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maggie

“ L iv, this place is gorgeous! God, I love being on vacation.” I twirl around, my arms spread wide as I soak up every drop of sun I can get.

“I’m so excited to be here for your big day!

Well, your second big day.” I laugh, my toes sinking into the warmth of the sand while my wedges dangle from my fingers.

A breeze coming off the water prickles my skin, cooling the day just enough to still enjoy the heat.

“Seriously, though, this place is amazing.”

“It really is. I told Hayes I didn’t really need all this, but he insisted. He said I deserved an extravagant beach wedding. Some days, I still don’t know how this is my life.” The glimmer in her eyes, mirroring the blue water crashing on the beach, shows her unwavering happiness.

A small smile softens my face as the two of us stand side-by-side at the water’s edge.

“He’s right, you know. After all the shit you went through with he-whose-name-we-shall-never-repeat , you absolutely deserve everything Hayes has done for you.

” I laugh again. “I can only imagine what he’ll do for you in the future, just make sure that man is setting some money aside to pay for your future kids’ education.

He can’t spoil you with everything under the sun. ”

She scoffs. “Hayes is not me. You know I was never great with money. I mean, I paid my bills and set some aside, but I always seemed to have a ‘purse emergency’ or found something ridiculous to spend my money on. Not Hayes. Even though he spoils me, as he will our future family someday, he’s Mister Responsible.

When we go out to eat, he’ll order the most expensive thing on the menu, but at home?

The man buys generic everything, the only exception being top-shelf ice cream.

But like, could we get name-brand potato chips one time?

He swears the generic tastes better and that the name isn’t worth the extra two dollars. ”

“Okay, that’s flat-out blasphemy, and I will fight him to the death over that.”

“That’s what I said! But he’s all about balance.

Save money on things that don’t matter, which apparently includes Doritos, and spend it on things that do.

Like…well, like this.” She smiles, gesturing to the luxury resort we’re all staying at for the wedding—one with the most picturesque view.

“Making sure all the important people are here to celebrate. Flying everyone in. Paying for their rooms. Making memories with our family, including our found family,” she says, leaning her head on my shoulder as we walk arm in arm on the beach.

“God, could this man get any more perfect? What’s wrong with him? Liv, please tell me he doesn’t have eleven toes or a third nipple.”

Olivia roars with laughter, the ocean quickly swallowing up her cackle. “Only ten toes. But he has flaws…I think? I’m sure he’ll do something to irritate me at some point, but we are still basking in the honeymoon phase. Literally…at our wedding-honeymoon celebration extravaganza!”

I can’t help but roll my eyes. “Okay, did he come up with that? Because calling this week an ‘extravaganza’ is for sure a flaw.” I snort, both of us bursting into a fit of laughter.

“So,” she nudges me with her elbow. “You’ve had an interesting day. Don’t think I’m not aware you’re peppering me with questions to keep me from bringing it up. Tell me about the flight.”

“He was a total pain in the ass every minute,” I grumble through gritted teeth, trying to force down the actual feelings he brought back today.

Especially the feelings of wanting him in my bed again.

The rush of heat that hit me with the unexpected offer to let me stay in his room is still lingering like the sun beating down on my skin.

“Maggie Elizabeth James, you are such a freaking liar. Tell me the truth. No more months long secret emotions.”

A pit forms in my stomach as I shrug, letting out a huge sigh.

“Okay, okay . You know what a scaredy-cat I am when I fly. And, of course, there was horrible turbulence. When I went to grab the armrest to steady myself, his damn hand was there. And…and he told me to hold his hand if I needed to because he could tell I was scared. I believe his exact words were ‘use me.’ So I did. I held his hand.”

Liv’s eyes nearly pop out of her head. “Shut up! Did you just hold his hand? Or did you hold his hand ?”

“We didn’t hand fuck on the flight, Liv. Wait…is that a thing?” I ask as we both giggle at whatever the hell that might entail. “But…he did rub his thumb on mine in a…soothing manner.”

“A soothing manner? Maggie! That is a big deal!”

“That’s what I thought! But he is Mister ‘I don’t want a relationship’ and that is something you only do in a relationship.

Right?” I pause, fidgeting with the straps of my sandals, thinking back to what my hand felt like in his as my body heats.

Digging my nails into him made me want to dig my nails into his back while he’s deep inside me calling me whatever Russian nickname he has for me.

Goddammit! You are Maggie fucking James.

You cannot let this man do these things to you. Focus, girl!

“Liv…” I cringe. “It gets worse.”

She bends down to pick up a seashell. “Worse?”

“I was sound asleep after takeoff, but when the turbulence woke me up, I saw he got me a snack box and a drink.”

She stands blinking and she purses her lips. “Wait…how is that worse?”

“Because it was nice! Thoughtful. Generous. I’m trying to move on and get over his ass, but he is being fucking nice!”

Liv chuckles. “Mags…Vladi really is a nice guy. He just…” she pauses, and I can tell she’s holding something back, “he just has some issues.”

My heart drops. “Could you please enlighten your best friend on these issues ?”

The expression on her face is painful, sad almost. “I honestly don’t know much other than his mom died tragically back in Russia.

But, even if I did, it’s not my story to tell.

He’s not your typical moody, quirky goalie.

He’s been through some painful things. All I can tell you is there is nothing he wouldn’t do for the people he cares about.

He’s got a heart in there. It’s just…blocked.

It’s like that giant wall of ice in Game of Thrones.

Something like that doesn’t melt overnight, no matter how good the sex was. ”

I bite the inside of my cheek. How can someone so caring just… leave ? My shoulders slump. I felt something between us that night, and I know that lying bastard did too.

“I appreciate the insight, but it doesn’t give me much more to work with here, Liv.”

“Listen. Do I think it would be the most amazing thing in the world to have my best friend and Hayes’ best friend be together? Hell to the yes! But I don’t want to push either of you.”

Lifting an accusing brow, I pretend to study my nails. “Like pushing us together on a flight? Or on a ride to the resort? Or by sharing the same room for the week?!”

“The flight and car, yes, you know Hayes likes to get a rise out of Vladi, but Mags, I swear I have no idea what happened with the rooms.”

“Yeah, yeah.”

“I’m serious! Cross my heart, it was not us. But…” she pauses, seemingly choosing her words carefully, “…maybe take advantage of this situation. Get to know him a little better—cut him the tiniest bit of slack.”

I groan, wondering if I really should take her advice. “I’ll consider it.”

He already shattered my heart and self-esteem the last time I opened it to him.

Melissa is still covered in bruises, why should I give him another chance?

I pull Olivia back up the beach, my thoughts too chaotic to do anyone any good right now.

“Now that we’ve gotten all that out of the way, where do I find the all-inclusive rum? ”

After a couple of drinks at the bar while checking emails on my phone, I take the little paper envelope out of my pocket and check the room number.

637. I’m ready to get settled in the room and take a shower to rinse off the airport nastiness on my skin and hair from the planes recycled air.

Not to mention the sand from the walk on the beach.

God…what am I doing? My heart pounds harder with every step I take. How am I going to stay in a room with him for a week? You are strong, Magdalina. I steady my hand as I hold the key card on the scanner and enter the room. You can do this.

“You in here, Vladi?” I call as I’m jolted by a draft of freezing cold air.

“Geezus; it’s so goddamn cold in here!” I say to myself, closing the door behind me.

“Does he have the air-conditioning set to Arctic Circle?” I quickly scan the room, looking for the thermostat.

There! Stomping over to it, I see it’s set at sixty-five.

“What the actual fuck? Hell no,” I grumble, quickly turning it up to seventy to stop my teeth from chattering practically miles from the equator.

Taking another look around, I immediately check the cheese factor of the artwork.

Usually, hotels and resorts have the worst art prints covering the walls.

Not here. My eyes widen as I walk toward a framed print on the wall, brushing my fingers along the edge, its familiarity drawing me in.

It’s a painting of a beach, but the water is not the Caribbean.

I gasp. This is Lake Michigan. My mind whirls.

Why does a resort here have paintings, and beautiful ones at that, of the beach from my hometown?

“Hello Magdalina,” a deep, gravel-like voice calls from across the room, breaking me out of my trance. I quickly turn, seeing Vladi walking across the room. Powerful. Confident. And fucking naked as the day he was born.

“Wh…wh…what are you doing?” I scream, trying to look away, but my eyes are frozen on his goddamn chiseled-ass body.

“Walking to get my clothes.”

“Why are you—wait, is your nipple pierced?”