“Business is a little slow,” I admitted. “But the scandal will pass eventually, get replaced with some other news.”
Tori nodded. “I think it speaks volumes that the KZM models have all stood by you and signed new contracts with Danica Rose. The press releases have to be helping, too. Everything I’ve read says that they trust you, they’re excited for the future with DR, and they’re grateful for what you did. The public will come around soon enough.”
“I think so too,” I said. “And Luka’s been amazing. Doing all the handholding with the models, taking their calls at all hours to answer their questions and address their concerns. If anything, it’s because of him that we’ve only lost a few models.”
“He told me he was helping them with their green cards too.”
I broke out into a grin. “And compiling a directory of local therapists who specialize in trauma counseling. Can you believe it? He’s practically a social worker himself.”
“Sobriety looks good on him. I might have to set him up on a blind date with Grace one of these days,” Tori said with a wink. “Either way, I’m glad he’s doing so much better.”
That was an understatement. I couldn’t believe the progress my brother had made. Now that he was committed to staying sober, he was a new man. He was focused and determined, showing up to work every day as if he were trying to prove something. I kept telling him to take it easy and just focus on his sobriety, but he insisted that the work he was doing—helping me undo all the damage that our father had done—was a major part of his recovery.
It was incredible to finally be able to connect with my brother in the way that I’d always hoped for. Our father had made that damn near impossible, always pitting us against one other, always comparing the two of us unfavorably as a way to separate us and work up a rivalry. Now that he was gone, I actually had a chance to build a real relationship with Luka.
“He’s been spending a lot of time with Anja and Max,” Tori noted. “Every time I go over to see them, it seems like he’s there, helping them get settled into the new apartment. Putting furniture together, unpacking boxes…”
“Playing videogames with Max,” I interjected, and we both laughed. “Honestly, I think they like having him around. He fixes things and tries to be useful. It’s good for everyone.”
“I agree,” Tori said. “It seems like we’re all becoming a real family.”
“All because of you, kitty cat,” I told her.
She blushed and I wrapped my arm around her, pulling her closer. I couldn’t wait to see the look on her face when she found out what I had planned.
* * *
TORI
As we flew furtherand further from Chicago, I felt the stress leave my body. I hadn’t realized how desperate I was for a vacation until Stefan had surprised me with it. Now we were off to spend the holidays in the Caribbean, leaving behind a city that was practically frozen over.
The next few weeks would be nothing but beaches, crystal clear waters, and ridiculous, fruity cocktails. I fully intended to spend the majority of my time soaking up the sun under a floppy hat with a book in my hand, ordering in lavish brunches from room service, and making love to my husband in our private bungalow.
I couldn’t wait to land.
Stefan had closed his eyes and was leaning back against the headrest. I took a moment to admire him. The dark circles under his eyes were finally fading and I knew that after a few days in the Cayman Islands, where we had nothing to think about but each other’s pleasure and needs, he would soon be well-rested and energetic again.
It was rare to see him not decked out in one of his designer suits. Instead he wore a pair of fitted dark jeans and a sweater that hugged his torso. I couldn’t wait to strip him out of both the moment we got to our hotel room and could disappear completely from the rest of the world.
I picked at the tapas plate that one of the flight attendants had dropped off and tried to ignore the nakedness of my left hand, the pale white band around my ring finger reminding me that my wedding rings were still back in Chicago. I’d dropped them off for cleaning at Stefan’s jeweler, along with his wedding band, a few days before our vacation. But when I’d gone back, the jeweler told me she was concerned about a loose stone on my engagement ring. She wanted to keep it longer to re-tip the prongs and check the tiny pavé diamonds on my wedding band as well. Of course I had agreed. The last thing I wanted was to lose my diamonds on vacation.
But now that I didn’t have my rings anymore, I realized how accustomed to them I’d become. I felt incomplete without them. Even the few days of leaving them for a clean and polish had been uncomfortable, and I couldn’t stop playing with the spot on my finger where they should be. At least I had the man who the rings represented right beside me, I told myself. That was what really mattered.
A few hours later, our plane began its final descent into Owen Roberts Airport on Grand Cayman. I looked out the window as we sailed through the clouds, the pristine white beaches and sparkling turquoise water coming into view. It was the opposite of the cold, frigid city we had just left behind. Even though I loved Chicago, I was eager to get a break from winter.
A private car was waiting for us at the airport and it wasn’t long before we pulled up in front of our gorgeous resort hotel. I’d never been to the Caribbean before, but even my wildest dreams couldn’t have imagined something as perfect as what I saw in front of me.
It looked like the screensaver on my laptop had come to life—nothing but lush green palms, lacy iron balconies, tall columns, and that unbelievably blue sky as a backdrop. The air was warm and fragrant, and I paused for a moment to take it all in, breathing deeply. Inside, the hotel lobby glimmering and spotless, with marble floors and huge open atriums.
“I can’t wait to see our bungalow,” I told Stefan, looping my arm through his as we followed the porter into our breathtaking suite of rooms.
“Do you want to check out the beach first?” Stefan asked. “The sun’s setting in about an hour—it’s going to be incredible. We can watch it from the sand.”
He tipped the porter, who offloaded our luggage and then showed himself out.
“That sounds good,” I told him, looking around at our lodgings.
I saw a huge king-size bed made up with crisp white linens and piled high with pillows. It faced floor-to-ceiling sliding glass doors that opened up onto our own private patio. The fragrance from a fresh flower arrangement scented the air, and the bathroom was loaded up with fancy spa products and fluffy Turkish robes. The best part was, the whole place was set apart from the rest of the hotel and even had a path leading down to the beach that was just for us.
