Page 35 of Vacation Friends

Then he grabbed her hand and planted a firm but slow kiss on top of it.

Tingles ran up and down her entire body.

Cecilia couldn’t wait for tonight.

CHAPTER

FOURTEEN

NOW, BENCHMARK SUNNY DAYS RETREAT, DAY 3

First thing in the morning, Maddie slipped out of her room.

She was still shaky as she remembered Jared. As she remembered being followed back to her room.

As she remembered that note someone had left beneath her door. What did that message mean? And why had the words “cruel intentions” been in all caps?

The threat didn’t make sense, but it had definitely left her on edge.

She prayed today would be a better day. One without mishaps. One where she realized she’d been overthinking all of this. One without any drama or reasons for her to feel paranoid.

She had a feeling that was wishful thinking.

Benchmark was hosting a breakfast buffet in the conference room downstairs. She’d told Josh she would meet him there.

If she was vacationing by herself, she would have worn sweats and a tank top to breakfast. But not while she was here with Josh. He’d told her those kinds of clothes weren’t suitable for someone dating the future CEO of Benchmark. She needed to dress for success.

For that reason, she’d donned a bright green sundress and sandals. This look would be her basic uniform while she was here—unless she was going to the beach, on an excursion, or to the gala at the end of the week.

After breakfast, she’d go back to her suite and change into something more appropriate for the UTV ride through the mountains. From what she understood, the outing was dusty, and red dirt would cover her from head to toe afterward.

She made her way down the long, winding hallways of the resort until she reached the expansive, lush lobby. Marble columns rose at strategic places, massive windows displayed the ocean and palm trees, and exotic trees laden with parrots grew in an arboretum in the center.

Maddie turned and headed into the large conference room.

Once inside, she paused and took another moment to stand in awe of the huge open windows that stretched at least twenty feet into the air. A koi pond, complete with swans, stretched on the other side of the windows.

The scene was serene and awe-inspiring.

Maddie wasn’t sure if she’d ever been in such a beautiful hotel before. Part of her felt like she’d be quite content to live here forever.

She pulled her gaze from the scenery and glanced at the crowd. Probably thirty people from Benchmark were already here dining. But she didn’t see Josh yet.

Her gaze stopped on Darla.

Just the person she wanted to talk to.

Maddie had seen Darla before at past company functions, and the woman was icy, to say the least. Not exactly the warm and friendly type.

But Maddie would take her chances right now—especially if the payoff meant putting her mind at ease.

She hadn’t gotten much sleep last night. She had too many things on her mind. Too much to think about.

Besides the scares she had, she’d also thought a lot about the conversation she’d had with Detective Kalani. That encounter had left a knot in her stomach.

The man thought she might have something to do with Jared’s death. What if he continued to think that? If he continued to pursue evidence that might point to her as a killer?

Maddie’s head swam at the thought.

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