Page 73 of Maneater (The Mavens #1)

After Rory stopped laughing at the sight of Rowan and me making out next to a hog-tied Randy, we got our culprit to the police, who got a formal confession out of him.

It turns out that we were dead on with our assumption: Randy found out that Tanya was cheating on him with Daniel and started taking steps to try and jeopardize Daniel’s job, thinking that if he could get him fired, Tanya would no longer be interested in him.

When his small efforts didn’t work, he upped his game with the almond oil in the mud bath and the fire.

The video we found from the shack was Tanya confronting her ex and a half-hearted attempt to stop him.

Also, as we assumed, his younger brother did what he could to cover for him while also trying to convince him to stop, hacking into the cameras to clear any footage that would show him in the act.

Unfortunately for Carter, as his brother escalated and had more and more incidents, he forgot to cover his own missteps, like any footage of him stealing the camera from the ransacked room.

We didn’t see him get on the boat because he never returned to the main island; instead, he lived in the forest for weeks while carrying out his sabotage.

Some of the missing food deliveries were actually just Randy needing to eat, it seems. When, as planned, he heard that the resort needed all hands on deck for the arrival of the Holdens, he took his opportunity, taking advantage of both employees being distracted and causing a major issue.

Rowan had two dozen handymen conduct a thorough inspection of every railing, as well as the other locations Rory had caught him tinkering with, such as wall hangings and light fixtures, and a team to come in and repair the security system.

After that was complete, guests were once more allowed to wander the hotel safely.

But once he was locked away and we could ensure that the hotel was safe again, we partied.

The hotel party that was thrown for the Holdens (and the paparazzi) was the first time I’ve seen Rowan let go in public, and it was a time .

With the pressure of the sabotage done, he was free to spend the night dancing with me, although he refrained from drinking, and after, we said goodnight to Rory and our new friends Wes and Harper before continuing a party of our own late into the night before Rowan, Rory, and I left the island in the early dawn hours.

After we got home and wrapped up a few loose ends, Rowan and I did, in fact, take a vacation: a full two weeks in a little beach house we rented in Seaside Point at the recommendation of his assistant, Sutton.

I don’t know if Annette actually followed through on her threat of removing Rowan from the server, because to my knowledge, he never checked.

Instead, we spent two weeks together, lazing on the beach, spending nights on the boardwalk, knocking off a good number of those dates he thinks he owes me, and getting to know each other without the pressure of work hovering over us. It was perfectly blissful.

Six months later, things have only gotten better.

The only real difference is that many of my most recent assignments haven’t been local since I've started a serious relationship, instead driving a bit out of the way, often to Philly or New York if need be, to ensure there won’t be too much crossover.

When I do have an assignment in Hudson City, I make sure I let my boyfriend, who, as of two weeks ago, moved me into his fancy high-rise condo, know, so he doesn’t have to break a tooth gritting his teeth while watching me flirt with some asshole he knows right in front of him.

All that to say, life is good.

Even better when Rory and I are given another mission in paradise. Aruba, this time.

“Maybe we should go on an excursion together while you’re here,” the man across from me says, watching my finger play along the rim of the wine glass in front of me. I’ve had three, though he doesn’t know that after the first one, I quietly switched to sparkling cider to keep my mind clear.

He, on the other hand, has not been served stronger and stronger drinks each time. His eyes are hazy, his smile sloppy, which is exactly how I need him.

For reference, this is not a situation where I feel bad for potentially ruining this man’s life.

“That would be so fun. You know, I’ve always wanted to swim with dolphins,” I say with a smile and flutter my lashes. Although he returns the grin, it’s barely a moment before his eyes go back to my ample cleavage on display. God, men are so easy.

“Let’s book it. Tomorrow,” he says before looking around as if the hotel restaurant will have some kind of guest services lingering around where they would help him book an excursion for tomorrow. “I’ll pay for it, of course.”

“Oh, that’s so generous,” I say, sugar in the words. Then I let my smile falter just a bit before turning into a pitying pout. “But aren’t you hurt? I doubt they’ll let you go with that.” I tip my chin toward the leg in an air cast.

“What?” he asks, confused as to my tone of questioning, just as we assumed.

He doesn’t even remember he’s wearing it. What a fucking idiot.

“Your cast,” I say. “You can’t swim with that on.” His gaze leaves my breasts for another brief moment, moving to his leg before he smiles and waves a hand at me .

“Oh, no need to worry. It’s not broken.”

My eyes widen, and my lips part, and I make sure my hand is on top of the table to ensure all three wearable devices I have on catch his words clearly.

“It isn’t?”

He shakes his head, then leans in closer.“Can you keep a secret?”

I grin, something genuine for the first time all night, the excitement of a win building in me.“I’m an amazing secret keeper.”

His eyes go back to my tits before he nods.

“I bet you are.” He motions me to lean in again before saying in a stage whisper, “It’s not broken.

” I gasp at this complex and totally new concept to me, not seeing it coming in the least. Cue eyeroll .

“I fell at work and had a doctor buddy of mine sign off on it being worse than it is so I could get workman’s comp. ”

I let out a girlish giggle and a wide smile, and he returns a gleeful smile. He thinks it’s because he’s so smart , I’m sure, but it’s really because I just won.

And in record time, nonetheless.

“Oh, that’s diabolical.”

“The best men are the ones who know how to play the system.” He lifts his glass and motions for me to copy. “To working the system.”

“To working the system,” I concur. Then my eyes drift across the room to where Rory is sitting with our newest Maven, Isla.

She gives me a thumbs-up, indicating our mission has been accomplished and in record time.

We were booked at the Daydream Resort for a week just in case, but we’re only two days in and already hit our mark.

Which means we just earned ourselves a nice little vacation.

“Mr. Martin,” an employee says, coming up to my dinner date at the perfect time.

“We have someone at the front desk who is trying to get in touch with you. They say it’s an emergency.

” I know the emergency is fabricated and that he won’t be coming back to finish this meal, but I still pout all the same as my date lets out a deep sigh.

“All right. It should only be a minute. Then we’ll find the best time for our dolphin swim.”

“Can’t wait,” I say with a smile, knowing damn well I won’t be here when he gets back, an “emergency” of my own taking me away.

As I watch him lumber off with a smile over his shoulder at me, I sit back, the pleasure of a completed job washing over me as a new, real glass of wine slides before me.

And then Rowan slides in across from me, a smile spreading over his full lips.

“Job well done?” he asks with a raised eyebrow.

I nod and grin back at him before taking a long sip of my new drink, the exact brand he knows I love.“Easier than expected.”

“What are the chances you can take off for a couple of days and spend them lazing with me? I’ve got five days here, after all, all expenses paid.”

I smile.“I don’t know, my boyfriend is pretty powerful,” I whisper, and he shakes his head, smiling. Rory comes over then, giving me a thumbs-up.

“You did good, kid,” she says, and I roll my eyes.

“I always do good.”

“Yeah, yeah,” she says.

“Do they always… just fall for it that easy?” Isla asks, clearly equal parts confused and impressed.

“Every time,” Rowan says as he sits back with a smile.

“Wow,” she whispers. I smile and shrug.

“Men are stupid and simple.”

“I’m right here,” Rowan says, and I turn to him, an eyebrow raised.

“And?”

He stares, then smiles and shakes his head.

“As much as I love to see Josie take Rowan down a notch or seven, I’m planning to give the report to Gabriel tonight so we can enjoy the rest of our trip.

” I nod, then move to stand, giving a wink to Rowan, but Rory shakes her head.

“No. You two stay. I’m going to show Isla how to process the footage and data.

You’re going to be bored and start chatting and distract me. ”

I fight a smile because she’s not wrong.

“Are you sure?” I ask, feeling bad because we are on a job.

She nods and turns to my boyfriend, pointing at him.“You owe me one,” she says with a stern face. Rowan gives her a smile, and I can’t help but think this is pre-planned.

“There’s an unlimited credit for spa services and room service attached to both of your cards,” Rowan says to Rory and Isla. “On me. Enjoy yourselves.”

“Rowan, you—” I start, but Rory cuts me off.

“Perfect. Later, Josie! Lunch tomorrow.” I try to argue, but then she’s grabbing Isla’s hand and tugging her out of the restaurant. When I turn back to Rowan, he’s grinning wide.

“Is this one of your dates?” I ask, though we’ve gone well past the twenty-one promised to me months ago at this point. He smiles wide, leaning over the table to press a kiss to my lips. He never answers, but I guess I didn’t really need him to anyway.

“I love you, you know,” Rowan says two hours later as we walk along the empty shoreline hand in hand, the soft ocean breeze wrapping around me as he says those words for the first time.

Out loud, at least. Rowan’s been showing me he’s in love with me for months now.

Years, maybe, in his own strange Rowan Fisher way.

I thought when we finally said it, my heart would pound and butterflies would fill my chest, but instead, it’s like warm, soothing water is coasting along my skin, filling my body.

It makes sense, though. I think that’s what love is, after all: comfort and desire and friendship wrapped up into something so precious, I can’t believe I once convinced myself I would never want it. Need it.

“Hmm?” I ask, though I heard him loud and clear. With my words, he stops walking, turning toward me and tugging me into him.

“Don’t play dumb,” he whispers. “It’s not cute.”

”I’m always cute,” I argue, because even now, I can’t seem to find it in me to just give in to him. It’s been six months, and I still love to get under his skin.

“Are you going to really argue with me when I’m telling you I love you for the first time?”

My heart lifts and spins just a bit at his words.“I wasn’t arguing! I was just saying I’m always cute. That’s a fact, not an argument.”

He closes his eyes with exasperation, letting out a long breath, an action I’ve seen so many times. One, I hope I’ll see a million more. For the rest of my life.

“So the answer is yes, then,” he murmurs to himself.

“You haven’t actually said the actual thing, Rowan,” I say, grinning now.

He rolls his eyes but returns that wide smile before he puts a hand under my chin, pressing his lips to mine, slow and sweet.

There’s none of the normal heat that is typically in our kisses, and it makes the moment more magical.

“I love you, Josie.” The waves crash behind us, reminding me of the Keys, where everything changed for us, our twist of fate that I’ll never stop being grateful for.

“My troublemaker.” He presses another soft kiss to my lip. “My man-eater.”

“But always yours,” I whisper.

“That’s all I’ll ever care about, Josie,” he replies, and that warmth moves through my veins.

“I love you too, Rowan.”

“I know, baby.” He kisses me again, lips moving over mine before he presses his forehead to mine.

“A while from now, we’re going back to the Keys resort, and I’m taking you to the private beach.

One last date. I’m going to tell you something else while we’re there.

” I look up at him and move a hand over his cheek, stubble already forming despite the fact that I watched him shave in the mirror of our room this morning while I stood beside him doing my hair.

“Yeah?”

“It’ll be a question,” he says so low I almost don’t hear him.

My pulse starts to pound.“ Will it come with jewelry?”

He lets out a small chuckle.“Yeah.”

I smile again, because even though we’ve talked about this, about our future and where we want this to lead, I’m filled with giddy excitement. “Any idea what you might say? So I can prepare?” I pretend to think for a moment.“You love me?” I ask.

“More than anything.”

My chest swells. “Then I think you’ll get the answer you’re hoping for,” I whisper.

His laugh fills the night air, free and happy, and even though I hear it often now, it still fills me with joy.

“I think I may have won over the man-eater,” he murmurs against my lips before kissing me, hot and deep.

And even though I’m too preoccupied to respond, I completely agree.