Page 70 of Starry Skies, Stolen Kisses, and My Best Friend's Brother

“I’m on it.I already had my assistants doing some research, but this will lead us in a different direction.The contracts are tricky to get our hands on.We have to physically go to the records office, but first we have to mail in a request.There’s no electronic way to do that.I overnighted a request yesterday, and we’re following up today.Once we get the okay, I’ll fly up one of my people, and we’ll get it done.”

“You’re the best.Thanks.”I’m grateful I have connections like this.

“I know.I do enough for y’all.I should open up a firm calledMy Friends Can’t Live Without Me.”

“Yeah, well, you charge us enough too.”I roll my eyes at him.“Talk to you tomorrow.Hopefully you’ll have the contract, and we can get this wrapped up by the end of the week.”

I hang up, and a knock sounds on my office door.I spin around, expecting Mae, but she never knocks.

It’s Mark and Levi.Bisbee and Gilbert squeeze past, and Deka jumps up to greet them.“You wanna go for a hike tomorrow morning?”Levi asks.“It’s supposed to be a nice day.No suits allowed though.”

I stand, grinning, and ignore the suit comment.“It is nice and good timing too.We’ll have something to celebrate.”

“Celebrate what?”

“I have a solution.”

I tell them all about the lunch with Eli and the contracts.

Mark nods.“You better hope you get there before Eli.Keith can’t stand their family.If he found out Eli was poking his nose around, he’d sell out to the government no matter what happened with you and Mae.”

TWENTY-FOUR

Mae

The next morning, the office is empty.Seth sent me a message asking me to meet him last night because he had something to talk about, but I told him I was busy—which wasn’t a lie.Abi and I scoured the thirst trap threads to see what we could get Levi to do next—but also, I can’t be alone with him.The temptation is too strong.

Seth’s computer is off.It’s unusual for me to beat him to the office.He’s always here very early, dressed impeccably and smelling lightly of his expensive cologne.

I spotted the bottle in his bathroom when I was at his house for thunderstorm night and looked it up later in case I wanted to buy it as a gift, or maybe I could spray my pillow with it at night and have it smell like him.But I can’t afford those prices.

I open my emails and answer one for the Vegas conference we’re going to next week.The conference is where we’ll push out the idea of the full program, not just the end of the summer influencer Hideaway.I’ll be the one doing the presentation, and I’m starting to freak out, but Seth and I practice it almost every day and make small changes.

I glance through the other emails and there’s nothing important.My Facebook and Instagram messenger accounts have about a hundred messages.We’ve had a couple of viral videos, and everyone wants to know where we are and what we do.I have a few standard cut-and-paste responses ready, explaining that the website will be fully functional after the Vegas announcement.I also make it very clear that our exact location will remain anonymous.

After a couple of hours, I stand and stretch.Seth still isn’t back.This isn’t like him, and now I’m starting to worry.

I check my phone, but I don’t have any messages, and I’ve texted him a few times already.

This is really strange.Maybe it’s a ploy to get me to go to his cabin.I roll my eyes.He would do something like that.

I work for another hour, and now I’m angry.If this is just some trick to get me alone, he’s got another thing coming.I’ll go see him, but I’m going to have words for him.

I cut across the property to the parking lot for the cabins.His golf cart is parked there, but his car is missing.Where would he go?Why wouldn’t he tell me?

My heart constricts.He messaged me last night and said he had something important to tell me.I bet he got a job offer he couldn’t refuse and left this morning.

That’s why he’s not responding to messages.Because he’s on an airplane.I swallow and tug at my hair.This is ridiculous.He probably went to town for something.I shouldn’t be overreacting.

Instead of heading to his cabin, I cut across to the beach and find Abi looking bored.It’s a slow day.

“You seen Seth?”

She shakes her head.

“Where’s Mark?”Maybe he knows.

“Out hiking with Levi.”

---