Page 11 of Vacation Friends

Brody stared at the money before shaking his head. “I, uh . . . I couldn’t possibly take that. I was just trying to be a decent person.”

“It’s good to know there are still good people out there.” Josh offered a stiff smile. “Now, if you’ll excuse us, I’m going to take Maddie to get some water. If anyone needs to talk to her, she’ll be over there with me.” He pointed toward one of the patios where lounge chairs were stretched.

Maddie wasn’t ready to move yet, but Josh pulled her away.

She glanced back one last time at the paramedics as they continued to stand around the man she’d tried to save. But the man’s body remained lifeless.

Heaviness pressed on her chest.

Josh kept an arm around her as he led her back to the resort. He stopped by a lounge chair near the saltwater lagoon and nudged her into one of the seats.

“I’ll be right back with that water,” he promised.

Maddie nodded, grateful to have some space from him.

She wished when she’d tried to call off their engagement that she hadn’t let Josh convince her otherwise. He’d begged her to wait to make any big decisions until after this retreat. He needed her by his side for the big event.

She watched Josh as he walked away, anxiety knotting her stomach. As soon as this trip was over, Maddie would call it quits between them. That was all there was to it.

The two of them weren’t a good fit.

As for this week . . . well, it was important to Josh to maintain his image, and part of that image was having Maddie at his side. He needed to be the picture of stability.

That was what he’d told her.

He worked for Benchmark, a technology company that was the innovator behind a line of computers, phones, and tablets, to name a few. They’d developed products that rivaled—if not excelled—those of Apple. This week they planned to announce their newest project. Whatever it was, there had been a lot of buzz—but very few details—floating out there about it.

Four thousand people were employed at their New York headquarters. Of those, fifty had come on this corporate retreat, along with spouses or a plus one. They were board members and the top innovators—the core players in the company.

Meetings were scheduled. Excursions set up. A luau and concert planned. The event would conclude with a gala where the new CEO would be named and Benchmark’s newest product would be launched.

It should be the perfect week in paradise.

So why did a feeling of dread swirl in Maddie’s stomach?

“I thought that was you over here.” Adrienne appeared beside her.

Maddie forced a smile and tried to push away her heavy thoughts. “It’s me.”

“I just wanted to check on you one more time,” Adrienne said. “Are you sure you’re okay? That had to be so scary out there.”

Maddie nodded, still embarrassed that people were making such a big deal over her. “I’ll be fine. My fiancé went to get me some water.”

Adrienne nodded at the empty seat beside her. “Do you mind?”

“Go right ahead.” Maddie rubbed a hand across her face and felt the wet hair on her forehead, the gritty sand on her cheek.

She must look like a mess.

But at least she was alive.

“I’m here for the Benchmark retreat also,” Adrienne continued.

“Oh, are you? My fiancé?—”

“Is Josh Harding, and you’re Maddie Waters,” Adrienne finished before shrugging sheepishly. “I know. Not to sound weird, but when you work for Josh Harding, you kind of know about his personal life.”

His personal life, which really meant his trophies. He delighted in shiny things. Flashy cars. Big houses. Beautiful women.

---