Chapter 12
Emilee
I wake, my body tangledwith Max’s, and I can’t contain the smile that has my face hurting. It’s so big. And I’m not thinking about the multiple mind-blowing orgasms that left my toes curling. No, it’s the way Max makes me feel. Like I matter.
He stirs, his chest rising and falling in a rhythmic pattern that lulls me into a trance as I watch. There’s something so calming about this moment, so simple yet heartwarming. I stretch my arm out lazily, trailing my fingertips along the ripples of his abs, the memory of our lovemaking fresh in my mind. God, he’s discovered erogenous zones I didn’t know existed.
“Hey, beautiful,”he mumbles as he drapes his arm around me.
“Hey yourself, handsome. I don’t normally wake up next to naked men that look as good as you.”
He chuckles, the sound deep and rumbling, warming me more than the Egyptian cotton sheets we’re tangled in. “I’m thinking I should keep you.”
The butterflies lying in wait in my stomach unfold their wings, flapping them slowly. Is he suggesting what I hope he is?
“I’m not a one-night stand, you know. Non-refundable, no returns.”
He trails a finger along my jawline. “I wouldn’t want to return you even if I could.”
My heart skips a beat at his words, and I feel myself blushing again. “Max...”
“No. Don’t say it.”Max silences me. “No talk about anything outside this room. Not today. Just us. Just right now.”
“Okay. Just us.”I sigh, giving in to the—dare I say it—love I see shining in his eyes.
Max pulls me close, his chest pressed against mine, his heartbeat steady and strong against mine. With the afternoon sun filtering through the blinds, it’s as though the world has stopped spinning just for us.
He nuzzles my hair. “Have I mentioned much I like waking up with the most beautiful woman in my arms after making love to her all morning?”
He kisses me, a long, lingering, full-of-promises kiss, and I’m lost in a whirlwind of emotion and desire as his hands trail up and down my bare back. I melt into him, our bodies fitting together like two puzzle pieces, finally finding their forever match.
“Don’t leave me,”he whispers against my lips, his voice hoarse with emotion.
“I’m yours forever, if you want me.”
A flirtatious glint lights up his eyes. “Forever? That’s a long time, Miss Thompson.”
“Well, we could always start with—I glance over at the window to gauge the time—dinner.”
Max grins, the dimple on his cheek making my heart skip a beat. “I thought I might go fishing. Would you care to come?”
I shake my head. “Why don’t you go do that? I think I’ll find Marika and see if there’s anything I can help her with.”I feel a little guilty for ditching my friend, and I really have no desire to sit in a little canoe.
We get up, shower, and change, and then Max heads down to the dock while I tidy up before heading out to find Marika.
I’m so glad I found that post and took a chance. This trip has exceeded my expectations. With my arms over my head, I stretch, arching my body. The subtle aches remind me of exactly how I’ve spent the last few days, and nothing can make this wonderful feeling go away.
As I make the bed, I let my fingers wander over the space Max left behind. The warmth from his body is fading, but the echo of his presence is visible, and my mind replays images of us together, our bodies entwined, and the way his gaze seemed to pierce right through to my soul. The bond we’re forming so quickly is exhilarating and a little scary. The last man I trusted destroyed me. I honestly didn’t think I’d be able to find something worth having again so soon.
This reminds me that there are still things about me that Max doesn’t know. If this thing between us is going somewhere, we need to talk about our personal lives. We need to open up. God, we don’t even live in the same state. How will this work?
I can’t just up and move yet. I need my name completely cleared before I can look for another job. How can I possibly explain the situation to Max without risking everything?
Not wanting to worry about that right now, I finish in the bedroom, tossona pair of cutoffs and a T-shirt, and slip on my flip-flops. I apply the barest hint of makeup and slather lotion on my skin and consider myself ready for human interaction.
I need advice from someone who knows me and understands the balance I’m trying to maintain. I head to the main building in search of my friend.
As I approach the lobby, voices, and laughter drift out to me through the large open windows—Marika’s light and carefree giggles mingling with Shaun’s deeper, grounded tones. My hand hovers over the door handle, ready to yank it open, when Shaun’s words stop me. Instead, I step over a bush to peer into the window.
“I’m not kidding, Marika. A million dollars. Can you believe it? It was his suggestion. Max wants to be a silent partner. This is an investment, and frankly a drop in the bucket for him. But’s it’s going to change everything for us. He’s even offered to pay for extra crews to help us stay on schedule.”
I can see Marika, her hands clasped over her belly, “I knew he was well off, but this... this is beyond generous.”
My heart lurches, my hand falling away from the door. A million dollars. Max has that kind of money. He sunk a fortune into this place and didn’t say a word to me. Why didn’t he tell me? What does this mean? Why is he keeping secrets?
A deep, sharp sensation takes hold—a feeling of betrayal. Yes, I’ve kept secrets, too, because I was falsely accused of embezzlement. One doesn’t just walk up to strangers and make that announcement when they’re trying to forget that everyone thinks they’re a thief.
Why would he keep the fact that he’s rich a secret from me?
His omission cuts deeply. I press a hand to my chest, trying to steady the rapid drumming of my heart. Tension claims my body; every muscle coils tight as I stand frozen outside the door while Marika and Shaun’s voices continue inside, unaware.
Marika leans in, her voice a mix of reflection and seriousness. “Shaun, it’s more than just the money. It’s the trust he’s putting in us to not fail him. To not waste his investment.”
The irony of her words strikes me like a physical blow.
Isn’t trust what I value above all?
And now, confronted with Max’s secret, I can’t help but wonder what else is lurking beneath the surface of our blossoming romance. What else don’t I know about the man I’ve fallen in love with?
I want to know the truth. But then again, I’m not being honest myself, am I? How will he feel when he hears about how and why I got fired from my job? Or how my ex dumped me the very same day because he said he couldn’t trust me. That he didn’t know me anymore.
It’s obviously past time for total honesty. Swinging the door wide, I step inside.
“Emilee.”Marika’s voice hitches, her eyes smiling when she sees me.
Shaun turns, surprised at my entrance.
“Is it true?”I demand, my voice only wobbling a bit. “Is Max really a millionaire?”
There’s a moment of silence that screams louder than any confession before Shaun clears his throat. “He’s actually richer than that.”
Marika and I spin to face him as he scratches the back of his head.
“He’s a big wig in the tech industry. Plus, his family has money. I’d say he’s solidly in the billionaire range at this point.”
What?
“Emilee...”Shaun shifts his weight, looking rather uncomfortable. “I thought you knew.”
“I had no freaking idea. You two didn’t think I deserved to know who I’m sle... sharing a cabin with?”The tremble in my voice and the near slip-up betrays the anger and betrayal raging inside me.
“Look, Emilee,”Marika says, her hands out. “We had no clue that you and Max were getting so close or that you cared about each other.”
Of course, she didn’t miss a thing.
She reaches out as if to soothe me, but I back away. “I’m sure Max is just very private about these things.”
My laugh is bitter and humorless. “You call Max hiding who he really is complicated? I call it lying.”Says the pot to the kettle. But my situation is different. I almost went to jail for something I didn’t do.That’s not something you openly advertise.
Shaun runs a hand through his dark hair, looking torn. “I don’t think he meant to lie to you, Emilee. He just hasn’t told you everything yet. There’s a difference.”
“Is there?”I shoot back. “Because from where I’m standing, they look one and the same.”
“Please don’t be upset,”Marika pleads, her brows knitting together. “It’s not a big deal.”
I blow out a breath and cross my arms. “The man I thought I knew, the man I am... the man I—”I cut myself off, unwilling to admit the depth of my feelings in front of them.
“Emilee,”Shaun’s voice is firmer now. “You need to talk to Max about all of this.”
“Talk to him?”I scoff, feeling a surge of defiance. “And say what? ‘Thanks for the lies, now could you please fill in the blanks about who you actually are?’”
“Emilee, please calm down,”Marika says softly. “I think you might be blowing this out of proportion.”
But her words only fuel the fire blazing within my chest. My posture stiffens, and my resolve hardens like steel. “He lied to me about who he is, Marika. If he can lie about something as simple as that, then what else is he lying about?”
Without waiting for their response, I turn on my heel and leave them standing amid their soon-to-be-finished resort, thanks to Max’s hidden wealth.
The vibrant colors of the flowers I previously lingered to appreciate are a blur as I hurry past. The bird calls, and the sound of the sea, once so calming, now seems to taunt me.
The implications of Max’s wealth, his reaction when he finds out my financial situation and the potential impact on our relationship overwhelm me, threatening to drown me in doubt and confusion. How can I trust my own judgment when all it takes is a sexy, handsome man who pays attention to me to cloud it?
Every step away from the truth leaves me cold despite the sun’s warmth on my skin. Tears threaten to fall, so I seek solitude under the canopy of a palm tree, the shade offering no respite from either the heat or the turmoil.
My phone vibrates in my pocket. Good Lord, I forgot I’d even put it there. Since arriving on the island, I’ve left it in my suitcase, untouched. But when I came across it this morning, I decided to take it with me, hoping to get a few pictures of Max and me together.
The screen lights up with an incoming video call that quickens my pulse, and dread settles like a stone in my gut. It’s my ex, Darren.
For a moment, I just stare at his name, bile rising in my throat. Accepting this call means diving back into my life much sooner than I had planned when I came to Summer Island.
With a trembling finger, I swipe the screen to answer, my other hand instinctively starting the recording. If there is one thing I have learned from my fall from grace, it’s to always strive to be one step ahead of those who have turned against you.
Darren’s face pops up on the small screen, smirking with self-assurance. His closely cropped hair is as impeccable as ever, and he’s wearing that damn navy-blue polo shirt I hate stretched over his stocky build—a picture of preppy arrogance. He’s sitting in what looks like an expensive leather chair, andbehind him, a shelf lined with gleaming trophies. Trophies for what? Ruining lives?
“Emilee.”
His voice is a slick caress that makes my skin crawl. What did I ever see in him?
“It’s been a while.”
“Cut the crap, Darren,”I say, despising how my voice trembles slightly. “What do you want?”
His smirk widens as he leans forward, dark eyes glinting. “I need a favor.”
“Since when do you ask for favors?”I can’t believe I ever considered this man nice or worthy of dating. Since we met at work, he’s been hanging onto me, and I could never figure out why. He’s attractive, but he’s just a... a... dick. Did he stand up for me when he found out about the accusations? No! He led the charge of pointing the finger. I thought he cared about me.
“Since we’re both in deep trouble if you don’t help me out,”he shoots back. He leans forward and glances from side to side like he’s preparing to tell me the best secret. “You know the embezzlement charge they pinned on you?”
I roll my eyes, already finished with this conversation. “I’m not going to talk to you about that, Darren. I have nothing to say.”
“Oh, I think you’ll want to listen.”
“Look, Darren, I’m on vacation. I don’t have time for this. I have plans and I’m late.”I raise my hand to end the call.
“It was me,”he shouts. “I’m the one who took the money, Emilee. And I need you to cover for me, again.”
His words are a punch to the gut. The world spins so fast I need to plant my palm against the tree trunk to steady myself. I don’t even acknowledge the rough surface pressing into my palm. “Excuse me?”
“I think you heard me. But in case youdidn’t—”
“You ruined my career. My reputation!”I bite back a sob, refusing to give him the satisfaction of seeing me break. “You—”
“Look, Emilee,”he cuts in, his tone edged with desperation, licking his lips. “If you don’t help me, I’ll make sure the police investigate you again. Not me. You. Get it?”
Shock roots me to the spot as the truth slams into me, raw and sharp. I should feel vindicated, knowing I’ve been innocent all along. But the realization that he would go to such lengths leaves me reeling.
“Look, Em, don’t do anything foolish.”He rubs the back of his neck. “Okay, yeah, I admit what I did to you was pretty shitty. But I couldn’t get caught skimming money from my own father’s company, so I blamed you.”
“You fucking asshole,”I push out between clenched teeth. “How could you? You left my career in shambles after that social media scandal went viral.”Heat burns up from my chest and heats my neck. “I assume that was your fault, too?”
“Um, well, yeah. I had to make it look real.”
“Why, Darren? Why did you do this to me?”I spit out, my heart hammering as my fingers grip the phone so tight they’re turning white.
“Because you were always better than me, Emilee. At everything.”His voice cracks, the whiny confession seeping through his usual bravado. “They were even going to give you a promotion. Not me. That company will be mine one day, and you’re the one getting the promotion. You deserved to be brought down a notch in my father’s eyes.”
“Are you kidding me?”I laugh, the sound coming out of my mouth devoid of humor. “I deserve honesty and respect, not your pathetic insecurities ruining my life.”
“Please, Emilee... I need you. Without your help—”Darren’s plea cuts through the phone like a puppy begging for attention, but I’m done listening.
“Go to hell, Darren.”I jab at the screen to end the call.
The phone slips from my grasp, thudding on the soft grass at my feet. Rage is burning hot through my blood right now. The lush tranquility of the island is a distant memory, a mocking backdrop to the level of betrayal and breach of trust I’ve discovered in the past thirty minutes.
I need to pack and get out of here. I should have asked Marika and Shaun about flight schedules. Hopefully, I don’t have to wait until tomorrow to leave.
Drawing a shaky breath that does little to steady my racing heart, I continue to the cabin.
A woman I don’t recognize appears on the path ahead of me. I didn’t think other guests were here, though she’s not exactly dressed for the beach. She embodies poise and grace, her sleek blonde hair reflecting the sun’s waning light. Her designer outfit hugs her slender frame with every move, the silk lapels of her blouse billowing slightly in the breeze. Her three-inch pastel pink heels perfectly match her blouse, but they are not appropriate for a resort under construction. Even with the distance between us, I can already detect her expensive perfume competing with the organic fragrance of the tropical flowers planted along the path.
“Hello,” she says when she spots me. “I’m hoping you can help me find somebody.”
“Hi. Um, sure. I can try.”
“Thank you. Nobody was in the lobby when I arrived.”She rolls her heavily made-up eyes and curls her lip. “Somebody needs to tell these people how to run a business successfully. They don’t even staff the guest registration counter.”
“Well, that’s because it’s not open for business yet. Who are you looking for?”I have no patience for this.
“Maxwell Beaumont. Do you know who he is? I was told he was renting a cabin somewhere at this resort.”
“Yes, I know Max.”Who is this woman?
“Good. Can you please tell me where I can find him? I’m Audrey Berkley, Maxwell’s fiancée.”Her voice is smooth, almost melodic, yet laced with a cold edge that raises the hairs on my neck.
“His what now?” I think I said that out loud.
She’s looking at me like I’m daft, so I guess I did. “His fiancé. Just point me toward his cabin, please.”
My throat is tight. While she’s examining her perfectly manicured nails, I can’t seem to breathe. I bring a trembling hand to my throat.
He’s engaged.
Max is engaged.
And he slept with me. He...
It’s Darren all over again—only somehow, worse. Darren just killed my career. Max killed my love.
I can’t let her sense the chaos taking place inside me, the knife that’s digging deeper and deeper, widening the wound.
“Is he around?”
I fight to keep my voice even, my tears at bay. “I ah... Um... I think I heard him say something about fishing. Try the boat dock.”
“And where is that?”
I point in the general direction, and without another word or even a glance, she glides away, leaving a gagging floral scent in her wake.
I turn toward the cabin, every step haunted by my time with Max. Every flower I pass, or bird I hear, even the sound of the waves crashing against the shore, reminds me of the lies. A reminder of how stupid and na?ve I am. First Darren, then Max.
Will I ever learn?
The island was supposed to help me find myself again, but I feel more lost and alone than ever.