Total pages in book: 73
Estimated words: 71034 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 355(@200wpm)___ 284(@250wpm)___ 237(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 71034 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 355(@200wpm)___ 284(@250wpm)___ 237(@300wpm)
“Thanks. I mean, I know that, but—”
“With a family like yours, it’s no wonder you question whether anyone actually cares.”
“Wait. Was that a psychologically insightful comment?”
Miles huffed. “It won’t happen again.”
“You’re allowed more insight if it has to do with how you knew you’d fallen for Ben.”
“You’ll think I’m crazy.”
“You’re assuming I don’t think that already.”
“Whoever this man is, he’s really got you in a sarcastic mood.”
I sighed. “That’s what deprivation will do for you.”
“Don’t tell me you haven’t fucked him yet.”
“I haven’t fucked him a second time yet.”
“That’s interesting,” Miles said. “Are you afraid you’ll get too attached?”
“It’s more complicated than that.”
“How complicated?”
I poured myself some Scotch and took a sip. “You talk first. Why will I think you’re crazy—or more crazy than I already think you are?”
“I knew the moment I saw him.”
I sucked in my breath. I’d felt the same way. The moment I’d seen Laurie I knew there was something about him, something unlike any of the other men I’d been with. If I was sappier, I’d say his soul spoke to mine. Jesus, that sounded absurd.
“I take it you know the feeling?”
I walked over to the balcony and stepped out. “Kind of.”
“Uh huh.”
“I don’t want anyone else to touch him. I don’t want anyone else to even be around him, and I can’t imagine not seeing him again after I leave here.”
“Is he a local?”
“No.”
“Come on, Worth. Who is this man? I’ve never heard you talk about a man like this.”
“I’ve never been like this. And he’s my brother’s best friend.”
Miles was silent for a moment. I knew he was judging me. “The guy who has the abusive boyfriend?”
“He got away from that asshole. The guy was fucking one of Laurie’s friends right in front of him and told him he was being replaced, so he ran, but I don’t trust the fucker not to come for him. There’s no way he’s going back to St. Louis. I’ll do whatever it takes to keep him safe.”
“Wow. You really do have it bad. How did he end up in Aruba?”
“Laurie called Beck for help, and at the last minute, Beck couldn’t come to Aruba, so he sent Laurie in his place.”
“He offered him up to you?”
I fucking wish. “He told me to make sure he was safe, to take care of him, but not to touch him. I get it. Beck doesn’t want me to get involved with Laurie, because he’s vulnerable from the hell he went through, and he could easily be hurt by someone like me, someone who never wants to stick around.”
“And you completely ignored Beck’s logic.”
I hated how much colder Miles sounded now. “Not exactly.”
“Explain.”
“I didn’t listen to Beck’s messages, and I didn’t know who Laurie was when I met him. That’s all the detail you need.”
Miles hummed. “There’s a good story here, and I will get it out of you, but I am not going to do that now because I’ve got to go to a meeting. Promise me you’ll listen if your heart is telling you Laurie is the man for you.”
Whoa. That was not what I was expecting him to say.
“Don’t ignore your feelings. Do whatever you have to do to keep him.”
“Even if it means making my brother hate me?”
“If this is love like I have for Ben, like Carter has for Matteo or Ford for Jay, then Beck isn’t going to hate you. He’s going to see that you’re exactly what Laurie needs.”
“Thank you.”
“You’re welcome, and you owe me the full story next time I see you.”
“We’ll see about that.” I ended the call.
I considered putting on another swimsuit and going to one of the other pools. I also thought about renting a car and just going for a drive, but my mind was racing, and I wasn’t a great driver at the best of times. I didn’t want to be at a pool without Laurie, so I decided the best thing to do was more shopping.
13
LAURIE
Istayed at the pool or out on the beach for the rest of the afternoon. I didn’t want to return to the villa before I needed to get ready for dinner. I doubted Worth was just sitting around there, but if he was, being alone with him was a bad idea. I hadn’t stopped thinking of him the whole time I was laying in the sun, swimming, walking the beach, splashing in the waves, and finally, taking a table in the shade and ordering more drinks.
I longed for him to come back down, take me by the hand and escort me upstairs so he could lay me on the bed and do everything he’d done the night before and more.
Fortunately, Worth wasn’t in the room when I returned. I went straight to my bathroom, stripped out of my sandy swimsuit, and got into the shower. The cool water felt delightful as I washed off the sweat and sand. When I was done, I wrapped up in the clean, fluffy robe that had been provided for me, then immediately grew heated as I thought of how Worth had walked in on me in an identical robe, splayed open as though I were waiting to tempt him.