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“There’s no ransom.” I’m amazed at how calm I feel as I say it. Yesterday morning I woke up with the anticipation of having a third split of thirty million dollars. Now I have no money, no job and nowhere to live and I’ve not felt happier in years. “No reward money either.”
“Please tell me this is a joke. What the fuck have you done?”
I chuckle as I gaze out at the Manhattan skyline. “I’m fine. Sin’s fine. I’ll bring her home tomorrow and explain everything.”
I hang up before he can get another word in and head back to Sin’s side. She’s deep in conversation with the actress who seems just as happy to talk soaps as Sin is. I grab a whisky from the bartender, even though I know I won’t drink it. I don’t know what will happen tonight, but I know I’ll want to be completely sober for it.
“I have to go back to my fiancé,” the actress says apologetically, “but here’s my number. Call me and I’ll arrange a tour of the studios.” She hands Sin a business card before wandering off.
“That was Mamie St Clair,” Sin gushes.
I know she’s talking to me even though I’ve not said a word. “How did you know I was here?”
She blushes and it’s a glorious sight. Delectable. “You have a presence.”
I sidle closer, touching her arm with mine. “Elaborate.”
Her blush deepens, flushing her neck and chest. It’s the most fascinating thing to watch the color rising in her cheeks. I want to explore more of where I can color her skin with blushes. “I can smell you. I know the sound of your footsteps. Plus, I heard you order a whisky at the bar.” Her mouth inches up at the edges and her eyes sparkle.
“If I let you go as you ask, what will you do? Where will you go?”
She takes another sip of her mojito as she considers my question. “I’ll find what I’m looking for.”
“Which is?”
She gives her head a slight shake. “I’ll go to a tropical island where no one knows me and spend the rest of my days sipping coconut milk right from the coconut.”
I’ve never been a beach person, but now it’s all I can think about. Me and her on a beach, skinny dipping in crystal clear water the same color as her eyes.
“Let’s get out of here.” I slip my fingers between hers, and I’m surprised when she folds her fingers around mine. She walks with me willingly. No more push and pull, Just Sin Waldgrave and me. We’ve barely made it across the floor when someone calls out her name.
“Lucinda?”
My heart rate increases as I take in the source, Matt Deniver. All round American hero, box office champion and next to Lucinda herself, the most famous person on the planet. The actor that every woman wants, and every man wants to be... And Lucinda’s current boyfriend.
I grit my teeth as he walks over to us. This is bad in so many ways. Ed should have warned me that Matt was here the second he saw Sin. I’ve never met Matt before, but immediately I don’t like him. Before this year, Sin had been photographed with numerous ‘dates,’ but Matt was the first to be seen out with her more than once. Their supposed love story graced every magazine for months for the first part of the year. They were supposed to be getting engaged if you believe all the shit the gossip mags print.
“Hello.”
I grip her hand tightly. Boyfriend or not, I’m not letting go of her.
“Lucinda, it’s me.” He takes his mask off as though it was hiding his identity. Can’t hide a square jaw like he has with an eye mask. “Matty.”
“Er, Hi, Matty. How are you?”
He gives her a strange look. “I thought you were kidnapped? It’s been all over the news. Not a ruse conjured up by the studio to get more press for the movie, is it?”
She shakes her head stiffly. It’s clear she doesn’t want to be talking to this guy anymore than I do.
“We have to go, sorry. She’s not feeling well and Ed’s given us the guest suite.”
He finally turns his eyes to me. “Who the fuck are you?”
“He’s my bodyguard,” Sin pipes up. “I’m feeling a little sick because of the sway of the boat. Seasickness.”
Matt’s eyes narrow. “Okay. Give me a call, yeah? Loving the contacts, by the way.”
I pull Sin away from him, desperate to get her on her own. She doesn’t have seasickness, she wanted to be away from him too. She wanted to be alone with me? The thought spurs me on through the yacht to the lower deck where the cabins are. I already know which one is reserved for me. I pull Sin in and lock the door behind us. “You didn’t know him.”
