She plucked her phone from Josh’s hand. “Why are you ringing me at this time of the morning?”
“What are you doing with Josh? He sounded sleepy. Are you in bed together?” Matt’s voice filled their hotel room. “I told you not to get involved—”
“Matt,” Ashley interrupted in a stern voice. “Shut up and listen to me. Iamthe prime minister. I am not your little sister or someone for you to order around with that bossy military tone.”
“Where are you?”
“Fiji. I wanted to take a long weekend break after the drama at home,” Ashley said. “We’ll be home tomorrow afternoon.”
“Flight?”
Ashley gave her brother the details, and he disconnected. She pulled a face at her phone. “That went well. He’s become bossy in his old age.”
“Never mind your brother. We’ll talk to him when we get home. We have the entire day to relax and have fun. I vote for snorkeling and swimming and a picnic lunch.”
“He mustn’t have talked to Mum and Dad yet. He always arrives home without telling anyone.” Ashley slid out of bed. “I’m hungry. Breakfast then swimming and snorkeling.”
“And a sexy bikini?”
“I might have one of those.”
* * * * *
Almost twenty-four hours later, their commercial flight landed in Auckland. They’d sat in business class for the three-hour flight from Fiji and were the first to disembark. Progress through the airport was speedy. Frog wasn’t at the airport, but several members of the public did a double-take with some stopping to converse with Ashley and tell her they’d voted for her.
They piled into a large vehicle with Nikolai, Summer, and the two DPS officers and headed to Ashley’s house in South Auckland.
A lone figure climbed from a rental car when Nelson parked in the driveway.
“Ah, there he is,” Josh said.
“Summer and I are heading to Louie’s place to pick up Sam.” Nikolai grabbed their hand luggage.
“Can’t you wait for ten minutes?” Josh asked.
“Worried Frog will break you and you’ll lose your manly mystique?” Nikolai countered.
“Stop acting like babies.” Summer picked up a bag of duty-free purchases. “There will be no physical stuff. Nelson and Gerry won’t allow it.”
“We’ll only intervene if Ashley is in danger.” Nelson’s mouth twitched with suppressed humor.
Josh snorted. “Let’s do this, Ashley. Together.”
“Matt won’t punch you,” Ashley said.
“You didn’t hear his succinct threats.”
“Baby,” Summer taunted. “Maybe I’ll take photos of this too.”
“Summer.” Nikolai urged her toward the vehicle they’d left parked at Ashley’s place.
“I haven’t received enough payback yet,” Summer protested. “Josh owes me.”
“Matt!” Ashley ran at her brother.
He wrapped his beefy arms around her, as always making her feel safe. She pulled back and patted his stubbled cheek. “How long are you back in New Zealand?”
“Two weeks,” Matt said, his gaze hard as he glowered at Josh. “You were in bed with my sister. I meant this to be a pretend engagement to help keep Ashley safe. I told you she was off-bounds, but did you listen? No.”
