Total pages in book: 76
Estimated words: 74882 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 374(@200wpm)___ 300(@250wpm)___ 250(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 74882 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 374(@200wpm)___ 300(@250wpm)___ 250(@300wpm)
“Can we go already?” I snap. “I need to call my father.”
The humor fades from Camilo’s face as he sits.
Right next to me.
“Seriously,” I growl. “Of all the places you could sit—oh!”
The bus takes off and I’m thrown back. Camilo laughs at my shock. I want to shove him into the seat with his dumb dog. His arm stretches across the seat behind me as he leans in to look out the window. It’s too hot and sticky here to have him of all people in my space.
“Are you always this angry?” he asks, his minty breath invading me.
“Are you always this obnoxious?”
“Yes,” Carson offers from nearby. The damn dog barks too.
I smirk at Camilo.
“Do you have plans for dinner?” Camilo asks, wiping said smirk right from my face.
“I’d rather starve than eat with you.”
“Oh, come on, I’m not that bad.”
“Nope, you’re definitely worse.”
He snorts. “Do you even have any friends because it’s hard imagining you being nice to anyone?”
I scowl at him and then turn away to look out the window. Rude ass. I have friends. Lots of them. Daddy. And David of course. Oh, and my assistant Helen. Daddy’s assistant Mark is my friend too. David’s son, Garrett, from a previous marriage. Lots of friends.
“Who’s your best friend?” he asks, still invading my space and mind.
“None of your business.”
“You don’t have one.”
“His name is David,” I lie. While I want David and me to carry on being more, I wouldn’t say we’re best friends. I can barely get him to make time to have dinner with me.
“Wrong.”
“What do you mean, wrong? You don’t know me,” I hiss, refusing to look at him.
“I know you’re lying. It’s a hunch.”
“Screw your hunch.”
“I could be your best friend,” he purrs, his knuckle rubbing along my bicep.
I snap my head to look at him. Too close. My heart does a little flutter and it makes me angry. He can be sexy all damn day, but that doesn’t change the fact he’s the most obnoxious man I’ve ever met.
“I’d rather be best friends with Toro.”
Toro barks happily.
Camilo’s lips curl into a wicked grin. “I’m going to have fun with you.”
“At least one of us will be having fun,” I sneer. “Hope you don’t get too attached. I’ll be gone the second I can.”
His eyes drop to my lips, making my stomach do a flip. “You’re not going anywhere until Rodrigo is no longer a threat.”
“Newsflash, Camilo,” I snap. “It’s sunny. Not a raincloud in the sky. Maybe you should rethink your career.”
His jaw clenches. “Rodrigo is coming.”
“Kyle!” Damian calls out. “Take a picture of me with the beach behind me. It’s gorgeous.”
Jerking my stare from Camilo, I look out the window. The water sparkles in the freaking sunshine, but the waves are choppy and the wind blows the trees lining the beach. It is beautiful, but it’s wrong. I’m not supposed to be here.
“For the record,” Camilo says softly, “I’m right. It’s not safe to fly.”
I ignore him until he gets up to go sit with Toro.
Good.
It’s better this way.
Alone.
Chapter 4
Camilo
“The. One.”
I roll my eyes and Carson laughs.
“I’m just saying,” he states, amusement shining in his green eyes.
“I tried,” I lie. Not really. Mostly, I tried to rile her up. “She’s not interested in anyone but herself.”
My eyes drift back over to her. Despite the rigidness in her posture, she seems defeated. It’s unnerving. A woman like her doesn’t look like the type to get knocked off her axis very often. And when she does…it destroys her. Guilt infects me. I haven’t exactly made it easy for her.
The bus is hot as fuck, and where everyone is sweating, she seems to glisten and glow. Like the reflection of the sun off the water behind her. Sheridan Reid is beautiful, no doubt. She’s just a jagged little pill—one you can’t swallow because she’ll choke you.
Despite having to land in Tahueca because of a damn incoming hurricane, I’m happy. I was born and raised here. Everyone I love lives here.
So why did you leave?
Ignoring that train of thought, I rub Toro’s head. I missed my dog. Alejandro keeps him while I’m gone, which is for longer and longer periods of time. Another pang of regret hits me right in the gut.
The hotel comes into view and Toro must sense we’re almost there because he barks, his tail thumping hard against the seat. As soon as the bus stops and the door opens, Sheridan bolts. Carson thumps me in the arm.
“Go,” he encourages.
I roll my eyes as I stalk off the bus after her. She struggles walking in the sand and nearly rolls her ankle. There’s no stopping her, though, as she storms her way over to the front office of Hotel Zaragoza. She flings the door open and I grab it before it closes. Toro trots in after her.