Page 56 of The Spy Who Ghosted Me

I shook my head, picked up my bag, and ran to my room, slamming the door behind me, needing to put some space between us. Breathing unevenly, I leaned against the door, upset with myself for still wanting him. Oh, did I want him. But I had to get my head on straight. Lives were at stake. The way Soren looked at me still sent chills through me. I was glad Cash was calling in more agents to monitor him. It was weird to think that spies would probably check in as guests at the resort. Cash reminded me it was more important than ever now to be seen as a couple so SPI would never be the wiser about what I knew. Unfortunately, being Cash’s girlfriend was all too easy.

I wished I could talk to Mia about everything going on. If I ever needed her, now was the time. But it was too dangerous to involve her, and I was happy to know that she was in la-la land with Drew, at least for the next few days. She’d given me a play-by-play of their time together while we were being evilly tortured with wax. Drew had been oh so romantic and cute carving pumpkins with her and taking her on picnics. It had been a long time since I’d seen Mia so happy. I was afraid for her heart, just like I feared for mine, when this week came to an end and we had to say goodbye to the men we may or may not love. Still not confirming or denying that particular feeling.

With one more deep breath in and out, I walked over to the small desk in my room and pulled out the locket pendant on a delicate gold chain I’d purchased at the same antique store where Cash had bought me the most beautiful necklace I’d ever seen. I brushed my fingers across my collarbone, wishing to feel the necklace and Cash’s warm lips there. It wasn’t helping matters. Stay focused, I silently reminded myself.

I took a seat at the corner desk and opened up the wildflower oval locket made of 18K gold and sterling silver, wondering if I was doing the right thing. What if Soren discovered what I was about to do? Cash had mentioned Soren was probably smart enough to look for bugs and trackers, but would he really think to look in Lexi’s locket for one of my micro-GPS trackers that I normally put in my luggage? Especially since I planned to hide it under a thin layer of foam and a picture of Lexi and me. I had the perfect picture in mind. It was an old photo I kept in my day planner.

I opened the desk drawer and pulled out my cute floral day planner. From inside, I pulled out the first picture of Lexi and me together. I was seven years old and holding her for the first time in the hospital. The photo showed me, with my French-braided hair and one missing front tooth, kissing Lexi—but what it couldn’t show was me whispering to her that I would always love and protect her. Now, more than ever, I meant it, even if she did subject me to the torture of getting waxed and coming face-to-face with the only man I’d ever truly fallen in love with. It was a toss-up which was more torturous.

“I love you, Lexi, even if you are a Bridezilla and marrying a diamond smuggler,” I whispered before kissing the picture.

Carefully, I cut the picture and the foam I’d purchased at the stationery store to fit the locket. Before I talked myself out of it, I placed one of my micro-GPS trackers in the locket. As long as Lexi stayed in the States, I should be able to locate her. At least for the next year, until the tracker’s battery died. I would have to depend on Cash to keep her safe on her honeymoon. Although I still prayed that we could stop the wedding before then. Cash’s people really needed to start searching the caves. But what did I know?

Once the locket was ready and wrapped in a cute box I’d also acquired at the stationery store, Cash knocked and peeked his gorgeous head in. “You okay in here?”

I craned my head to get a better look at him. His pinched brow said he was either frustrated with me or this situation. Maybe both. What did he expect when he said things like he came here to make sure I was safe? To me, that spoke of big feelings. The kinds of feelings I had and didn’t know how to shut off. All I could do now was try my best not to fall even deeper for him, but he was making it harder than I expected.

“I don’t think I’ll be okay until this is all over.” I stood. “Would you walk over to my parents’ place with me? I want to give my sister her gift.”

Cash stepped all the way in and glanced at the four-poster bed with a romantic blush rosette quilt. His lip twitched into an almost smile, as if he had some sexy thoughts.

“Don’t even think about it, spy boy.”

Cash chuckled but quickly went back to his serious demeanor. “I think it’s best if we stay away from Izan right now.”

I guess that meant I shouldn’t bother asking my mom and sister to make room for a game night. Not to say I wanted to hang out with the diamond smuggler after my earlier run-in with him. But that didn’t change the fact I needed to see Lexi. “Please,” I pleaded, refusing to back down. “Don’t you think staying away might look more suspicious? Besides, we’re still in the wedding party—we can’t really avoid them.” Mama and Lexi would throw the biggest hissy fits if we put a kink in any of their plans. And I needed my sister to start wearing the locket. Assuming she’d put it on. I was hoping she would get all sentimental.

Cash breathed out of his nose like a bull. “I should have never involved you,” he lamented.

I swiped the box off the desk. “Well, I am involved, and I really want to see my sister.”

“Fine,” Cash gave in. “But you don’t leave my sight. Got it?”

“Got it.” I marched past him.

He threw his arms around me and swallowed me up in his embrace like I was the catch of the day. “Not so fast.”

“Cash,” I sighed, torn between wanting to snuggle right into him and telling him off for coming back into my life and reminding me why I’d never gotten over him, even though he’d left me without saying goodbye. I think deep down I knew there had to be a good explanation. I supposed being a spy and saving the world was a decent excuse for ghosting a girl, but it didn’t make this situation hurt any less.

“Sabrina,” he whispered in my ear, sending shivers down my spine and making me melt right into him.

I wondered if SPI taught him the art of seduction. He’d probably earned an A-plus in that class.

Cash’s fingers danced down my back. “I’m sorry for ever coming into your life.”

Part of me wanted to lash out and tell him I was sorry about that too, but I couldn’t. Cash had given me something no man ever had. I didn’t have the exact words for it, but it was more than just falling in love with him. It was the magic of finding your person, the one who you like just as much as you love them. A few years ago, I’d begun to wonder if I would ever find him. Then, out of the blue, he showed up in the most unexpected way. I guess Tennyson was right—’Tis better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all. Even though that loss hurt more than anything. But Nana always says that joy and sorrow are the best of friends. You can’t have one without the other.

“I’m not. Our time in France was a gift, and I’ll never forget it,” my voice cracked.

We clung to each other tighter, keeping the out loud part quiet. We both knew our time together was short, and unless Lexi decided to marry another diamond smuggler, we would probably never see each other after this ordeal was over.

Note to self: never fall in love with a spy again.

Cash

AS WE WALKED PAST IZAN’S closed door, Sabrina clung to the opposite wall, trying to stay as far away from it as possible. Callie had mentioned when we walked in that he didn’t wish to be disturbed, as he was on a work call. Obviously, it was a lie. So what was he up to? I had a bad feeling about it. If it were up to me, I wouldn’t have come back here, but Sabrina insisted she needed to give her sister the locket. She acted odd about it, like she would never see Lexi again. I wouldn’t let that happen.

With any luck, the team we had on Emerald Isle would find the diamonds and the FBI would take Izan into custody. Sabrina’s nightmare would be over then, and my dream of being with her again would come to an end. It felt like a punch to the gut.

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