Chapter Sixteen
Sabrina
IT SCARED ME HOW EASY it was to pretend Cash and I were a couple. Or how good it felt to hold on to him as we rode my favorite horse, Daisy, on the trail above the resort as dusk was setting in. The sky was a palette of deep blues and oranges, with wispy pink clouds that looked like cotton candy. The fall leaves danced in the light breeze, and the smell of cedarwood chips in smokers filled the air. Horseshoes clopped against the rocky path as if in rhythm with the surrounding landscape. If it were all real, it would be perfect.
I’d figured I’d be riding a horse solo, but Lexi was sneaky and only booked two horses, saying it would be more romantic for each couple to share a horse, as it was such a quick ride. She wasn’t wrong, but the last thing I needed was to feel any more romantic around Cash. It was bad enough when, earlier today, I’d watched him take a cooking lesson from Genevieve in the kitchen while Mia and I finished making the layers for the cake. Not only was it sweet, but it turned sexy when he’d spoon-fed me some of the beef stew in red wine sauce he and Genevieve had made. It got even sexier when he kissed me after and declared it tasted even better on my lips. To say it had gotten hot in the kitchen was an understatement.
Everyone was buying our lie.
As I rested my head against his strong back and felt each breath as his chest expanded and contracted, part of me wanted to buy into it. But we had a mission to accomplish. That’s all this was—a mission. Soon Cash would ride off into the sunset and become someone else so he could save the day, or maybe even the world. It had to be a lonely existence. I had so many questions for him—questions that would have to wait until we were alone.
Cash and I had devised a plan, hoping to get Soren, a.k.a. Izan, talking. I had to remind myself to always make sure to use his fake name.
So far, Lexi had dominated the conversation, regaling us with her plans for her new house and the honeymoon they were taking in Bali.
“I wanted to go to Italy, but Soren said all the harvest festivals would make it too crowded this time of year,” Lexi half complained before kissing Soren’s cheek.
I watched the entire scene as their horse led the way, praying there would never be a honeymoon.
“Mi amor, someday I’ll take you there,” Soren promised.
I squeezed Cash tightly, wondering if Soren wanted to avoid Europe because he feared someone might recognize him. I needed the comfort Cash offered as I constantly reminded myself I was in the company of a murderer—worse, a murderer my sister clung to and loved. Soren was lying about the crowds in Italy this time of year. It was typically less crowded and a great time to visit. Perhaps this would help us eliminate Amsterdam as a possibility for where he’d had Lexi’s diamond cut and polished. The diamond was stunning, by the way. If the sun hit that baby, it could blind you. Honestly, it surprised me Lexi could hold her finger up, given its enormous size.
“You definitely have to go to Europe one day. I loved my time there, especially with this guy.” I squeezed Cash, wishing I was lying, but it was true. Cash had made my time in Europe magical. “Remember the train ride we took to Amsterdam so we could do a bike tour of the city and take a canal ride?”
“Of course,” Cash lied. We’d never been to Amsterdam together. “You insisted we rent a ‘grandmother’ bike with a big basket.”
I laughed as if it were all real.
“That sounds romantic,” Lexi sighed above the sound of the horses’ hooves. “You love to travel, baby. Have you been to Amsterdam?”
“It’s been years, but yes,” Soren said without hesitation, lending proof that he was telling the truth.
“Speaking of romantic trips, I was hoping to steal Sabrina away to New York. There’s nothing like New York in the fall. You must spend a lot of time there as a hedge fund manager,” Cash said smoothly. “What would you recommend we do in the city? Even though I’m based there, I hardly feel like I’ve scratched the surface, as I spend most of my time working outside of the country.”
“Soren goes there all the time,” Lexi responded, not giving Soren a chance to answer. “But he never takes me, even though I would love to go.”
“It’s such a dirty city with some of the vilest people I’ve ever met,” Soren spat. “I do not recommend it. You would do well to move away from there. Take Sabrina to Maine or Vermont. Those are much better choices.”
I found Soren’s reaction to New York and some of its residents very interesting. It was rich for him to call anyone vile, considering what he’d done. But it seemed to be the clue we’d been looking for. My guess was he’d had that diamond cut in New York.
“Maine or Vermont sound lovely,” I said, hoping it sounded natural.
“I’ll make it happen, then,” Cash said convincingly enough that my heart skipped a beat.
My heart needed to get the memo that this was all pretend.
It wasn’t long before we rounded a bend to the perfect spot to make s’mores. It was a rustic campsite with a stone firepit surrounded by log benches. When we were younger, Daddy would take Lexi and me camping here. Mama didn’t love spending the night outdoors under the stars, but I looked forward to the time spent with Daddy and Lexi. Daddy would tell us Southern folklore tales about “the Bell Witch,” “the secret lake,” and “the Wampus cat.” Lexi and I would squeal and close our eyes, but we’d beg for more scary stories. Little did I know then it was the real-life stories I needed to fear.
Cash pulled on Daisy’s reins near a large pine tree. He offered his arm and helped me dismount off the pillion saddle. As soon as I was steady, Cash himself dismounted like he was a pro. A picture of him racing across some place like the outback of Australia on the back of a horse in pursuit of a dangerous criminal came to mind, making me smile. I’d probably watched too many spy movies.
“What are you smiling about?” Cash wrapped his arms around me.
Naturally, without even thinking, I snuggled into his chest and breathed in his spiced-vanilla scent, mixed in with some of the garlic and onion he’d used for the stew earlier. It was intoxicating. “It was just something silly. I’ll tell you later.” It caught me off guard how easily those words fell out of my mouth. I sounded like an actual girlfriend, and that was a problem.
“I look forward to it.” Cash kissed my forehead. He found any excuse for his lips to touch me. He’d been the same way in France—it was how he played boyfriend so well. I wondered if there were other women like me out there who had fallen victim to his charm and were pining for him. Not Cash Denton, perhaps, but another one of his aliases. Maybe we could all get together when this was over and start a support group. Because when he disappeared again, I knew my heart would feel pulverized, no matter how many times I warned it this was all make-believe. The problem was, my feelings for him in France had been all too real. It’s why I pulled away, to Cash’s consternation.
“I’ll start the fire,” Soren offered.
“He’s such an adventurer,” Lexi bragged, like being able to start a fire was a tremendous deal.
I bet Cash could start one with two rocks and a few twigs, but I didn’t mention it. Instead, I used the in Lexi had given me. “What kind of adventures have you been on, Soren?” I grabbed the supplies for s’mores out of the saddlebag while Cash secured Daisy to the tree, even though I knew Daisy would remain without being tethered.
For the first time, Soren offered me a genuine smile. “I’ve done everything from climbing the Andes to scuba diving with sharks off Cocos Island in Costa Rica.”
“Well, color me impressed.” I took the log farthest away from Soren. He and his fake platinum hair made me feel queasy. Watching my sister fawn all over him made my stomach turn even more. Would Lexi ever forgive me for depriving her of Soren’s literal blood money? That was assuming we found the diamonds in time to stop the wedding. Look at me, thinking I would be in on that discovery.
Cash joined me on the log, sitting as close to me as he could. Admittedly, I found his presence comforting, and his body heat was a plus. With the sun setting, a chill had set in that was seeping through my jeans and jacket. Cash took my hands and warmed them between his own, like we had done this song and dance hundreds of times. We were the best fakers ever.
We all watched as Soren used the firewood that was neatly stacked nearby, courtesy of the resort, to build a log cabin formation in the firepit. He definitely seemed to know what he was doing.
I had so many questions about him. Had he always been evil ? How do you go from helping save people’s lives to destroying them ? Since I couldn’t ask that question, I went with, “What brought you to America?”
Soren blew on the tiny flames he’d just ignited with the kindling. “America is the land of opportunity, is it not?”
“I suppose so,” I responded, pretending I didn’t know that Norway had a high standard of living and a robust economy. “Is it difficult to be a hedge fund manager in Norway?” I lamely asked, not knowing what else to say, other than, Stay away from my sister, psycho.
Soren shrugged. “America is more conducive to my particular situation.”
“How’s that?” I couldn’t help but press, hoping he might slip and say something useful.
Soren’s brows knitted together, making him look sinister in the glow of firelight, but his expression softened when his gaze drifted toward my sister sitting near him, admiring her fiancé. “If I had not come to the States, I would not have met this beautiful creature. She is my reason.” Unfortunately, he sounded sincere.
Lexi lunged for him and threw her arms around him, almost knocking him into the fire. He laughed and steadied both of them before kissing her.
“I love you.” Lexi rubbed her nose against his.
“I love you more,” Soren crooned.
Swallowing hard, I shifted uncomfortably on the log, praying Lexi wouldn’t become his next victim. I also silently begged God that Cash’s mission would be successful, Lexi’s heart would mend, and she would forgive me for the role I played in breaking it. That hope went out the window when she and Soren sat on the log across from us. The small, crackling fire separated us, providing a bit of warmth.
“This is like a dream for me.” Lexi looked between Soren and me. “Ever since I was a little girl, I wanted a moment like this with my big sister.” Lexi threw a figurative knife in my chest. “You don’t know what it means to me that you’re here. I always idolized you growing up. I was so jealous of you and Mia.” She twisted the knife. “But now I have hope for all of us”—she pointed to the four of us before continuing—“that we can have a special bond.”
Oh, we were going to be bonded all right. In the bonds of hell, apparently.
Soren placed an arm around Lexi while giving me a pointed look, warning me not to come between Lexi and this dream of hers.
Cash’s grip on my hands grew tighter, as if to lend me strength.
All I could think of saying to Lexi was the truth. “Lexi, I’m sorry if you ever felt like Mia and I excluded you. I never meant to hurt you. I would never hurt you on purpose. We’re family, and family is the most important thing to me. I love you.”
Please, please remember that when my fake boyfriend arrests your fiancé.