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“I’m not sure I’m ready to die,” Bennett mutters.

On the other end of the line, I swear I hear West’s low laugh. “Bennett,” he says, “do you know how to drive an Aston Martin?”

“No sir, but I’m a fast learner.” Bennett’s eyes light up, like he’s about to be offered a promotion to CEO. “I’ve driven stick shift lots of times.”

“Maybe you should take over then,” he says. “My wife deserves to be driven everywhere. That’s why I’d arranged fora driver to pick her up to come get you this morning. But apparently she had other ideas.”

Wait,what? He hadn’t forgotten about my lack of transportation? I push away the guilty feeling, because he could have said something. “I’m perfectly capable of driving myself,” I tell him.

“I know you are, angel. But I’d like you to be relaxed and rested when I get home.” His voice curls around me like an embrace. “I have plans for you.” The low rasp of his voice skates over my skin like it’s mapping out every inch he’s going to touch.

I hate the way my body reacts. Like it wants a continuation of last night. Right now. “Don’t worry. After a day of driving this baby, I’ll be so revved up you won’t be able to handle me.”

Bennett clears his throat again. God, I almost forgot he was here.

“Oh look,” I say. “There’s the coffee shop. Shall we go meet some of the locals?” I look at Bennett, who can’t quite catch my eye. And I immediately feel bad, because he doesn’t deserve to be caught up in our messy marital power plays.

“Uh, yeah, coffee would be great right now,” Bennett says after a beat, like he’s a condemned man being offered a reprieve.

I grin, easing the Aston Martin into a parking spot. One with open spaces on either side. “Darling, we have to go. Mylene awaits.”

West chuckles, low and knowing. “Tell her I said hello. And, angel…” His pause is deliberate, long enough to tangle heat through my chest. “Try not to kill Bennett before he’s had some lunch.”

Bennett blinks but says nothing.

I roll my eyes even though he can’t see me. “Don’t worry, he’s safe with me. Now you go do your businessy things, baby.”

“I’ll see you tonight.” And this time, it definitely sounds like a threat. My heart rate explodes into overdrive.

I hang up, my pulse still drumming in my ears. The man can turn four words into foreplay, and I hate that my body responds every single time.

Beside me, Bennett is grabbing for the car handle like he’s a man trying to escape a car wreck.

Poor guy. He thinks I’m the dangerous one. But I’m the one in trouble – and I already know how West likes to punish me.

eighteen

WEST

I’ve had a headache all afternoon. Hell, all morning too. It started right around the moment Eden decided to carjack the Aston Martin and go all Bonnie-and-Clyde on me, with Bennett as her partner in crime.

It doesn’t help that these spreadsheets are blurring in front of my eyes because I’ve been staring at them for so long. This morning it was a supply problem, caused by a cashflow problem, caused by Vin being a dick problem. All of which are a pain in my damn ass.

I know why Vin is causing problems. He wants me to cave on the casino idea. Or casinolite, whatever he calls it. I won’t do it, but in the meantime, I’ve managed to wrangle another line of credit for a couple of weeks. But we’re skating on thin ice now. One more big bill and the account will be drained. Bone dry.

I rub my temples, glaring at my silent phone. Vin still hasn’t returned any of my calls or answered my messages. I need this fixed before Hudson or Parker catch even a whiff that money’s getting tight. I promised them this resort would run smoothly.

And I don’t break my promises.

My phone lights up, and I grab it, pulse kicking, only to groan when it’s not Vin. Or Eden. It’s Autumn, of all people, and I’m two seconds from ignoring it. Then I notice there’s an image attached.

I tap the thumbnail and the photo fills the screen.

It’s Eden. Standing on the beach.

It is taken from behind, but there is no mistaking it’s her. The bikini is basically two black strings and a prayer. Her hair is damp, curling over her shoulders, her skin turned golden by the late-afternoon sun.

My pulse hits hard. A low, sharp ache, settles in my chest.