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I saw Clancy standing behind her, his jaw tight and hard My pulse began to race Standing, I grabbed the sarong I’d worn down to the beach and tied it aroundup

"Stay here with Cary,"s so cool and unruffled when I knew she was anxious I was too expressive to hide my reactions, but my mom only showed e that even laughter put lines on a face Since she earing sunglasses, she was effectively caed

Mutely, I followed her and Clancy back to the hotel Once we reached the lobby, it seereet us with a smile or wave They all kneho I was After all, ere staying in one of Gideon’s resorts The name Vientos Cruzados meant Crosswinds

Gideon had married lobal chain

We stepped into an elevator and Clancy slid a key card into the necessary slot, a security measure that limited access to our floor Since there were other people in the car with us, I still had to wait for answers

I felt sick toall over the place Had so happened to Gideon? Or my dad? I realized I’d left my phone on the table by my drink and kicked myself If I could only send a quick text to Gideon, I’d feel like I was doing so myself crazy

After three stops, the elevator car was empty except for us as we continued the cli to face bothfingers "There’s a scandal brewing," she began "Mostly online"

Which meant it was out of control Or about to be "Mom Just tell me"

She took a deep breath "There are solanced at Clancy for help

"Of what?" I thought I ht vootten out somehow? Or stills from the sex tape with Brett?

"Photos of Gideon Cross in Brazil went viral this ," Clancy said He spoke neutrally, but there was so oddly stiff about his stance So much tension was unusual for hiut I didn’t say anythingto say until I saw the evidence

We exited directly into our suite, aarea Theout to the wraparound balcony, and the sheer drapes fluttered in the breeze, escaping the ties ht with the color and warhted istered any of it now

I walked on shaky legs to the couch and waited for Clancy to key in his code on a tablet and pass it over toher support

Looking down, I sucked in a quick audible breath My chest felt like it was being crushed in a vise What I saw freaked me out … it was as if soes in eous dressed entirely in black The fall of his hair partially hid his face, but it was clearlythat would betray the man in the photo as a fraud But I knew Gideon’s body as well as I knew my own Kne he moved How he relaxed How he seduced

I looked away froure in the center of the obscene tableau, unable to bear it

A U-shaped sectional sofa Black velvet curtains A half-dozen bottles of top-shelf liquor on a low table

A private VIP booth

A slender brunette reclined on a mound of throw pillows The low V of her sequined top shoved aside Gideon’s body was partly over hers His y brunette Draped over his back One thigh hooked over his Her legs spread Her mouth a wide O of pleasure Gideon’s arm reached behind him His hand beneath her short skirt

It wasn’t visible, but his fingers were inside her I knew it It was a sharp, jagged knife in e blurred as I blinked the tears away, feeling the the picture out of sight Then I saw my name and scanned the writer’s crude speculation as to what I would think about my fiancé’s sexcapades as he said farewell to bachelorhood

I set the tablet on the coffee table, breathing hard Myover ht here"

Clancy went to the handset and answered with a brusque "Yes?" Then his tone took on a chilly bite "I see you’re having a good ti off hihtened away fro off a wave of nausea, I went to hiave the cordless handset to me and stepped back

I sed a sob "Hello"

There was a pause Gideon’s breathing quickened I’d said one word, but froel--"

Abruptly sick, I ran to the bathroo to lift the toilet seat before e, violent heaves

My asped, sinking to the floor with ainst the wall

"Eva--"