Page 85 of The VIP Package

“Of course.”

He moves to the door, then stops with one hand on the knob. “You know what makes me feel better?”

Given his job, I might have a clue. “Having sex for a living?”

His belly laugh rings off the walls. “More or less. It’s reminding myself I get paid to kiss and touch and make love to women of all shapes and sizes. So many guests come here not feeling great about themselves. I get to play a small role in sending them back into the world knowing there are decent men out there. Men who care about their happiness and pleasure.”

“That’s it exactly.” The man just described the whole reason I built this resort.

He chuckles again, hand on the door. “I won’t lie—the sex stuff feels good, but makingthemfeel good?” Logan grins. “It’s the best goddamn feeling in the world.”

Before I can answer, he pivots and pushes his way out the door. I stare at the spot where he just stood, thinking of tragedies and self-destruction. About trauma and loss and all the goddamn mistakes I’ve made.

Most of all, I think of Camille.

“Sir?”

I turn to see Kora regarding me curiously. “Yes?”

“Was there something you wanted to discuss?”

Is there? I no longer recall why I came here.

Talking about it helps.

Logan’s words bounce off my eardrums. What if that’s the first step for me, too?

Closing my eyes, I clench both my hands into fists. Then I speak the words I’ve rarely ever said.

“My wife and young child died twenty years ago.” The instant I say it, Kora gasps. “I’ve been blaming myself, and it’s true that the accident might not have happened if I hadn’t been such a selfish prick.”

“Sir.” As I open my eyes, I see she’s gone pale. “I had no idea. I’m so sorry.”

“Thank you.” But earning her pity isn’t why I just shared. “I’ve been punishing myself for so fucking long that I came to believe I didn’t deserve anything good. That being with me would only cause pain for the people around me.”

Her eyes fill with tears and she nods. “You’ve done so much good here, sir. And there’s still more to do.”

“There is.” I move to the door as an idea unfurls in my mind. A completely insane idea. “Now if you’ll excuse me, there’s one very important thing still to do.”

“May I assist in some way?”

“Yes.” I draw a deep breath. “I need help stopping a flight.”

By some stroke of luck,Camille’s plane got a later start than planned. The pilot observed a dent on one wing that concerned her. By the time she’d finished inspecting it, they had less than an hour’s lead on me.

That’s still a lot of miles to make up in the air, and while my license is current, I never fly for pleasure.Never.

That’s one way I punished myself for failing to fly my own wife where she needed to be. If I’d only stopped work and flown that damn plane, Brigitte and our son would still be alive.

But I can’t dwell on that now.

I’m in the cockpit, en route to the Grand Cayman Islands where I’m determined to chase Camille down. I ordered her pilot to land where she’s able, which turned out to be in the Caymans.

And yes, I toyed with the notion of ordering them back to Crystal Bliss. That didn’t sit right for me. Refueling concerns set aside, it seemed wrong to force Camille to come to me. It’s my turn to show up for her.

Adjusting my headset, I cue up the channel to speak to her pilot. “Were you able to secure clearance for a landing at Owen Roberts International?”

“Yes, sir.” She sounds cool and composed over the hum of the engine. “The passenger grew suspicious when she realized we were descending so soon.”

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