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“Ah, shit...”
The sigh that came with Hayden’s expression told the whole story. Even before he tossed his phone on the table, we knew.
“There’s only one of these four-room villas,” he said simply. “And this is it.”
Silence settled over the room, as darkness gathered outside. Reese scratched at his head.
“The rest of the resort is double-occupancy, booked solid,” Hayden continued. “And that’s counting those little oversea bungalows that stretch out into the water, which are taken too.”
I’d passed them on the way in: the infamous thatched huts I’d seen in dozens of magazines, always slung out over the turquoise blue ocean. This place was bigger though. Bigger and better and much more secluded — perfect for what the girls and I had in mind.
Only now it was just me.
“They said there was an unfortunate mistake,” Hayden went on. “Someone double-booked the villa for both prize-winners at once, thinking it was a single redemption.” He jerked his chin my way. “Her name’s listed first, so…”
“Sotheyscrewed up,” snarled Reese. “The resort, that is.”
“Or the Insane World Race screwed us over again,” confirmed Hayden.
From the center of the living area, I coughed and cleared my throat. Reese frowned.
“What?”
“Oh I don’t know if I’d blame the Race,” I said carefully. “You guys kinda screwedyourselveslast time, if I remember correctly.”
The room went silent again, except for the lapping of waves. Eventually Devin chuckled.
“Yeah, she’s right on that one.”
Hayden flashed me a smirk that told me he agreed, even if begrudgingly. I smiled and shrugged.
“Well this royally sucks then,” declared Reese. “So what are they going to do for us?”
“Well…” Hayden hesitated, “they don’t know just yet.”
Devin eyed his friend skeptically. “What do you mean they don’tknow?”
“Right now they’re trying to get us accommodations on the main island, but that might not be until tomorrow. In the meantime, gather up your stuff. They’re sending another one of those golf carts that are always tearing around here to pick us up and—”
“Bullshit.”
I barked the word and the guys all turned my way. I could tell they were tired, just like me. They’d traveled halfway across the planet expecting beds, food, hot showers…
“It’s stupid for you to get stuck crashing in some hotel lobby while they try to free up rooms for you,” I said. “For tonight at least, you guys should stay here.”
Hayden and Reese looked suddenly hopeful. Devin arched a single gorgeous eyebrow.
“Really?”
“Yeah, really,” I smiled, feeling the same little flutter I’d felt around him during the race. Damn, he was even better-looking than I remembered. “I could use the company. And it’s not like I don’t have the room.”
“True.”
“Besides, we all slept together already at that goat farm just outside of Caracas. Remember that?”
“The howler monkeys,” Hayden nodded bitterly. “Those fuckers kept us up all night.”
“I was more concerned with the jaguars,” I admitted. “But yes. And we slept on the hard floor of that old barn. This time we’ve got beds. Food. Hot water.”
Devin crossed the distance between us and extended an arm. I thought he wanted to shake on it, but instead he swept me into a bear hug that was surprisingly gentle.
“SOLD,” he boomed, squeezing me with gratitude.
