“No shit.” Her eyes widen as if she hadn’t just experienced it firsthand yesterday. “Is that because youcareabout me?” She playfully bats her eyelashes at me, and I can’t help but shake my head at my stupid slip-up yesterday, made in the heat of the moment. It had escaped without a thought.
“Of course I care about you,” I admit. Her triumphant smile, accompanied by the dramatic gesture of tossing another chip into her mouth, tells me there’s no turning back now.
“Hey, how’d you know I like Burger Rings anyway? They’re like a rare treasure these days.”
“I asked Beth,” I reply casually. “And yes, I’m well aware of how hard they are to find.”
Her face lights up with pleasure at my response and it seems I’ve narrowly escaped her wrath… for now.Thank fuck.
The house phone begins to ring, so I carefully lift up her legs and slide out from underneath them, depositing them back onto the couch with gentle precision to avoid straining her thigh. I make my way to the foyer and pick up the phone.
“Good morning, sir. I’ve received notification that Mr. DeMarco is trying to contact you.”
“Ah, thank you, Kevin,” I reply before hanging up and retrieving my phone from my pocket. Ignoring all the work calls and email notifications, I find the text I’ve been anticipating from Dante.
Call me back, fucker.
I dial his number, and he answers on the first ring.
“About time. You ask a favor and then disappear for twelve hours? What the fuck?”
“I know, damn it,” I sigh, running a hand over my forehead. “I’ve been taking care of my woman.”
“I’m sorry to hear what happened to her.”
“Yeah, well… that’s why I need this favor. He doesn’t get to walk away from this unscathed.”
“And he won’t. I was calling to tell you that we’ve been doing some digging, and this isn’t the first time he’s done something like this. But I assure you, it’ll be the last.”
I glance back at Hailee on the couch, fast asleep with her hand still nestled in the chip packet. A smirk tugs at my lips.Damn, she’s fucking cute. No one gets to cast a shadow on my ball of sunshine.
“Good. Call me when it’s done,” I instruct, and end the call.
Chapter twenty-two
Hailee
Ourdriverpullsupalongside the marina, the water sparkling like diamonds in the sunshine, as if dressed up for our cruise.
“You ready?” Dameon asks, his excitement mirroring my own.
“Absolutely. Let’s do this,” I say, smiling. This trip has been on my mind ever since Cora mentioned it.
Dameon slides out of the car and grabs our bags from the trunk, swinging one over each shoulder. I love the way his biceps bulge through his tight white T-shirt as we make our way down the jetty.
We pass a few yachts until we reach the end, and I abruptly stop, blinking in awe at the monstrosity before me. This isn’t a yacht—it’s a ship.
“Holy shit. That’s massive.”
“That’s what she said,” Dameon quips with a wink as he passes me, striding up the gangplank onto the “yacht.”
I may not know much about boats, but this one would have to be at least two hundred feet long. It gleams in the sunlight, practically begging for a photoshoot. There’s even a helicopter pad with a full-size helicopter perched on top, and a speedboat attached to the side.
“You coming?” Dameon calls from the deck.
“Uh-huh.” I follow him up and take his offered hand. I don’t know why I keep forgetting he’s stupidly wealthy until it hits me with moments like this. My jaw pops open as I take in the spacious and elegantly decorated main cabin, its polished wooden floors and plush furnishings in beautiful hues of cream and navy. The attention to detail is evident in every aspect of the design, from the intricate woodwork and ornate moldings to the exquisite artwork adorning the walls. Large windows frame panoramic views of the seascape, and I suck in a quiet breath, overwhelmed by its beauty. Dameon leads me out onto the expansive deck where there’s plenty of room for lounging in the sun and dining alfresco.
“Yay! You finally made it!” Cora calls, waving her pinkish cocktail overhead. She’s dressed in the cute red bikini we picked out on our shopping trip, the fabric barely covering her ample tits, with a sheer lace cover-up.
