Chapter 17

Ianand I are about a dozen feet behind Savannah and Trinity when Savannah lays out the problem with the cabanas for her sister. Good thing I was close enough to listen in, since Ian merely described it as "some problem with one of the guests."

Of course, he wouldn't know that Trent isn't just some pushy friend of Savannah's who wormed his way onto the guest list. When Savannah peels off to go back to the other guests, I send Ian after her. I'm happy to stay with Trinity until the situation is resolved.

And, obviously, I'm not about to let her bunk down in a hammock. If someone needs to sleep on the floor, I'll do it. Or even better, fucking Trent can sleep on the floor somewhere. Preferably on the floor of some hotel back in Belize City. I'm pretty sure I can make that happen.

However, before I can catch up with Trinity, Trent reaches her.

I'm sure it's him because I recognize everyone else, either because they're friends of Ian's or I met them at the engagement party. The only stranger must be Trinity's ex.

My suspicions are confirmed by the way her shoulders tense up as he approaches.

Part of me wants to swoop in and handle this for her. She shouldn't be dealing with this shit on her vacation any more than Savannah should.

But before I can catch up to her, Trent jogs up to her, giving off strong frat-boy-vibes.

I slow my pace to give her a chance to handle it herself if that's what she wants to do.

Before he can even greet her, she snaps, "What are you doing here, Trent?"

He falters only a second before flashing her a winning smile. "Hey, babe, aren't you glad to see me?"

She glances back in my direction and I bend down like I'm taking off my shoes. She clearly doesn't want me to overhear the conversation, but I'm reluctant to leave her alone with this guy. I'll just … hover. If she needs back up, I'll be right here. If she doesn't, no-harm-no-foul.

"No, I'm not glad to see you. Why would I be?"

His crestfallen look is almost believable. "I know me being here makes the room situation awkward. I don't think your mom knew how dinky this place is when she invited me. But don't worry. You can room with me."

Of course that's his plan. Asshole.

Obviously, Trinity sees right through that. "I'm not going to room with you. We aren't together anymore."

"I know, but …" He glances in my direction, and I can tell he's trying to figure out if I pose a threat to him. He must decide we're not together, but he goes straight for the jugular—literally and metaphorically. He cups the back her neck, running his thumb along her throat. "I've missed you, babe. I don't even know why we broke up anymore."

Before I can catapult myself at him to make him stop touching her, she shakes off his touch and steps back. "We broke up because I gained twenty pounds, and you criticized my ‘fat ass'; that's why."

Okay, that's it.

The dude criticized her body? Her perfect, gorgeous, curvy body?

I'm done.

I was content to let her handle this until this fucking minute.

I stand up and quickly cross the distance between us. I don't hesitate to slip my arm around her waist and pull her back flush against me.

"Hey, Buttercup." I splay my hand against her belly as I lean down to nip at her neck. "Sorry about that. My laces knotted."

She sucks in a breath at the same time that Trent takes a step backward, confusion flickering over his features.

She looks up at me. The confusion on her own features lasts only a fraction of a second before gratitude replaces it. Thank God, because I'm not sure how I would have handled it if she'd elbowed me in the gut and ordered me to back off.

As soon as I see that she's going to play along, I hold out a hand to the loser, smiling like I don't want to gut him. "Hey, I'm Martin. Ian's lawyer and—" I place another kiss her neck. "What do you think, Buttercup? Is it time to let our relationship out of the closet and let everyone know we've been secretly dating?"

She opens her mouth to say something. Just to be on the safe side—in case she's thinking about blowing my cover—I spin her around and kiss her.

Her mouth is already open, the perfect invitation to slide my tongue against hers. She tastes faintly of gin and surprise. And of herself, that uniquely sweet flavor that is all Trinity. She smells like sunshine and sunscreen and all of my most secret desires.

The kiss was meant just to distract her and convince Trent, but as soon as I feel her responding, I deepen the kiss even further, sliding a hand into her hair, touching her neck right where he touched her, angling her head to bare her neck even more, like my touch can erase his entirely. It's all I can do not to drop my lips to her neck and suction away the remnants of his touch. Not to mark her as mine so no one will ever doubt who she belongs to again.

When I feel her rise up onto her toes, I trail my other hand down to cup her ass. I feel her tense and I'm tempted to punch that fucker right in front of everyone.

Instead, I pull back to kiss her hairline and I whisper into her temple. "Your ass is perfect. It's perfect now. It would be perfect at any size. And if I ever hear that fucker comment on your weight, I will not be responsible for my actions." I pull back enough to meet her gaze. She blinks up at me looking dazed. "Got it?"

She nods. Then swallows.

There seems to be a moment where she doesn't quite know what to do next. But then she rises on her toes again to whisper in my ear. "I know what you're doing."

I grin. "Do you?"

Because if her flustered confusion is any indication, she doesn't.

"Yes," she whispers back. "The fake boyfriend thing so that you and I can room together. And to save me from Trent."

I laugh, threading my fingers through hers and guiding her toward the palapa where the rest of the guests are waiting for us, most of them looking as surprised as Trinity. "Is that what I'm doing?"

A frown flickers over her expression before she nods. "Obviously. And thank you."

I release her hand to pull her even closer, bussing a kiss to her temple. "You're welcome, Buttercup."

She rolls her eyes. "That Buttercup thing might be pushing it a bit too far though."

"As you wish."