Page 90 of The Wrong Fiancée

"Yeah, it would," I agreed as I watched Elika wiping her legs with a towel, and move over to the shaded seating area. She caught my eye, smiled, and I felt that familiar tug deep in my chest.

Dad strolled over, cigar in hand. "I made an offer on the house. Do you think Elika will move in here with you? Or will she make you stay in her cottage?"

Damian sighed. "Emilia made me move into her fucking small studio apartment. My advice is, Dean, don't do it. It took me forever to get us out of there when she was pregnant with Leo."

"I'm working on it."

Dad grinned. "I love how these women have you by the short and curlies."

"Please," I mocked, “you're married to Marcella Archer."

"Yes, I am."

Dad left us to go to Mom.

"I always wanted to be a couple like them until I realized I am not Dad," I told Damian.

"Me too," Damian admitted. "Working around the clock together is right for them. I need time away from work. I didn't even know that until Emilia."

We watched for a moment as Elika leaned over to help Solène with something, her easy smile pulling a laugh out of my niece.

Fuck, but I was gone for this woman!

Mom and Dad joined Elika. There was no awkwardness, no distance between them. They all got along like a house on fire.

Damian smirked. "Looks like you're not the only one she's charmed."

"Yeah," I murmured, taking a sip of my cocktail.

"Maybe she's the one who's gonna keep you grounded," Damian said with a half-smile, and then swore, "Leo, fucking hell, kid."

"Stop with the foul language in front of my son," Emilia cried out.

They both converged on Leo, who was attempting to jump into the deep end of the pool without an ounce of fear.

I was about to join Leo in the pool when the housekeeper Dad had hired rushed to me.

"There's someone here to see Elika," Momi told me. "That someone," her voice dropped, "is Sam Thatcher."

Since the island was a fucking village, Momi knew Elika and her history. Momi used to work at Hale Moana before she started to freelance and stayed as a housekeeper in holiday houses such as the one we were in.

"I put him in the lounge. I think you should deal with him," she suggested.

I ran a hand over the back of my neck. "Yeah."

"He tried to put her in jail. That was not okay."

Everyone knew what Felicity had done, and since Elika was considered a local, unlike the Thatchers, everyone on the island was Team Elika.

A part of me wanted to protect Elika, but I knew that wasn't the way. I went to her and slid an arm around her waist. She was in her one-piece swimsuit and looked fantastic.

"Sam is here. He wants to talk to you," I kept my voice low. "I can handle him."

She seemed calm when she said, "No. I got this."

"You sure?"

She smiled and patted my cheek. "I'm one toughtitah; no one messes with me."

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