Page 42 of Caught Up In You (Indigo Royal Resort)
“Helloooooo,” Drea sang out, sticking her head into the laundry room. When she saw Leona, she sauntered in, making her way to the large metal-topped folding table that Leona was standing behind. Coming up next to her, Drea hopped up onto the table.
“Not even going to offer to help fold?” Leona teased.
“You’re just going to redo everything I fold, so what’s the point?” Drea asked, laughing. She was right—Leona would just refold everything. There was a very specific way to fold the towels and linens so that everything looked just right for the guests, and while Drea knew the method behind that fold, her execution left a little to be desired. Nothing she folded was ever straight, no matter what she did.
“Fair point.”
“Whatcha doing in the laundry room?” Drea asked.
“The sheets from La Isla Bonita needed washing, and I figured it was just as easy to do them myself,” Leona answered with a slight shrug, hoping that her nonchalance wouldn’t lead to any more questions.
“Just easier, huh?” Drea prodded. “Not because there was anything on them you might not want your staff to see?”
Leona stopped folding the towel that was in her hand. Turning so that her hip rested on the table and she was facing her friend, she gave her a quizzical look. “And just what do you think would be on the sheets that my staff couldn’t see?”
“Oh, you know…” Drea paused, searching for the right word. “Bodily fluids.”
“Even if there were ‘bodily fluids,’ as you put it, there is no proof they are mine, Drea.”
“I’m just trying to figure out the plan here. Are you going to hate fuck him and then blackmail him somehow? Sell photos to some rag mag? Tell them about his itty-bitty teenie weenie?” she asked, holding up her hand, pinching her thumb and forefinger together with just a small bit of space between the two. Leona just rolled her eyes, turning back to the towels on the table.
“He’s all washed up and has turned into an abusive alcoholic? He’s got some horrible STD? Oh, I know! He’s some egotistical pervert who preys on unsuspecting young women?”
“He does not!” Leona snapped, throwing the towel she was midfold on against the table. “His ego is all an act. He’s sweet, and loving, and funny, and believe it or not, actually kinda sensitive. And for your information, it’s an anaconda, not an inch worm!”
“Ha!” Drea exclaimed. “Got ya! So there is something between you!”
“No, there isn’t.”
“Girl, do not lie to me. I have been your best friend since we were five. I know you. Which means I know that the look on your face this week is the same one I had on my face when things started to happen with Kyle. Your head has been in the clouds all week. Also, I saw you two being all kissy-kissy on the boat. Or, better yet, the look on his face when Carlos was waiting on us. So, ‘fess up!”
Leona exhaled loudly. Drea was right. If there was anyone to not lie to, it was her. The girl could keep a secret, but more than that, they were each other’s person. Drea knew everything about her and wasn’t going to judge her for anything. Not to mention, she’d let Leona in on her secret a bunch of months back when the dam finally broke for her and Kyle.
“Fine. Yes, there might be something between us,” Leona admitted.
“Yes! I knew it! I knew that deep down all that hate was an act.”
“No, it wasn’t. I have really spent the last ten years pissed off at the way he’s treated me. It’s just that maybe now, I’ve realized that all that asshole-ish-ness was an act on his part and that there is more to him than meets the eye.”
“Like his anaconda,” Drea said, mirroring Leona’s words from earlier.
“Yes, I mean…” she trailed off, trying not to get flustered, as Drea sat there, giggling at her response. “There is more to him than his anaconda. Although, shit, Drea…that part of things is lights out!”
“Better than Carlos?”
Leona looked around to make sure that the room was one hundred percent clear before continuing.
“Yes. Not that Carlos was bad,” she answered, just above a whisper. “Because he wasn’t. Man is damn talented, but with Cullen it’s…different.”
Drea sat there for a moment, waiting for her to continue. When she didn’t, Drea finally huffed out another question.
“Different how?”
“I don’t know, just…different. He goes slow and takes his time. It’s about both of us and the experience…” She paused. “It’s like he doesn’t expect anything from me.”
“So everything you’ve always told Carlos you didn’t want?”
“That’s not true!”
