7. A GIRL LIKE ME
CHLOE
It was a weekend of pretending. There were no further messages from Gene Windsor. Akira gave up texting and left me alone. There wasn’t a word from Elena or from Olivia Jensen. Everyone knew where I was and what I was doing.
They knew it was useless to do anything but wait.
I pretended that everything was fine. Bryce and I didn’t talk more about why I’d run away in the middle of the night. I didn’t tell him about his father’s threats—in fact, I pushed them out of my mind.
All I was thinking about, my only focus, was my husband.
He’d been right, of course—as soon as we’d made love, everything became easier between us.
It was as if some magic spell had been broken.
I didn’t leave his side. In turn, he didn’t take his hands off me.
We didn’t talk much, but the silence had transformed into something peaceful and companionable.
We fell asleep each night wrapped in each other’s arms. In the mornings, Bryce cradled me against his chest.
I refused to think about the bad things.
I knew that Gene wouldn’t let me have this—not for long. But I had my husband for now, and I didn’t want to waste a moment of it.
I also ignored that our weekend was coming to an end. I’d been so angry about being forced to go, but all resistance had melted away. I wanted nothing more than to stay in our happy bubble, separated from the rest of the world.
The morning of our return flight, we sat out on the pool deck under an umbrella. “Huh.” Bryce peered at his phone. “I’m surprised to see this.”
“What?” He handed it to me—there was a picture of his brother, Colby, walking the beach with an attractive blond woman.
“I thought Olivia Jensen told your brothers no dating right now.” She’d also told them they both had to get married sooner rather than later.
Neither Jake nor Colby was happy about any of it!
Bryce took the phone back and frowned at it. “She did. I don’t know who the blond is. I’ll talk to him about it tonight.”
My stomach dropped. As much as I wanted to go back and see my brother, I was in no rush to return to reality. “How do you feel about going to work tomorrow?”
As he sat back in his lounger, Bryce reached for my hand. “I feel better about everything now. It’ll be fine.”
I squeezed his fingers, but then I had that Sunday-night ‘I forgot to do my homework” feeling. “Crap! Olivia Jensen asked me to take pictures of us and send them to her.”
“She’s a pain in the ass, but come here.” Bryce pulled me onto his lap and held up his phone. “Let’s just get it over with. She’s easier to deal with head-on.”
We smiled for our pictures and then held hands down to the beach. We snapped more selfies with the turquoise water in the background. Bryce wrapped his arm around me, pulling me against his big chest, and I couldn’t help but smile. “This has been a great weekend,” I admitted.
Bryce kissed the top of my head. “Next time, I won’t kidnap you.”
“Ha.” But what if Gene makes me leave once and for all?
I shoved the thought away and clung to my husband.
“Listen.” He nuzzled his face against my neck, his scruffy beard tickling my bare skin. “Things are going to be busy for me when we get back. That’s part of the reason why I wanted this weekend with you. I need to know that we’re okay—that you’re okay.”
“I’m okay.” Right now, here with you, all is well in my world.
“What about when we go back? Are you going to have a hard time at the house?”
“I don’t think so…” I hesitated for a moment. “What’s it going to be like? Are the paparazzi going to be everywhere still?”
“I don’t think the coverage will be as intense. There’s going to be a lot of focus on the investigation, and more about the upcoming trial.”
I nodded. “But Olivia’s working for your father.
So there’s still a script to follow.” I was concerned about what, exactly, my role would be in all this.
Previously, Olivia had orchestrated dramatic run-ins with Bryce’s ex in order to generate interest from the press.
I couldn’t deal with any more Felicia-Jones drama!
“I’m sure there will be. But we’re not getting involved in any more drama—I already told our team that. I’m going to work, and you’re staying home. I’ll be working remotely most of the time, but I might have to do some traveling. Will you come with me?”
“Of course.” My heart lifted a little. As long as I didn’t let myself think about Gene’s threats, the idea of being back with Bryce was wonderful. “I’d like that.”
“So… Are we okay?” He wrapped his arms around me and pulled me close. “You seem more like yourself now that we’ve been… You know.” He playfully arched an eyebrow.
“Ha.” I buried my face against his chest, inhaling his spicy, masculine scent mixed with the balmy ocean air. “I do feel better.”
“Me too.” Bryce tightened his embrace. “But I have to ask, are you staying? I can’t handle you running out on me again, Chloe. There’s too much at stake, and I’m not just talking about business.”
“Yes. I’m staying, Bryce. You have my word.” I’d been selfish, letting myself pretend all weekend. Why stop now?
“I’m glad to hear it, Mrs. Windsor.” He pressed his cheek against mine.
I held onto the man I loved for dear life, wishing the moment would never end. But deep down, I knew that the comfort and happiness I felt had an expiration date.
There was no such thing as a happy ending for a girl like me.
* * *
The good news? The security guard who’d threatened to tape my mouth shut was not on our flight back to Bar Harbor.
The bad news? Once we arrived home, I was officially in Gene Windsor’s territory. And that was not a safe place to be.
Still, Maine looked different when we arrived. The colors were brighter than when I’d left three days ago, the mountains more majestic, the water more clear and pristine. I coined it “The Bryce Effect.” Everything looked better now that I was back in my husband’s arms.
Once we disembarked the plane, my internet service was unfortunately strong.
I had a ton of emails, calls, and texts download as soon as we were on the road back to Northeast Harbor.
There was a message from Elena ( I’m so glad you came to your senses!
) and another from Olivia Jensen ( More bikini pics, pls ).
Akira had left me a weary-sounding voicemail, instructing me to call her once I was back in the States.
I decided to wait until I settled in—it would be easier to tell her once it was official.
Bryce was on the phone with board members during both the car and boat ride from the Bar Harbor airport, but I didn’t mind.
I snuggled against him, happy that we were going home, grateful that I’d be reunited with my brother soon, relieved that Gene Windsor seemed to have forgotten about me for a couple of days.
Still, I was nervous about returning to Somes Island, the private island where Bryce and his father each had homes.
When I’d left, I’d woken up half the staff in the middle of the night in my attempt to escape.
And I’d turned to Bryce’s maid, Hazel—of all people—to help me.
I had no idea how I’d be received or if the staff would treat me like a pariah.
But Captain Johnny gave us a friendly smile as we boarded the Jules , Bryce’s pristine boat. The older gentleman didn’t say another word, bless his heart. I was thrilled Bryce hadn’t fired him—he’d been the one to whisk me and Noah off-island in the middle of the night after (lots) of begging.
Much to my surprise, the staff was waiting for us once we landed and climbed up to the house from the private dock.
“Mr. Windsor, Mrs. Windsor.” Several of the maids, dressed in their immaculate uniforms, bowed at us.
Midge took it one step further and hustled over, knocking me off balance with a huge hug.
“I’m so glad you’re here,” she whispered in my ear.
Hazel was waiting, too. “Mrs. Windsor.” She bowed her head. Bryce’s most loyal, and longest-term, employee was dressed as usual in her stiffly ironed maid’s uniform, her spindly legs encased in black stockings. Her thin, dyed-black hair was pulled up into a bun, and her lined lips were puckered.
She raised her head, her cool inspecting me. “We’re happy to have you back.”
I blinked at her, surprised and embarrassed. “H-Hi Hazel. Thank you.”
Chef kissed his fingers and declared that we would have a feast that evening in my honor. “Nada sofisticado,” he said. “That means ‘nothing too fancy.’ I know how you are.”
The kind welcome, which I felt I didn’t deserve, warmed my heart. “Thank you. It’s nice to be home.”
“Noah’s around the corner with Boss.” Midge nodded toward the side of the house. “Dale bought him a drone. They’re trying to train the puppy to fetch from it.”
“Oh jeez,” I groaned.
Bryce, still on the phone, quickly kissed my cheek. “Go see your brother. I’ll meet you inside,” he mouthed.
“Okay.” I smiled at him, and it was a dangerously genuine smile.
How could it not be? We were home on his tiny, gorgeous island in Maine, the sun was shining, and his staff had welcomed me back with open arms. Since my mother died, I hadn’t felt at peace anywhere.
But now Bryce’s mega-mansion was familiar and comforting, even though living in such an opulent residence was still foreign to me.
It was the people that made me feel at home.
I headed around the corner, the ocean wind whipping my ponytail as I inhaled the familiar, heady scent of the brisk Maine ocean.
Exuma was beautiful, but nothing quite compared to Maine—the rolling green lawn spread out before me, the dark blue-green waves crashed against the rocky shore, and an eagle soared toward the woods.
The surroundings were awe-inspiring. Tears pricked my eyes as I spotted Noah out on the grass with Dale, flying a drone, Boss the puppy jumping up and down excitedly.
How could I have taken Noah away from all of this?
What if I had to do it again?
“Chloe—hey!” A familiar voice called out, interrupting my troubled thoughts. Bryce’s youngest brother, Colby, had his arm around an attractive blond woman as they headed up from the beach.
Colby wore a sweatshirt, a pair of golf shorts, and his usual grin.
The baby of the family, he was usually in good spirits and often had a twinkle in his eye.
Colby was shorter than Bryce but was still six feet tall.
He had one lone dimple, blue eyes, and enormous shoulders.
With his tousled hair and chiseled good looks, he was every inch a Windsor.
The young woman accompanying him was stunning, with long, thick blond hair, brown eyes, a light tan, and a curvy, athletic build.
She wore denim short-shorts and a formfitting tank that showed off her figure.
She had that white, rich, All-American look going like she was a head cheerleader, the president of her sorority, and an Instagram influencer all rolled into one.
“I was worried you weren’t coming back.” He grinned at me.
“Guess I can’t stay away.” I gave him a quick hug. “How are you?”
“Okay, even though Dad got taken into custody yesterday.” He scrubbed a hand over his eyes for a moment.
“I know—I’m so sorry.”
“Thank you. That means a lot.” He shook it off and smiled again. “Hey, this is my friend, Tate. Tate, this is Chloe, my brother Bryce’s wife.”
“Nice to see you.” She gave me a dazzling smile and a firm handshake.
“Nice to meet you. Do you live up here? Or are you visiting?” I was still surprised that Olivia Jensen had allowed Colby to start seeing someone. She’d been dead-set against the younger Windsor men dating anyone new while the press was still swarming the family.
“I’m from Boston.” Her gaze flicked down me, taking in every inch with her cool stare.
“Nice. Me too.”
She smiled again, but I noticed that although her teeth were a mesmerizing, bright white, her smile seemed flat—it did nothing to light up her face. “Oh—I know where you’re from.”
There was an awkward silence.
“Want to go check out the drone?” Colby asked, smoothing over the uncomfortable moment. “I think Dale put a treat for Boss on there—the dog’s been chasing the thing all over the island.” He laughed.
“Sure,” I said.
“Absolutely.” Tate straightened her shoulders and stuck her chest out.
Colby released her and headed toward Dale and Noah. “Hey, guys! Can I give that thing a whirl?”
Tate and I followed him. “So…” I wasn’t sure how to approach her. “What part of Boston are you from?”
“The South End.” She gave me another long look as if she was sizing me up.
“Oh.” The South End was where Accommodating was located. But a lot of other things were there, too. Galleries, wine bars, dog parks…
She leaned closer. “I’m so glad you’re here. I didn’t want to be the only one.”
“The only…? The only girl?” I suddenly had a sick feeling in my stomach.
“No, silly. The only escort .” Tate winked at me, then hustled to Colby’s side. She joined him, linking her hand through his. Then she looked over her shoulder at me and smiled.
It was not a nice smile.