Page 76 of Beyond the Hate

The seal is a bit of a celebrity on Smuggler’s Hideaway. Tourists come to the island specifically to observe him. It mayseem odd, but Sammy is a character. He enjoys lounging in the middle of the road and preens when he’s given attention. He also pushes garbage cans over and stalks the customers at the fishmonger.

“Did you—”

“Girls,” Darcy interrupts. “Go wash your hands.”

“We didn’t…”

“…touch the seal.”

“You shouldn’t…”

“…touch wildlife.”

Darcy purses her lips. She finds their antics ‘trying’. She’s disappointed her daughters don’t want to be beauty queens. I’m a scientist. I don’t believe in karma. But if I did, I’d say karma found a way to get her back for how she treated me when we were younger.

“Nonetheless.” Darcy shoos the twins toward the hallway. “Clean up.”

They hurry down the hallway, giggling the entire way.

There’s a knock on the door. It should be Eli. He’s picking me up before we attend drunk poker with my friends.

“Finally,” Emma mutters.

I narrow my eyes on her. “What are you up to?”

She bats her eyelashes. “Nothing.”

I don’t believe her but there’s another knock on the door before I can quiz her further.

“Eli,” I greet when I open the door.

He presses his lips to mine. “Are you ready?”

“I have company.” I motion him inside and lead him to the living room.

“Is this Eli?” Regan asks with a breathy voice.

Now I understand why my evil stepsisters showed up today. Regan thinks she can steal Eli away from me the same way Darcy stole Ryan from me.

My heart spasms. Will Eli fall into her trap?

Chapter 23

“I’m really hoping this is some kind of fever dream.” ~ Eli

Eli

At the predatory look in the woman’s eyes, I frown. Who are these people?

“How do you know who Eli is?” Paisley asks.

“We saw a picture of the two of you in the society column at a fundraiser,” the woman says.

“It was nice of him to allow you to accompany him,” another woman says.

“Allow her?” I ask.

The first woman rolls her eyes. “It’s not as if the two of you are a couple.”

---