“Must be nice.”

“I’ve seen your car, Cam. You’re living it too.” Jimmy seemed so much younger than I had at his age. I was already dealing with abuse and neglect and struggling to protect the girl I loved at sixteen. That gave me hope. The world wasn’t such a bad place. It wasn’t great for everyone but a lucky few get to grow up as children and not have the burden of the world on their shoulders.

“You bring a chick?” Jimmy asked as he looked around me.

“Just me, Jimmy. You know I can’t be tied down.” I smiled, but my chest tightened. It was easy to become a new person. To fake a past and create false memories, but denying that I had ever loved felt like the ultimate act of betrayal.

“I hear that.” He sat up and slapped my hand in some weird handshake that I never did understand. I bumped my fist against his and walked around his chair to stare off at the ocean. Mindy slid beside me, her arm against mine as she leaned over the railing with a mischievous smile on her face.

“Not much of a sailor?” She nudged me playfully.

“I prefer my feet on solid ground. You keep your head in the clouds.”

She feigned being offended as she bumped into me again. I was bored with her flirting and while it was nice to have friends, I trusted and became close to no one. It hurt too much to have them ripped away.

“You flirtin’ with my girl?” Drake came up behind us and flung his arm over Mindy’s shoulders. I gave my biggest smile even though I knew this ass**le took every opportunity he could to cheat on Mindy.

“How could I not?”

“I’ll let you have seconds!” He laughed and Mindy jammed her elbow in his ribs, not having to fake her anger.

“You ass**le!” she yelled and stalked off to the back of the boat to mingle with others.

“You have a way with woman.” I looked back out over the water.

“It’s a gift.” He shrugged as he tapped his fingers absentmindedly against the boat.

“Speaking of which, I invited a few hotties along for you.”

I rolled my eyes as I cracked my neck.

“I know. I know. You are picky as shit, but these chicks are prime, man. One of them is the heir to diet-pill fortune and the other is the daughter of an actor. You can’t go wrong.”

“Have you slept with either of them?”

“I had to check out the merchandise.” He smirked and I had to restrain myself from knocking him over the railing. “Let’s grab a drink and I’ll introduce you.”

The party was in full swing and by that I mean all of the guys were wasted on wine coolers and the women looked bored but hopeful they would get their claws into a man with money. Tiffany, the daughter of the prominent actor, had been talking my ear off for an hour about the plight of being the child of a famous actor. Her bottled blonde hair hung dead straight down her back, her eyes, green and virtually lifeless.

I filled her in on what it is like to be an agent who jet sets around the world discovering promising young talent, such as herself. It was the perfect cover to explain away my constant travel. It also made me a magnet for young women with severe self-esteem issues, which I could have lived without. I was only in California for one reason.

When the boat finally docked, I stumbled. I had only nursed one glass all night but had left everyone under the impression I was wasted. I couldn’t take another minute of this fake existence. Tiffany grabbed my wrist and pulled my arm over her shoulders.

“I have to go change for the party. You wanna come help me pick out something to wear?” She pushed out her lower lip in a fake pout.

“I’d love to but I think I’ve had a little too much to drink. I think I should lie down.”

“We could do that too.” She giggled and I rolled my eyes, pulling my arm off her so I could retrieve my hotel key card.

“Bonfire in twenty.” Drake swiped his card before I could and pulled open the private entrance to the Hotel Loriette.

“I may be a little late. I think I’m a little seasick.”

“Don’t worry. I’ll take care of him.” Tiffany snuggled into my side. I carefully pried her off my body.

“No. You should go to the spa with the girls. I’ll be out later. I promise.” I winked at her and she smiled brightly as she wrapped her arm in Mindy’s and they took off ahead of us to discuss their pampering.

“You sure you’re all right?” Drake asked, and I nodded as we entered the elevator. He swiped his card again and hit the button for the sixth floor. I pressed five and tried not to smile. I would finally have a moment’s peace.

I stepped off on my floor after assuring everyone I would make an appearance later on. After I safely navigated the halls to my room and stepped inside, I found my luggage, which I’d had delivered before the trip, tucked away in the closet. I pulled it out and tossed it onto the bed. I grabbed an old pair of jeans and a navy-blue T-shirt.

I watched the clock on the wall and waited until I knew all of the guests from our group would be enjoying their bonfire on the beach and the women would be off doing their own thing.

I grabbed my cell phone and dialed the hotel.

“Hotel Loriette, how may I assist you?”

“My name is Roland Pittman, head of security for Mr. Loriette.”

There was a brief pause as the young woman tried to process what I was saying.

“Yes of course. How may I help you, sir?”

“Mr. Loriette would like to make an appearance at the hotel this the evening. I’ll need to make sure the security is up to par.”

“Well, of course. We are fully staffed for the weekend.”

“Great. That’s good to hear. I’ll also be needing a list of the guests staying for the next two days.”

“I’m not sure I can do that, sir.”

“Look, I’m not supposed to tell you this, but you’re putting me in a tight position. A former friend of Mr. Loriette’s may be here this weekend, and since his plans have changed and his wife has decided to join him, things could get a little messy. We wouldn’t want that for him.”

“Of course not, sir.”

“I just need to know if a woman by the name of Ruby Hayes has checked in within the last forty-eight hours. Can you do that for me, sweetheart? It would make Mr. Loriette very happy.”

I listened to her type away on her computer as she searched for the guest in her system.

“Oh, my. She checked in a few hours ago into room 512. Her room was paid for by a Mr. Drake Morrison. I will send security up to her room now.”

“No. that won’t be necessary. Discretion is key. We wouldn’t want any compromising photographs being leaked, if you know what I mean. I’ll make sure to handle this personally.” I hung up and slipped out of my room. My heart was thudding in my chest as I counted down the rooms.

This was my last lead, my last hope before I was off to Vegas on another job. I stopped in front of room 512, closed my eyes, and knocked.

“Who is it?” a woman called out from the other side of the door.

“I’m looking for Ruby Hayes.”

The door pulled open an inch and I stuck my foot inside of it and pushed it open so I could enter. I slammed it behind me as her eyes went wide and her lips parted slightly like she was in shock. I slid my hand over her mouth and pushed her against the wall, pinning her body there with mine.

“Rose…” I whispered as my eyes danced over her. Her hair was now a natural shade of auburn and cut to her shoulders, with long bangs that hung to the side of her sun-kissed skin. “I’ll move my hand, but you have to promise me you won’t scream. Okay?”

After a few seconds she nodded her head and I let my fingers slide off her lips. She stared at me in shock as if she were looking at a ghost.

“How?” Was the only word she spoke.

“I wouldn’t kill myself, Rose. I would never leave you like that.” Her hands were pressed against my chest and electricity shot from every point of contact between us. “I know so many things were left unanswered and I want to explain them all to you. I know I don’t deserve it.”

“I don’t know where to begin.”

“Ask me anything. I promise you I will answer you truthfully.” I pushed my forehead against hers as my hands slid down her sides, resting on her hips.

“Do you love me?”

I pushed my lips hard against hers. Her hand slid up my neck and into my hair. I pulled back, panting.

“My love for you is the only thing I’ve ever been sure of.”

She smiled and pulled my lips back to her, kissing me softly. I groaned and lifted her against me as her legs wrapped around my waist.

“I thought I lost you.” She squeezed her eyes shut as she slowly shook her head in disbelief.

I pushed her hair back from her face, stroking it softly.

“Please trust me. Everything I did was for a good reason. I didn’t have a choice.”

“I believe you,” she said quietly as her eyes met mine. “This can’t be real.” She reached up and ran her fingers down my cheek. I laughed as I walked us to her bed.

“Now you know how I felt.” I cocked my eyebrow and a small smile spread across her face. I lowered her slowly onto the mattress, her short white summer dress riding up her thighs. I gripped the bottom of my T-shirt and pulled it over my head, keeping my eyes fixed on her. She watched me as I slowly undid my jeans and shoved them down to the floor. My wanting for her was more than obvious. She sat up, her legs on either side of me as she gripped the base of my c**k in her hand and ran her tongue over the tip of my dick, her big brown eyes looking up at me. I tangled my fingers in her hair as her lips slid over me. She was taking control and I didn’t mind at all. “Fuck,” I groaned as she pressed her tongue to the underside of the head.

She slid the entire length of me into her mouth until I touched the back of her throat. I looped my hand under her chin and pulled her mouth free from me.

“I have missed you too much to come in that pretty little mouth of yours.” I crawled onto the bed and she slid backward until we were in the center. I pushed my dick against her lace panties, grinding my hips into her as I trailed my fingers up her thigh. I looped my finger in the delicate fabric, ripping them easily from her body. She was dripping wet.

“Have you missed me, sweetheart?” I pushed inside of her with one hard thrust. She cried out in pleasure as her fingers gripped my shoulders. I needed to claim her again, to know that every part of her was mine. I rolled my hips into hers, making love to her the only way I knew how. I wasn’t gentle but I made sure she enjoyed it as much as I did, bringing her to orgasm twice before I came hard inside of her.

I collapsed on top of her, our bodies slick with sweat as we struggled to even out our breathing. I kissed her neck as I slowly slid off her and she rolled to her side, throwing her leg and arm over me.

“Leave with me.”

She propped herself up on her elbow as she looked down at me, studying my face.

“Where?” she asked as she traced my stomach muscles with the tip of her finger.

“Vegas.” I had to leave in two days, and if Rose wasn’t with me, I wasn’t going anywhere. I couldn’t walk away from her.

“What’s in Vegas?” she asked as her hand dipped toward my cock. I grabbed her wrist, startling her as I sat up and tucked her hair behind her ear. “Marry me, Rose.”

Her eyes searched mine and she pulled back from me slightly as she thought it over.

“Do you love me?” I asked, fear building inside my chest as I waited for her answer.

“More than anything.”

“Say it. I need to hear you say it.”

Her hand slid over my cheek and I leaned into her touch. Loving how her closeness seemed to make everything better.

“I love you.” Her lips pressed lightly against mine and I slowly opened my eyes to look into hers.

“Marry me.” I could tell she was scared but there was nothing more terrifying than living without her.

“Yes,” she whispered, and I pushed my mouth back against hers, sliding my tongue over the seam of her lips. She pushed back with her own tongue and a deep moan resonated from the back of my throat.

Rose had always been mine and I hers no matter what the distance between us, but now it would be official. She would vow to spend her life with me. Nothing else mattered.

I pushed from the bed and began to pull on my clothes. She straightened her dress and laughed as she watched me.

“Where are you going?” she asked as she eyed me curiously.

“We’re going to Vegas.” I smiled and winked at her as I tossed her torn panties to her.

“Now?”

“You have plans, darlin’?”

“Well, yeah.” She pushed to her feet. I sighed as I buckled my jeans and slipped my feet back into my sneakers.

“We need to do this now, Rose. I have to go and I want you to come with me.”

She folded her arms over her chest angrily.

“This is a work thing?”

I put my hands on her arms and rubbed them slowly.

“I’ll tell you anything and everything. I promise. No more secrets.”

She looked down at the floor as she thought it over. I knew she had a good job here tutoring for a wealthy family, and I was asking her to give up the new life she had made for herself.

“Can I say goodbye to Jimmy?” A single tear rolled down her cheek and I brushed it away with the pad of my thumb. I slowly shook my head no, and my heart broke at the sadness in her eyes. I hated causing her pain. She sucked in a ragged breath and nodded once before turning away from me and beginning to gather her belongings.