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)
Though I’ve learned not to assume.
Twenty years I made an assumption. I assumed everything would go as planned.
And it did.
But one piece of the puzzle was slightly out of place, and that subtle shift was enough to cause us to lose something far more important than what we’d gained.
That night the five of us didn't just set off a chain of events.
We forged the chains that bind us in the fire of youthful indiscretion.
Those chains are now cold and heavy in the twilight of reckoning.
EPISODE 118
EMILY’S CLAWS
Emily
My body is still trembling from River’s kiss.
Do I still want that date with Alex?
It’s important to get to know all the men. It’s also important that River know all the women.
So yes… I will keep the date with Alex.
What River and I have is physical chemistry, pure and simple. So why am I feeling something more? The thought of me living on a ranch in Montana… Well, it’s utterly ridiculous at best.
I’ve been in my suite for about an hour, ruminating on River, Alex, and what Sebastian had to speak to River about so urgently.
But the night is still young. The sun has set, and Alex said something earlier about a moonlight walk.
I should find him.
I rise and head into my bathroom to check my makeup. It’s a mess from being in the kitchen all afternoon and then eating dinner. In fact, I could use a shower, but I don’t want to take the time. I wash my face in the sink and begin anew with my makeup. Once I’m looking like myself again, I tidy my hair into a high ponytail, spritz some fragrance on my wrists, and change into a flowing light-blue sundress that matches the color of my eyes.
I open my door to leave my suite when I hear a distant thumping.
Odd.
I walk toward the staircase and down the second floor where the men’s suites are, and the thumping grows louder.
Sebastian runs out of Evangeline’s suite with Alex close behind.
“What the bloody hell is going on?” I ask.
“It’s the medics, English rose,” Sebastian says. “Evie’s sick.”
I gasp. “Oh, no! What happened?”
“We don’t know yet.” Alex walks toward me while Sebastian runs down the stairs, presumably to meet the medics.
The sound of the helicopter’s wings slicing through the air becomes louder and more urgent.
“Do you need my help with anything?” I ask, a bit dazed. Evangeline looked tired earlier, but I assumed it was stress from Ariel getting injured in the cooking competition. I should check on Ariel. Her injury was my fault, after all. Well, mine and Misty’s. I wouldn’t have been anywhere near Ariel’s station if not for Misty’s insistence that I try to sabotage the others.
“That’s sweet of you to ask,” he says, “but I think we have it under control. The medics are here, and they’ll get her to the hospital on the mainland.”
“Just like Rachel…” I say absently.
Alex nods. “Yes.” He rakes his fingers through his unruly brown hair. “Just like Rachel. What the hell were we all thinking, not having a health professional here?”
“Did Brett find out what happened with Rachel and Ginger?” I ask, regretting my words as soon as I say them. “Never mind. Go see to Evangeline. Make sure she’s okay. Please.”
“I will. Don’t you worry about any of this, Emily.” Alex rubs his jawline. “We’ve got it under control. I promise.” He races down the stairs in Sebastian’s wake.
I watch from the second floor as the paramedics enter with a stretcher. I move out of their way as they hurry up the stairs. Morbid curiosity bites at me, but I don’t follow them to Evangeline’s suite. The last thing they need is someone else underfoot.
Alex returns, and before he follows Sebastian into Evangeline’s room, he stops to stand with me.
“Are we still on for that walk?” he asks.
“I… I don’t know. Shouldn’t you see how Evangeline is?”
“Of course. I meant after. They’ll get her to the hospital if necessary, and then we’ll—”
“Stop,” I interrupt. “Then we’ll what, exactly? Evangeline is the orchestrator of all of this. If she’s gone, what then?”
Alex opens his mouth as if to respond, but no words emerge.
“Seriously,” I continue. “What happens if she’s gone? Is this over then?”
Alex shakes his head, his hair falling over his forehead. “I don’t know, Emily. Let’s just hope for the best.” He walks away from me and into Evangeline’s room.
I doubt Alex and I will meet for a walk tonight, but that’s okay. It’s more important that Evangeline gets the care she needs. I assume Brett and River are also in Evangeline’s suite, which means the women are probably elsewhere. Where might I find Ariel? I’d like to make sure her leg isn’t bothering her too much.
I head down to the kitchen, and then I glance out on the deck.
Ariel is there, along with Marc, the sous chef, and Zion, the bartender. The same one with whom Sienna and I shared a tryst. Hmm… Seems fraternizing is okay when Evangeline and the men are otherwise occupied. Not that I have anything against it. I’ve partaken in my share.