AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“She does have black hair, and Iamblond.” I shrugged. “So it’s no real surprise that she’s getting the negative treatment. That and the fact that she’s a bitch on wheels.”
Daphne surprised me by laughing. “I didn’t know you had it in you, Chloe Windsor! Why didn’t you just beat her up last night? It’s not like she doesn’t deserve it. And for the record, not all girls with dark hair are bad girls. But most of us are!” She laughed again.
She seemed to be in a great mood as she navigated into the harbor, the island falling away behind us. Before I knew it, we were passing one of the paparazzi boats. They seemed to wake up as we drove out further. One of the guys yelled at the team, and they fired up the motor.
“Uh oh.” Daphne glanced back over her shoulder. “We’ve got company.”
“Crap.” I sat down on the couch and pulled my hood up. I’d forgotten all about the photographers.
“Did you happen to clear this trip with Olivia Jensen? Because I didn’t.” Daphne bit her lip.
“Um, no. I didn’t.”
“We’re not supposed to do anything off-script.” But Daphne didn’t seem concerned. “Whatever. We’re just going shopping!”
“Right.” I nodded, trying to be upbeat. “That’s right.”
“Why, exactly, are we going shopping at six a.m.?” She eyed me. “And more importantly, where?”
“Um, I thought we could grab breakfast in Northeast first. And then maybe you could show me that cute baby store you’ve been talking about? I also want to look for a new dress for Caroline Vale’s wedding. Do you know what you’re wearing?”
“Not yet! Ooh, there’s a super-cute boutique we can go to—my friend owns it. This is perfect!” Daphne’s eyes lit up. “I’msoglad you called me! I needed to get off that rock!”
“Me too.” I smiled. “Me too.”
* * *
Daphne docked the boat with ease, and we headed up to the parking lot to find her car. “Hey, I just remembered something,” I lied. “I was supposed to pick up some paperwork from the dog trainer. I think he’s staying at a motel over here.”
I scanned the properties next to the lot, quickly finding theNortheast Nights Inn. I knew I’d seen it before. “I think he’s staying there.” I pointed to the inn.
Daphne wrinkled her nose. “What kind of paperwork? Can’t he just mail it? I’m pregnant, remember? If I don’t eat, I get heartburn! I thought it was a myth, but it’s actually true!”
“Do you want to run up to the restaurant and get a table? I’ll only be a minute.”
“Sure.” Daphne secured her sunglasses against her face. “Do I look all right? Those dudes in the boat are still taking pictures of us.”
Crap!I’d been so nervous about getting to Lydia that I hadn’t considered that the photographers were still following us. “You look great, Daphne. Strut up to Main Street, they’ll love it.”
“Ha!” But strut she did as she left my side, her long legs carrying her quickly across the lot.
I prayed that the photographers were engrossed in Daphne’s firm buttocks, in full display in the leggings, and that they ignored me. Either way, I needed to be careful. I tried calling Lydia again.
“Hello?” she croaked. I’d woken her up.
“I’m here in Northeast,” I said quickly. “Can I come to your room?”
“What time is it?” She cursed. “Seriously, you couldn’t even wait till seven?”
“I’m sorry. I knew it was urgent—I wanted to get here as soon as I could.”
Lydia cursed some more, muttering under her breath. I only caught the wordsstuck-up bitchandselfish. I sighed. This wasn’t going well already.
“We’ll come out in a few minutes,” she grunted. “But we need coffee.”
“Um…can I please just come to your room?” I nervously looked around.
“Were youbornto be a pain in my ass? Jesus!” Lydia laugh-coughed. “Just get us two coffees, extra sugar and extra cream. We’ll be down in a minute.”
