Page 94 of Get Lost

Kelsey stepped across the wooden flooring and retrieved her bikini bottoms, then pulled them on.

“You’re fired. You know that, right?”

Kelsey gave a curt nod. “Understood.”

Renee looked back at Alex. “And you and I are going to have a long, much needed talk.”

Alex’s eyes narrowed. His blood ran hot. “You’re not firing me?”

“Don’t be silly.”

Alex scoffed. His hands tightened into fists at his sides. “You’re out of your damn mind.” It was first grade all over again and that damned double standard. He stalked toward Renee. “Then I quit.”

“Alexander,” Kelsey warned.

Renee’s mouth dropped open. “You can’tquit.”

Alex shrugged. “You can’t very well fire her but keep me on when we both participated.” He made a show of wiping at his mouth, still wet from between Kelsey’s legs.

Renee’s eyes tightened. The soft amber flow of the lamp wasn’t much, but it was enough to illuminate her cheeks flushing with indignance. “You… she… but…” she sputtered.

Alex crossed his arms over his chest. “I’ll leave you to your decision.” He reached for Kelsey, surprised when she actually slid her hand into his. He’d done it again, stepped forward to defend her without giving her a chance to defend herself, and he’d probably never hear the end of it. But was she really just going to allow Renee to fire her? No, not on Alex’s watch. That was unacceptable. Maybe Kelsey didn’t needsaving, but she might need a little help when her stubborn streak hopped behind the wheel and hit the damn gas pedal.

And no one knew her stubborn streak better than Alex.

Pulling Kelsey forward, he grabbed their discarded towels and led her back down the little ramp, then along the pathway that broke up the line between the beach and the villas. Neither of them said anything, but Alex’s mind was still spinning after the way Renee acted. The woman would surely be in a state, but let Drew deal with her.

And Alex knew Drew would have nothing to say about him and Kelsey hooking up because Drew knew damn well how Alex felt about Kelsey. How he’dalwaysfelt about Kelsey. Drew would give him a slap on the back and congratulate him, then comment about how hot Kelsey was and how Alex didn’t deserve a girl like her. All in good fun, of course.

What Drew might have a problem with, however, was Renee’s absurd reaction to Alex and Kelsey.

A guy could only put up with so much.

When they reached the villa, Drew was posted up outside, smoking a cigar leftover from his bachelor party. He looked up when they approached. “What’s up, Arroyo. You seen Renee?”

Alex sighed, then looked at Kelsey, who only offered him a sad, apologetic smile. He tugged on her hand and pulled her closer. “Hey,” he whispered softly enough for only her to hear. “You have absolutely nothing to be sorry about, okay?”

She swallowed hard, but didn’t respond.

Alex breathed deeply, his chest tight with worry. She was probably beating herself up inside that head of hers and stubborn enough not to believe anything he tried to tell her. He kissed her forehead and then nodded to the house. “Let me talk to Drew. I’ll get this figured out.”

She nodded, then dropped his hand and focused on the ground while she walked inside, not even acknowledging Drew as she passed him.

Alex’s heart pinched. Was that shame in the swoop of her shoulders?

Jesus, he’d really fucked up. He hadn’t helped her maintain her no business with pleasure rule at all. In fact, the second he got wind of it he’d done everything in his power to annihilate it.

He shook his head and sat down on the sand beside Drew.

With a deep breath, Alex told Drew what happened with Kelsey over the last twenty-four hours. He told him about punching that French dude in the face—which, as Alex had expected, got a laugh out of Drew and a slightly intoxicated high-five.

Then he told his friend how Renee had acted when she’d found him with Kelsey, and, worst of all, he told Drew the truth about how she’d come on to him earlier.

At the end of the day, how Drew reacted to this news was not in Alex’s control. But at least he’d been honest with his best friend.

He would accept the outcome.

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