The Billionaire's Island Romance (The Romero Brothers, Book 3.5) by Shadonna Richards Page A

away.
    “Christian, I didn’t tell you before
because I didn’t think you’d understand.”
    “You’re right,” he said, his tone chilly.
“I. Don’t. Understand.”

 
    CHAPTER TEN

 
    “What’s all this nonsense?” Toni demanded,
turning to Carl. “First they tell us there’s a fire. Then they inform us there
is no fire.”
    “It’s okay, Granddad. It was apparently a
false alarm. It happens. We can go back to our rooms.”
    “Oh, I’m going over to the bar by the pool.
Care to join me, Shelly?” Toni turned to his wife.
    “Sure. Why not? I could do with a tall pina
colada right now.”
    Just then, Carl spotted Christian. His
cousin looked like hell. What had happened to him?
    “You okay, man?” Carl turned to Christian.
“What’s wrong? You were on cloud nine earlier this morning.”
    “Everything,” Christian said in an icy
tone, his mind still reeling in shock and disappointment.  

 
    Christian walked up to the bar and ordered
a non-alcoholic beer. What he really needed was something heavy and
intoxicating but it was way too early in the day for that.
    Shit!
    What
just happened? Why did Arianna lie to me like that?
    “Seriously, man, your eyes are looking wild
and dangerous, cuz. Whatever it is, she loves you. I can see the way she looks
at you when you two are together.”
    “What makes you think this is about
Arianna?” he said, not looking at his cousin, taking a swig of his drink.
    “Because it usually is about a girl.
Besides, only love can fuel those strong emotions. You only get really pissed
like that when someone you really care about screws you or screws around with
your head, man. That’s the look you have right now.”
    Christian buried his head in his hands and
drew in a deep breath. He had to settle his anger and his inner torment. He
lifted up his head and rested his chin on his hands. “Screwed up is right, cuz.
Things are really screwed up between us.”
    “Between you and Arianna?”
    “Yeah.”
    “Don’t you think you should be with her
right now, sorting it out?”
    “Not now.” Christian shook his head. “She
just really messed with my head. I…I can’t think straight.”
    “S’okay. Let’s chill for a while.” Carl
grinned.
    “What’s so funny?”
    “Women. They are the most beautiful, exotic
and complicated creatures I’ve ever known. But ya gotta love ‘em.”
    In spite of himself, as painful as it was,
Christian grinned slightly. Yeah, his cousin had that right.

 
CHAPTER ELEVEN

 
    Arianna sat down in her office, a mixture
of sadness and shame filled her heart. At least the fire alarm turned out to be
a false alarm, but right now she felt as if her whole body was ablaze. Her
heart burned in her chest. She needed emotional CPR to resuscitate her spirit.
    It was all over. Mixed feelings surged
through her body, leaving her bruised and confused. Hurt and dazed. She didn’t
want Christian to find out like that. Not a chance. What must he think of her? And her family? That they’re all a bunch
of psychotic weirdos. Oh, great! She’d just ruined her chance with the
most perfect man she’d ever met—perfect for her. Her mind swirled with
doubts and chaos.
    She hung her head in her hands and squeezed
her head as if trying to squeeze out the migraine. Earlier, her uncle was
standing outside the door to her parents’ suite when Christian had come in to
help her parents evacuate. Arianna didn’t even know when Uncle Ned had snuck up
behind her outside her parents’ room at the time. Had he followed them up from
the lobby? Her uncle would miss nothing of course. He’d obviously heard her
screaming after Christian not to go up to the room to help her parents get out.
So naturally, he couldn’t wait to follow them to nose around to see what was
going on.
    Now Uncle Ned knew too. He suspected
something was up, but now he knew for sure and her whole life was about to be
ruined. Right now she was more shaken than she cared to admit.   Her