Page 85 of The Red-Hot Stakes

We deposited our used cloths in a receptacle and came to the next staff member who offered us a choice of a purple slushy drink, champagne or beer. I went with the slushy drink, ready for relief from the heat already. It was refreshing and tangy, just what I wanted.

In the open doorway stood another woman in burgundy uniform who greeted us. Rhonda gave our party name, and the employee escorted us to the lobby for check in. The whole area was huge, open and opulent. Greg looked back at the limo, checking to make sure our bags were being taken care of.

The lady noticed, smiling. “Don’t worry, your luggage will go right to your rooms.”

Rhonda handled check-in since she had booked everything, and we all crowded around to get our keys. The couples went first. Then the employee slid over one set of key cards to me and Liam.

I frowned. “Um, aren’t we supposed to have two rooms?” That had been the original arrangement.

The employee checked her computer once more, slowly shaking her head. “I’m sorry, miss. I have you down for three rooms total, and unfortunately the resort is full.” She shoved the keys toward me.

Avery. This reeked of one of her ridiculous schemes. I turned my glare on her as she held her hands up and backed away.

“Gina—”

“Don’t you ‘Gina’ me. This is not one of your stupid romance novels, Avery Milbourne.” I put my hands on my hips. “Sometimes things don’t end up all sunshine and roses. You forget that you’re messing with real people’s lives here. Real people with real feelings. I thought I meant more to you than that.” I grabbed my key, glanced at the room number and stalked off.

Footsteps sounded behind me, and I turned to see Liam striding after me, looking just as pissed as I felt. Oh, goody. We stalked past the doorway where another attendant stood with our bags.

“Room number?” he asked.

We verified our bags and room, then he followed us. It was a fucking parade, one I had no interest in being a part of. As we wound our way through the maze of buildings with the employee’s help, my mind raced. If the blackmailer was still tracking me, how would I explain us rooming together?

Once we arrived at our first-floor room, Liam quickly pulled out a tip as I wandered past the bathroom to poke around, surveying my options. A short hallway led to the bedroom, which had one bed. Because why wouldn’t there be? At least it was a king.

The room was beautiful and spacious. A small stuffed green chair sat in the corner near a desk with a rolling chair. A giant TV hung on the wall opposite the bed with a long, low dresser beneath and luggage racks on either side. I sighed, claiming one of the stands for my bag.

A patio door opened against the far wall, and I strolled over to investigate, needing time to process. The patio had walls on both sides, and a jetted tub sat to the left with a wall blocking it from view of the beach. Beyond that we had two lounge chairs and a small table, then there was the ocean. The waves crashed in the distance, a calming lullaby dancing in the evening air.

I would’ve enjoyed it a lot more if I hadn’t been so worried about the fucking blackmailer spying on me. Can he see me through the patio glass? Does he know there’s just one bed? Damn Avery and her romance novels.

I went back inside to find Liam pulling out his suit and hanging it in the closet in the hallway. Opposite the closet was a nook, and next to the nook was the bathroom. I poked my head in.

It was massive. A large walk-in shower stood to the right, but there was no curtain, no nothing. It was all glass. Two sinks spanned the wall next to it with a huge mirror above them.

To the left was a narrow door that led to a small inner room hosting the toilet and the bidet. I’d never used a bidet. Interesting.

I went back out to the main room where Liam was now on the patio. If I could just make it through the wedding, this whole ordeal would be worth it. I wanted to be here for my best friend. Wanted to see her get married. Surely the blackmailer could give me a couple days, especially when he saw the silent treatment Liam was giving me.

I decided to hang up my dresses, hoping Liam had left me some hangers. He had, thankfully. I finished as he came back inside, hands in his pockets.

My mind raced as we stood in awkward silence. “I could sleep on one of those lounge chairs.”

His eyebrows shot up. “Fuck no. People get kidnapped here, Gina. Avery would kill me if you got carried off or murdered.”

I didn’t miss the blatant omission of himself in that statement, and I flippantly tried to cover up my pain. “Fine. I’d probably get eaten alive by mosquitoes or whatever bugs they have around here anyway.” I glanced around the spacious room, annoyed that they had every piece of furniture except a sofa. “I’d take the couch if I could.”

“It’s a king-sized bed, and we’re both mature adults here. I’m sure we can handle it.”

I crossed my arms, pressing my lips together because I was out of options. If only they’d had another room. “Maybe Avery and Derek would let me bunk with them.”

“On their wedding trip?” Liam tossed his hands in the air. “I take back the ‘mature’ part.” Setting his jaw, he strode over to toss his suitcase on the second luggage rack. “Although it’s not like packing all your things while I was gone, then leaving without giving us a chance to talk things over or giving me a real explanation was very mature either.”

I dug my nails into my palms as anger pulsed inside me. “I did what I had to.”

“And you still haven’t told me why.”

“Leave it alone, Liam. It’s over now.”

---