LITMIR.BIZ

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had followed them and now she clapped her hands like a five-year-old who’d been promised ice cream. She nudged Charlotte with an elbow. “By the way, love your hair like this. It must be so much easier than curling it.”

      “Um, thanks.” She touched her hair. She and Allie had their dark brown hair styled in almost identical chin-length bobs when they’d met. Allie liked hers curled most of the time, but Charlotte couldn’t be bothered since she worked from home and rarely had a need to get dressed up.

      There was a lapse in the conversation. A perfect time for Charlotte to tell Jared and Veronica who she was.

      Before she could open her mouth, their attention was drawn to a man ringing a brass bell.

      * * *

      SAM STOOD NEAR the food table and rang the bell to get everyone’s attention. When they quieted and turned in his direction, he put his glass in the air and looked at the expectant faces in the crowd. “I’m the resort manager, Sam Briton, and I’d like to welcome you all to the Grand Peacock Resort on Sapodilla Cay. I hope you’re all having a good time?” The group cheered, and he took a sip of his club soda.

      He was about to begin his usual speech about the resort when the people parted. There was a face he recognized. Not a face he ever expected to see. Not one he ever wanted to see again.

      Allie Miller.

      Or, as he referred to the lying tramp from his past who’d attached herself to a boyfriend with no morals, Alley Cat.

CHAPTER THREE

      THE MAN SPEAKING to the group stopped. He glared at Charlotte.

      Her hand flew to cover her unexpected gasp, drawing more attention to herself. She had never seen this guy before, so why the loathing in his eyes?

      Wow. He disliked her. Intensely.

      She didn’t know what to do, how to behave. People didn’t usually react negatively to her, especially at first glance. He obviously thought he knew her.

      Or her sister.

      Her stomach flip-flopped.

      The man cleared his throat. His contempt drifted away from her as he bared straight white teeth in a false smile to continue speaking.

      Learning his name was Sam Briton didn’t provide any answers. Allie hadn’t mentioned him and he was the resort manager, not an advertising conference attendee. Charlotte watched him carefully, making sure she’d never met him, not even briefly. His deep-set, intense blue eyes would be striking, if not for his blatant animosity. He was average in height, with a strong jaw and short, dark hair. He had broad shoulders, a narrow waist, and wore his clothes well— khakis and a navy button-down shirt with the resort logo. His sleeves were rolled up, revealing the forearms of a person who stayed fit. He was definitely a handsome man she was sure she’d not soon forget.

      “How do you know him?” Veronica whispered frantically as she tugged at Charlotte’s elbow. “He is one very hot guy. Too bad he so obviously dislikes you.”

      Charlotte shrugged and sipped her drink. She’d forgotten Veronica stood next to her. In fact, the woman hadn’t left her side since they’d first spoken. How should she answer Veronica’s question? Charlotte didn’t know this Sam Briton, but obviously Allie did. How did they know each other, and what had Allie done to earn his aversion?

      Charlotte knew Allie had a troubled past, but she’d worked hard to move on. Especially since she and Jack had gotten together.

      “I hope your stay here will be very rewarding, as well as relaxing,” Sam was saying. “If you have any problems or questions, please don’t hesitate to contact me or one of the staff. Breakfast is served from seven to nine. Enjoy your evening!” He waved, leaving everyone to talk among themselves.

      Whew! This Sam person was leaving. No more caustic stares. She’d be sure to steer clear of him this week.

      When he headed straight for her, she nearly inhaled a sip of her drink. She began coughing and someone took her drink from her hand. Instead of making herself invisible, she’d captured everyone’s attention.

      “Come with me.” Sam took her by the elbow and roughly guided her away from the group. His grip tightened the farther away they got from the reception.

      Unable to voice her opinion of his actions because she was still coughing, she finally jerked her elbow from his grasp. “Ouch!”

      “Sorry.” His apology didn’t sound genuine.

      He moved his hand to her lower back and his touch was anything but gentle.

      They were alone in the middle of the hallway, past the sign that read Employees Only. She stopped and faced him. “Where are you taking me?” She cleared her throat. “I’m fine now. I just need some water.”

      He didn’t speak, merely spun her around and continued guiding her to an office. The sign next to the door proclaimed Sam Briton, Resort Manager.

      Resort Dictator would be a more suitable title.

      She should run away, yell for help, but she had to know why he disliked Allie so much. Or did he actually know Charlotte and she didn’t remember him?

      “Sit.” He pointed to the seat closest to the wall and in front of his desk. He closed his office door with more force than necessary. Instead of taking the desk chair, he chose the matching chair next to Charlotte’s. He pulled it several feet away from her and turned it so he could face her.

      Charlotte was pretty sure that if steam could truly come out of one’s ears, then this would be the time she’d witness it.

      For what seemed like several minutes, he didn’t speak, merely stared at her with narrowed eyes. He leaned forward, hands fisted on his thighs.

      “Start talking.” When he finally spoke, his words confused Charlotte.

      She shifted in her seat. “What would you like me to say?”

      He laughed, a choking sound that lacked humor. He stood quickly and pounded a fist on his desk, making everything on it vibrate. Then he leaned in so close to Charlotte that she could differentiate the dark blue rings surrounding his lighter blue irises.

      “We had an agreement.” He spoke slowly through gritted teeth, but his self-control was back.

      “An agreement?” Maybe she could get him to elaborate.

      “Don’t be coy. We both know you’re too conniving to play the innocent.”

      Conniving. No one had ever called Charlotte that. “Maybe you can be more specific.” She kept her tone even, hoping to cajole rather than anger him. For some reason, she refused to blurt out she wasn’t Allie—maybe because the details were really none of his business.

      “Specific?” He straightened to his full height and paced in the small space. He stopped behind his desk. “You want specific? I’ll give you specific. We agreed we’d never lay eyes on each other again in this lifetime.” He flattened both hands on his desk when he leaned over it, his eyes venomous. “Is that specific enough for you?”

      Tears built behind her eyes. She fought them with every bit of self-control she possessed. No one had ever been this angry at her before. Even if Sam thought she was Allie, at this particular moment, his rage was directed at Charlotte.

      “That’s easy to do.” She stood, head held high, smoothed her skirt and turned to leave his office.

      “Sit down!” This time he shouted. “I ought to call Security and have them detain you until I can figure out how to get you off this island.”

      She grabbed at the arms of the chair to steady herself and did as she was told. This was not the vacation she’d expected. Her heart pounded in her chest as she came to a decision. Maybe when he heard the truth, he would calm down. “I’m not who you

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