“Why don’t you take Mari with you?”
Pierce cringed. “She is not ready to meet my parents yet. She needs to acclimate to life in the states first. My mother would eat her alive. Will you stay around here and watch her while I’m gone? Show her around town?”
I sighed. Staying in Pierce’s mansion on the mainland and spending time with his fiancée would be no problem at all. And that was a huge problem.
“Sure, I get how important this meeting is to you.” Pierce and his father were meeting to finalize the remaining aspects of transferring over the Kensington businesses into Pierce’s name. Now was not the time to upset his father. This was literally the business deal Pierce spent his entire life waiting to complete. He’d grown his net worth substantially on his own, but this would double his portfolio.
“Thanks, I’ve enjoyed having you around, Oliver. You should come visit more often.”
I laughed. “And you need to spend more time with your fiancée if you want this whole ploy to work.” I hated giving him the advice because the more time I spent with Mari the more I realized I wanted to be in a relationship with her. And not a fake one.
Pierce’s face fell as if he wasn’t looking forward to spending time with the beautiful woman he planned to fake marry. “I know. Soon. As soon as this part of the project is completed.”
“Okay, cousin. Go to New York and secure the rest of your future. It must be hard only having a single billion.” Once Pierce’s father transferred the last of the business assets to his name, it would tip Pierce over into the Big B category.
Mega billionaire status.
As in more than one billion.
He’d need his fake fiancée now more than ever because once news got out about his new status, some people in town would not enjoy the development.
11
Mari
Istared out of Pierce’s large patio door at the view of the ocean in the back of his home as I sipped on my glass of orange juice. The position was one I’d become familiar with often the last few days, as if the ocean called to me. I never stopped to admire the view or the waves as they crashed across the beach when I lived in San Francisco. There wasn’t time then, but now time was all I had.
Guilt washed over me as the waves ripped sand from the beaches each time they pulled back out to sea. I missed days of hard work. It was odd to miss something I’d once despised. Hard labor. Putting my hands in the dirt and helping villagers learn how to irrigate water to the gardens, something I knew nothing about before going to Guatemala. How could two pieces of me be in such conflict? Rich Mari and generous Mari. Old Mari and new Mari.
I liked the person I’d become over the last two years, but the longer I stayed in Pelican Bay the more I noticed old Mari coming to the surface—my need to control, to boss, to complain the orange juice had too much pulp. I’d learned to despise those parts of me. I’d missed parts of old Mari too. She wasn’t all bad.
Old Mari realized what she wanted and had a plan to get it. She took what she could and didn’t ask permission. I’d been a hell of a lot stronger back then but also a bitch. I didn’t know how to mix the qualities together to come out in the best form of me possible—strong, determined, aware of what I wanted but with a kind and grateful heart. I wanted to be someone who gave back to those who didn’t have as much while drinking juice with no pulp. I set the glass back on the table and picked a stringy piece of the orange juice from my tongue.
Pierce and Oliver walked into the kitchen, stopping five feet away and giving me a wide berth as if they sensed the cloud of confusion that had taken over my thoughts that morning.
Pierce spoke first. “I need to make a quick trip to New York and see my father. Oliver has volunteered to keep you entertained,” he said hitting Oliver with the end of his elbow.
I turned with a smile on my face. “Okay.” Spending time with Pierce’s hot cousin would not be an issue.
And there it was. More guilt. I perked up at the thought of spending time with my fiancé’s cousin. Regardless if Pierce and I had a fake relationship, I shouldn’t be so excited to spend time with one of his family members, especially one I found so handsome. And it wasn’t all based on looks. Oliver had been one of the nicest people to me in Pelican Bay since I arrived.
Pierce was nice, but even though he’d been the one who suggested this situation, I felt as if I was constantly in his way. Another task in a busy day he had to deal with. It’s why I’d done my best to wander around quietly and stay out of his path. It’s not like roaming the halls of his immense house while I waited to cash a gargantuan check was a big bother.
I watched Pierce as he walked out of the house, giving me a quick wave goodbye, and then I turned to Oliver. “So, you’re babysitting me today?”
Oliver laughed. “Hardly. I’m more your activities director.”
I wasn’t sure what activities he was suggesting, but I knew which ones came to my mind, and they were not PG rated. Or acceptable to be thinking about in regard to him.
I shook my head, trying to rid the thoughts from my vision. Totally not cool to dream about Pierce’s cousin that way.
“So what can we do in Pelican Bay?”
His eyes widened, and he tilted his head in thought. “In this town? Nothing.”
I laughed, having expected his answer. We’d already walked along the beach and visited the shops on Main Street. This place didn’t boast a large shopping area or music venue. Anything. Maybe that’s why they had so many parades and town festivals.
“It’s going to be hot today,” I said remembering that the weeks of warm days in Pelican Bay were shrinking. “I was thinking I’d lay out under the umbrella by the pool.”
