Page 85 of Nothing to Do

“I don’t need my wallet?”

Closing the door, they went a few steps down the hallway, then Roxie twined their arms together. “Zane has taken care of everything. If he hadn’t Zairn would’ve. It’s a learning curve, this kind of relationship, but you’ll get there.” They hit the elevator button and waited. “Unless you won’t.”

She didn’t understand. “Unless I won’t, what?”

“You and Zane,” Roxie said, coming around in front of her. “Is it serious? Permanent or a holiday fling?” She held up both hands. “No judgment.”

“We don’t know what it is yet. We’ve agreed we want to make a go of it, see what comes out in the wash.”

“So you’ll stay in touch? When the island is in your rearview?”

She exhaled a laugh. “Alessia wants me to marry him and have babies so she can come to the island any time she wants.”

“What other reason is there to tie yourself to a guy?”

Even with the deadpan delivery, the humor was obvious. Roxie was quite the woman. Somehow completely shocking, and completely expected at the same time. Her new friend could pull off anything.

When the elevator doors pinged, Roxie turned. They opened to three guys inside. Tripp was the one in the middle. She expected the other two to go their own way, but when Tripp opened his arms, the guys only stepped back.

Roxie went in first and kissed each of Tripp’s cheeks. “You’re very dashing tonight.”

“I’m always very dashing, Rox Out,” Tripp said and laid a hand on her waist to lean in and kiss her cheeks too.

She hadn’t quite got the hang of the mwah, mwah thing, but Roxie distracted her awkwardness.

“As I live and breathe,” Roxie exclaimed, the elevator doors closing behind them. She immediately threw herself into the arms of the big guy in the corner. “You did say you wanted island detail.”

“Wrong island, but I’m not complaining.”

“Do you have guys down the stairs?” Roxie asked in a moment of seriousness that vanished as she turned to introduce them. “Thea Florin, this is Trevor… just Trevor. He’s my head of security in Chicago. And that guy…” Roxie pointed past Tripp. “Is Schmidt, he’s Tripp’s security detail.”

“My driver,” Tripp corrected to be greeted with a few snickers. “Anyone’s ass needs kicked, I kick it myself.”

His bravado was false and totally hilarious. Whether he did kick asses or not, he’d make believe, in front of an audience at least, that he got his own hands dirty.

“I don’t know Schmidt well enough to kiss him,” Roxie said and tilted her head. “I could kiss you, Schmidt, do you want me to kiss you?” She frowned at Tripp. “What are the rules on that these days? Is it an abuse of my power?”

“To go making out with limo drivers? Do whatever you want, Rox Out, my parents will settle if he makes a claim.”

Trevor laid a hand on Roxie’s shoulder to murmur above her ear. “There are probably cameras in here.”

That might’ve been meant as a warning, but a slow, sly smile piqued the corners of Roxie’s lips as she prodded Tripp’s ribs.

“Want to hit the emergency stop and have a fivesome, Priest?”

“You know I’m up for anything, but paying off your guy won’t be so easy.”

“Pfft! I’ll just tell him Roman traumatized me and let him off his leash. Z’s desperate to knock his teeth out. We’ll make it all his fault.”

“All for the drama?”

“You know it.”

“Imagine the scandal,” Tripp said. “Mom will forgive me providing one of you bring her a baby. Doesn’t even have to be mine, just a kid she can spoil.”

“Oh, well, way to ruin the party,” Roxie grumped. “My guy will never forgive you if you ruin my figure before he can.”

“Guess I can’t argue with that.” Tripp hooked his arms around each of the women when the doors opened. Their security guys stayed close and other men encircled them as they walked through the lobby. “What happens in Honolulu stays in Honolulu, ladies.”

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