Page 62 of The Wrong Fiancée

Chapter Twenty-Two

ELIKA

Tate's definition of small and mine were different. Thesmallbeach house he had rented had six bedrooms.Six!

It had a massive kitchen with a farm-style dining table that could seat fifteen, a dining room just as large, two living rooms, a library, a study, opulent lanais, and a garden that led straight to the beach. There was an infinity pool and thepièce de résistance—a tropical conservatory right on the property. The place was straight out of a movie set, with glass walls overflowing with rare orchids, towering palms, and vibrant native flora. The air inside was thick with the scent of plumeria and hibiscus—a hidden Eden within the estate. It's where we had breakfast. Talk about the milkmaid playing princess!

While I was in the police station, Tate managed to hire an attorney for me and get Leilani to move my clothes and anything else I'd need to the beach house while my cottage wascleanedup. It was a one-bedroom teeny-tiny house, and it would take about half an hour max to fix up, but Tate refused to let me go back and insisted I sleep at the beach house.

I was grateful. There was no way I could pay him back—for anything, really, especially not the attorney. A quick Google search told me that Sara Iona, of Iona, McCluskey & Kekoa, waspart of a premier law firm in Hawaii, with offices on every island. Their hourly rates were far beyond anything I could afford.

Speaking of money, I needed to get back to work. As an hourly employee, if I didn’t work, I didn’t get paid. And with Ka Pono bills coming due soon—paid quarterly in one big lump sum—I was in trouble. My bank account barely had enough to cover rent, let alone a check big enough to keep Ka Pono off my back.

"Who cooked?" I asked as I set my knife and fork down after finishing a superb and fluffy omelet.

"The house comes with a cook," Tate explained.

Of course, it did! Who were these people? Who lived like this? No wonder Dean took one look at me and ran. No wonder Felicity took one look at him and wanted him. Uncle Sam had money, but not this kind. Not the private jet kind, which I'd found out the Archers were when Tate told me how Dean was getting back to Kauai from Rome.

"I have to get back to work."

Tate nodded. "Yeah, about that. I spoke with Dante, and considering the trauma you've been through, the company is giving you a week off, obviously, with pay."

I sighed. "Mr. Archer, I?—"

"Tate."

I took a deep breath. "Tate, I need to?—"

"Rest," he finished for me. "Darling, I know you want to go back to your cottage and set yourself up, and then work and work and work. It's noble. But when someone is giving you a hand, take the win, yeah?"

"The win?"

He nodded. "A week off with pay is a fucking win in my book."

"You people have too much money," I sighed.

"That is a fact." Tate picked up his coffee cup. "We try to make sure we use the money wisely. We have a strong charity portfolio, which my wife does not run because Marcella can be mercenary—it's run by someone hired to do exactly that."

"Marcella is your wife?" I asked tentatively.

He smiled. It was a full, genuine grin. "Yeah, she's special." He pulled out his phone and held it up, showing me her photo.

She looked like Salma Hayek, freaking gorgeous. Between her and Tate, it was no surprise that their sons were so beautiful.

"Isn't she something?" he showed off.

I was touched by how thebig, strong manpersona slid away as soon as his wife was mentioned. He obviously adored her. "Yes, she is."

"Don't get me wrong, she's a tough cookie. And no one, including me, fucks with her because I like my teeth exactly the way they are."

I hadn't been around families like this one—at least, I hadn't grown up in one where people cared about one another. Tate had told me he'd come to Kauai to meet me because Dean had talked about me, and he wanted a chance to get to know me when his son was off the islands. It was opportune that he spoke to Leilani right after I was arrested, and helped me get released.

"I have a question."

"Okay."

"Why didn't you think I stole the jewelry?"

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