Page 58 of Last Ticket to Paradise

With a slight tremble to her hand, she set her coffee cup on a small wicker table by the door. Jake hadn’t even invited her to cross the threshold. He must’ve gotten what he wanted from her, and now he couldn’t distance himself fast enough.

Her mother always warned her not to give the milk away for free until you had a ring on your finger—advice Georgette had followed with Brice. Somehow, her mother never felt it necessary to give that same advice to Jamie.

Georgette blinked. “Are you ready to go to Hallie’s mother’s place?”

“Georgette, we’re not going to see Hallie’s mother.” Jake swept his hand in the air. “Forget all this. Go home to North Dakota. Be safe. Whatever mess your sister got into will be sorted out by the authorities.”

“Not if you keep lying to them about what’s going on.” She braced her sandals against the tile floor. “You saidwe’renot seeing Hallie’s mother? Well, you don’t speak for me. I’m going to investigate this with or without you, and I’m not going anywhere until I discover the truth about your precious island—and damn the consequences for Palumba Falls...and you.”

As she spun around, tears trembling on her lashes, Jake touched her arm and she almost backtracked and fell against his solid chest.

“Be careful, Georgette. You’ve meddled enough. It’s time to go home now.”

“I second that sentiment.”

Georgette’s head jerked up, her eyes widening.

Jake whispered behind her. “Go home...with your fiancé.”

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