pearl rubbed her temples. “I’ve never done an interview before,” she said. “What if I say something wrong?”

Declan’s mouth twitched in a smile. He said something wrong in just about every interview, so he wasn’t one to give advice on how to please reporters. McKenna always gave him a script, but even with all the answers, Declan still screwed up.

“Just be yourself,” he said. “They will love you.” He pinched her chin and raised it slightly so that her dark brown eyes collided with his. “Everyone will love you.” He kissed her one more time, this time lingering to show her how much he already loved her. With their eminent breakup looming, he kept the words to himself. They would only add to her worry.

In his suite, Declan took a long, luxurious shower. The mango soap reminded him of tasting Pearl’s skin, and halfway through the shower, he turned the water to cold.

He scraped the scruff of beard from his face, splashed on aftershave, and combed his hair while whistling “Put Your Head on My Shoulder.” Donning clean clothes felt like a luxury after days of living in the same shorts and T-shirt.

Declan buttoned his shirt, strapped on his watch, and grabbed his room key. His whistling abruptly stopped when Declan saw a piece of paper on the floor near the door. He bent to pick it up and saw it was the script for today’s interview.

Without reading further, Declan crushed it into a ball and threw it across the room. He’d meant it when he’d said he was done taking orders from McKenna. He wasn’t planning on breaking up with Pearl tonight, either. McKenna could kiss his ass.

He left the room and headed down to the lobby feeling like a wave he hadn’t seen coming was crashing down on him. It would not be easy to extricate himself from McKenna’s hold. Declan had helped make McKenna a millionaire, and he wouldn’t let go of him without a fight. Six months remained in their current contract, and Declan had a feeling McKenna would make every day hell if he tried to leave their relationship.

When he left.

Because he was definitely leaving.

***

Declan wasthe last to arrive in the conference room where ten of the top competitors and five of the women from the exhibition were being interviewed by reporters. Declan didn’t have to guess who had arranged the event when he saw McKenna sitting center at the head table.

“Where you been hiding, mate?” asked Murray Yabarak. “You missed the Don Ho Show.”

They shook hands and Declan filled him in on Kauai. “The waves were this big,” Declan said, holding his hand over his head in exaggeration.

Murray laughed good-naturedly at the old joke, then turned serious. “Everybody’s gunning for you tomorrow. You better watch your back.”

Murray was one of the few surfers on the circuit who was friendly with Declan. Most of the others went out of their way to be rude or just ignored him. Declan didn’t take it personally. He knew the other surfers resented his success and would take immense pleasure in beating him tomorrow on his home turf.

“Thanks,” Declan said. “I will.”

He spotted Pearl talking to a few women and some joy he’d had earlier returned. She looked stunning in a yellow-flowered minidress with a low-slung belt and block-heeled sandals. A bright yellow headband secured her long mane of dark hair from her face, and pink lipstick glossed her mouth.

“Who’s that?” Murray asked, following Declan’s line of sight. “One of the exhibition girls?”

“She’s a lot more than that,” Declan said. “Wait till you see her surf. She’s gonna blow everyone away.”

Pearl spotted Declan and threw him a smile that made his knees weak.

“Damn!” Murray said, catching the exchange. “You get all the hot chicks. When you’re done with her, let me know.”

Declan glared at Murray. “Watch your mouth,” he growled.

“Sorry.” Murray laughed and slapped Declan on the back. “You got it bad for her?”

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