Chapter 3
3
Cortney
The first breath of air when I step into the airport is thick and a little suffocating. The difference between the cooler air back in Minnesota and the humidity here is more noticeable than my daydreams prepared me for. Not that I’ve ever been this close to the equator. I didn’t know what to expect.
Spencer walks beside me, looking as unruffled and unbothered as I’ve ever seen him. It’s a far cry from the not-so-glamorous package I have on display.
The cute tank top I picked out just this morning is wrinkled in several places. I wound up throwing my hair into a messy bun during the flight, and at some point, something spilled across my left tit. I’m sure I have Spencer to blame for the unknown spillage on my chest because I have no recollection of how it got there, and I slept for most of the flight. It’s too hot to put my zippered athletic top back on, so I’m resigned to walk around looking a lot less polished than I typically appear in public spaces.
We clear customs, and Spencer insists on carrying both our bags. I’m really not in the mood to complain. If he wants to be all chivalrous for crashing my vacation, he can be my guest. All I care about is checking into the resort so I can ditch him and make my way to the beach until the sun sets. Preferably with a steady supply of cocktails in my hand.
What Spencer does is Spencer’s business. He’s a grown-ass man, and he’s definitely not my traveling companion. The best possible scenario is for the two of us to go our separate ways until we meet up again on the flight home next week.
My smile fades as we exit the airport. A jovial man stands beside a black SUV holding a white sign that reads: Cortney & Sebastian. He’s outfitted in a crisp white shirt and pressed black pants that look entirely too hot for this climate.
Spencer greets the man with a firm handshake and an easygoing tone. “Got the name wrong. It’s Spencer.”
“Spencer. So sorry, sir! I’ll fix it right away.”
As their hands pull away, I notice the crisp bill tucked neatly into the chauffeur’s palm.
“Thank you. Not the way I’d like to start our honeymoon thinking of my wife with another man.” Spencer turns his chin over his shoulder and winks.
Leaving the men to load the luggage, I roll my eyes and slide into the back seat of the SUV.
Spencer joins me a moment later, but before we depart, the man retrieves a marker from the glovebox and scribbles out Sebastian’s name.
“There.” He smiles and turns the sign around. “All fixed.”
“I appreciate it,” Spencer replies.
Settling in my seat, I gaze out the window as we leave the airport. Spencer could have left it alone and pretended to be Sebastian for the short twenty-minute trip to our resort. The gesture softens me slightly , though I’d never admit it out loud. His ego doesn’t need any praise. Not when he isn’t supposed to be here in the first place.
I haven’t even had enough time to sort through those feelings. I can’t. Not until I’m somewhere alone, preferably far away from the infuriating man. I’m not sure what sort of emotions might come out with the current weight of heartbreak in my life. And I’m not interested in Spencer’s brand of comfort.
Not when he has his own history of breaking my heart he never apologized for.
Long green palm fronds out my window soothe some of the chaos in my soul.
I made it.
I nearly cancelled after I called off the wedding, but after one too many friendly calls to check on my well-being, I decided I’d had enough and needed out of our small town. I finally understood this must have been how my brother Aiden felt after he got shot, and we just wouldn’t leave him alone to heal. Bless him for putting up with five relentless siblings and one concerned mom. He probably deserves a medal.
Granted, he found one in his beautiful new fiancée and their baby boy. I know such a prize isn’t in the cards for me.
That’s okay. I can hold my head up high. I own a successful veterinary practice, and I’ve raised an incredible son. That’s more than I could have ever asked for in a life that started off on the wrong foot.
“Are you still tired?” Spencer rumbles beside me.
I blink, realizing the car slowly travels down a paved driveway lined with palm trees and greenery. Our chauffeur pulls into a drop-off loop, parking beside a wide marble fountain.
“I’m fine.”
“Here. Put this on.” He shoves a hard object into my palm.
Opening my fingers reveals a ridiculously sized silver diamond ring. The square-cut stone embedded in the middle is surrounded by smaller ones.
“What the hell is this?” I hiss, glancing over just in time to see Spencer slide a silver band on his finger.
“We’re supposed to be on our honeymoon.”
“You did not buy an engagement ring for a charade.”
“Relax. It’s cubic zirconia. It cost twenty bucks.”
“I’m not wearing this.”
“Might look a little suspicious when we check in without rings on our fingers.”
The chauffeur opens my door, providing a quick escape from Spencer’s unnecessary ploy. I remind myself to send my travel agent a strongly worded email once we’re settled.
After Spencer told me how he wound up in Sebastian’s seat, I found an email from my travel agent in my spam folder where she apologized for getting my fiancé’s name wrong, must have mixed it up with another client, but not to worry! It was all fixed now.
The very least she can do is return the commission she earned on this colossal screw up.
I ball my hands, the ring biting sharply into my palm.
What if Spencer’s right? I open my hand and stare at the ring glittering in the sunshine. Do I want to risk being denied the honeymoon package I’ve spent months looking forward to?
Jamming the ring on my left ring finger, I set off toward the entrance, eager to see this grand resort in person and leave Spencer behind for good.
I don’t even bother fighting with him over who gets to pull my suitcase. The luggage wheels grind on the stone behind me as I step through the sweeping revolving door into the lobby.
“Holy shit,” Spencer mutters behind me, his voice just audible above the sound of the water rushing over the waterfall feature in the middle of the space. The white marble floors are spotless, drawing my eyes across the room to an open wall leading into a path lined with greenery.
The concierge wears a crisp gray suit and smiles genuinely as I approach the desk. “Welcome.”
“Hi, we’re checking in.” I stiffen as Spencer sidles up beside me. He curls his fingers around mine as I give her my name.
Right. We’re supposed to be together. Married or whatever.
Her gaze is drawn to the rock on my finger, and her smile widens.
“Congratulations on your marriage! I see you’ve booked the luxury honeymoon villa as part of our platinum club.”
Spencer whistles low, the breath of it carrying across my exposed neck. Goose bumps explode across my skin in a prickling cascade. I elbow him in the ribs, relishing in his muffled grunt of pain.
So I went a little overboard booking my honeymoon and spared no expense. Sue me. Maybe my subconscious knew something that I didn’t and I set myself up to have the most relaxing vacation known to woman. I can’t say I’m complaining when I think about the unlimited cocktails and spa treatments awaiting me this week while Sebastian is back in Fairview Valley drowning in paperwork.
I should have known that marriage wasn’t meant to be. What attorney books his wedding and honeymoon right when he’s expecting a big case to go to trial? He spent so much time commuting to Minneapolis these past couple of months that I hardly saw him.
I clear my throat. “That’s right.”
“Lovely. These wristbands contain your room key and will provide access to the resort amenities. Your reservation for dinner at our hibachi restaurant is at six this evening. Your butler Agustin can take care of booking the remainder of your reservations, and he will bring your luggage by shortly.”
“That’s okay, I got it,” Spencer replies.
“I insist.” She smiles. “You don’t need to carry all this around while you explore. Drinks are all-inclusive at any of the bars and lounges, including the minibar in your room. Relax. Enjoy your stay.”
“Come on.” Squeezing harder than necessary, I drag Spencer with his hand still clasped in mine, leaving our possessions behind.
“Bossy woman.” I can’t tell if it’s a tease or a gripe.
I steer us down the path at the back of the lobby, holding his hand until we’re officially out of sight. Dropping his palm, I wipe mine on the front of my thigh. “Now that that’s sorted, I’ll see you later.”
Spencer catches me by my elbow. “I don’t think so.”
“Spencer.”
“We need to go see our room before you set off on a tour of all the bars in a quest to get as drunk as you can. There’s only an hour and a half until dinner as it is.”
“I’m not having dinner with you.”
“Yes, you are.” He peers at me from behind his shades. I can’t see his eyes through the dark glass, but I can tell by the dip of his chin that he’s looking at me.
I can’t help but wonder what it is he sees.
I close my eyes as I inhale deeply. “Why, exactly, do we need to have dinner together?”
“Don’t you think it’ll look a little weird if I dine alone?”
“I’m sure you’ll think of something. You had no problem telling the flight attendant I was ‘sick’ on the plane.”
“And you don’t think our butler would show up stat to get you some medicine or, hell, a doctor?”
I cross my arms stubbornly. “I don’t know how else to say this. I don’t want to have dinner with you.”
“Tough shit, Kitten. I bought this ticket for the vacation, but I bought your company too.”
My mouth drops open. “Like hell you did.”
Spencer digs his phone from his pocket, reminding me mine’s still on Airplane Mode. I need to turn that on and check in with Ollie. My son is as responsible as they come, but he’s still a seventeen-year-old kid. I’m not sure if the five uncles tasked with keeping him safe make me feel comforted or more nervous.
I trust them with my life, but at the end of the day, they’re still a bunch of boys.
“Here.” Spencer shoves his beneath my nose.
“What am I looking at exactly?”
“The email confirming my auction purchase. Look at the bottom.”
Included in your ticket price is one week of company from a beautiful single woman. Nonrefundable.
That last word has me seeing red. Sebastian thinks after cheating on me he can set me up like this as if I’m some… some escort ? “I’m going to murder him.”
Spencer tucks his phone away.
“If you think you can purchase me like I’m some possession—”
“All I’m asking is for you to spare me an evening. Catch up with me before we go our separate ways.”
I glance at my newly polished toes peeking out from my strappy sandals. The peach color shimmers in the afternoon sun.
“Please,” he says, drawing my attention back to his face. “I’m not accustomed to using that word, but I don’t know how else to say it. We didn’t get much time in the hospital.”
My spine stiffens as he brings up the last time I actually saw him. I didn’t know if he would. I didn’t think he’d have the guts to mention it. What started as me checking on an old friend ended with me crying in the parking garage for an hour until a security guard came by to ask if I needed help.
“There wasn’t much to say then, and there isn’t much to say now.”
“Maybe not, but I’d still like to hear about your life.”
“I’m not sure you have the right to.”
“Probably not.”
Saliva sticks in my throat. Spencer looks uncharacteristically vulnerable, and the image isn’t doing good things to my insides.
“Fine,” I relent. “We can go to our room and get the lay of the land. But after dinner, that’s it. I want my space.”
“Understood.” Spencer’s mouth quirks into a half grin, but there’s not much behind it. “Shall we?” He sweeps his palm out, and we resume our walk to our villa.
Off the normal path, our temporary home is tucked away in a private cove surrounded by tall trees and bushes. Paradise.
With a flick of my wrist, the door to our room unlocks, and I finally step into the space I’ve been dreaming about for months now. The pictures certainly don’t do it justice.
“Damn.” Spencer moves in behind me. I can’t help glancing over my shoulder to find his gaze fixated on the wall in front of us. Or rather, the vacant space where there should be one.
The resort prepared for our arrival by taking down the collapsible wall separating the main space from the outdoors. Our living room walks directly out onto a private patio with a large soaking tub. The patio steps down into an infinity pool, and beyond it is the most picturesque view of the warm sandy beach and the ocean's turquoise waters with green rolling island hills in the backdrop.
As I watch the waves crash silently against the shore, my pent-up emotions crash over me in a similar fashion. Unshed tears burn my eyes.
“You went all out,” Spencer remarks.
“I did. Paid for it myself too.”
He walks out onto the beige tiles. “I’m impressed.”
“It’s why I refused to compensate Sebastian for half. He didn’t pay a cent for this. I think he was just trying to rub dirt in the wound.”
“That fucker deserves nothing from you.”
I swallow thickly. “I know.”
I need an out. I need to escape before Spencer sees how affected I am. My legs shake as I turn us around back to the villa.
“This is the bedroom.” I step through another open wall from the outside, the collapsible sides retracted. I could literally lay in bed at night and feel the ocean breeze while looking at the stars. “This is…” I stop short.
“There’s only one bed,” Spencer says.
I look at him in horror. “If you think I’m going to be okay sleeping next to you, get that idea out of your head right now.”
He bites his lip, and I ignore how good he looks doing it. “It’s pretty big. Looks like a king.”
“No way. Order yourself a rollaway.”
“For our honeymoon?”
“I think I might actually hate you.” I spin around, looking for a place to hide, or I don’t know, scream , but stop short again.
“I wonder who thought that was a good idea?”
The shower looks like an aquarium tank situated in the center of the room. It’s a complete cylinder of glass. Not even the frosted kind that blocks out some of what’s behind it. This is like looking through a windowpane, nary a curtain in sight.
Closing my eyes, I suck in a slow breath. “It’s not a big deal.”
“Not a big deal? Kitten, the shower is in the middle of the bedroom.”
“It’s not a big deal because you can just leave while I shower.”
Spencer walks around me and runs his hand along the doorway separating the bedroom from the other space. “Another collapsible wall. We’ll just close this for some privacy.”
“No. I’m not taking a shower in this thing with you on the other side of a cardboard wall.”
He knocks on the wood. “It’s hardly cardboard.”
“I’m not doing it. There are plenty of lounge chairs far away from here for you to relax so I can shower in peace.”
“Well, I don’t mind if you sit in the other room while I shower.”
“Gold star for you, Spence. I prefer my privacy.”
A knock on the door halts the argument.
Spencer strides across the suite and opens the door. Our butler, Agustin, waits patiently with our luggage.
“Perfect timing. I was just about to shower.”
I’m pretty sure my lip curls involuntarily. The moment the door clicks shut on Agustin, I say, “I do not find you funny.”
“I’m pretty sure you do.” Spencer wheels our bags into the bedroom.
“Thanks, now you can go.”
“Are you serious?”
“I’ll meet you for dinner.”
“What if I wanted to clean up?”
“I’m sure a dip in the ocean would suffice.”
“Do I have to piss out there too?”
“Spencer, you can do whatever it is you’d like. I’m not your mother. As long as you stay out of my way, we’ll be just fine.” I retrieve my Kindle from the front pocket of my carry-on and my phone from my crossbody purse and walk back outside.
I sit down on the edge of the pool and sink my legs in up to my calves. The warm water swirls gently around my skin. After dinner, I’ll go for a swim, but for now… Tilting my face to the sunny sky, I lean back on my palms as the first tear slips down my cheek.
Nope. Not doing this. Sebastian doesn’t deserve my tears. He sure as fuck doesn’t deserve them while I’m sitting in this luxury resort that cost the price of a brand-new car.
I swipe angrily at the cascading drops until they stop. My skin is probably an angry red, but it’s nothing a shower and fresh makeup can’t fix.
But first…
I switch my phone back on. The constant vibration tells me I missed a lot over the course of the day.
The list of names on my phone screen steadies me. It’s as if the people checking in are pillars, holding me up and bringing me back to the present.
These past couple of weeks have sucked, but I have one hell of a support system.
The first text goes out to Ollie. I miss my boy. This is going to be the longest we’ve ever spent apart. I let him know I arrived safely and that I’ll call him after dinner to check in.
Most of the other texts are my sisters-in-law, probably checking in by proxy for my five brothers. Not that I doubt their sincerity, but I know the boys wouldn’t want to be seen as too overbearing.
They’ve been hovering worse than our mom these past couple of weeks, no doubt itching to kick Sebastian’s ass.
A few years ago, they would have, and not one of them would have asked for my permission. They would have asked for bail money, though, and I’d have gladly given it.
Fortunately for all of us, falling in love has softened even the toughest of my brothers, and nobody has to spend a night in jail over my broken heart.
I work my way through the list, letting everyone know I’ve arrived. Yes, the weather is nice, and no, I haven’t gone for a swim yet. The task is arduous and oddly unfulfilling.
As I scroll back through the list of names again, my thumb hovers over the contacts. Maybe I need to hear a familiar voice. Who is the least likely to interrogate me?
The easy answer comes swiftly. Only one girl in the family isn’t prone to gossip. I swipe back up and tap Frankie’s name. She answers on the third ring.
“Hey! I didn’t expect to hear from you today.”
After drawing one leg from the water, I wrap my free arm around my shin and rest my chin on my knee.
“I know. I have some free time before my dinner reservation, so I thought I’d say hi.”
“Tell me more about this reservation. What’s on the menu tonight?” she asks excitedly. Frankie grew up in conditions not unlike my brothers and me and has never left the state. She took a lot of interest during the planning stages of my trip. Hearing her enthusiastic tone has me wishing I brought her along.
“There’s seven restaurants on the property, and tonight it’s hibachi.”
“Yum! I’m so jealous. So did you prebook all your meals for the week?”
“No, only the first one. I can make my reservation each morning.” I probably should have changed this one, both when I called the wedding off and again when we arrived. Sitting alone at a hibachi grill is uncomfortable enough. Sitting with Spencer and trying to appear like we actually enjoy one another’s company is another thing altogether.
“I can’t wait to hear all the details when you get back. I think I might have just about convinced Jude to let the guys take care of the Sanctuary for a week so he and I can follow in your footsteps. I’m hoping he'll be all in once he hears you talk about your trip.”
“You’re an answer to my prayers, Frankie. I hope you know that.” My words are thick with the emotion I’m holding back.
“Are you okay?”
“Fine! I’m fine.” I sniff. “I just can’t believe I’m talking to Jude’s fiancée about getting him on an airplane. You don’t know how many times I couldn’t even get him to come over for dinner, never mind ever leaving the state.”
Jude’s childhood was arguably one of the roughest between us siblings, and he’s carried those deep wounds well into adulthood. But once the former grumpy recluse found an injured woman on the property that houses our family-run dog sanctuary, the rest, as they say, is history.
Frankie healed him in such a way that I think he was waiting for her all along.
“He’s come so far.” The pride in her voice is clear through the line. “But are you sure you’re okay? As excited as I am for you, I worry too.”
“I’m just a little lonely. But don’t worry about me. I know by the time I have my breakfast mimosa, I’ll be ready to dig my toes in the sand and stay for an extended visit.”
“Okay. As long as you’re sure. You know I’m always available, so don’t be afraid to pick up the phone if you need a girl chat.”
I finally feel my body relax. “I know. And I will. Say hi to everyone for me. I have to run and get ready for dinner.”
“Enjoy yourself. Love you!”
“I love you too, Frankie. Bye.”
The phone call was exactly what I needed to pull myself together. I take in the breathtaking orange of the late evening sun, steeling myself for what’s to come. Then I head to the exhibitionist shower.
Alone.