Page 43 of The Honeymoon Hack

“Yeah,” I practically squeaked. “Manageable.”

Heat prickled across my skin as Will shifted his weight. We were suspended in this moment, his chest against mine, his hand at my waist, his breath across my lips. The conversation continued in our earpieces, but the words washed over me like distant waves. It was a hum of meaningless noise compared to the thundering of my heart.

What had just happened?

The team droned on about logistics and plans. Drew asked about security protocols. Emmett said something about timing. All I could focus on was the way Will’s eyes searched mine, and I couldn’t tell what question he was silently asking.

This was Will—my Will—and me, leaping headfirst across a boundary I’d spent years carefully maintaining.

Panic bubbled up inside me, clawing and screaming to get out.

This wasn’t supposed to happen. Not after the last time, when our friendship had crumbled into awkward encounters and stilted conversations.

I couldn’t lose him again.

“I think I’m getting a little red,” I blurted out, the excuse tumbling from my lips before I’d fully formed the thought. I wiggled out from under Will, scrambling to sit up. “Claire was right about how strong the sun is. I didn’t put on enough sunscreen.”

He returned to his lounger and picked up his phone before sitting.

My hands trembled as I reached for my cover-up, pulling the white dress over my bikini.

“Ending the call now,” Scarlett said. “Call again tomorrow morning, if you can. Drew will update us on Gideon’s response regarding the tour.”

Will disconnected the satellite link with a tap on his phone screen. “You okay?”

“Fine,” I said too quickly, a nervous snort escaping as I shook sand from my towel with excessive force.It wasn’t even on the sand, Brie.“Just don’t want to turn into a lobster on my first day. We should get ready for our shifts, anyway.”

He watched me with a look that said he knew I was hiding something. I could tell from the slight crease between his eyebrows and the careful distance he maintained as I gathered my things.

“Sure,” he finally said, slipping his shirt back on.

We walked back to the entrance to Mnemis in silence. I kept my eyes on the white sand path, my thoughts racing in dizzying circles.

It was just the mission, Brie. Just for show. Just a diversion.

But it hadn’t felt likejustanything.

We passed through the security checkpoint, then moved through The Grotto and into the Reef. I walked too fast, but Will stayed at my side, too close and yet too far away.

What did you do, Brie?

Once inside our room, I made a beeline for my laptop. “Give me your phone. I’ll install the partition and the Mnemis app now.”

Will handed it over without comment, though I could feel his gaze on me as I sat. The familiar click of keys under my fingers soothed my nerves. It was a job. We were playing house. It was all an act.

“Brie—” he started, his voice soft.

“This should only take a few minutes.” My eyes remained fixed on the screen. “The partition’s processing.”

The screen displayed a progress bar that moved far too slowly.

“About what happened on the beach—” Will tried again, taking a step closer.

“I should shower and get ready for my shift.” I stood, nearly knocking over my chair in my haste, and spoke far too quickly, “The phone will need about twenty minutes to complete the setup. I don’t need to babysit it.”

I grabbed my clothes and retreated to the bathroom, leaning against the counter as the door closed behind me.

“You’re overreacting,” I said to myself in the mirror. “It was nothing more than a kiss. Scarlett does it all the time when she’s on the job.”