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“Okay. Let me see where he went.” She turns the camera around as she walks through her and Wyatt’s apartment calling “Here, kitty, kitty.” Then, “Found him.” The camera suddenly turns to Mr. Jingles in his travel litter pan, his back bowed up.

“There’s my sweet boy!”

He just stares at Maggie and the phone with his annoyed, smushed face like, Do you mind giving me some privacy?

“More like your stinky boy,” Maggie remarks as he runs away in a blur of fur. “He doesn’t even cover it up!”

“Oh, right. That’s because one time his paw touched the poo, then touched the litter. He freaked out, running around the house, holding it up and shaking it like he couldn’t believe how disgusting it was. I had to dump him in the tub, and it was this whole ordeal. So now he shits and runs. He’s a very dignified kitty. Maybe I could try teaching him to use the toilet.”

“Ugh, now I’m glad Monty is paying me to pet sit,” Maggie grumbles.

“Have fun and tell Mr. Jingles I’ll try to call tomorrow.”

“Will do! Bye!” She turns the camera to her face and waves before ending the call.

I head back into the room to get dressed after I hear the shower turn on.

While he’s busy, I hurry over to his luggage to dig out his swimsuits, both pairs, and hide them in one of my suitcase’s secret compartments.

There’s no way he would put on what I brought if he has other options.

So, I just have to take away those options.

13

Monty

I feel like roadkill this morning.

It was impossible to sleep last night with Kendall so close to me, smelling so good. Sweet, like peaches. I was aching, especially after getting an eyeful thanks to her translucent pajamas.

Sharing a bed with her was a terrible idea.

I had strict rules about never doing this sort of thing.

But Kendall has a way of making those rules harder to follow.

And that’s dangerous.

Maybe I’ll sleep in the pool tonight. She can join me if she wants, but at least there would be more space between us.

Even after eating breakfast, I’m still dragging on our resort tour.

Kendall is not.

“Whew, it’s hot as balls already out here,” Kendall announces as she slips on her sunglasses the moment we walk out under the morning sun.

I glance at my mom who is walking ahead of us with the wedding coordinator and Richard to judge her reaction. She only smiles wider over her shoulder at my fake fiancée’s colorful language.

“I probably should’ve brought a mimosa or fruity drink to keep cool,” Kendall remarks. Then quietly, “You’re supposed to act like you want to be near me, Monty.”

She takes my hand in hers to pull me closer.

I had been trying to keep my distance. Her fruity scent is making my mouth water. Or maybe that’s just Kendall.

Her short white dress blowing in the wind, showing way too much of her legs, isn’t helping either.

Pushing those thoughts aside, I try to think about anything else, but what my assistant would taste like or how soft her thighs would feel.