Page 44 of On The Beach

I removed Poppy's hands from me and stepped away from her. "You back on the island, babe."

She licked her red lips. "You said I should look you up when I'm here. I came for a shoot."

Belle perked up. "How did you get here? Is there a boat?"

Poppy frowned. "I came by helicopter."

"Is it still here?"

"No." Poppy rolled her eyes. "I don't know who you are, but you should leave."

"I would if there was a freaking boat or even helicopter," Belle muttered and went back to her computer.

I liked that about her. Any other woman would make a scene. Hell, Poppy was making one.

Poppy had a flare for the dramatic, a taste for overstatementthat was rivaled only by her love of expensive cocktails and endless monologues about her social media following.

"Babe, as you can see, I'm busy." I tilted my head toward Belle.

"Her?" Poppy sneered. "She looks like a…stray."

Belle's gaze snapped up, mischief sparkling in her eyes. She didn't miss a beat, closing her laptop with an amused look that said this should be good.

"Poppy, meet Belle." I crossed my arms and leaned against the doorway.

Poppy turned to Belle, sizing her up with a smile that was two parts condescension, one part polite disinterest. "Belle, you should go. I'm here now. Darling, can we go to my hotel? I wish you had a phone. It would make it so much easier to get in touch with you."

Belle raised an eyebrow, unfazed. "Which is probably the reason he doesn't have one. I'm assuming you're one of his floozies."

I nearly choked. Poppy's face flickered with a frown, but she brushed it off with a little laugh, flipping her blonde hair over her shoulder.

"Watch who you call floozy, bitch. Mick and I go way back. So many memories." She looked around the hut like we'd made some right here. We had fucked on my couch, but I don't believe it was memorable.

"Babe, you should head back," I said softly.

Poppy smiled triumphantly. "See."

"He doesn't call me babe." Belle winked at her. "He calls me Babycakes," she added proudly.

"What?" Poppy was not amused.

I felt Belle's shoulders shake with laughter as she tried to cover it by clearing her throat. I rubbed the back of my neck, shooting Belle a knowing look, and she responded with a sly grin that said she was loving every second of this.

"I call him Snuggle Bug." Belle sidled up to me andsnuggledinto me. I played along, my arms wrapped around her. I liked holding her. I likedher. "We've been making memories, too." She fluttered her eyelashes. "Winning lizard races, spending a night…now thatwasmemorable, in a jail cell. It's been such an adventure. Hasn't it, Snuggle Bug?"

"Sure has been, Babycakes." Fuck, she was a good time, I thought cheerfully.

"I leave the day after," Belle continued. "Until then, he's all mine. Aren't you, Snuggle Bug?"

She was having a blast doing this.

"I am, Babycakes."

Poppy blinked, clearly not expecting Belle to behave the way she was or have me choose anyone over her.

"You can come back after I leave," Belle offered.

"Well, Mick, when you're ready to class up, you know where to find me." She shot Belle a snarky nod, then sauntered out, heels clicking all the way down the sandy path.

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