Page 25 of What Doesn't Kill You…

Even though the topic was now closed, Violet had to know something. "What makes you think I'll keep the deal and I'm not just lying to shut you up?"

Again with the dimples. He was doing it on purpose. "Because you've got a core of honor running right through you. Anybody can see it. You're all about justice and duty and honor." He shrugged. "You also like shortcuts and have no problems justifying your actions if you have to, which keeps it interesting, but I'm sure if you give me your word, you mean it."

Huh.

"Come on," she grumbled, turning back toward the wedding planner's office. "Rodrigo says we have to focus on the wedding and fake being as sickly romantic as possible, so we can lull Damien into a false sense of security."

"I'm pretty sure he just said carry on with the plan," Max said.

"Same thing."

CHAPTER NINE

Before they reached the door to the wedding planner's office, it opened wide and a perky woman in her early forties beamed at them in expectation. She wore a tailored summer dress in the tasteful blue shades the resort uniforms favored, and her hair was in a neat twist at the back of her head. Makeup was perfect, hands were manicured, and the file folder under her arm looked official. Violet glanced down at her own rumpled shorts and T-shirt and wondered how other people could look so put together and she couldn't. She shrugged. One of life's mysteries. She'd bet the wedding planner couldn't incapacitate a man using just two fingers.

"Max Durant and Violet Lee?" Her accent was American.

"That's us," Max said with a smile.

"I thought so." The woman gestured to the room behind her. "Please come in. I'm Delilah Shore, your wedding planner."

Max stuck out his hand. "It's great to meet you. You were very helpful over email."

Violet strode into the room and took a seat before she had to shake hands too.

"Oh, it was my pleasure." Delilah rounded the tasteful white desk and sat down. "I have the best job in the world. I get to help people have their dream wedding." She gestured to the blue ocean view visible through one of the office's many windows. "And I get to do it in paradise."

Violet eyed the ballpoint pen on the woman's desk. She'd made a solemn promise to Rochelle that she wouldn’t be unnecessarily violent towards the people they met on this operation, but she hadn't made any promises about herself. If she swung the pen at her own neck with enough force, she could open an artery and bleed out before the woman stopped smiling. Then she wouldn't have to listen to any more gushing about weddings.

As though reading her mind, Max carefully reached over and covered her right hand with his. Violet tensed and frowned at him before remembering her role. Reluctantly, she turned her hand to hold his. His hand was strong and warm. And distracting. Things would have been so much easier if he'd had sweaty palms.

"Is everything okay?" Delilah asked, her concerned gaze on Violet.

"Jet lag," Max said before Violet could reply. "It makes her grumpy. She'll be fine by tomorrow."

Delilah relaxed. "I wish I'd known you suffer so badly from it. I have the most wonderful pills I could have recommended."

"Thanks," Max said. "But time will sort it. Won't it, honey?" He smiled pointedly at Violet.

"Jet lag," she agreed. "It probably wouldn't have been this bad, but I had to wear a stupid playsuit on the plane that kept riding up. It hurt like a son of a b?—"

"Nothing worse than uncomfortable clothes when you're stuck on a plane," Max interrupted.

Delilah's eyes were wide. "No, there isn't…"

"So," Max flashed his dimpled smile at the woman. "Where do we start with this wedding?"

Violet didn't like that he was showing the wedding planner his dimples and had the irrational urge to tell him to stop. It was only when he nudged her that she realized she'd been squeezing his hand tightly while staring at him. Things were not going well. She was off her game. Maybe it was jet lag after all. Or the endless conversation about the ethics of drugging clients.

Fortunately, Delilah wasn't paying any attention to Violet. She was too busy opening her folder on the desk in front of her. There was an iPad in one side and notepaper stuck in the other.

"I was on my way to find you two. I'd thought we could talk over breakfast instead of in my office. The terrace is so much nicer, but you're happy to go over things now?" she asked with a smile.

"Totally," Max said. "We can't wait." He squeezed her hand.

She got the message that she was supposed to join in and show enthusiasm. "I'm effervescent with delight," Violet said without emotion.

Delilah blinked at her a few times before taking a deep breath. "Lovely," she said. "I'd like to double check some of the details you agreed to over email, if that's okay with you?"