Chapter 2
Saturday 2.13pm
Audrey
I slowly come to wakefulness, groaning as I peel back the eye mask I put on when I stumbled into my room this morning.
My eyes are gritty, and my muscles and feet ache from a night spent dancing and sitting on uncomfortable seats.
But despite my physical discomfort and my annoyance, I check my phone and am enormously relieved Beth has sent me a message saying she’s fine.
Since she probably doesn’t realize she has my car keys still, I tap out a message and ask if she’s able to drive the car back to the resort.
When she hasn’t answered and I need to pee, I ease out of bed, and decide to shower before I call room service.
I stagger into the bathroom Beth and I got ready in, still littered with makeup, and still smelling like Beth’s perfume.
I shower quickly, washing the grime and makeup away until I’m feeling more awake and less like a zombie.
I wrap my robe around my waist and stumble back into my room ready to call Beth.
But I don’t have to, when I reach for my phone, it starts to rumble in my fingers.
I sit on the edge of the bed as I prepare to scold her. But when her voice comes out weak, and she sounds terrible, I relent. “Are you mad I ditched you?” she asks.
I sigh heavily. “Not mad. But I was worried. And you took my car keys.”
She groans. “I know. I’m sorry. And I’ll get it back to the resort. Why don’t you come out here and join us? He has a pool, and it’s really private.”
The idea of playing third wheel is less than appealing. “Thanks but I’ll be fine here.”
Beth picks now to remind me I’m too cautious. “Why don’t you go to the bar? Or the beach? See if you can have some fun while you can?”
Easier said than done when you never know when someone might sneak up on you and take a photo.
“I’ll find something to do. Maybe watch a movie, get room service.”
Beth groans. “You’re in Miami. Why not make the most of it?”
I don’t say what I really want to say. That I believe it’s safer to stay in control than risk what might happen if you lose it.
“I’ll try,” I say.
“No, you won’t. You’ll stay in your room and you’ll yet miss another opportunity to live your life just like you always do.”
I smother a retort. “It’s not so easy for me. My father can’t afford—"
“Yeah, yeah I know. Your father needs us all to be a model family. Well, I for one, am happy to disappoint him,” she mumbles before she ends the call.
With that cheery goodbye and the knowledge I’m now alone in a singles resort, without transport, I flop back on the bed, and stare at the blinking light of the smoke detector.
I stay that way until my growling stomach lets me know I missed both breakfast and lunch.
I groan as I pull myself to sitting and am about to reach for the phone when I hear a knock at my door.
Frowning, I ease off the bed, and try to remember if I’d ordered room service and forgotten about it.
But when I open the door it’s not a uniformed staff member, it’s Spencer, looking gorgeous in his tight-fitting t-shirt, frayed jeans, and boat shoes.
His lip curls into a smile as I hold my robe closed. “Spencer? How did you know what room I was in?”
He smiles and extends the hand holding a brown paper bag. “You told me. Brought you pastries. We can get coffee on the way if you need it.”
I accept the bag, frowning as I try to recall if I told him that. I don’t remember saying it, but I was so exhausted I probably don’t remember half of what I said.
“Thanks. Um, sorry, on the way where?”
He grins. “To the marina. I hired a boat. Thought maybe you’d like to come spend the day on a private island.”
My eyebrows arch. “I didn’t say I would this morning, did I?”
He chuckles and leans in the doorframe. “If I said you promised to would you come?”
I pull a face at him. “No.”
He shrugs. “Then no you didn’t. But I figured your cousin was going to be out of action today, and the island is too pretty to spend the day on it alone.”
He smiles again, and looks so roguishly handsome, I find myself smiling back. “You don’t have someone else you’d like to take?”
He smiles. “No one as interesting or as beautiful as you.”
It’s such an obvious lie, that I snort a laugh. “Does that usually work?”
He wiggles his eyebrows and points to the bag. “Not always. That’s why I brought food.”
I open the bag and peer inside, and nearly groan at the sight of chocolate drizzled pastries.
I eye him as he grins even wider. “You can bring your mace if you still don’t trust me.”
I start to shake my head and tell him I’m not a fan of boats but a little voice that sounds suspiciously like Beth stops me.
A private island is probably the one place I actually can relax a little.
Before I can think of all the reasons why I shouldn’t go, the words tumble too easily from my lips.
“Give me ten minutes to get dressed,” I say.
He winks and steps back. “Meet you in the lobby and don’t worry about the dress code. It’s optional.”
I open my mouth to tell him I’m not getting naked, but he’s already walking away.
***
Spencer
I perch on the edge of the chair and try to look casual though I feel anything but.
I don’t know why, but I’m jittery. And it’s not because of the coffee I had to kick start me after a night working.
It’s her.
I didn’t realize how badly I wanted her to come until I saw her, minus the makeup, wrapped in a scruffy old robe, and she damn near sucked the wind out of my lungs.
Whoever she was last night, she is definitely not today. When she appears, carrying a tote bag, sunglasses on the top of her head, dressed in cut off shorts, sandals, and a tank top, and smiling uneasily at me, I feel like the sun just came out.
Five words start to run on a loop in my head.
She’s too good for you. She’s too good for you. She’s too good for you.
But I’ve never listened to self-doubt before, so I stand, and smile as confidently as I can.
“Ready?”
She nods slowly. “Sure. But I’ll need that coffee.”
I grin and gesture to the exit. “Whatever you want. We can grab some at the marina or I can make you some when we get to the island.”
Her nose wrinkles as we step outside in the hot sun. “Do you know the owner or something?”
A smile creases my lips. “Or something,” I say.
Her brow furrows as she slides her glasses on. “But they’re okay with you bringing a guest?”
I open the door for her and just smile. “How’s your cousin getting on?”
She slips inside, and I skirt the BMW hoping I’ve distracted her for the time being.
She’s looking at me when I sit behind the wheel and buckle my seatbelt. “She’s fine. Hungover. But fine. Actually, she’s why I agreed to come.”
I glance at her, and smile. “Oh yeah?”
A coy smile flitters at her lips. “She thinks I’m boring.”
I frown at her and pull out into traffic. “Can’t say I agree with her. You’re the least boring person I’ve met.”
She snorts a laugh. “You really can’t help yourself, can you?”
I shoot her a look as we hit the main street. “How’d you mean?”
“Flirting.”
I shrug. “Was just making an observation. If I were flirting with you, you’d know it.”
There’s a challenge in her voice and a hint of mocking that makes me like her even more. “Well, when you start, let me know so I’m prepared for it.”
I send her a glance sidelong. “You don’t like surprises huh?”
I can feel her eyes on me as I take the turn off into the marina. “Not really.”
I roll the car into the lot and put the barking brake on before I turn to look at her. “I think I get it. You like to be in control.”
She screws up her face. “No. I just like to be prepared.”
I chuckle at that one. “Well, prepare to have fun. Because we have the entire island to ourselves and since I drove here, you get to drive the boat.”
She slides her glasses off her face and narrows her eyes. “You’re not serious? I can’t do that.”
“Why?”
Her face scrunches up even more. “Because I’ve never driven a boat before. What if I crash?”
I undo my seat belt, and grin at her. “You worry too much.”
Her face relaxes a fraction, but she shakes her head. “And from where I’m sitting, you worry too little.”
From the way she’s set her shoulders I know she’s not going to budge, I’m wasting time trying to convince her and I can see Mike waiting on the dock.
I reach into my pocket and pull out my wallet. “How about you grab yourself a coffee? I gotta go talk to a guy before we leave.”
She follows my gaze, but nods her head, ignoring the money in my hand. “I can get my own coffee. You want one?”
I shake my head. “I’m good. I’ll meet you at dock 83, okay?”
She climbs out of the car and gives me a brisk smile. “See you there.”
I keep my eyes on her until I’m sure she’s ordering before I jump out of the car and head towards Mike.
He gives me a leery smile as he looks in the direction of the coffee caravan. “She’s new.”
I ignore him and start walking towards the yacht. “Everything set?”
He nods and pulls out the keys. “Business as usual. Just make sure everything’s in place. And call me when it’s done.”
I send him an irritated glare and he immediately relents. “Forgot who I was talking to.”
He doesn’t say another word about the job or about Audrey until we’re at the twenty-foot launch.
“She’s a little high end for you, isn’t she?”
I glance at the boat and then at Audrey. “You talking about the woman or the boat?”
He slaps me on the back hard enough for me to wince. “Both, Spence. Both.”
He leaves me to climb aboard, and I have enough time to do a routine check before Audrey arrives with a large coffee.
“Wow. This is a lot bigger than I’d expected.”
I extend my hand and grin as I help her board the yacht. “I bet you say that to all the guys,” I say.
She lets out a throaty laugh and shakes her head. “Just the ones who need to hear it,” she says.
