Page 33 of Forking the Billionaire

“What?”She glared at me through sleepy eyes.

“Are we all right?”

“We? There’s no we. You’ve made that more than clear, Jasper. Leave me alone.”

“Did you do something to my bag?”

She growled and sat upright. “No. I did not touch your bag. I have no reason to care about your clothes.”

I believed her. But if she didn’t move it, who did?

“So you aren’t mad at me?” I asked.

“Yes, I’m pissed at you. Is that not obvious?”

“Why?”

“How would you like to be woken to the Spanish Inquisition?”

I just blinked at her.

“If you’re not going to let me sleep,” she said, “you at least owe me some coffee.”

She wasn’t pissed about the lack of sex, or about me leaving last night and not coming back until sunrise. She was pissed that I’d woken her.

I said, “We’re supposed to meet everyone for breakfast before today’s outing.”

“So long as that means coffee for me, I’m in.”

I already regretted waking her. If I hadn’t, she may have spent her day doing her own thing. Then we probably both would have been happier.

I washed my face and brushed my teeth. At least my toothbrush wasn’t missing.

Then, since Jules still wasn’t ready, I headed down to do a more thorough check of the area beneath our balcony. There was no sign of my luggage. I talked to three different employees. Everyone promised to keep an eye out.

Finally, when I returned to our room, Jules was ready and waiting for the coffee I’d promised. We went down for breakfast.

It was hard to believe we’d only been in Calypso Caribella for one day. That meant six left to go before I was able to return home. I felt guilty for even thinking it, but I was ready for this trip to be over.

At least there was the time I was able to spend with Gabriel. Seeing him actually happy was worth any discomfort. Plus, I was getting some time with my brother Oscar, who was nearly as difficult to lock down. Spending time with Esme last night had been surprisingly tolerable, too. Nice, even.

An image of Esme tossing her wild hair and arching her back filled my head—her cheeks pink and her lips parted.

That happened. The evidence was on my phone immortalized in a photo. My fingers flexed over my pocket.

Yes, Jasper. You like it like that?Her voice teased in my head.

Acutely I was aware of Jules walking beside me, her attention fully on her phone. I glanced at her twice with irrational concern that she would somehow read my thoughts.

I needed to focus on the positives of the trip, block out the mental image of Esme squeezing her breasts, and enjoy the scenery and the break from work. I couldn’t say when I’d last taken more than a weekend off. I tended to go from one project to the next.

Morning light flooded the resort’s private dining patio. The sun was already strong, casting shadows and warming my skin as I stepped out from the building’s shade.

Colorful flowers decorated a long, white table, where our party enjoyed food and animated conversation. A second set of tables lined the far wall, topped with an elaborate spread of breakfast fare.

I filled a plate with tropical fruit, some kind of quiche, and a decadent cinnamon pastry, while Jules grabbed just a cup of coffee. We joined our party at the long table. Two open seats waited for us between Oscar and a guy named Chester. I knew almost nothing about Chester beyond the fact that he was a friend of Layana’s, and he wore a beard made of cheese when he was on TV.

I let Jules choose where she’d be more comfortable, and then I took the other seat, which happened to be next to Oscar.

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