Total pages in book: 77
Estimated words: 75770 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 379(@200wpm)___ 303(@250wpm)___ 253(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 75770 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 379(@200wpm)___ 303(@250wpm)___ 253(@300wpm)
Ariel picks up her glass. “Cheers!” She takes a small sip. Her forehead wrinkles, and she takes another drink.
“Different from Bacardi?” I take a sip of mine.
“I don’t drink Bacardi like this,” Ariel says, “but, you know… I like it. I’m not sure I taste vanilla and cardamom, or whatever, but it’s smooth on my tongue and not harsh going down.”
Marc smiles at Ariel, and I’m not a fan of how he’s flirting with her, which is ridiculous because we told all the staff members to make the ladies feel welcome and attractive. I expect them to flirt a little.
But that spike of jealousy from earlier? It’s back, and this time it's directed at a different woman.
I take another sip and give Ariel another look.
Does strawberries and cream beat a sexy viper?
I’m honestly not sure. Why choose when I may be able to have both?
I might just be hungry for a sandwich later…
EPISODE 97
JERKIN’ AROUND
River
Supermodels have never been my thing. I love a beautiful body as much as the next guy, and June is tall, thin, and gorgeous, but we have nothing in common.
Then again…there’s another tall, thin woman in this kitchen with whom I have nothing in common. Emily Kensington could easily be a model. She’s blond to June’s brunette, but she should be walking runways wearing her own creations.
That would be something.
June and I are working with the guest chef, Desi something. He’s smiling and friendly, which makes me look all the broodier in comparison.
June gives me a bright smile. “I’m so glad we’re working together. I haven’t gotten to spend a lot of time with you yet. This should be fun.”
Damn, she really is as gorgeous as those glossy images of her wearing the sexiest lingerie on the planet. She’s wearing a yellow thing that looks like a minidress but I think is actually shorts. It’s sleeveless with soft ruffles around the neckline and a wide open back, showcasing her perfect creamy skin.
Still, I’m not in the mood for any of this.
She touches my arm and gives me another dazzling smile. “Turns out we have the main dish. Meat. We may have an unfair advantage, you being a beef rancher and all.”
I resist an eyeroll. “I doubt we’ll be making steaks.”
“What else would we make?”
“Goat,” I say. “Curried goat is a staple in Jamaican cooking.”
June wrinkles her nose. “Goat?”
“No, pretty lady.” Desi laughs. “No goat tonight. We’ll be preparing grilled lobster and classic jerk chicken.”
“That sounds wonderful!” June grabs Desi’s arm. “I’ve eaten all over the world, and I’m so excited to learn from you.”
“My jerk chicken in renowned,” Desi says. “But it’s not for the faint of heart. You like spice, Miss June?”
“Do I ever! The hotter the better.” She hangs on Desi’s arm and looks up at him adoringly.
Uh…didn’t she just say she wanted to get to know me better?
Then again, who can blame her? Desi’s jovial personality could win any woman over, especially when the other choice is a sullen cowboy. The staffers were told ahead of time to help make the women feel beautiful, and Desi’s taking those instructions seriously.
Still, June is here to meet me, not Desi. I’m stuck here for two weeks, so I may as well make the most of it. I close the distance between June and me and force a smile. I don’t dare look over at Emily, who’s paired with Misty, of fucking course. The woman I can’t get out of my mind and the woman I want off this island—what a combo.
Looking at Misty makes my thoughts drift to Brett. By now, Sienna should be on her way back to the States, and Brett should be…
Who the hell knows? I hope he’s at the hospital finding out why Rachel and Ginger left against the advice of Rachel’s physician. If anyone can finagle the necessary information, Brett can. That man can finagle anything.
I still can’t believe that he had feelings for Jake all those years ago. And now, he’s looking at Misty as his second chance to be close to a part of Jake. I’d gladly hand Misty off to Brett…if I trusted her. The fact is that I don’t, and Brett shouldn’t either. Jake was a good soul, gone from this earth too soon. Misty may be his half-sister, but that doesn’t make her the same.
I think she’s more than proven otherwise.
Whatever. Two weeks, and this is all behind me.
It can’t be over soon enough.
“River”—Desi meets my gaze—“come here. I’m going to show you how to prepare the jerk seasoning for the chicken.”
I nod and listen with half an ear as Desi explains about the combination of spices that makes jerk so special and unique.
I never went hungry. Not a day in my life. My mother always fed Dad and me and most of my friends.
But Jake… He occasionally went hungry. Sometimes, when I think about the decadent lives we all lead now, I wonder what Jake would think of all of it. He was a simple guy—a good soul who just wanted to do the right thing by his pregnant girlfriend.