UGLY MEN ARE LESS LIKELY TO CHEAT

a

harp and cold. It blew salt water o

rns. The silk dress was thin and cheap. It was completely wrong for a hike down a rocky cliffside, but it was the only nice thing Kiki owned. My ba

slate to my left. She was clutching her phone with both hands

wiped a strand of we

utes sliding down a muddy hill just to reach the back perimeter of the resort. Through the fog, the main hotel building looked huge

guard comes back," I said,

f path every twelve minutes. We had watched the last guard walk past at 9:14 AM. That gave us roughly eight

en to match the pine trees. The heavy padlock hung from the latch, completely unclicked, just like Kiki'

through the narrow gap, and stepped onto the lawn.

ch and pool chlorine. White cabanas lined an infinity pool that looked like it poured straight into the ocean below. Wait

ing toward a group of men in dark suits standing

were gripping the canvas tote

shoved them into the bag. Then I pulled out the black heels and strapped them on. My feet were covered in d

tick in her phone screen. "That's where the tech founders and investors are hangi

what?" I a

d with a dry smile. "The ones who aren't surrounded by women t

thing her skirt down, and melted into the cr

houlders, and pushed open the heav

akers hidden in the ceiling. The room was packed with people in floor-length gowns and tailored suits. Everywhere I l

ne of them looked like Trevor. Differe

hands something to hold. I took a heavy gulp. The cold orange juice and champagne burned down my throat, but it cut through the chill i

lcohol and the lack of sleep. I unlock

three days of staring at peeling paint, and now I was standing in a room full of

and typed out a text with shaking thumbs: You're a pathetic pa

it

ork designed to flag any unregistered mobile device that

sharp, loud chime echoed from a security terminal near the entrance archway. Two tall men

of them barked into his lapel

ice water. The alcohol in my

e main lounge," the guard's voice cracked through the s

el, threw the strap of Kiki's can

Stop

cking over a high cocktail table. A wine glass shattered on the floor, sending red wine splashing across the white tile. P

a guard yell

ut the sharp heel of my left shoe caught the edge of a heavy Persian rug. My ankle twisted sideways.

und, two thick, heavy arms

d upright and slammed back against a solid, heavy chest. T

le thief?" a deep, rough voi

jacket, and stumbled backward two steps. I was breathing hard, my hair d

ed up

and a wide chest. But the first thing I noticed was the right side of his face. Running from the bottom of his right cheekbone, past his jawline, and dow

ding around the corner, out of br

nted, stopping short. "Sir, step ba

road hand, lifting his index finger. The guards stopped tal

ed at my messy hair, my flushed face, the dirt dried on my legs, and the bla

. His voice was low, flat,

g his partner back into the ballroom a

et corridor. The noise from the par

panic was turning back into hot, defensive rage. I hated being caught, I ha

ped, my voice sharp and loud in the quiet hallway. "

stillness remained in his features, but the dark depth of his eyes shift

operty, get flagged by central security because you're dumb enough to pull out an unap

hest, right over his tie. "And you look like a burnt criminal! Who stands in a hallway l

fast footsteps echoed do

t, clutching her clutch purse to her stomach. "M

saucers as she looked from my finger, which was still

om the news articles and corporate brochure

estate and tech mogul who owned the resort, half t

me back hard. "Mr. Montgomery. Sir. I am so sorry. She's not okay today. Her boyfrien

had spoken. His dark, heavy eyes stayed pinned entirely on my f

Kiki babbled, pulling me backward by my wrist

ood under the warm hallway light, tall, broad, and quiet, his scarred j