Total pages in book: 156
Estimated words: 158829 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 794(@200wpm)___ 635(@250wpm)___ 529(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 158829 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 794(@200wpm)___ 635(@250wpm)___ 529(@300wpm)
Then I burst into laughter.
“She sounds like a real bitch.”
“I know. Yet she looks so innocent with her round cheeks and that hint of blue in her hair. You never see it coming. It’s almost like false advertising—or those bright jungle frogs that kill you with one touch.”
Not a nice comparison. I’m no frog.
But considering his jerkface good looks and the harem of supermodels he probably has on the side, he might think I am.
I can’t help feeling shriveled up.
But I down my drink in a couple more gulps, ignoring his crap.
At least jabbing at each other makes this ever so slightly less awkward.
It also makes me more prone to count my blessings.
I’m in Lanai with a gorgeous insider who’s sharp, funny, and my private tour guide for the day. Even the devil had his charms.
I finish my drink and set the empty glass on his desk.
“Okay then. Take me to the beach.”
“If I show you a secret exit, do you promise not to record it?”
It takes me a few seconds to realize he’s dead serious.
I make a pouty face. “Boo. I thought the point of these super exclusive hacks was to get me likes and subscribers. How does that work if I have to hide the coolest stuff?”
“Have faith, Miss Renee. I’ll show you plenty of breathtaking places you can video until you’re blind. This is a security matter,” he explains. “Several other luxury resorts have been the target of major break-ins and thefts in the last ten years. Some of them armed and violent. When they built this place, I made damn sure my staff had a secret exit in case of trouble. The island is exclusive and I doubt anyone with bad intentions would ever get far in Lanai. Still, I want my employees taken care of in the unlikely event tragedy strikes.”
“Oh. Wow. Maybe I won’t be a resort manager if you’re fighting off supervillains. I don’t like thinking about things like that.”
He chuckles. “You could have fooled me last night when you came charging with that lamp.”
“I really don’t.”
“Yeah? Even when you were ready to attack because you thought I was a serial killer?” He stares me down.
“Please. I’m thousands of miles from anyone I know, and some psycho broke into my room in the middle of the night. I had a right to freak out.”
That cocky smile I want to rip off his face reappears.
“Are you done, Miss Renee?” He stands and goes out the door of his private office, calling “Follow me” over his shoulder.
With a shrug, I trail him as he pushes a service door open and we step through it.
We head down a long hallway and I look around, wondering where the secret passage is.
The hall is long and dark. We haven’t come to another door or even a bend, but he stops anyway. “Here we are.”
“Here? I think whatever was in your glass was stronger than brandy,” I say sharply.
He gives me an arctic look.
I scan the long empty hallway around us, training my eyes on him. “Not to point out the obvious, but we’re in the middle of a hall.”
He doesn’t answer.
O-kay then.
“You usually say, ‘here we are,’ when you’ve arrived somewhere. But we haven’t. We’re still standing around having this conversation.” I wrinkle my nose.
“You think so?”
I nod.
“There’s a reason influencers aren’t paid for their security talents,” he clips.
What the hell does that mean? I’m about to ask, but I’m caught off guard when he moves, his massive body lurching forward.
He places both of his huge hands on the wall and shoves it so hard his body rocks.
Even as muscular as he is, he shouldn’t expect to be able to move a wall. I’m about to say as much when the wall shifts aside, revealing a blue square of light that leads into a courtyard of greenery and bright flowers.
“Whoa,” I whisper.
“Told you it was supersecret.”
“I’m honestly impressed,” I admit. “I never would’ve guessed that was there in a thousand years.”
“Glad you approve, Your Highness. Never breathe a word.”
I hold up my right hand, a little annoyed. “I solemnly swear, Prince Asshat.”
He gives me a heavy look like he’s disgusted that’s all I can come up with.
Then I follow him through the large garden.
Out here, it’s a painting come to life. Most of the flowers have large drops for petals and they come in every color and fragrance you can imagine.
I stop after a few paces, frozen in awe.
“So beautiful,” I gush, leaning in to sniff the sweetness.
“They’re verbena. Not exactly native to the islands, but they grow all over it now.”
I notice a peach and yellow flower with a bright-orange center. “Is that verbena too?”
“Hibiscus. It is native to Lanai, but there was none in this courtyard until I had it planted. The verbena were already here.”
“What? You’re the gardener too?” I laugh at the idea, genuinely shocked he knows as much about plants as he does.