Page 39 of Forking the Billionaire

Her loss.

“You came all this way,” Jasper said.

Their voices echoed across the stone, louder than they would have been in an open space. The path here was a bit like an underground tunnel, with the high wall of rock protecting the way from the ocean wind.

Morgan’s fiancé Oscar hadn’t come, since he wasn’t part of the wedding party. Juno was a bridesmaid and she wasn’t here. I didn’t understand why Jules had bothered. She wasn’t a part of this, and didn’t need to be here.

“You want me to call you a car?” Jasper asked. “I have to go down.”

“No,” Jules said.

A few more whispers were exchanged, then nothing.

The tunnel got a bit dark, so I used my phone flashlight to illuminate the way.

Everyone grew deathly quiet, and I could practically hear their internal thoughts questioning the faith they’d just expressed in me. Since they hadn’t been here before, I could see how it would feel like we were descending into a dragon or serial killer’s lair.

But everything would be fine. I’d been down here a thousand times, and I’d only run into a snake once. As for fire-breathing murderers—zero.

“It’s perfectly safe,” I said. “Just a bit farther.”

A few more steps and the tunnel opened up to an underground grotto. An audible gasp resounded through the group as they took in the space. It was the only possible response, really.

The lagoon glowed electric blue with bioluminescent algae, casting soft light over the volcanic rock faces.

“Esme.” Layana clasped her hands together. “This is amazing.”

I grinned at her. “I know.”

“Does the cavern flood during changes in tide?” Gabe asked.

“We’re already at high tide,” I said. “That’s as high as the water gets.”

He clasped his hands behind his back and inspected the space.

“The only bad thing is the rock can be a little slippery, so watch your step.” I walked around the glowing pool to the largest area of flat rock. “I was thinking we’d gather over here.”

“It’ll be tighter than the other venues,” Morgan said, “butsoworth it.”

Jasper stalked slowly along the walls with Gabe, frowning. He was probably stewing about his girlfriend chickening out. Or he hated the cave. A knot formed in my chest.

It didn’t matter what he thought, anyway. This was about Gabe and Layana. Still, I found my attention flicking to him, waiting for him to say something. Hehadto like it. It was impossible not to.

Also, I needed to tell him I wasn’t interested in helping him find his suitcase. I’d slipped up and let myself not entirely hate his company last night. And if I was being honest with myself, our napkin exchange at breakfast was amusing. Positive interactions with Jasper were a slippery slope. Nothing good could come of them.

A napkin note wasn’t a promise. My best course of action to keep the peace was to stay away from Jasper until he left.

Gabe rejoined the rest of us. “Perhaps candles along the walls would help further illuminate the space.”

“So you like it?” Layana pulled on his arm.

“You’d better,” Morgan said. “It’s amazing.”

Gabe turned his attention to me. His dark eyes burned with their usual intensity.

I held my breath.

“It’s perfect,” he said. “Thank you, Esme.”

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