“See?” Elaine pointed. “Charlotte knows what I’m talking about.”
Charlotte shook her head. “That was a joke. Listen, Elaine, you didn’t go looking for this, did you? You didn’t set out to seduce Connor and everyone knows how much you loved Lloyd. It’s not as if you spent your time at Lloyd’s funeral eye-fucking his best friend. We all know you were devastated by his death. You don’t need to prove anything to us. And if anyone says a word, fuck ’em.”
“Actually, I think it’s sweet.” Gioia smiled, and her dark eyes lit up. “Lloyd and Connor were so close they could have been brothers. Maybe this is Lloyd’s gift to you. Maybe this is the one good thing to come of his death. Of all the men in the world, I’m sure he would have preferred for you to be with Connor than anyone else.”
“I don’t know.” Elaine struggled to laugh. “He was possessive. He probably would have kicked Connor’s ass first.”
“You left Gemini Island,” said Suzan. “You left, determined never to come back, and yet here you are. What if these feelings of yours are meant to be? I still think the universe is trying to tell you something.”
“Oh, yeah?” Elaine rolled her eyes. “Well, I wish the universe would shut the fuck up. I didn’t want this, but I can’t stop thinking about Connor. I can’t stop wondering every time he gives me one of his looks.”
“What kinds of looks?” asked Marci, grinning. “Does he undress you with his eyes, Elaine? Because we want details.”
“He just looks…he looks like a kid eyeing a cream puff in the bakery window.”
“Does that mean you think Connor feels the same way?” asked Lia.
“I don’t know what he thinks. One thing’s for sure. He was just as loyal to Lloyd as I was. If he feels anything at all for me, it’s probably killing him too.”
“Well,” said Lia, her face uncharacteristically stony, “I don’t think you should act on your feelings.”
“Lia!” The other women all turned to her.
“I’m just stating my opinion.” Lia crossed her arms over her chest and turned to Elaine. “You’ve been through a lot. I think you’re confused, too. I wouldn’t want to see you do something that only brings you agony later.”
The ball of guilt sitting on Elaine’s chest swelled, taking on monstrous dimensions.
The slight tone of disapproval in Lia’s voice made her want to hurl all over again.
She was right. Elaine couldn’t do this to Lloyd.
And yet Connor…?
“We all appreciate what Lia’s trying to say,” said Nina, a stern knit to her eyebrows. “But are you willing to sacrifice your future happiness, Elaine? What if you miss out on something wonderful?”
She wasn’t sure she deserved wonderful.
Connor was probably enjoying a huge helping of wonderful with Marcelle right now.
“Elaine,” said Marci, “you have to be prepared for the fact your feelings for Connor might not go away.”
They wouldn’t. She just knew it.
They might be inconvenient, annoying, and inexcusable, but they were here.
“I just have one question.” Fleur nodded at the cabin door. “Do you want me to go boot him out of Marcelle’s cabin for you?”
Marcelle’s cabin. Pain lanced through Elaine’s head, throbbing with insistence. God only knew what they were getting up to. If Connor’s reputation was to be believed, he’d already have Marcelle up against the nearest wall. She could just envision her beautiful long legs wrapped around his waist as he thrust into her.
“Oh God.” She ran toward the bathroom, clutching her stomach. “I’m going to be sick again!”
* * * *
“You seem nervous.” Marcelle smiled but only for a second.
“Do I? No, no. I’m not nervous.” Connor paced her living room floor and then stopped pacing, realizing how it must look. “I’m not nervous at all. Do you mind if I help myself to some water? I’m just a little thirsty.”
“Go ahead.”
