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I sat up, alarmed at where this was going. “Like tonight? Sylvia, it’s too late. We’ll be at the island tomorrow night. There’s no time for elaborate schemes. Or sketchy ones. Promise me you won’t do anything or put yourself in any danger.”
Sylvia’s chin firmed, exactly like her uncle’s did when he’d made a decision. “I’ll make her listen. I’ll talk to her tonight.”
I could smell a hint of my scent filling the room, calming her, soothing her mood. I stood, giving her a gentle hug. “Good for you. I hope she hears what you’re saying. Now, you need to get dressed for dinner. Maybe wear one of the pastel princess dresses. You didn’t cut them all up. It’ll catch your mom off guard; she might listen to you.”
“You’ll come, too?” she asked as I opened the door. “I’m not… I’m not brave on my own. Not like you.”
“Like me?” I wanted to laugh, but she looked so serious. “I’m a total chicken. I’m not the tiniest bit brave.”
She blinked. “You are. You stood up to Uncle G, and my mom, and threw up on Alphonse, and you wore that tiny bikini out in front of everyone—which was like, whoa, Soleil! For a sinker, you sure rock the swimwear.”
“Hey, I need the lifeguards at the pool to keep a close eye on me. Every time I try to get a little tan, I risk my life.”
She burst out laughing. “Pretty sure Uncle G was going to have a heart attack when he saw you. He was watching you the whole day. When you were talking to Ms. Jacks, he was behind you, and then he slammed the door shut, and it broke everywhere…” She waggled her eyebrows up and down, then skipped away, while I tried to process everything she’d just said. “See you at dinner!”
Chapter13
Grumpy
“Where is Alphonse, G? I haven’t seen him all day.” Lore stood at the glass window of the bar, looking out at the deck. Anne-Marie Jacks was outside, chatting with her sister, but her gaze kept returning to Lorelei.
I took a large swallow of my drink, trying to think of a way to tell Lore what I knew, without destroying her.I knew where her trash fire fiancé was, and who he was with. The boat’s cameras had caught him sneaking in and out of the wedding planner’s room enough times that even an ostrich like my sister wouldn’t be able to deny he was fooling around.
But telling her was harder than I’d imagined. I helped her onto her bar stool and waved at the waiter to leave us alone. “Lore, where did you find that wedding planner? Muffuletta, or Mimsy, or whatever.”
“Oh, Muffin? She’s an old family friend of Alphonse’s. She’s not the best, but Fons asked me to give her a chance, so she could get some exposure. She’s some sort of distant cousin.”
I almost choked on my drink. “I hope very distant. Lore… I need you to know, he’s been slipping in and out of her cabin at all hours.”
“Yes, they’re planning some sort of surprise. Something romantic, I’m sure. Or wild. A dance up the aisle?” Her laughter was brittle.
She thought they’d been dancing? Perhaps the horizontal mambo.
I cradled my head in my hands. I’d had too much to drink this afternoon. Hell, since this morning, after I’d heard my omega tell Anne-Marie that she was glad she’d gotten rid of me. Her words were etched on my brain, seared into my soul.
I’m not looking for any more alphas in my life right now. I never should have led him on like I did. Now that he’s out of my life, more or less, I’m so relieved. Is that awful to admit?
I’d been standing close enough that every word was perfectly clear. Agonizingly painful.
Then, seeing her in that tiny, mismatched bikini. Defending her from Alphonse. Barking at her like some brute… I’d never humiliated myself like that in public before. My niece had looked at me like I was some kind of monster.
I’d felt like one.
I’d felt too much on this trip, in every way. Every emotion. I wasn’t used to it. This week couldn’t end soon enough. But first, I had to break my sister’s heart.
“Lorelei, I have footage of them. He’s not planning a romantic surprise. Not for you, anyway. He’s involved with her.”
“Do you have a camera inside the cabin?” Her tone was resigned. Almost like she’d expected this.
“Right outside.”
“That’s not proof.”
“God, do you need to see him fucking her to believe it?”
She stifled a sob. Fuck, I was a monster.
“Lore, I’m so sorry. I don’t want to hurt you. I’m trying to protect you and Sylvia.” Before I could say anything else, the door opened, and Anne-Marie stepped inside. A rush of wind followed her in, and her strong alpha scent of cloves and cherries filled the room.
