Every Last Secret - A.R. Torre Page 0,48

out the cell. “Hey, love.”

“I hate that I’m not there to celebrate with you.” William sounded guilty, and I ditched any thoughts of sharing my pity party with him.

Adopting a breezy tone, I told him about my morning, playing up my lunch, telling him about the beachfront café and an intact conch shell I found half-buried in the sand.

“You sound like you’ve been drinking.”

I glanced down at the champagne bottle, almost empty in my hand. “I have been. Remember that bottle of Dom we had for tonight? And the chocolate-covered strawberries?”

“Ah.” He sighed. “That’s right. I had big plans to lick it all off your body.”

“Don’t tease me. We’ve got another two days before we see each other. I’m already planning to tackle you the minute I get home.”

He was silent for a long moment. “I’m miserable without you. I don’t want to ruin all of your fun, but . . . I need you here.”

He needed me. It was a sentiment uttered frequently between us, but my starved emotions chugged it as if hearing it for the first time. I tossed down the bottle, watching as a bit of the champagne sloshed out the top and fizzled on the sand. “Call the airport and tell them to prep the jet. I’ll go upstairs and pack. I can be on the way there in twenty minutes.” I calculated the time in my head. A five-hour flight . . . I could be there by midnight, California time.

“Thank you.” His voice was gruff, heavy with need and love. “I promise, I’ll bring you back to the island and we’ll do it right.”

“I know you will.” I made a kissing sound into the phone and stumbled up the soft sand toward the house, anxious to pack and get back to my husband. There was something I didn’t like about being apart from him. Especially with Neena right next door. Watching. Waiting. Did she already know he was home?

CHAPTER 24

NEENA

The chicken was missing its left drumstick. At the open door to the oven, I glared at the one-legged bird, then turned my head and cursed Matt’s name. He continued rummaging through the fridge, unperturbed by my yell.

“Honestly, I’m going to kill you.” I slammed the oven shut and opened the lid to the garbage, immediately spotting the evidence, half-wrapped in a dirty paper towel.

He pulled out a container of yogurt and peeled back the top, ignoring me.

“You know I like dark meat,” I complained, forcing the lid back on the trash and cursing when it didn’t fit correctly.

Of course he knew. I always claimed the drumsticks and thighs. He’d probably eaten it out of spite over my refusal to add some NFL package to our cable account.

“The chicken’s not even done yet. It still has another twenty minutes to cook.” Maybe he’d get salmonella and die. I’d have his five-million-dollar insurance policy and no more headaches. I warmed to the idea and, for not the first time in our marriage, added it to the list of potential retirement scenarios.

Moving back to my prep of the broccoli-cheese bake, I paused at the sound of my phone, buzzing by the mixer bowl. Licking a chunk of cheese off the tip of my finger, I grabbed the cell.

I had to come back early. Don’t be alarmed if you see lights on over here.

I stared at William’s text. He’d had to come back? Had he left her there? I thought of Cat’s smug announcement that they’d be in Hawaii getting some “alone time” for her birthday. Ha! She’d probably stuck birthday candles into a heap of solitude. I leaned against the counter and texted him back.

Me: When’d you get back?

William: Yesterday, but I’ve been at the office nonstop.

Me: Everything okay? Can I bring you some food?

“That’s the smile I love.” Matt rounded the corner, coming up beside me and pulling me into a hug. I held the phone out of harm’s way and gave him a quick kiss. “What, did you find the perfect recipe?”

“No, just got a text from an employee. A breakthrough with the device.” I slipped the cell phone in my back pocket and smiled at him. I could invite William to eat with us, but where would the fun be in that? His attention would be on Matt, and while I was turned on by their close union, I was starting to think that their friendship might slow my progress with William.

And I needed that progress. My focus on him had increased tenfold