Page 137 of Falling Overboard

“You do know why they’re taking the deckhands, don’t you?” Georgia asked, turning down the volume on her walkie-talkie.

“Because we refused?”

“No. Because they’re attractive men and they’ll lure the women over so that those bloody bogans can brag about their money. The crew will be bait.”

“Do you really think the guests would do something that stupid?”

“Gee, what are the odds?” she responded sarcastically. “Obviously they’ll do something stupid. But I wouldn’t worry about Hunter.”

I wasn’t worried about him going out with the guests. I knew that he and his fellow deckhands would behave.

Instead I was concerned about all the questions that Georgia had just inadvertently brought up that I didn’t have an answer for.

She reached across the table to squeeze my hand. “And if Hunter fails you somehow, I know you might feel like there’s no one there for you, but do you know who will always be there for you?”

“Who?”

“Laundry.”

I let out a small laugh and she grinned at me. Her questions and declarations had sown some seeds of doubt and I didn’t like how thatfelt. I wanted to be in my own little world with Hunter where nothing mattered but the two of us.

Georgia finished her food and stood up, walking over to wash out her bowl. She came to a halt in front of the monitors and let out the foulest string of curse words I’d ever heard her use.

“Lucky, don’t—”

Despite her warning, I looked at the monitors.

There was a camera pointed at the hallway just outside the primary bedroom, and there stood Hunter and Emilie.

And they were kissing.

Chapter Forty-Five

Lucky

A rush of white noise filled my head, blocking out all my senses. This couldn’t be happening. It couldn’t.

I dropped my head down to the table, like I couldn’t support the weight any longer. Each beat of my heart was painful, as if a knife were cutting into my chest. My lungs constricted, and I felt like I was going to throw up.

It was like the worst panic attack I’d ever had.

And all I wanted was for Hunter to be here, holding my hands.

But he was too busy kissing Emilie.

Georgia rushed to my side, putting her arm around me. I couldn’t hear what she was saying, like my hearing had been turned off.

Had he been telling Emilie the same things he’d told me? Saying he wasn’t interested in me or Georgia, that she was the only one for him?

I felt so completely foolish. How did I get taken in by men like this every single time?

Why had he done this? I wouldn’t have sex with him and Emilie would? Was that the reason?

This is Hunter,a small voice said to me.He wouldn’t do this to you. He loves you.

Maybe I had misunderstood what I’d seen. That was possible, wasn’t it?

It would be an easier lie to swallow if I hadn’t witnessed it with my own eyes.

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