Page 21 of Lights, Camera, Christmas

“You sure you’re up for the news?” Ari’s voice is gentle, and a hard pit lodges in my stomach. This can’t be good.

“Yes. I’d rather hear it from you than anyone else.” I gird myself for the latest, every muscle tense.

“He eloped with the director’s daughter. The one from his latest movie.”

All the air evaporates from my lungs and I can barely catch my breath.

“Ivy? You still there?”

I take a quick sip of air, force myself to speak. “Yeah. Good for him.”

“Uh-huh. It’s me you’re talking to here, hun. You don’t have to be nice.”

“Fine. Fuck.” I blow out a deep breath. “I did not see that one coming.”

“Really? He’s a social climber, Ivy. Of course he’s moving on to someone with even better connections. He’s an asshole—don’t worry about him for even one more second. Live your life and be happy. You’re free of him and all his bullshit.”

A lone tear rolls down my cheek, more from humiliation than any actual feeling of sorrow over the loss of Luca.

“You’re right. I am free of him and that’s a good thing.”

“Exactly. Go focus on that delicious boat captain of yours and enjoy your time down there in paradise.”

I swipe away the hot tear, sitting up. “I will. And Ari?”

“Yeah, hun?”

“Thanks. Oh—gotta go. Just got a text from Maddox.”

“Get it, girl.”

I giggle. “I’ll do my best,” I say, reading the text.

Maddox: Come downstairs

Standing, I peer outside and there’s Maddox, leaning on his golf cart, ankles crossed as he stares up at my window. He spots me and waves, sending my pulse into overdrive.

He’s so gorgeous, tall and lean, with that broad, easy smile.

I love that man.

Shoving this scary thought away, I slide on my sandals and run down the stairs, crashing through the door of the inn like a lovestruck teenager sneaking out to see her boyfriend.

“Hey.” Maddox stands, squaring his shoulders, and I jog down to him. He wraps his arms around my waist, pulling me into his body and pressing his lips to mine.

I kiss him, soft and slow on the lips, breathing in his scent of spicy cologne and tropical sunscreen.

Not caring about who does or doesn’t see any longer.

“Hey.”

He trails his hand over my back, sending a delicious shiver racing down my spine. Heat unfurls low in my belly. I want every inch of this spectacular man.

“Come on, I want to take you somewhere special.” He gestures at the golf cart, and I get in, butterflies zooming around in my stomach.

The golf cart putters to life and we zoom through town, the wind warm on my face. The sky’s a light gray, dusk setting in, rainclouds blocking the sinking sun. We pass through town and head out toward the beach, but make a right turn before we hit the road we usually take. Maddox slows as we bump down a windy dirt path, the water on our right.

Finally, we come to the end of the wooded trail, a barn-looking structure at the dead end, a dock and the water nearby.

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