Page 73 of Cocky Prince
“Exactly,” Mira says. “They’re using the event to introduce the new dens of love.”
I can put two and two together as well as the next person, but this is one coincidence I wish weren’t true. I stare out at the lake. “If I can’t get into the suites before then, I have to get into that party.”
“One of us does,” Mira says.
I shake my head. “You can’t. Remember? You’re going to Tyler’s editor dinner that night.”
Mira curses.
Nessa drums her fingers. “I’ll be around, but I’m helping my boss hand out party favors inside the club. I won’t be able to slip away.”
“But I can,” I say.
“Hayden.” Mira stares at me warningly. “You just said they won’t let you into the suites. As soon as Blackwell figures out you’re there, he’ll have you thrown out.”
“Not if he doesn’t know it’s me. You said the last suite had drugs lying around. I just need to get in there and take a few pictures. I could dress up as a waiter, or something.”
“And you’d look like yourself in a waiter’s uniform. Everyone knows who you are. If Blackwell also knows you’ve tried to get into the suites, he’s probably warned his staff.”
“The staff Adam hired,” I say, putting it all together. “Adam didn’t want me involved in the new hires, and he has a safe in his office where he keeps his files. I saw it yesterday. Who keeps files in a safe?”
My palms go clammy. I want to trust Adam, but Mira’s right. I can’t stick my head in the sand because I care about him. Not over something like this.
Mira shakes her head. “Don’t even think about getting into that safe. Your days of breaking and entering are over,” she says, and I frown at her. “Admit it. You sucked.”
“Fine. I totally got caught in the facility manager’s office. And anyway, I don’t want to lie to Adam. Snooping around in his office would be dishonest. And a creepy girlfriend move.”
Mira’s eyes widen. “You’re his girlfriend now?”
Shit.I tuck a lock of hair behind my ear. “We’re not seeing anyone else, and yeah, he called me his girlfriend in front of his family.”
Mira’s voice goes up an octave. “You’ve met his family?”
“Briefly. It’s not what you think.”
I don’t know why I’m defending myself. Being with Adam feels right.
“Hayden.” Nessa smiles. “It’s okay. I can tell Adam really likes you. I think it’s sweet.” Her brows pull together in a vee. “What if instead of going behind his back, you talk to him. Ask him about the Bliss suites.”
I could have talked to Adam days ago. I didn’t want to, because I was caught up in us. At that point, I had no evidence that the Bliss suites were connected to the suite Mira and Tyler found. But after walking in on the meeting between Adam, Paul, and William yesterday, and now with this revelation about a grand opening…I’m scared.
“What if I ask him,” I say, “and he tells me he knows all about Bliss and it’s as bad as we think? Or he tells me he isn’t involved when, in fact, he is?”
Nessa reaches across the table and squeezes my hand. “He cares about you, Hayden. Give him a chance.”
I drop my head into my hands. “God, you’re right. We’ve only been together a week and I’m already screwing things up. He’s done nothing to deserve my mistrust.”
“Well…” Mira stands and shades her eyes with her hand, peering out at the water. “Here’s your opportunity to ask him.”
“What are you talking about?” I look in the same direction. At the Beacon dock. And see Adam, Zach, and Tyler getting out of a large ski boat.
“What are they doing here?” My voice cracks, and okay, I’m panicking. I’m not ready to confront Adam. I want to run and hug him, not accuse him of being in cahoots with Blue Casino.
This time it’s Mira’s turn to look guilty. “Well, you see, I sort of invited them. Tyler wanted to hang out today and I had plans with you girls. He may have, uh—convinced me—to divulge where we’d be, through clever tactics.”
Nessa makes a face. “Please don’t go into details on that.”
Mira frowns. “He’s persuasive! I mean, shit, look at him.”
