Definitely not…
Chapter 4
Sarah
“So I met your intern yesterday.”
Sarah looked up from her coffee. Carlos was grinning at her across the table at The Lagoon, their usual breakfast spot when they needed to talk without hotel staff hovering. The roosters wandered between the tables like they owned the place, which in Key West they basically did.
“And?” Sarah took another sip. The coffee was strong enough to wake the dead, which was exactly what she needed this morning.
“She had opinions about you. She thinks you’re ‘intense’.” He grinned as he used quotation marks to illustrate.
“Charming.”
“You do seem intense to people who don’t know you. But that’s the point, right?”
Sarah glared at him, shaking her head. “I don’t care what people think about me. Especially not college kids.”
“Oh, but you do,” Carlos replied, taking a bite of a Cuban sandwich.
“It is what it is. Can’t change it now.”
“I know. But you might as well make the best of it.” Carlos studied her face. “Also, she’s exactly your type, isn’t she?”
Sarah nearly choked on her coffee. “Excuse me?”
“Come on. Auburn hair, big eyes, earnest energy, looks like she camps out at the library. That’s been your type since forever.”
“Keep your voice down.”
“Nobody’s listening. And even if they were, this is Key West. You could probably make out with her on Duval Street and people would just assume you’re tourists.”
“That’s not funny.”
“It’s a little funny.” Carlos’s smile faded. “Sarah, you can’t hide forever.”
“I’m not hiding. I’m being smart.” She set down her cup. “Jonathan’s lawyers are looking for anything they can use. Any scandal, any ammunition to claim I somehow tricked Billy into marrying me. You think they wouldn’t love to find out Billy’s widow is a lesbian?”
“Billy didn’t care.”
“Billy’s dead, so he can’t exactly speak out for me. And his son is trying to paint me as a manipulative gold digger. If word gets out that our marriage was essentially a business arrangement that’s exactly the kind of thing they’ll twist.”
Carlos sighed. “I hate that you have to live like this.”
“It’s temporary. Once the court case is settled and the trust is secure, I can be whoever I want.” She picked up her coffee again. “Until then, I’m straight, devoted, completely above reproach.”
“In Key West. The gayest place in America.”
“The irony is not lost on me.”
“And your intern? The one who’s exactly your type?”
“Is an intern. A temporary employee who will be gone in a few weeks. Nothing is going to happen.”
“If you say so.”
“I do say so.” It was time to change the subject. “The first welcome party is this Saturday. I need Lizzie to help coordinate.”
