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I growl a little under my breath. “I’ll do what I can but stop being so frantic.” She salutes me. “My sister and her family of five have the one next to my parents, who are at the end closest to the main hotel.”

“Uncle Zane.”

“My brother’s two children are staying with Grandpa Jack, Grandma Birdie, and their nanny.”

“Where’s their mother?”

“If your parents are truly like mine, then she’d be considered not from good stock. Or the product of ill-breeding.”

“She’s poor.”

“Not anymore.”

“Oh. Gold digger.”

“Exactly. The next one was a stripper. Fortunately, it lasted just long enough for my parents to get it annulled.”

“She’s not a stripper anymore, is she?”

I laugh. “Birdie picked this bride: Junior League, Art History degree from Wake Forest, Co-Chair of the Boston Winter Ball.”

I know exactly who she is. “Coral lipstick, upbeat cheerleader, lover of Palm Beach floral prints, and only drinks cocktails with three names or more than three syllables.”

“Like what?”

“Sloe Gin Fizz, Cosmopolitan, Panty Dropper, Pink Stiletto Heel, Sex on the Beach...”

“Yes, that’s her. I had to order her a multi-syllabic purple something once. She and my sister are way too similar, except my sister’s a raging bitch.”

“I have to shop. I brought utilitarian underwear that doesn’t ride up your butt because I thought I’d be hiking and stretching for ten days. Not attracting men like Serge. But I would have made a hell of a sister wife in that cult.” I laugh.

Dammit now I’m thinking about her perfect ass stretching and it’s doing it for me. If she could just be quiet for a second.

The lobby fills up and fuck.

I pull her to me and she gasps sharply. I hold her tight then release her but keep her hand.

She looks around and says through her teeth. “We did not discuss physical touching.”

I paint on a smile and wave to my cousins who pass by and then say through my strained grin, “Cousins. Hand holding, back touching, dancing these are things that will happen.”

“Fine. But warn me if you’re going to hug me. We’ve been traveling a long ass time and I probs smell.” She kisses my cheek and the feather of her lips feels gentle but menacing. “And Serge definitely would have picked me for breeding. Have you seen my hips and tits?” She looks down at them and sticks them out.

I grin and instinctively look down at them and she gives a little, “Ha! Made you look,” under her breath.

I squeeze her hand tighter and she tries to get out of my grip. “I’ll have breakfast sent to the villa. Charge the clothes and meet me there. And don’t lose this. I hand her the little key envelope.” She does a little twirl. I have no idea what it means and refuse to find it charming.

I pull an eco paper wrapped small package out of my leather cross body bag. The maharajas wrapped it, but for the life of me, I can’t think of why. “Your Hawaiian arrival present.”

She rips off the paper to reveal a slightly battered iPhone. “Holy shit! You stole my contraband back! Siri, I missed you so much.”

“I missed you as well. I’m always here for you.” Her phone answers her and she holds her hands up in a V for victory.

She clutches it to her chest. “Only one.” I laugh and she points at me. “Bastard, you knew I’d come with you.”

“Or I’d mail it to Colin. But I hedged my bets when you scampered off to change.”

She leans into my space and says, “I don’t scamper.”