✿ Reid's POV

Aileen has my head spinning in about ten different directions. I'm working—or I'm supposed to be. Mostly I'm just replaying everything that's happened over the past few days and picking it apart like a man obsessed.

This isn’t like me.
Why is she fucking with my head?

It's one thing to know what I want and to pursue it relentlessly.

That is what I do.
No, it's who I am.

I work hard. Make things happen. I know how to charm, enchant, captivate, and mesmerize to get what I want and meet my goals.

That’s the secret to my success.

And to prevent anyone from saying that I've never worked a day in my life but have everything handed down to me, that's why I refused to take over my father's company. That's why I started my own company. And that too in a different line of business.

Landscape Architecture.

Completely different from running an oil company.

But with Aileen, it's different.

I can't work hard. I can't make things happen. And my charm does nothing to mesmerize her.

I frown and click away from the engagement pictures I'm looking through.

Ah, what the fuck do I care?

Why was I sitting here agonizing over what to do about her? I was putting a lot of mental energy into a girl I just wanted to fuck a few times.

Except, maybe—

Nope, that wasn’t it. Feelings need not apply.

“Excuse me, can you tell me how many miles are on this plane?” her voice startles me a bit and I look up from my laptop.

The flight attendant smiles.

“Aircraft don’t have miles. They have flight hours.”

I can see Aileen swallowing down her impatience.

“Okay, then how many flight hours are on this plane?”

The flight attendant tilts her head, understandably puzzled by her question.

“I’d have to ask the captain, miss.”

For the next hour, Aileen barely moves. She doesn't speak and holds herself as if breathing too hard or somehow jostling the plane will make it fall out of the sky.

I reach for my iPad but put it back. I open a book, hoping to get lost in whatever but I can’t seem to focus.

Why did I even listen to her and not book a first class flight like always?

“How is there no movie on this flight?” I say to myself, glaring at the screenless seat back in front of me.

“Maybe they’re hoping your life flashing in front of your eyes will be distraction enough.”

“She lives” I turn and look at her. “Won’t speaking upset the barometric pressure in the cabin or something?”

She makes a face at me, clinging to the armrest as if her very life depends on it.

“I haven’t ruled it out.”

I chuckle. After she speaks, it’s like the stillness spell is broken. Aileen's knee bounces with nervous energy, her fingers tap against the drink tray until even the sweet old lady nearby is giving her a dirty look. She smiles in apology.

“Who'd you put in charge while you're away?” I ask.

Aileen looks over at me and seems to internally weigh the risk of interacting with me against the potential relief of distraction.

“Why do you care? If you didn't force me to go on this trip with you, I wouldn't have to put anyone in charge of doing my job for me.”

“Was it Jaime?” I go on to ask as if she hasn't spoken.

“What? No” she chuckles. “It's Veronica.”

“She's your favorite” I state.

“That's not a question. And no she's not.”

I nod.

“You're sure?”

“Of course I'm sure” she chuckles, “And before you ask, no. I don't have a favorite.”

“So why Veronica then?”

She shrugs a bit.

“Well because she's not hyperactive or distracted like Jaime, that's one. Two, her first response isn't to punch someone like—”

“You.”

“Lyra” she narrows her eyes.

I smile.

“She's not competitive like Tasmim or shy like Bernadette. She can control the guys. Plus she won't go stir crazy if Gelo should burn a cupcake or lick what's leftover from the mixing bowl” She chuckles a little to herself.

She's calm now.

Just then we hit some mild turbulence, and Aileen’s eyes move wildly around the plane as if the oxygen masks might deploy at any moment.

Hoping to distract her again, I ask, “Where was Bonnie last night? I didn't see her with you at the bar.”

“Home. Sick.”

“What happened? Is she alright?” I ask, not intending to sound that concerned.

“Don't worry, she's fine. She went exploring street food and got food poisoning. Mild. But she's okay now.”

I went exploring street food with Lee too.
But I'm sure it was a different street.

Aileen tries to relax, shaking out her hands. But the turbulence intensifies, and every inch of her stiffens again.

“You know,” I say, “You don’t strike me as someone who’d be afraid of flying.”

She takes a series of deep breaths.

“I’m not.”

This doesn’t really require any sort of rebuttal.

“It’s not my favorite.”

She rests her head back against the seat and closes her eyes again, going back to ignoring me. As the squeaky wheels of the beverage cart make their way down the aisle, Aileen opens her eyes and flags down the flight attendant.

“Can I get a soda?” she glances at me and amends her order. “And a scotch, please.”

I wave her off.

“I don’t drink on a flight” I mouth over to her.

She blinks.

“Whatever.”

“Actually, we don’t have scotch or a soda,” the flight attendant says.

“A martini?”

The woman winces and Aileen's shoulders slump.

“A root beer?”

“That, I have” She reaches into a drawer and hands her two cans of generic-looking Mug root beer. “That’s twenty-two dollars.”

“Like twenty-two American dollars?”

I hold back my chuckle.

“We also have Coke products. They’re free.”

Aileen moves to hand back the cans.

“But if you’d like ice that’s two dollars.”

She frowns.

Oh God.

“Wait,” I say, and reach into my suit pocket.

“Oh no, no, no, you’re not buying my drinks, Armani.”

The flight attendant notices me and grins.

“Oh, Mr. Dalton. Hello. I didn’t see you there.”

Aileen’s annoyed chuckle reaches her ears and the flight attendant looks between us.

“Oh I'm so sorry, is she with you Mr. Dalton?”

“She's—”

“His fiancée. So of course I'm with him” Aileen cuts me off.

The smile that lights up my face worries me.

“Oh. I see... well enjoy your drinks. Itʼs on the house.”

The flight attendant continues down the aisle without another word.

“What was that?” I chuckle.

“Oh, I don't know. But from the way she was smiling at you, you could probably ask her for her social security number, a major credit card, and to bear your children, and she’d say yes” Lee lets out in one breath, cracking her beer open with a satisfying pop.

Aileen drains at least half of the first beer in a long chug, and I try to piece together which side of Lee this is.

“Hey...”

Her forehead immediately scrunches up in a frown.

“Please keep your thoughts to yourself, Armani.” Sinking back in her seat, she closes her eyes again. “No more talking. You’re right, it shakes the plane.”

✯✯✯✯✯✯

✿ Aileen's POV

I spend most of the ride with my face toward the window, taking in the bright blue sky and the glimpses of the ocean visible through the trees. I can already feel my hair frizzing in the humidity, but it’s worth it.

California is truly stunning.

Reid is quiet beside me, watching the view and occasionally tapping something into his phone. Not wanting to disturb the peace, I snap a few blurry photos as we drive down the two-lane highway and send them to Tracy.

She replies with a simple, “Enjoy yourself or Iʼll kick your ass” which I roll my eyes at.

When the car slows and makes a final right turn, the hotel grounds seem to unfurl in front of us. The building is massive. A towering tiered structure of glass, balconies, and greenery spilling everywhere. The ocean crashes right there, so close that someone standing on one of the higher floors could probably throw a rock and make it into the surf.

We drive down a wide lane lined on both sides with full-grown palm trees. Hundreds of lanterns sway in the breeze, suspended from branches overhead. If it’s this gorgeous during the day, I can’t imagine the sight once the sun goes down.

Music filters through speakers hidden in the thick foliage, and next to me Reid looks... unimpressed...? as we pass.
We come to a stop, and two valet attendants appear out of nowhere. We climb out, and I stumble a bit as I look around. Our eyes meet over the roof of the car and he's quick to look away. The air smells like plumeria, and the sound of the waves crashing nearly drowns out the sound of engines idling at the valet.

“Welcome Mr. Dalton” an attendant speaks, startling me a little.

Of course, they know him.
Everyone knows him.

“Check-in is through those doors there” He smiles and points to an open-air lobby. “Your bags will be brought up to your room.”

“Thank you” Reid presses two folded fifty-dollar bills into the valet’s palm and steers me toward the hotel.

“He gets a hundred dollars for pointing us to a door we would have found by ourselves?” I say as soon as we’re out of earshot.

He ignores my comment. An argument bubbles up in my chest, but it dies almost immediately when we step into the hotel.

Massive palm trees flank the entrance to the lobby, their branches dripping with twinkling lights. Water from a giant fountain splashes into a pool below and the scents of plumeria and chlorine intermingle in the humid air.

We’re greeted almost immediately and my stomach twists as a beautiful Polynesian woman takes our IDs and Reid’s credit card. She enters his name and smiles.

“It looks like we have you in our Presidential Suite” She slides a folder filled with various maps and itineraries across the counter. “It comes with an all-inclusive and expense-paid romance package... courtesy of the hotel management” she continues, “And you can choose from several amenities, including romantic candlelit dinners in the Rose Garden, a couple’s massage on the spa balcony at sunset, turn-down service with rose petals and even champagne—”

Reid and I exchange a brief look.

“We’re really more of the outdoorsy types,” I cut in. “Are there any activities available that are a little more rugged and a lot less... naked?”

There's an awkward pause before she clears her throat.

“You can find a more comprehensive list in your room. Take a look, and we can schedule anything you like.”

I thank her and chance a peek over at Reid, who is now gazing at me lovingly.

What's his problem?

With a final swipe of our room keys to activate them, she hands them to Reid and smiles warmly.

“You’re on the top floor. The elevator to your room is around that corner there. I’ll have your bags sent up immediately.”

“Thank you,” he manages easily.

I open my mouth to enquire about the stairs when he beats me to it.

“The stairs lead up there, don't they?”

“Yes, sir. But no one ever takes the stairs when the elevator isnʼt out of order. And it never is.”

“Hm,” he simply hums and turns away.

When we get to the top floor, Reid's breathing is perfectly even for someone who just climbed a dozen flights of stairs.

Me?

Well, I can't complain because it's no fault of mine.

“Why do you insist on taking the stairs when you look like this every time you do?” he asks.

“I told you... shortcuts... taking shortcuts...” I stand up straight and inhale deeply, “I don't believe in shortcuts,” I finally say in an even tone.

He shakes his head and takes the lead, guiding me through a small door and into the room. My breath catches in my throat when I step in. Never in my life have I stayed in a suite, let alone one this opulent.

Ahead of us is an absurdly spacious living room, with a couch, a love seat, two chairs, and a low glass coffee table on a fluffy white rug. The table is topped with a beautiful violet orchid in a woven basket and a complicated remote.

Just to the left of the living room is a small dining nook, with a table, two brass candlesticks, and a tiki-themed bar cart covered in all manner of ornate cocktail glasses. I mentally gulp down about four margaritas and get an anticipatory buzz from all the upcoming free booze I’m about to enjoy.

I am not a drinker. I hardly drink. I am too much of a lightweight. But when I know I'm not in a dangerous environment to drink, I give it my best shot.

At the far end is the true beauty of the room; a wall of glass doors that open to a balcony overlooking the crashing Californian surf. I gasp, sliding them to the side and stepping out into the warm June breeze. The temperature— so not Idaho—shocks me into a surreal awareness.

I’m in California, in a dream suite, on an all-inclusive trip.

I’ve never been to California. I’ve never done anything dreamlike, period. I start to do a little dance but only realize I’m doing it when Reid steps out onto the balcony and dumps an enormous bucket of water on my joy by clearing his throat and squinting out across the waves.

He looks like he’s thinking, Eh. I’ve seen better.

“This view is amazing,” I say, almost confrontationally.

Slowly blinking over to me, he says, “It would have been even better ten minutes ago if you let us take the elevator.”

“I already told you I don’t believe in shortcuts, okay? And I didn't force you to take the stairs with me so you don't get to say it's my fault.”

He holds his hands up in sarcastic surrender. With a scowl, I leave and head back inside.

Jerk!

Just to the immediate right of the entry, there is a small kitchen I completely bypassed on my way to the balcony. Past the kitchen is a hallway that leads to a small bathroom, and, just past it, the opulent master bedroom. I step inside and see there’s another huge bathroom here with a giant tub big enough for two. I turn to face the gigantic bed.

Of course, itʼs one bed.

I shake my head.

“I'm not sleeping in here with him.”

I step out of the bedroom just as Reid is closing the wide double doors, and then we are sealed into this awkward moment of unprepared cohabitation. We turn in unison to gaze at our suitcases.

“You can take the bedroom,” we say at the same time. “What? Why?” we chorus again.

Ocean waves crash in the background.

“I'm a gentleman. You’re a woman. You should take the bedroom.”

Some of those words are the ones I want to hear, and some of them are just terrible. I tilt my head, scowling.

“I don’t get the bedroom because I’m a woman. I get the room because that's how it's supposed to be.”

He gives a douchey little wince-shrug and says, “I mean, if we’re going by those standards, then I should get the room since we got in the first place because of Reid Dalton’s status.”

“Well excuse me,” I say. “I wasn't the one who dragged me all the way here.”

“You realize you’re just arguing with me for the sake of arguing, right? I already told you you could have the room.”

I point at him.

“Oh, and what you’re doing right now isn’t arguing?”

He sighs like I am the most irritating person alive.

“Just take the bedroom, okay? I’ll sleep on the couch” He gazes at it.

It looks plush and nice, sure, but it is still a couch and we’re here for only two nights.

“I’ll be fine,” he adds with a hefty spoonful of martyrdom thrown in.

“Okay, if you’re going to act like I’m beholden to you, then I don’t want it.”

He exhales slowly, and then walks over to his suitcase, lifting it and carrying it to the bedroom.

“Where are you going?”

Reid stops without turning to look at me.

“I’m just going to put some things in the drawers so I’m not living out of my suitcase in the living room for two days.” He glances at me over his shoulder. “I presume that’s okay with you?”

He is so carefully balancing being generous with being passive-aggressive that I am all mixed up about how big an asshole he really is. It makes it impossible to measure out the correct dose of snark.

“It’s fine,” I say, and add magnanimously, “Take all the dresser space you want.”

I hear his bemused snort as he disappears from view.

✯✯✯✯✯✯

I make a face as Reid approaches me with two cocktails.

“What?”

“You didn't have to come with me, you know? Thanks” I mutter my appreciation as I take the glass from him.

“I know. But I wanted to.”

“Why? I only said I was going out for a walk.”

“And I decided to come with you. But not to scare off your potential love interests of course” he winks.

I roll my eyes and sip the drink. I squeeze my face at the taste and I hear the shutter of a camera.

“Hey!”

“Cute” Reid laughs. “I'm definitely keeping this.”

“Ew no. Delete that!”

“No way” he chuckles and finishes his drink.

“Armani.”

“No” he repeats and climbs into the day bed to lie down.

“Delete that picture, Armani. Or I swear to God youʼre going to be very sorry” I threaten, setting my drink down.

“Ohh Iʼm shaking” he teases.

I narrow my eyes and stand. Then I grab the blanket heʼs lying on and pull as hard as I can. Reid starts sliding towards the end of the day bed.

“Woah, woah, woah! Lee, what are you doing?!”

“Getting you off the bed.”

“Well, that's not fair.

I keep pulling.

“All is fair in love and war” I smile.

“Well this certainly doesnʼt feel very loving— Aileen!”

He falls onto the sand with a thud and I clamor into the bed as he pushes himself up.

“You can apologize by deleting the picture. Thank you” I smile his way.

But before I can lie back, Reid scoops me up and away.

“Hey! Put me down, Armani!” I exclaim.

He hoists me over his shoulder.

“Nope. Youʼre going for a swim in the pool.”

“What?! No, there are my good jeans! Armani!”

“Shhhh, relax. Itʼll be quick” and I swear I can smell his dirty thoughts.

“Armani...”

We're so busy bickering that I don't realize a person has been watching us. And for a moment I feel I'm hallucinating. Till Reid says the name and I know I'm not.

“Anika?”

She flashes us a tight smile.

“Hello. What a coincidence... running into you two here.”

Iʼd like to think otherwise.

“Wha... what are you... doing here?” he stammers.

Her eyes flick beside her and we follow her gaze.

“Mate!”

Oh crap!

I feel Reid tense. His jaw tightens and so does his hold on me.

“Fancy seeing you two here! Hello Lee” Ethan smiles my way.

“Hi” I manage to mutter... and when I realize Iʼm still hoisted in the air by Reid, I wiggle out of his arms.

“What are you two doing here?” Ethan asks.

“Oh theyʼre obviously here on a little getaway just like we are, honey” Anika chuckles and looks at Reid. “Right?”

When he doesn't reply, I jump in.

“More or less,” I say, looping a casual arm through his. “Itʼs a little thing we do. We take a spontaneous right before his birthday.”

“Oh right, that trip” Anika chuckles, “I completely forgot about that.”

Liar.

I hum.

“We used to do that too, remember Reid?” she smiles his way, “Miami, Paris, Bali. Every year right... no, two days before his birthday. Weʼd just go somewhere... just the two of us. We kinda started that little tradition. Remember?”

“No” Reid mercilessly shoots her down and although Iʼm satisfied, I canʼt help but feel annoyed.

Could he have known they were coming here and simply didnʼt tell me?

“Hey and while I have you two here,” Ethan suddenly speaks up, “I just wanted to apologize for last time... at the auction.”

I make sure to grip Reidʼs arm, in case he still wasnʼt over losing and still wanted to arrange Ethanʼs face.

“I just... sugarbug really wanted that painting and well... what my sugarbug wants, my sugarbug gets” he smiles lovingly at Anika whose homicidal look sheʼs throwing at me, disappears.

“Of course, babe” she smiles. “No hard feelings, Lee.”

I hum.

“Oh of course not. We completely understand.”

“Thatʼs great mate” Ethan pats Reidʼs other arm and his jaw ticks again. “Iʼm glad we cleared the air between us. Arenʼt you?”

I gently rub against Reidʼs arm and his glare stops.

“Of course” he lets out, then looks down beside him at me, “Itʼs all in the past. The nowʼs more important ”

Is he trying to tell me something?

“Yes. All in the past” I agree with a hearty smile up at him.

The next thing happens so fast as Reid presses a hard, fast kiss to my cheek.

Wait what?

It's all for show, relax. My conscience tells me.

Anika frowns, and her long red nails curl more tightly around the Diet Coke can sheʼs holding.

“Maybe we can go to dinner or something,” she says, and it’s so half-hearted that I actually bark out a laugh before Reid reaches for the hand Iʼm rubbing his arm with and squeezes it.

“Yes,” I say, trying to cover. “Dinner. We have it every day.”

Reid looks down at me, and I realize he’s not glaring... he’s fighting a laugh. Ethan pipes up with a subject change, similarly cool on the dinner idea.

“How long are you here?”

I absolutely cannot stomach another fake dinner, so I go for broke. When Reid answers “Just two days,” I wrap my arms around his waist and gaze up at him with what I hope is a sexy frown.

“Actually, sweetie, I’d feel terrible if we planned something and didn’t make it. You know we barely made it out of the room today” I walk some flirty fingers up his chest, toying with the buttons on the front of his shirt.

Wow, it is a veritable wall of muscle under there.

“I already shared you tonight. I can’t make any promises for tomorrow.”

Reid raises a single brow, and I wonder if the tension in his expression is because he cannot fathom having sex with me once, let alone continually for an entire afternoon. Pulling himself out of the mental hellscape, he presses a swift kiss to the tip of my nose.

“You have a point.”

He turns to Anika.

“Maybe we can play it by ear?”

“Absolutely. You still have my number?”

“I’d imagine so,” he says with a bemused nod.

Anika takes a couple of steps backward, and her gold heels click like kitten claws on the pool's paving.

“Okay, well... weʼll leave you two to it then. I hope we see you again!”

With a tug, she pulls Ethan, and they continue their way down the path.

“It was nice seeing you mate!” Ethan calls out before turning his attention to Anika.

“Please tell me weʼre not going to see them again.”

If you donʼt, how are you going to separate them and be rid of Reid Dalton? My conscience goes again.

“Well, I canʼt promise that. This resort is huge. It’s like, forty acres and has nine swimming pools... plus access to the ocean. And weʼre here only two days so yeah, itʼs possible.”

Pulling my hands off his body, I shake them out at my sides.

“God, why did you kiss my nose? We did not discuss that.”

“I must have thought you were okay with it once you started feeling me up.”

I scoff at that and whirl on him.

“You knew they were going to be here didnʼt you?” I accuse.

His half smile slips from his lips.

“What? No.”

“Don't lie to me, Armani. I can see right through your bullshit.”

“No. And ouch. If I knew they were going to be here, I wouldnʼt—”

I gasp.

“Thatʼs why you insisted on coming outside with me!”

“What? Lee, no.”

“Liar” I throw my hair tie at him, getting him to laugh.

“Iʼm not lying Lee. I swear. I didnʼt know they were going to be here” he says with a soft smile. “Cʼmon, Lee.”

“Your toothpaste-commercial smile and chiseled body donʼt do it for me.”

Reidʼs smile grows.

“You think Iʼm chiseled?”

I didnʼt plan for that to come out of my mouth.

“Not the point, Armani.”

He wiggles his brows at me.

“Please, continue. Tell me more about my smile.”

Reid looks amused as I set off at an acceptable distance toward the hotel.

“Thatʼs it? Thatʼs all you've got?” he calls out, coming after me.

“I got us out of another dinner. If it weren’t for me you’d spend tomorrow night across from Malibu Barbie and the Australian version of Ken. You’re welcome!” I call out, not bothering to stop.

“Lee! Wait up!”

I quicken my steps.

“Hey!”

The laugh that breaks out of me is unintended and for whatever reason, Iʼm making a ran for it.

“Oh hell...” I hear him say. “Lee!”

I donʼt hold back my shriek as I race away when Reid closes in on me.

“Hey! Stop!”

“No. Youʼre going to have to— Armani!”

He tackles me into the sand and I laugh.

“Iʼm going to have to what?” he laughs right back.

I swat him in the arm as I try to catch my breath.

“Ow! Do you have always hit me or is it that you just canʼt stop yourself from touching me?”

“Definitely the first one” I reply, bringing my knees up to my chest.

“Well, that hurt you meanie.”

“Well, that serves you right for—”

Reid catches me by surprise and pokes me. And the unladylike snort I let out isnʼt at all planned.

“Woah-ho!” he laughs just as I slap a hand across my mouth, “What did I just get out of you there? What are you, half bulldog?”

“Well, you groped me, Armani.”

“I did not grope you, that was an innocent poke in the side,” he says and does it again, causing me to let out another sort.

What is wrong with me?!

“Oh, youʼre a snort. I didnʼt realize that” he teases, pushing himself onto his knees.

“No, no. Mm-mm” I shake my hand, palms out to defend myself, “I know what youʼre about to do Armnai and Iʼm sorry to disappoint you okay? But I am not ticklish.”

“Okay but just to be sure...” I swat his hand away before he can bring it close to me, “Do you really wanna play this Miss Wilmore?” he chuckles.

“No. Mr. Dalton. But cʼmon. I dare you” I laugh, blocking all his attempts to tickle me.

“There we go” he cheers, managing to get one to my side.

“This is just... Armani!” I laugh when he gets his other hand to my other side. “Seriously? What are we five?”

“All is fair in love and war— hey!” He blocks my attempt to elbow him away from me. “You sneaky little—”

“What are you doing?” I laugh, no snort this time, as he climbs on top of me and pins my hands firmly above my head into the fine beach sand.

He smirks.

“How do you think this is going to end?”

“Get off me, Armani” I struggle to get out of his grip. “I will fight you, you know? I will fight you. And I won't rest until there's blood.”

His smile widens and he switches to pin my arms with one arm. Then he leans into me.

“Fight me? Cute. Now why don't we— ow!” he jerks back, but still not letting go of my hand.

It's my turn to smirk at him as he gasps and brings his free hand to his chest.

“You just bit my titties!”

“Oh relax” I roll my eyes, “I was only a nibble” I smile.

“Yeah well, it hurt.”

“Oh did it?” I chuckle.

“Yes. Yes, it did.”

“But you loved it” I drop my tone.

Reidʼs reactive smile is out of this world adorable.

“I did kind of love it, yeah” he admits, “Your aim was... precise...” his eyes drop to my mouth as he pants to catch his breath, “Accurate.”

My chest heaves as I pant too.

“I happen to have a gift for being... well... accurate” My eyes move from his face to his lips.

“Lee...”

Just do it already.

I remain still, my eyes not moving from his lips. But I can't. The rejection from the gala. I couldn't take another one.

“Armani, I can't—”

✯✯✯✯✯✯

✿Reid's POV

She opens her mouth to speak.

“Armani, I can't—”

And I’m so tired of hearing her say that. So I cut her up the only way I can think of. I kiss her. I slant my mouth over hers and bite on her bottom lip. She gasps, and I slide my tongue inside her mouth. I kiss her deeply, suck on her tongue, drink from her, and when I let go of her hands pinned above her head, she kisses me right back.

Aileen opens herself up and presses herself close so her breasts are pushed into my chest. All the blood drains to my groin, and my cock thickens.

Oh fucking hell!

I dig my fingers in her hair, wrap the strands around my fingers, and tug. She moans, plasters herself to me, and burrows in even closer. Then suddenly her entire body stiffens.

“Let me go” She pulls away from me so suddenly, I release her and her back hits the sand.

“Hey, are you okay?” I reach out to hold her but she scrambles to her feet.

“Stay the hell away from me, Armani.”

She does a terrible job of shaking the beach sand from her hair and snatches up her shoes.

“Lee...”

She looks me square in the eyes.

“Never do that again, Armani.”

I blink.

Why does that sound so familiar?

Without another word, Aileen turns and marches off toward the hotel just as I remember why her words sound familiar. And I pale immensely.

Oh shit!

Thank you for reading!
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Ciao
~the_atticwriter