Page 11 of Fake Coral and Keys

“It’s literally her job,” Erin chimes in.

“Wouldn’t being more inclusive with sizing draw in many clients?” Blake asks, turning his attention to Justine. “Because last I checked, younger, influential women come in all sizes.”

Justine waves his words away. “It’s a complicated process, Blake. One I’m sure you wouldn’t understand.”

Before he can open his mouth, I turn to him. “Too bad the plane’s facilities are so small that we can’t join the mile-high club.”

“Daisy!” my mother shouts, then brings her glass to her lips, covering up her laughter. My father groans and shakes his head, looking out the window to avoid looking directly at me, his suddenly crude daughter.

“I can’t believe you just said that.” Lily laughs. “I’m impressed.”

“Little Daisy has become quite outspoken,” Erin says.

“Too outspoken,” Forest calls. “She needs to stop saying vulgar things in my proximity.”

“Is she too vulgar for your fragile sensibilities?” Amber asks, laughing.

“I’m traumatized enough,” Forest says. “My weak constitution can’t handle anymore.”

Everyone around us jokes for a bit about Forest’s weak constitution before settling into a comfortable silence. I turn to find Blake’s eyes boring into me. He keeps brushing my fingers to his warm lips, each touch sending shivers of delight through me, distracting me from the conversation.

He leans in so his mouth brushes my ear. “I’m going to fuck you the second we get into the hotel room.”

***

“It’s so hot,” Lily complains, fanning herself with the resort brochure. “How is it so much hotter here?”

Erin looks skyward with a roll of her eyes. “Because it’s like thousands of miles away from home?”

“We’re closer to the equator,” I offer, pulling Blake close. He glances around at the resort lobby, a strange look on his face. I squeeze his arm. “It’s nice, isn’t it?”

His head snaps my way, like I had caught him doing something he shouldn’t. “It’s beautiful.”

Blake was quiet for the rest of the flight and the short drive here. I wish I knew what he was thinking. He had kept glancing at Justine, whose eyes constantly seem to find their wayto him. The constant looking at one another has left me a little uneasy, but I brush it off. He’s my fake boyfriend, and so far, he’s doing a good job convincing my family he’s madly in love with me. Justine has a history of flirting with anything with a penis, and I’m sure her watchful eyes have him feeling weird. Maybe he’s worried she’s watching him a little too closely. As beautiful as Justine is, he couldn’t possibly be attracted to her. Blake is nothing like Jim. Jim never stood up for me or held my hand in public.

Blake brushes the back of his hand across my cheek, bringing my thoughts back to the present. “You okay?”

I nod. “Just excited to see our room.”

A slow smile spreads out over his full mouth.That mouth. My core throbs. He leans in so only I can hear him, his lips brushing against my ear, sending a shiver through me. “The second we are in the room, I’m going to lift that pretty little dress, bend you over the bed, and fuck you until you scream my name.”

My breath rushes out of me. Blake hooks a finger under my jaw, tilting my head up so I’m forced to look in his eyes.

“Is that a promise?” I ask.

A loud screech makes me jump. Everyone turns toward Justine.

“Will you be careful?” she snaps. Justine adjusts her straw beach hat, then points to her bag. A young man, still holding the handle of the bag, freezes, his eyes locked on hers. “Be. Careful. Your entire paycheck wouldn’t cover the cost of a pair of my shoes.”

The young man glances at my father, then back at our bags in the cart. “Sorry, ma’am.”

Justine spins back to him, holding her hat to her head. She steps forward and taps his name tag with a long, lacquered nail. “Do I look old enough to be your mother, Timothy?”

He opens his mouth, then closes it.

“It’s okay, sweety,” my mother says, placing herself between Justine and the bellboy. “Please, just leave the bags in our rooms.”

Timothy nods to my mother and scurries away.

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