Page 5 of The Spy Who Ghosted Me

“I understand your reluctance to discuss our past, but there’s something you should know.” His deep voice rumbled between us.

I opened my mouth to tell him there was nothing I wanted to hear from him, but before I could speak, he dropped a bomb on me—we are talking about a nuclear-level-bad bomb.

“I remembered how often you spoke fondly of growing up at your family resort. You said there was nowhere more peaceful or beautiful. I’ve been in need of a vacation for quite a while now, so I ...”

NO! NO! NO! Absolutely freaking NO! Don’t say it. Don’t you dare even think about saying it.

“... booked a two-week stay at the Belle Resort.”

How could he say that? Why was this happening?

I turned and faced him. “You can’t do that. I’m flying home right now,” I stuttered, my mouth so dry I could barely articulate any words.

He smiled that dazzling smile of his. “Another fortunate coincidence.”

Before I could speak, the head flight attendant spoke into the PA system, reminding everyone to buckle their seat belts and get ready for the safety presentation.

Oh, I needed to buckle up all right. But I was afraid the next ten days would be anything but safe for my heart.

Cash

“HOW’S IT GOING, DARLING? IS all forgiven?” Ivy said mockingly into my ear as I walked across the street to the terminal garage in Nashville, pulling my suitcase behind me and enjoying the fall breeze. It had been a long time since I’d been in the US in autumn. I’d purposely waited to retrieve my “rental.” I was giving Sabrina time to discover she no longer had a car reserved before I swooped in and offered to save the day.

“No. Sabrina refused to speak to me,” I regretfully informed Ivy. Not that I expected Sabrina to forgive me, but I’d been hoping to at least give her an explanation for why I’d “ghosted her,” as she’d put it. Odd that she’d used the term ghost. As far as society was concerned, I was a ghost—I didn’t exist. But regardless of how she saw me, I’d been hoping my explanation would lead to a conversation. Instead, she put her headphones on and watched My Big Fat Greek Wedding twice during the flight, doing her best to ignore me. I had to wonder if she was prepping for her sister’s nuptials that hopefully would never take place. Sabrina had often spoken of her mother and aunt’s overbearing natures, much like the mother and aunt in the movie, from what I was able to glean.

Not to say that Sabrina didn’t love her family—she obviously did, from how she spoke of them. But she felt like she needed space, as distance always made her long for home. That was important to her. She wanted home to be a place she ran to and never from. For someone who’d never had a home to run to or from, I envied her.

Ivy laughed hysterically into the phone. “The Cash Denton alias has finally failed to land you the lady. Whatever will you do?”

“I have it under control,” I grumbled my lie. It was the least in control I had felt in a long time, including a few years ago when I had to disarm a bomb in Afghanistan and barely managed to do so before it killed thousands of innocent civilians. Spending the last several hours so close to Sabrina felt much the same way. My feelings for her were ticking to the surface, threatening to blow up this entire mission. Every time she jumped during a rough patch of air, I wished to take her hand and comfort her. I imagined I’d bring it to my lips and kiss my way up her arm to her bare shoulder, where I would linger, breathing in her sweet scent until I could no longer resist capturing her pink, pouty lips. Even more, I wished she could know another of my aliases—not Cash Denton, the man who’d left her once and who would leave her again. I would say the real me, but I wasn’t sure who that man was anymore. From what I remembered of him, he wasn’t worth loving.

“Just make sure my cabin has the surveillance equipment and weapons I need,” I snapped.

“Tsk, tsk, tsk, we mustn’t let our emotions get the better of us,” Ivy reminded me. “By the way, a team is standing by, awaiting your arrival. You will have everything you requested. I’ll even make sure they turn down your bed and leave a little chocolate on your pillow.”

I couldn’t help but smile, even though Ivy was the most irritating person I’d ever met. “Make sure it’s Swiss chocolate,” I teased.

“Only the best for you, love. Now go and intercept her. Don’t let my hard work go to waste.”

I hung up and shoved the phone in my pocket, intent on doing as Ivy commanded. Just as I hoped, I walked into the consolidated rental car facility to find Sabrina near the Hertz sign, surrounded by her and Mia’s luggage, on the phone with her mom. Her Southern accent she normally didn’t use was out in full force.

“I don’t know what happened to the reservation, Mama. I made it when I booked the airline tickets, and I checked last night to make sure I had the email confirmation. But it all just disappeared. Mia is checking with the other rental companies now to see if they have anything.” She paused. “No, Mama, I will not miss Lexi’s bridal shower. Come hell or high water, we’ll be there.” Another pause. “Okay, fine, I promise we won’t take an Uber and get kidnapped or killed. Yes, you were right. I should have just let Daddy pick us up. Mama, I need to go. I’ll call you soon with an update.” Sabrina exhaled in a huff and threw the phone in her bag, her gaze landing on me with obvious displeasure. She narrowed her eyes at me as if her predicament were all my fault. She wasn’t wrong.

I took the in and sauntered her way. “Is everything all right?”

“It’s fine. Move along.” She waved her hand erratically in front of her.

“Are you sure? Perhaps I could be of some assistance.”

“Yes, you can, actually. Find another place to vacation.”

“Sorry, that I can’t do.”

“Ugh. Fine,” she spat. “Just make sure to stay away from me. You’re good at that.”

The hurt in her voice pricked me in ways I didn’t expect. “If you would just let me explain.”

Sabrina held up her hand to silence me. “The only good excuses would be a coma or amnesia, and I already verified neither was the case, so save your breath.”

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