Page 84 of Flirting with Trouble

“What?” Bellamy picks up her wineglass. “You know darn well why he’s always in her shop.”

“He might be hot, but he is drama waiting to happen,” Keira says. “All men are. Look at Wells. He doesn’t even have to do anything but exist, and drama finds him. It’s woven into the fabric of their beings.”

“Bullshit,” I say.

“Leave him alone, Kei. You’re making him feel bad.” Bellamy eyes me. “I’ve got your back, Wells, and I’m about to make you very happy. I came up with an idea for a new reality show that will make us both stars.”

For Christ’s sake. “This shit again?”

Bellamy waves her hand dismissively. “Hush up, and hear me out. Love Match, Sibling Edition. We go on the show together and choose each other’s matches. Every week I’ll eliminate one for you, and you eliminate one for me.”

“No,” I say flatly.

“Come on. It’s a great idea,” she pleads. “I’m going to pitch it to Flynn this weekend.”

“Flynn doesn’t produce dating shows,” I remind her. “And please leave me out of it.”

“You’d get good ratings and probably find a slew of hot babes,” Bellamy urges.

“You do have a face for drama,” Keira adds, then finishes her wine and holds up her empty glass, her eyes glittering with the same teasing look she used to give me when we were kids and she thought she was being clever.

“Sorry, guys, but the only woman I want is in New York City.” I turn to grab the wine bottle.

“Actually, she’s on Silver Island, if you still want her.”

My fucking heart leaps into my throat at the sound of Victory’s voice. I turn around as my sisters greet her, and our eyes connect with a thunderous beat, drowning out everything else. I set the bottle on the bar, disbelief swamping me. “Vic…?”

Victory steps closer to the bar, her hopeful, apologetic eyes tugging at something deep inside me. “I’m sorry to show up unannounced, but I screwed up, Wells, and I had to see you. You weren’t wrong about what you said, but you weren’t totally right either. You did push me, but that’s who you are, and I like that about you.” Her words fly so fast, she barely takes a breath. “You just caught me off guard. I know I’m messed up when it comes to Harvey, but I don’t want to be. I hate that I hurt you, and I don’t blame you if you’re done with us and want to be with someone who doesn’t have my baggage. But before you make that decision, you need to know that I’m not messed up about my feelings for you. I want this, too. We just happened so fast, and my feelings are so strong, it scares the hell out of me. But what scares me more is how empty I feel without you.”

She takes a breath, and my heart is so full of her, beating so fast, it takes a minute for me to realize the entire bar has gone silent, and all eyes are on us. She must feel it, because her cheeks pink up, but my strong girl draws her shoulders back and lifts her chin. There you are.

Her eyes never leave mine as she says, “If you haven’t kicked me to the curb yet, I’m hoping we can go on our Wednesday Walkabout and talk.”

It takes everything I have to say, “I don’t think I can do that.”

There’s a collective gasp as I come around the bar, drinking her in. She’s wearing a sleek sleeveless cream blouse and black slacks. When I meet her toe-to-toe, her teary eyes crush my heart. “I’m sorry, Vic, but I’d like to keep our walkabouts upbeat. How about tonight we call it a Wednesday Workitout?”

Nervous laughter tumbles from her lips. “I’d like that very much.”

Someone yells, “Yes!” The bar erupts into cheers as I take Victory in my arms, kissing the ever-loving hell out of her, and Bellamy says, “There goes my reality show.”

I’ll take my reality with the incredible woman in my arms over a show any day.

Chapter Twenty-One

Victory

I’m more nervous than ever as we leave the bar, despite my overwhelming relief that I didn’t ruin things with Wells after all. I steal a glance at him, still a little in shock about my outburst, his reaction, and that he’s right here by my side. “I’m sorry for making a scene. I wasn’t thinking clearly.”

His expression turns serious. “Are you saying you didn’t mean the things you said? Because I’m hoping you were thinking very clearly.”

“I meant all of it, but I didn’t plan on pouring out my heart in front of an audience. I left work early and went straight to the ferry. I was so focused on getting here and apologizing, when I saw you standing behind the bar, it just came out. I guess I’m the one who had blinders on this time.”

His jaw relaxes into a tender smile. “I’m glad you meant it, because the rumor mill is definitely churning now.”

“Sorry. The last thing I wanted was to embarrass you. Especially at work.”

“There’s no need to be sorry.” He nods toward the beach and puts a hand on my back as we follow a path in that direction. “Nothing you do could ever embarrass me. Besides, you just secured our place in Silver Island history. We’ll be the couple they’re still talking about in twenty years. Our story will twist and change and morph into an epic legend.”