Page 65 of Nothing Breaks Like A Heart

"I'm sorry," I said as I dried my eyes. "I didn't expect that."

"You were due. You've been through a lot the last couple of days."

"I have been. And the worst thing is, I don't know what's coming next."

"Maybe you should get off this island, Lauren."

"I can't." I gave him a helpless look. "I'm committed to the campaign, the grand opening. I'm not just the bride; I'm also an employee. I don't want to lose my job."

"After what happened today, I don't think Victor would make you stay. And surely they have enough photos of the two of you to sell the resort."

"Probably, but Victor has done so much for me. I don't want to let him down. I have to pull myself together and get through the next few days. I can do that, right?"

His lips tightened. "I don't know. I don't like what's going on, and I don't trust your husband or his friends."

"I don't trust him, either," I admitted. "I want to, but things keep happening to me. And then there's the phone?—"

"The phone?" he interrupted.

I realized I'd never told him about that. "I found a second phone in his jacket pocket. There was a text on the screen from someone named Al. I couldn't read anything but the first several words:If you cut me out, you'll be… I couldn't get into the phone, so I couldn't read the rest of it. I think it was probably from Allison, and I'm beginning to think the first warning on the wall of the bridal suite was for him, not for me."

"Maybe so," he murmured thoughtfully. "Could be the crew isn't all on the same page." Clearing his throat, he added, "You need to get away from both of them, Lauren. Because you might be caught in the middle of their war."

"I can stay away from Allison, but not Andrew. We have dozens of photos to shoot every single day and people to meet and greet. We have to act like a happy couple. It's in my contract."

"Your life could be in danger. That's more important than a contract. But if you're determined to stay, you need to be very careful. Pay close attention to everyone around you and try not to be alone or in any other precarious type of situation."

"Trust me, I'm going to stay on solid ground and in a crowd whenever I'm not in the suite."

"But you'll be alone with Andrew then."

"I don't think he's the one who's been trying to hurt me. I think it's Allison. Maybe to get back at him, I don't know, but that's the way it looks to me."

"She does appear to be the best suspect," Ethan admitted. "I'll see what else I can find out about her."

"You should go now. Andrew will be back soon."

"Okay." He got up from the bed and gave me a long look. "Take care of yourself and call me if you feel even the least bit uncomfortable. It doesn't matter if Andrew is there or not. If you call, I'll come."

I felt immensely reassured by his words. "Thank you."

"You're more than welcome. Keep your head up, Lauren."

"I will."

By the time Andrew took me back to the suite, it was almost five o'clock. He'd brought my bag, and I'd seen a bunch of texts from Harper, Jamie, Megan, and several from other coworkers, which I would respond to later. I wanted to take a hot bath and get rid of the dried ocean salt on my skin.

Andrew ran the tub for me while I rested on the bed. He put in a generous dash of bubble bath and then he helped me get into the bath, sitting on the side of the tub as I sank into the warm and sweet-smelling soapy water. I was afraid the water might remind me of being in the ocean, that feeling of drowning, but there was such a difference between this moment and those moments that I couldn't make the comparison, and I was grateful for that.

"You don't have to watch me," I told him, feeling oddly uncomfortable with a man I'd practically lived with for the past several months.

"I don't want you to pass out in the tub, so I think I'll stay right here."

"That won't happen. My brain feels clear again."

"I'm glad to hear it, and once again, I'm sorry I pushed you to take a pill. I didn't think it was a big deal."

"I don't blame you. It was my choice."

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