Page 91 of Get Lost

“Stop it!” Kelsey charged forward, grabbing Alexander by the arm and hauling him backward. Jean-Luc’s comment was rude as hell, but she didn’t need Alexander jumping to her rescue—especially not if it meant punching the French chef that Drew Harrington flew in to create his fiancée’s dream wedding cake. Kelsey looked up into Alexander’s eyes. They were bright with rage. “That’s enough. What would Drew say?”

Alexander scoffed. “Drew would understand.” His jaw was tight as he bit out the words.

Kelsey shook her head and looked at Jean-Luc.

The French chef rubbed his jaw, smirking. “You two deserve one another.PoubelleAméricaine,” he spat.

“You watch your fucking mouth,” Alexander growled.

Jean-Luc tipped his head back and laughed.

Alexander’s arm tensed reflexively.

Kelsey tightened her hand on his forearm. “Alexander, come on. Let’s go.”

The door open and closed behind them. It was probably just Nessa and Lucky coming in from a late-night swim—

“Allie? What’s going on here?”

Allie?Kelsey turned slowly toward the woman’s voice.

Renee Darcy stood in the foyer, her eyes flicking back and forth between Alexander and Jean-Luc. She still wore the lace-trimmed, white gauze dress she’d worn to the rehearsal dinner hours ago. Which meant Drew wouldn’t likely be too far behind her.

Kelsey swallowed hard. It wouldn’t be too difficult to figure out that something had transpired here. Something between Kelsey and these two men.

Something that could—and should—get her fired.

She gulped and dropped her hand from Alexander’s arm.

Renee followed the movement and her face tightened angrily. She gave Kelsey one long, disdainful look, then focused her attention on Alexander. “Is this what you wanted? To come to my wedding and screw my wedding planner?”

Alexander sighed. “No, Renee—”

“You wanted to get back at me, is that it? Is this how you punish me?”

Alexander chuckled bitterly. “I’d have to care about you to want to punish you.”

Renee stepped back as though his words were a physical blow. “I don’t understand.”

“Jesus, Renee.” Alexander’s hands rose and then fell to his sides. “You’re marrying my best friend tomorrow; why are you in my villa?”

She looked around at the others, then back at Alexander. “I didn’t want to leave things how we left them earlier.” Her gaze flicked pointedly to Kelsey. “But I can see you’re not too upset about it.”

Kelsey stood quietly, her heart racing. Renee’s implication was obvious, but what could Kelsey do? Lie? What could she say?Yeah, Renee, I’m fucking your ex-boyfriend, and oh, yeah, I also hooked up with that guy two weeks ago, but it turns out he’s a royal asshole. Have a nice night!Honesty seemed impossible in this moment, but dishonesty was never the right move. With her heart in her throat, and her mind racing maniacally, neither honesty nor dishonesty were coming out of her mouth with any acceptable swiftness. She just stood there, silent and sweating. Her words were stuck in her mind and her feet were stuck to the floor.

“Let’s go.” Alexander reached for Kelsey and wrapped his arm around her back, then ushered her forward. As they passed Renee, he paused, leaned down to level his gaze on her and said, “Go back toAndrew, Renee. You’re gettingmarriedtomorrow.”

They slipped out the door and into the night, but instead of heading straight to the moonlit beach, Alexander took a hard right, breaking away from Kelsey as he did so. He strode quickly down a path that Kelsey hadn’t yet followed, and Kelsey tried to keep up with him. His body was still tense with adrenaline, but as she caught up to him, she slid her hand into his to try to calm him down.

Alexander’s hand flexed on hers, then he stopped and turned toward her. His chest rose and fell on heavy breaths. “I’m sorry,” he finally said.

“What?”

“I’m sorry.”

“I know what you said.” She searched his gaze. “But why?”

Alexander’s shoulders rose and fell on a deep breath, then he released her hand and placed both hands on the back of his neck and stretched taller. “You aren’t the kind of girl who needs saving.”

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