Total pages in book: 77
Estimated words: 77452 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 387(@200wpm)___ 310(@250wpm)___ 258(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 77452 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 387(@200wpm)___ 310(@250wpm)___ 258(@300wpm)
Ernie sits beside River. I’ve never seen a dog as loyal as that silly mutt. He follows Riv everywhere, and we all love him as if he’s our own.
Riv gives him a pet on his soft head. “I don’t disagree that he’s a first-class motherfucker, but Ernie’s okay, and what you’re suggesting is…”
“Criminal?” Alex says. “We know that. But what choice do we have at this point?”
“There’s always a choice, Alex.” River removes his cowboy hat, shoves his hair out of his face.
Jake pushes his wheat-colored hair off his forehead as well. He won’t wear a hat. Says it covers up his best feature—his thick blond hair. It’s even thicker and lighter than Brett’s. Jake’s jaw is tight, and he spits tobacco—how he can stand to put that shit in his mouth is beyond me—on the dusty ground. “Let River talk. We should hear him out. ”
Jake is the conscience of our fivesome. His sense of justice is what’s kept us from getting into real trouble up until now, which is why I was surprised as hell that he so readily agreed to Brett’s suggestion. Are things worse for him at home than we know? There’s some reason he’s in on this one. Otherwise he’d be on River’s side. I gaze at Jake. He’s big and tall, but he’s slightly thinner than the rest of us. We all live modestly, and we all have our reasons why we need this to work. What is Jake’s reason? It must be dire. Are he and his mom—it’s just the two of them as his dad died shortly after Jake was born—going hungry? My stomach churns at the thought.
Nah, he’d tell us if that were the case.
Wouldn’t he?
Or would he be too proud? I can’t ask him. I’d never embarrass my friend like that.
“Talk then, Riv,” Brett says.
River shakes his head. “I don’t feel right about it. It’s wrong. I’m not saying he doesn’t deserve it. I’m not saying we don’t need it, but—”
“You think I feel right about this?” Jake interjects.
“You must,” River says. “Otherwise you of all people would shoot this shit down.”
Jake looks to the ground. “Things aren’t always as they seem.”
“Jake…” I begin.
“I’m done talking,” Jake says, meeting my gaze. “I don’t have to justify my reasoning to any of you. I’m in on this one. That’s all you need to know.”
River’s eyebrows shoot up, but he says nothing.
This is so fucked up. We’ve been planning capers since we were knee-high, but this is different. I’m in, though, because it will help us all out of a pinch. Plus, I can’t fault Brett’s logic. It can be done, and it can be done quickly and efficiently, without any trace of evidence pointing to us.
That’s me, though. And Brett, who’s fearless. Alex, for being the quiet type, is always ready for action. We usually have to talk River and Jake into our plans—and normally River caves first.
But something’s rotten here, and I’m thinking it goes beyond hunger.
What has convinced Jake—and his sense of justice—to turn to the dark side?
Present Day…
The water laps around my ankles. Misty removes her thong to reveal a perfectly shaved pussy. She wades into the water, turning around to stare at us. “Well?”
I slide my boxers over my hips. River strips as well, and the two of us enter the water. Misty jumps into River’s arms, whispering something in his ear.
River’s eyes narrow.
Uh-oh.
I know that look. It’s the same look Riv had when things started to go wrong twenty years ago.
EPISODE 18
FIGHTING WORDS
Sienna
“You’re kidding,” Alex says after I tell him our clothing has been washed away in the tide.
So much for the mood.
Our From Here to Eternity fantasy went the same way as my expensive gold dress—right out to sea.
“I wish I were,” I reply.
He rolls off me. “Damn. This isn’t how this night was supposed to go.”
“You think?” I eye his erection when he sits up. Neither of us got the release we craved. And now? We have to walk back to the mansion naked.
If only the beach were quicksand, and I could be swallowed up…
The hottest man on the island chose me tonight. Me. And fate—by way of the ocean—stepped in to ruin it.
Alex stands, his cock still hard and ready. I want to tell him we can finish. He can at least climax, and then we’ll deal with the clothes issue.
But the moment has passed.
“I’m sorry,” I say.
“For what?” He pulls me to my feet. “You didn’t make the tide come in. If anything, it’s my fault. I should have seen this coming. I mean, the water knocked us off our feet earlier.”
“I don’t mean it’s my fault.” I blow out a breath, images of wallflowers and strippers invading my mind. “It’s just…how my life seems to go.”
“We’ll get more chances, Sienna.” He cups my cheek. “Tomorrow’s another day.”