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“I need lots of shells. Little and big.”
Beck brought her as many shells as he could get his hands on. And twenty minutes later, she thought her masterpiece was finished.
She glanced up at Beck. “What do you think?”
His lips were twitching. “I think it’s perfect. Just let me get something.”
She watched curiously as he moved over to their stuff.
“What have you done to us?” Judd asked. “Christ. I think there’s sand in my butt crack. There should never be sand in butt cracks.”
Owen grunted in agreement.
She giggled. Then she turned to see Beck returning with his phone. He snapped a few photos before the other two realized what he was doing.
“There,” he said. “That’s perfect. And sent.”
“What the hell?” Judd asked, sitting up and brushing the sand from his skin. “Who did you send that to?”
“Oh, you know, just a myriad of acquaintances and friends,” Beck replied with a grin.
“Show me.” Owen stood and held out his hand.
Beck turned his phone around, wisely keeping hold of it as he showed the image of Owen wearing a shell loin cloth and Judd in a shell bikini. She’d also used sand and shells to make it look like they were holding hands.
“Well, at least I’m the boy,” Owen said as Judd started swearing. “Why’re you so upset? You look good with boobs.”
She couldn’t help it, she burst into laughter. When she finally managed to stop, she realized all of the men were staring at her in awe and happiness.
Owen drew her close, kissing her.
“Worth it?” Beck said.
“Worth it,” Judd replied.
Huh. She wondered what they were talking about.
31
Chloe didn’t want to go back.
She knew she had to. Even now, Jonathan could be back at the suite waiting for her. She winced at the thought. Shoot. She should have checked her phone.
“What’s the matter?” Beck asked as she searched around.
“I can’t find my phone.” Surely, she wouldn’t have lost it. She was always so careful to keep her phone on and charged in case she needed it.
“Here it is.” Judd handed it to her. They were packing everything up to take back.
She looked at it, sighing with relief at the lack of notifications. She sent Jonathan a quick message.
Chloe:
Just checking in. Do you need anything from me?
There was no immediate reply. Hopefully that was a good sign.
“What is it? Is it His Lordship?”
She glanced up at Owen and shook her head. “Ah, no. Just checking that he didn’t need me.”
He frowned. “It’s your day off. He shouldn’t need you.”
“Yeah, well . . . my job is kind of a twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week deal.”
“That better be an exaggeration,” Judd said sharply. “Because not only is that illegal, but it’s not good for your health.”
“Sorry. Yes, an exaggeration. Of course it is.”
Owen stared down at her. Then he patted her butt. Heavily. She gaped up at him.
“Just a warning that you better not be lying, baby girl. Or your ass is toast. What are we up to? Like five hundred and forty-five spanks?”
“What? No! We’re not!”
“Hmm, I think we are.”
“It’s not. It’s only like thirty.”
“Thirty, huh?” Owen said. “Seemed much more than that.”
“Thirty?” Beck whistled as he shook out the blanket. “Someone isn’t going to sit comfortably once she gets that punishment.”
Shoot.
Owen could never find out that she was lying about not being on call all the time for Jonathan.
“I just heard from Hux,” Judd said. “They’re still about three hours away from returning back to the palace.”
She breathed out a sigh of relief. Okay, she had some more free time. She missed him. The day had been so much fun, but it had always felt like something was missing.
Hux.
She yawned as they headed toward the pathway.
“Someone’s tired,” Beck commented.
“Oh. I’m so sorry.” She gave him a guilty look. “It’s not the company. I promise.”
“She hasn’t been sleeping well,” Owen said. “She has nightmares.”
“Owen!”
“What?” He turned to look at her.
“That might have been private.”
“But I know.”
“Because you snuck into my room while I was having a nightmare!” She gave him a look.
He smiled smugly. “I sure did.”
Lord. He was crazy.
“What were you having a nightmare about?” Judd demanded.
“That’s something I’m not willing to share just yet.” Or ever.
“Why not?” Owen asked.
She stilled, putting her hands on her hips. If she gave these two an inch, then they’d take a mile. “Have you told me about all the skeletons in your closets?”
“What skeletons do you have?” Judd asked.
“Literal skeletons?” Owen frowned. “I’ll need a list. I need to make sure they’re buried properly and can’t come back to haunt you.”
Her mouth dropped open and she turned to look up at Beck who seemed to be the only sane one. She really, really needed Hux here to help balance all this crazy out.
“I don’t think she means literal skeletons, Owen,” Beck told him. “And Judd, ease up, man.”
