“Whatcha thinking about?” Bowen teased, reeling in slowly. “Because it’s definitely not fishing.”
“Be for real,” Theo scoffed. “We all know he’s thinking about doing the hippity dippity. Perv.”
I adjusted my grip on my rod. “Can y’all not? You’re going to scare the fish away.”
Liam chortled. “He’s most definitely thinking about how Cash and Charlie did the hippity dippity on this very boat on their honeymoon night.”
Cash didn’t miss a beat. “And did it well. Many, many times.”
“That’s my sister you’re talking about,” Theo protested.
“You meanmy wife?”Cash’s eyes droppedto his line.“And your line is about to tangle with mine. Quit being a water hog, Theo.”
Theo huffed, but he reeled in his line.
“Why would I want to think about Cash and Charlie?” I shivered. “No, thank you.”
Bowen opened his mouth to say something that would’ve made Mom reach for the dish soap—I could see it in his mischievous eyes—but my phone rang. Loudly.
Crap. I forgot to silence it.
Liam threw his hand up. “Just great. The fisharegone now.”
“Sorry.” I didn’t usually answer numbers I didn’t recognize. But ever since Anna had spotted Jules, I answered them all. And this one looked like a Honeyville number.
I hit the green checkmark and pinched the phone between my ear and shoulder. “Hello?”
Chapter Forty-Four
JULIETTE
The Las Vegas Police Chief had called and personally let me know that not only had Cecil and the entire DayGlow board been arrested, they’d also seized contracts, client lists, NDAs, expense reports, Viewing schedules, payment records, and months of incriminating texts and emails.
But I wasn’t naïve. DayGlow had connections that ran deep. So I didn’t leave the hospital. I wouldn’t. Not until Weston was safe in Griffin’s arms.
As soon as I cleared the maternity ward, I ducked into the nearest restroom, ripped off the suffocating wig, stuffed it into my overnight bag, and swapped it for a blonde one. Then I went straight for my makeup bag.
DayGlow might’ve made my face one of the most recognizable in the world, but they’d also given me a PhD’s worth of knowledge on tricks and techniques to completely change my appearance. In ten minutes flat, I looked like someone new—dressed in jean overalls I normally wouldn’t be caught dead wearing, a Morgan Wallen concert tee I’d picked up at Goodwill, Birkenstock clog dupes from Walmart, andflat brown contacts that made a stranger out of my reflection. When I walked out, I looked like a country girl born and raised in this town.
If only I could stop crying long enough to keep my makeup from running. I’d underestimated what leaving Weston would do to me. A hundred times, I’d almost raced back to his room to take it all back.
But I couldn’t.
So I hurried to the small cafe off the hospital entrance, bought a copy of Reader’s Digest, an iced chai—because the barista promised it was the quickest drink they made—and claimed a barstool with a clear view of the entrance.
I snorted when I saw that the security guard was napping with his feet up on a chair.
Knees bouncing, throat tight, I forced myself to breathe.
And waited.
Chapter Forty-Five
GRIFFIN
In the passenger seat of Ford’s Tesla, I couldn’t quit rocking. My hands were trembling so hard it felt like I was about to have a seizure.
Ford must’ve thought so, too. “Griff?” He flipped the turn signal. “You doing okay?”
