Page 135 of Double Puck

Of course this ridiculous man would make the thing I've been terrified of my entire life sound that simple.

Thankfully, before I burst into tears, Rico's voice suddenly detonates across The Yard.

"MORRISON! TIMES UP! SALSA CHALLENGE! ROUND EIGHTEEN! GET YOUR ASS OVER HERE!"

Beck closes his eyes. "Christ. That man is going to kill me before Colin gets the chance."

I pull the key from my pocket and hold it up.

"Want me to let you out?"

His grin finally returns.

"Depends. Is this an official management decision?"

"Don't push it."

I unlock the cage, and when Beck steps out, he simply takes my hand.

Then we walk toward Rico's taco truck together.

Chapter 21

Darcy

Ipull up outside the Morrison Mansion, the engine of my convertible cutting off with a growl. It’s another predictably perfect Beachside day, with the sun slicing through palm fronds and the waves sighing against the shore.

To me, it feels anything but perfect.

I take a breath to steady myself, slam the car door shut, and start up the driveway. I've walked into hostile boardrooms before. I've presented data to men who wanted me to fail.

I once told a room full of international hotel executives their growth strategy was flawed while my father sat three seats away. I was fifteen, and Charles Madden told me he'd never been so proud.

But today?

Today could ruin everything.

I knock on the door right on nine o'clock, with Beck Morrison's future in my laptop bag and every organ in my body currently fighting over who gets to malfunction first.

Diego opens the door and gives me one long look.

"Before you come in, I would like it officially noted that I voted against this."

I pause on the threshold. "Against what?"

"Whatever is about to happen in my house." He gestures vaguely toward the kitchen. "I already have Declan pacing, Mason stress-eating grapes and Colin Holden wearing an awful necktie before ten in the morning. I cannot have you unraveling too."

"I'm not unraveling."

"Wonderful." He steps aside. "Then perhaps you can convince everybody to eat something before the bloodshed."

He steps back from the door, and of course, the place looks immaculate.

Morning sun pours through the wall of glass, illuminating the entire kitchen where I can see the ocean glittering beyond the infinity pool.

The island is a gorgeous scene of decadent hospitality, though in place of blueberry pancakes, I notice Diego has laid out a spread from Goldie's instead. He catches me staring at the croissants.

"I thought breakfast would soften everybody." He glances mournfully toward the untouched spread. "Nobody has eaten a single thing. Darcy, this kitchen is full of grown adults and nobody has eaten a single croissant. Do you understand how serious that is?"