Page 27 of Nothing Breaks Like A Heart

"What about Harper or Jamie? They seem like they've been needling you the last two days. I get that Harper is naturally sarcastic, but she's been even sharper than usual."

"They wouldn't have trashed my bridal suite. They're my friends. They might be a little jealous of all the attention I've been getting, but they've been supporting me the past two days." I paused. "However, there is someone who doesn't seem happy about our marriage, and that's your friend, Allison." I hadn't wanted to talk about her tonight. I'd wanted us to have the perfect intimate wedding night, but that dream was dead now.

"That's ridiculous." He sent me an irritated look. "I told you. Allison and I are friends. We work together."

"But you dated her, didn't you? You weren't always just friends."

"We didn't date," he said, running an angry hand through his golden-blond hair. "We hooked up twice. It was over a year ago, and it didn't mean anything."

My heart sank as he finally told me the truth. "Maybe Allison thought it meant something. Why did you invite her to our wedding if the two of you have a past? It's inappropriate."

"It was a long time ago, and she's a valuable work associate. I didn't feel it was right to leave her out."

"You were with her earlier today at Victor's villa. What were you doing there together?"

"Were you spying on me?" he asked in surprise.

"No. I was coming back from my run. I saw you walk out of the villa with Allison, Victor, and Paula. It seemed very odd that the two of you would have been with the Carringtons and that you never mentioned it to me."

"I haven't had two minutes alone with you all day to talk about anything. Allison wanted to pitch her design services for the villas that are still being constructed on the hillside. She asked me to introduce her to Victor, and that's what I did. It wasn't a big deal."

"Is she going to get the job?"

"Victor is interested in her work. She's going to stay a few days and work up some sketches for him. He said he'd take a look."

I frowned at the thought of Allison staying longer on the island. "I don't get it. Carrington Resorts works with established designers, and the company that has been decorating this resort has done excellent work. Why would Victor want to bring in someone new for the last few villas?"

"He wants each villa to be unique, and having a different designer might accomplish that. Look, I don't know why this bothers you, Lauren, but we have more pressing things to worry about. I'm going to call the front desk and get security up here."

"Andrew, wait."

"What?"

At his demanding look, I found myself not sure what I wanted to say. I felt confused by everything that was happening, including our conversation about Allison, which didn't feel at all resolved. But he was right. We did have bigger problems to worry about. "Nothing. Just call security."

He moved to the phone by the bed and picked it up. I walked toward the dresser and felt my heart sink as I saw the lid on the small jewelry box my mother had given me had been ripped off.

"I can't believe they broke this," I muttered, picking up the lid and remembering my twenty-first birthday when my mother had given me the small opal ring I wore on my right-hand ring finger. It had come in this small jewelry box, and it had been the most expensive present she'd ever given me.

Tears filled my eyes, and I tried to blink them away. I hadn't cried in a long time, and I didn't want to start now. This was my wedding night, and I couldn't let someone's destructive anger ruin it. But I felt very alone, and that was the scariest feeling, because I hadn't felt this alone since I'd met Andrew. He had driven all that hollow emptiness away. Now it was back.

That made me angry. It shouldn't be back. I was married. This was supposed to be the best day of my life.

Andrew came up behind me and put his hands on my shoulders. "Is that your jewelry box?"

I nodded, still too choked up to speak.

"I'm sorry, Lauren. I know how much that means to you. We'll get it repaired. And they didn't get the ring, so that’s good."

"I guess." I set the broken box down on the dresser as he turned me around to face him.

"We'll figure out who did this," he assured me.

"Does it even matter?" I asked wearily.

"Of course it matters."

"I doubt they stole anything. This was about ruining our wedding night."

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