Total pages in book: 77
Estimated words: 75770 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 379(@200wpm)___ 303(@250wpm)___ 253(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 75770 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 379(@200wpm)___ 303(@250wpm)___ 253(@300wpm)
This time I can’t help myself. “For the love of God, Brett. We all know you could charm a wino out of his last bottle.”
Brett lets out a forced chuckle. “Thanks for the vote of confidence, Riv.” He doesn’t look at me, though. His gaze remains fixed on the horizon, his expression etched with something I can’t quite read.
And the realization hits me.
It’s up to me to get what I can out of Misty.
As much as I hate the idea of spending more time with her, I can’t depend on Brett to get the job done.
So I’ll do it. I’ll do it with stealth, and I’ll find the truth.
EPISODE 126
TEARS AND SECRETS
Emily
The fire in Misty’s blue eyes is unmistakable. She intends to have River for herself. I suppose if I wasn’t so competitive I might see her as a danger, since I’m halfway in love with that damned cowboy myself. As it stands, I’m ready to kick her blue-blooded arse into tomorrow just for mentioning his name.
Misty has calmed down a bit now, and her glare is much less lethal.
Who is this woman?
She has a way of making me feel sorry for her one minute and then want to scratch her eyes out the next.
She’s a hotel heiress, for God’s sake, so why is she really here? And why River?
“Listen,” I say to her as I hang up the towel and slide on my sundress. “Heather and June are about to start making out in the hot tub, and God only knows where Ariel is. What do you say you and I have a drink? We’ll mix up a couple of martinis and—”
“Ugh.” Misty winces. “I hate martinis.”
“Whatever, then. We can replicate that mirage thing Katie made during the cook-off today. Or hell, we can just take a bottle of wine for all I care. It’s been a day, Misty. We both need to chill a bit.”
“You really want to hang with me? You don’t know anything about me.”
“I know your favorite color is blue, same as mine.”
That actually gets a smile out of her. “Right. And you told me you wanted to design dresses for a big gala.”
“And you…” I draw in a breath. “You’re a bloody good cook when you put your mind to it.”
Misty smiles. Sort of. “It ended up being kind of fun.”
“For sure. And…” I breathe in deeply. “You told me you can’t move forward with your future until you have answers about your past.”
She freezes.
Bugger. I went too far.
“Misty?”
She lets out a long sigh. “I do need to talk to someone.”
I force a smile. “I’m a good listener.”
She tilts her head. “Why are you being so nice to me?”
I roll my eyes. “Because I’m a nice person, Misty. Why do you assume I’m looking for something other than friendship?”
“I’m not an idiot, Em. I know you have your eye on River. I’m pretty sure you’ve fucked him.”
“I told you—”
“Yeah, yeah, yeah. You said you were lying.” She looks in the mirror. “I don’t believe you. But I was serious when I said I don’t care if he fucks everyone here. I want a chance. Just a chance.”
“Uh…a moment ago you said you’d do anything—anything—to have River for your own. Which is it, Misty? Come on. It’s time to come clean.”
Then I drop my jaw.
Because Misty does something so unexpected that I’m not sure how to react.
She starts to cry.
She’s fucking crying.
“Shit, Misty…” I mutter, stepping toward her.
She only cries harder, burying her face in her hands. “Go away,” she chokes out between sobs. “Just leave me alone.”
I hover my hand above her shaking shoulder for a few seconds before I let it fall back to my side. I open and close my mouth a few times before I finally speak. “I can’t just leave you like this.”
“I mean it, Emily! Just go!” she says, not bothering to look up at me.
I stand there for a moment longer, torn between comforting her and respecting her wishes. In the end, I decide to respect them.
“All right.” I back toward the door. “I’ll go. But if you need anything, don’t hesitate to ask. Okay?”
As soon as the door shuts behind me, I let out a breath I didn’t know I was holding. “What’s going on with that woman?” I mutter.
I cast a glance toward the hot tub where Heather and June are otherwise engaged. Yeah, I’m not getting in the middle of that. I take a step forward when Misty’s voice drifts out from the changing room.
“Emily?”
I step back toward the door and open it. “I’m here. Are you okay?”
She sniffs back her tears. “I don’t know what else to do. I just… I need someone. And you’re here.”
Not exactly a shining endorsement, but I’ll take it. I swallow hard, stepping back inside the room and closing the door behind me. I slowly approach her. “Misty…”