Page 115 of Arranged Addiction

“Here’s to the Whelans.” She leans back, gyrating her hips and grinding into me.

“Ms. Brennan, is teasing about to turn into something more?”

“We have twenty minutes before the next meeting.”

“I’ll cancel it.”

“Good idea.”

Epilogue: Casey

Istretch my legs with a satisfied groan. My feet ache from wearing heels all day. “Did that narco asshole seriously have to walk us all the way around his compound?”

Declan raises his eyebrows. “You didn’t like the exotic animals?”

“Honestly, not really. It’s kind of creepy and sad.”

“Diego was just trying to impress us.” Declan pats my leg lightly. In front of us, the sun’s setting behind a stand of palm trees. The pool is quiet and empty. Most of the families are staying in the lower-end resort. Other adults lounge around the pool as a waitress walks around taking drink orders and delivering food.

“At least he didn’t insist we stay in the guest house.”

“He tried that, but I made it clear we prefer our own accommodations.”

“Like a five-star hotel.” I roll toward him and smile to myself. “Where I get to see my stuffy husband in a bathing suit.”

“I’m not stuffy.”

“You are, but it’s okay. I love you anyway.”

He scowls and looks like he wants to say something when the waitress appears with a tray. She puts a glass of whiskey down for him and what looks like a mojito for me. “Will there be anything else, Mr. Whelan?”

“That’s everything, thank you.” He tips her, and she hurries off. He raises his glass to his lips and takes a long drink. “Much better. This is the only way I can wash away the taste of Diego’s menagerie.”

I don’t touch my drink. Instead, I watch the pool, feeling lazy and content. “Do you think he’s going to accept the terms?”

“We discussed them long enough. I doubt he called us down here just to back out at the last second.”

“Still, you never know.”

“He’ll do it.” He glances at me, frowning slightly. “Do you want something else? Wine or maybe a margarita? I hear they’ve got a good spicy version.”

“No, this is great, thanks. I’m just not in the drinking mood.”

He looks thoughtful but changes the subject. There’s a lot to talk about. This is our first business trip abroad together, and so far, it’s going well. When I first became his assistant, I never imagined I’d end up visiting Mexico to seal a drug-smuggling deal with a powerful narco kingpin, but here we are.

It’s actually kind of fun.

Dangerous though. Seamus brought about half the Whelan family strength with him just to make sure we’re fully protected.The resort is practically housing an army of soldiers right now. I wonder if they know or even care.

The evening wears on. Declan drags me into the water for a short swim. I mostly float around in his arms and let him kiss me. I love the way he looks at me in my bikini. It’s flattering and intoxicating, and I can’t wait to go back to the room with him. But instead, he sits back in the chair and glances at me.

“Still not drinking?” he asks casually.

“Just not in the mood.”

“Interesting. I noticed you haven’t been in the mood at all the past couple of days.”

I shrug it off like it’s no big deal. “You know me. I’m just?—”