Page 72 of Last Ticket to Paradise

Chapter Fifteen

Jake’s head jerked up from his paperwork at the pounding on his office door. Before he could yell an invitation to enter, the door burst open.

“Let her go.”

Jake raised his brows at the sight of Brice barreling toward his desk, fists clenched. He scooted back his chair and folded his arms over his chest. “What are you talking about?”

“You know damned well what...and whom I’m talking about. Georgette fancies herself in love with you, and you’re just using her. Let her go, and she’ll come home with me.”

Jake clenched his jaw. “Whether or not I let her go, whatever that means, Georgette isn’t going back to you. And don’t presume to tell me what my feelings are toward Georgette. You had your chance with that incredible woman, and you blew it.”

Brice leveled a finger at him. “You’re a philanderer, and Georgette is just another notch on your belt...just like her sister was. And Georgette knows it now.”

“Oh my God.” Jake ran a hand through his hair and clasped the ends. “Who keeps spreading that rumor? I already set Georgette straight on that one.”

“Well, she heard it again from another source tonight, and it looked like she believes it.” Brice blinked his eyes behind his glasses. “She didn’t even look that upset when she found me and Jamie—in flagrante delicto.”

Jake’s heart skipped a beat. “Who told her? What the hell are you talking about? And I’m not referring to that French shit.”

Warming back up to his task, Brice jabbed a finger in the air. “That German guy’s boyfriend told her.”

“Diego?” Jake cocked his head to the side. “He told Georgette I slept with Jamie?”

“The German guy reiterated it...and Georgette believed it. You should’ve seen her face, and then she started drinking a lot and had to be practically carried out of the restaurant.”

“Carried out by whom?” Jake narrowed his eyes and gritted his teeth.

Brice inclined his head and stumbled back a step. “G-Gunther and the boyfriend.”

“Where did they take her?” Jake sprang from his chair, and it rolled back and hit the wall.

Brice jumped. “They took her to the pool.”

“And Georgette is there now?” Jake’s hands curled at his sides. “Alone? Why didn’t you stay with her?”

“She left the pool.”

“Back to her room?” Jake flexed his fingers and then grabbed his keys.

“Last I saw of her, she was walking out to the beach.”

Jake gripped the keys so hard in his hand, they gouged his palm. “Did anyone go after her?”

“No.” Brice held up his hands. “Don’t blame me. I tried talking to her, and she wouldn’t have it.”

“You idiot. Don’t you know her life is in danger?” Jake reached behind him and grabbed a pair of binoculars and a set of keys. He unlocked his bottom desk drawer, withdrew his gun, and then charged past Brice, knocking into his shoulder.

He was angrier at himself than at Brice.Heknew Georgette’s life was in danger. He shouldn’t have left her alone for a minute. What was in it for Gunther to make Georgette believe he and Jamie had hooked up? And Diego? He hadn’t said two words to the guy.

Jake took the side path to the beach and clambered on top of a rock piling that jutted into the sea. High tide had the water rushing around the rocks as Jake picked his way across the wet surface.

He trained his binoculars, which had night vision, on the sands of the beach. Georgette had come here before when she was upset.

Turning his head, he spit into the ocean. Why was Gunther spreading lies? It must be to keep him and Georgette apart, to make Georgette leave. Who wanted Georgette off the island? Who wanted Georgette gone?

He swept his binoculars out over the water. He could see his private island from here. He’d wanted to take Georgette there before she left.

A light twinkled over the water, and Jake’s hands tightened on the binoculars. Boats did occasionally make their way over to the island for the diving, but not usually for night diving—and not without his permission.

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