Page 18 of Her Filthy Mistake

Once inside the resort, I stop and stare in wonder at the glass elevators, plush white carpets, Italian tile floors, crystal chandeliers, and black luxury furniture. And I’m wearing a T-shirt and swim trunks? Talk about underdressed. Any minute, I expect the president and his wife to breeze through the lobby.

How much did he pay for this retreat?

“Over here.” My sister-in-law waves as the rest of our group waits outside of a conference room door. “I’m so excited.” She grabs my hand and clutches it in hers. “This is going to be so much fun.”

“Yeah?” Please don’t tell me we were about to go into a timeshare presentation. I groan inwardly as my brother and one of the couples they invited chat about something a few feet away.

I don’t want to listen to someone’s bullshit spiel about why it’s so great to pay an arm, a leg, and a left nut to share the cost of one of the bungalows so I can visit one week a year when I can’t afford that kind of thing. So, in the end, I don’t show up, and they rent out the bungalow to someone else and double their income.

“I’m so glad you’re here.” Carly grasps my shoulder and glances behind me. “There she is.” She waves frantically with a large, plastered smile on her face as silver bracelets jingle at her wrists.

“Hello, Mom.” Zoe skirts around me, still wearing that tiny bikini and the see-through black cover-up which is gapped open in the front. My hands ball into fists. She should dress appropriately when we’re not at the beach.

“Hello, love. I’m so happy you’re here, but I’m going to miss your brother.” A slight veil of worry flashes through her eyes as they embrace.

“This is going to be so much fun.” Carly squeezes her daughter’s shoulders.

“What is?” Zoe steps back and edges further away from me so there’s enough space between us that if we were talking to each other, we’d have to shout. Okay, it’s only five feet, but it feels like a canyon could fit between us.

“Oh….” Carly ignores her question and points behind us. “There’s Violet. It’s too bad your brother had to leave.” She tilts her head as we turn and look at our other guest. “But it looks like she found a substitute for the week.” The man in question has his arm laced through hers. Messy blond hair. Deep tan. Lean and muscular. Most likely a surfer.

Landon approaches us after leaving the other couple. “Damn. He’s good-looking. So much for Zayden and Violet falling in love and living happily ever after.”

“What’re you talking about?” Zoe crosses her arms over her chest, causing her perfect tits to swell over the top of her bikini.

Carly’s face flushes as she laces her fingers through my brother’s hand and looks up at him. “Let me explain.”

“Sure. Of course.” He nods in agreement.

“Landon and I were talking about Zayden and Violet several weeks ago, and I thought since they were both unattached, it would make sense to give them a little push together.”

“Okay. I follow you so far.” Zoe’s face is contemplative as she studies her mother and my brother.

“What does this have to do with a timeshare? I don’t want to spend all morning listening to a pressure tactic presentation that I know I’m going to turn down anyway. It’s awkward and annoying. You know I’m not loaded with cash and can’t take that kind of time off to take elaborate vacations every year.” Admitting that in front of Zoe sucks, but I already feel a headache pulsing at my temples.

“What timeshare?” Carly tilts her head sideways and stares. The crystal chandelier makes her dark hair shine under the lights. “What’re you talking about?”

“The presentation we’re getting ready to listen to.”

“Oh….” Carly’s eyes widen as she bites her bottom lip.

“It’s not a timeshare presentation. It’s a marriage boot camp.” Landon wraps his arm around Carly’s shoulders and hauls her to his chest as Violet and her surfer-looking dude chat with her parents. “Carly and I want to always make sure we stay close, and Violet’s parents have had a little friction in their relationship over the past year.” My brother shrugs. “So, here we are.”

“And why are we here?” Zoe’s face is white as her gaze darts between me, her mom, and my brother.

“Well….” Her mom drops my brother’s hand and grasps Zoe’s. “We needed five couples to secure the activities for the week, and your brother was slotted to be with Violet so that left you and Jace.”

“Then Jace can be with Violet.” Zoe steps away from our group, putting even more distance between us even though we could’ve parked a pickup truck front to back between us already. “And I can go down to the beach and get a tan.”

Violet wraps her arms around the bleach-blond guy and laughs at something he said.

“I think Violet has found a partner for the activities. So that leaves you and Jace to pair up. It’s not a big deal. Beside….” Carly shrugs. “It’ll give you the chance to get to know each other better.”

“Yes.” My brother smiles but it looks more forced than sincere. “It’ll be great. We’ve always wanted the two of you to be closer. You’ve spent the last couple of years not even speaking to each other. That makes family events awkward. If you find some common ground, I think you’ll be happy you did. We’ll all be happy.”

“Right.” Zoe yanks a hand through her hair and shakes her head. “Fine. You’re right.” She meets my gaze. “It’s not a big deal. We’ll spend a few minutes getting to know each other better, and then I’ll head to the beach to get some sun.”

“I’m afraid that’s not going to happen. It isn’t just a few minutes.”

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