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I stopped to watch them. On closer inspection there was a frightening air about them. It was almost tangible, even from my hiding spot.
Viktor cut a side look, his lips pinched in disgust, and those dark blue eyes locked on mine.Busted....
Before I could scamper away, Viktor moved toward me. I could run, or I could face this with a strong backbone. It was never supposed to go this far; a simple business transaction would have prevented these muddled feelings. But I had reneged on my contract, and now I had to deal with the fallout.
I had to convey to Viktor that him leaving was a letdown, not anything more, or else it would show how desperate I was.Wait...was I that desperate?Or was it the force of nature moving toward me? Either way, intimacy came with strings that were too complicated and took far too much energy.
Viktor reached me, and I took the lead, running my hands over his suit in admiration. “I knew it was a good idea to call you.”
He shot me a half-smile, but it didn’t reach his eyes. “You said that when I picked you up an hour ago.”
I cleared my throat. “It’s still true. I picked a winner for my fake date.”
“It’s the sex hangover talking. You’ve never been fucked like that, suits. You can admit it, I won’t mind.”
There it was, the teasing and ribbing I was used to. I played along. Slapping his shoulder dramatically, I hissed, “Pig!”
Viktor grabbed my wrist and brought it to his lips. “You look fucking gorgeous, suits.”
I won’t beg. I won’t cry.I didn’t understand why I was so upset in the first place. There was no sense in letting him know.
His finger traced over the makeup, pushing hard as he rubbed a patch away. “There. Now everyone will know you’re mine.”
“You can’t stay?” The words fell from my lips before I could think better of it.
Viktor shook his head slowly.
I bit the inside of my cheek hard. Emotions swelled in my chest, and I didn’t know where they came from, neither did I welcome them.
“Look, I need to explain,” Viktor began.
“No need,” I clipped out, lifting my chin.
His jaw clenched, and he gripped my wrist, marching me away. “That business call, suits, was about how I lied to my uncle about coming here. I was going to stay until at least tomorrow, if not the next day, because I haven’t vacationed in years.” He shook his head. “But some shit went down, and I’m needed to sort the mess out. My uncle, the CEO, wanted me on the first flight. I declined, then it got ugly. Then you... Oh fuck, Bri! If this means nothing to you, then I’ll go, and I won’t look back.”
My eyes pricked. Damn that sand! Beaches were stupid. “It can’t mean anything. This—this is impossible.”
He nodded. “I know. But it sucks being the only one affected by my early departure.”
“You’re not,” I admitted.
Viktor nodded. “That’s all I needed to hear, suits.” He kissed my forehead, and I squeezed my eyes closed. Hard. “I’ll leave right after the ceremony, and I won’t be able to be your fake date again.”
There it was, the other shoe dropping. Emotions prickled. I bit the inside of my cheek, focusing on taking deep breaths.
“I’m so sorry, Bri. You’ve got to believe me that this is not how I wanted it to end, but...it has to.”
“When duty calls,” I quipped, unable to voice what I really wanted to say and how I felt. This was it. This was goodbye.
The music started up then, and guests moved toward the sectioned chairs. Lacing my fingers through his, I walked forward. After the ceremony and when he’d left for the airport, I would choose the cowards’ way out and hide in my room. We were at the ocean after all, and the seafood could take the brunt of my lies.
