Page 137 of Dream Chaser

I pressed the phone to my ear. “Hello.”

“Funny how you answer immediately except when your husband calls.”

My blood seemed to slow in its track. Preston. “I said all communication would be through my lawyer.”

His derisive laugh rang in my ear. “I don’t give a damn about what you said. I saw your pictures in Sports Insider with that guy you’ve been screwing behind my back. You refuse to pay back what I invested in your ruin, parade him—”

“Talk to my lawyer,” I said, hands shaking.

In my peripheral vision, the monkey had moved to the railing. It extended the wallet to Alejandro, who was speaking to it calmly like they were old friends. Another monkey howled, adding to the chorus of cicadas and crickets.

“Where the hell are you?” Preston hissed. “In the damn jungle?” He must’ve heard the noises. Just great. “This isn’t over. If I find out you’re off somewhere screwing around with him, I’ll make you regret it. You owe me every cent I spent on you, you cheating—”

I cut the call and powered off the phone before his words did even more damage.

Alejandro stood a few feet away with the wallet thankfully in his hands. “Well.” He exhaled, running his palm over his forehead. “That was one hell of a negotiation. I’ll leave this inside just in case. Maybe in the safe, unless monkeys here know how to get into safes too.”

He picked up the truck fob and headed for the sliding door leading to the kitchen.

Leaning against the railing, I soaked in the sounds of nature and the steady hum of the ocean, but the calm refused to come. Preston’s threatening tone pricked at me like dozens of invisible needles.

I went into the house. Alejandro was in the kitchen, hands on the island, his vacant gaze fixed on the fruit in front of him.

“Ale?” I whispered.

His head snapped up. He went on to arrange the fruit he’d cut on a plate. “Yes?”

“Are you okay?”

He sighed. “I should be the one asking you that. What did he want from you?”

Of course, he knew. I rubbed my chest, but the tightness was still there. I doubted it’d go away until I was free from Preston.

“He saw the article about the agency,” I said. “Accused me of cheating again. I’ll ignore all unknown numbers from now on.”

“Piece of shit,” Alejandro muttered.

“I’m so sorry.” An ache spread through my chest. He’d organized a dream vacation for us. Taken time off work. I wouldn’t blame him if he got fed up with me and my problems.

“Nova.” He rounded the island and stood in front of me. “What exactly are you apologizing for?”

“I feel like I’m ruining everything,” I said past the tightness in my throat.

“Ven aquí.” Come here. He pulled me toward him by the waist and smoothed his hands down my hair. “You’re not ruining anything. You never could. It just kills me to see you sad instead of enjoying yourself. It kills me to see how your joy vanishes when he calls. I hate that you’re still tied to him even though you don’t want to be. But none of this is your fault, you hear me?”

Nodding, I blinked the sting in my eyes away.

“Tell me what you need.” Alejandro pressed his lips to my forehead. “Tell me, and I’ll give it to you.”

“Just you,” I whispered. “I want to forget everything and just be with you.”

I wrapped my arms around his neck and kissed him. Slowly, carefully. A part of me feared he’d stop me, but he splayed his hands on my waist and kissed me so deeply my knees shook.

“Take me to bed,” I said as his mouth skimmed my neck.

Alejandro picked me up and carried me to the bedroom. A light breeze moved the white curtains, bringing in the scent of plumeria and jasmine. He set me down by the bed, heat darkening his eyes.

Slowly, I slid a strap of my dress off my shoulder. Then another. The light fabric fell to the floor, exposing my bare breasts.