AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“I’m sorry,” Deacon said. “Try not to let her rattle you.”
“I’m not rattled,” I lied. Then I stopped and bit my lip. “But I was thinking… How much is she asking for, really? If she’s willing to go this far and lay traps for you, she might try something else.”
Disquiet flashed over Deacon’s face before he smoothed it away. “No, I’m pretty sure this is a last-ditch effort to bully me into getting what she wants. You were right before. Even if she does release it, that sex tape is sketchy and will only do limited damage.”
“I’m not worried about the sex tape,” I said quietly. “I’m worried that she’ll find out about us.”
I’m worried she’ll make you miserable, I added silently in my head.
He shook his head again. “The only two who know about our fling are in this room.” He stepped over to take me in his arms. Despite my unease, I immediately felt safer. It was as if I had found the place I had always meant to be.
Even if it was only meant to last a few more days.
“If you’re sure,” I said.
“I’m certain,” he replied grimly. “I’m not going to give Lauren one more cent.”
Then, as if to punctuate that promise, Deacon leaned down to kiss me.
* * *
We spent an enjoyable afternoon together and missed lunch entirely. So, by the time evening rolled around, we were both starving.
“Taco platter again?” Deacon teased.
I threw a balled-up paper towel at him.
We sat on the small loveseat, my legs over his as he scrolled through the menu options on the tablet. Deacon didn’t have any preference for food, so I suggested the family-style roast chicken. It was an entire chicken that had been slow roasted through the day, cut up and presented in all parts, along with mashed potatoes and a nice spring salad. Deacon had fun searching through the variety of wines and picked a red he said would go perfectly with the meal.
My parents had been into wine, I remembered suddenly. It had been a mark of their social status to go on wine tasting tours through Napa Valley in California. Of course, that had all ended when Dad had been exposed as a criminal and a thief.
I was thinking about them now more than I had in years. No doubt, that was due to Deacon’s company. I shook my head and tried to banish away old childhood memories.
I had to live in the present. It was all I had.
Leaving Deacon to sit out at his private pool, I went out to retrieve the meal.
I was just rolling the food cart along the pathway when I heard my name being called. I turned and froze.
Lauren had changed clothes in the last few hours. She now wore white shorts, a bikini top, an overlarge sun hat, and dark glamorous sunglasses. She looked like a Hollywood starlet out on the hunt.
Seeing me notice her, she waved like we were old friends and made a beeline straight up to me.
Mentally putting on the ol’ trusty customer service mask, I nodded to her. “Can I help you, Mrs. Helman?”
“Yes, you can help me,” she said boldly. “I want to know what Deacon has been up to while he’s been at the resort, and if he’s had any woman in his villa.”
I took a step back. “Excuse me?”
“I’m sorry, was any of that unclear? I am his wife. I deserve to know.”
It took every ounce of self-control I had not to let any anger crack my professional mask. “I thought you two were getting a divorce.”
That was a mistake. She instantly jumped on the words. “He told you that? Has he told you anything else?” Before I could reply she reached into her bikini and withdrew a tight roll of bills. The top was a hundred, though I suspected the rest were probably lower denominations. “Has he talked about any girlfriends on the side?”
I stood there, shocked at her brashness. “Mrs. Helman—”
She went on. “Let me make my position very clear: I want information on what Deacon has been doing all this time, and I am in a position to pay very well for it.”
