Page 99 of Vacation Friends

She offered a soft smile as she glanced up at Brody. “I’ve enjoyed talking with you.”

He smiled down at her also. “You too. I’m glad we had the chance to talk one-on-one.”

They stared at each other a moment, something unspoken passing between them.

Brody felt the same way Maddie did, didn’t he? Yet he also seemed to share the sentiment that they needed to keep their distance—like any reputable man might.

Maddie quickly broke eye contact, realizing she needed to get this man out of her mind and stop toying with the idea of exploring a relationship with him.

She started to say they should probably head back when a familiar figure on the beach caught her eye.

Logan.

The woman walked down the shore by herself. By all appearances, she hadn’t realized Maddie was in front of her.

When Logan looked up and the two locked gazes, surprise washed over the woman’s face.

She froze, almost looking as if she wanted to turn and run.

But Maddie wasn’t going to let her do that.

“Excuse me a moment,” she muttered to Brody.

She called Logan’s name and jogged closer. She hadn’t planned to confront the woman. Maddie mostly blamed what had happened on Josh. But she wasn’t going to tuck her tail between her legs and act like a victim either.

Logan’s gaze turned cool as Maddie got closer. “I didn’t expect to see you out here.”

“I’m sure you didn’t.” Maddie paused in front of her, her hands going on her hips. “I know about you and Josh.”

“It took you long enough to realize.” Her eyebrows flickered with smugness.

The woman’s absolute lack of remorse felt like a slap in the face. How could she be so heartless and calloused—not to mention have such a lack of a moral compass?

“It doesn’t matter anymore,” Maddie told her. “He’s all yours now.”

Logan’s eyes widened. She clearly hadn’t heard that Josh and Maddie had broken up. Had really broken up. It was anyone’s guess what Josh had told Logan about the status of their relationship.

Logan’s surprise disappeared and the smugness returned. “I knew the two of you were never right for each other. You can’t give him what he wants.”

Maddie’s lips parted as anger burned through her veins. She didn’t even care that Brody had caught up and was listening to everything. She couldn’t cower to this woman’s words.

“You know what?” Maddie said. “As far as I’m concerned, Josh can be your problem now.”

Logan shrugged. “He always made it abundantly clear that he was much happier with me anyway.”

Maddie tried not to show any surprise. Not necessarily because of what Logan said. But because of the woman’s vindictive attitude.

“I’ll let you continue your walk.” Maddie kept her voice cool and controlled. “I just wanted to clear the air.”

As Maddie took a step away, Brody joining her, Logan threw out one last barb. “I know it was you on the beach that morning, that you were the one arguing with Jared.”

The words stopped her cold, and Maddie slowly turned back toward the woman. “You’re the witness that Detective Kalani mentioned?”

Logan smirked. “That’s right. I saw it all, and I wasn’t afraid to let the detective know it was you.”

“That’s impossible,” Maddie told her. “You didn’t see me out there with him. I wasn’t the one arguing with him on the beach. The first time I saw him was in the water.”

“That’s not what I saw.” Logan shrugged as if her mind was made up.

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