Free The Mighty Quinns: Ryan by Kate Hoffmann Page B

herself. For the first time, she felt as if someone understood her and accepted her for the person she’d always been.
    And she wanted to explore the feelings she had for him. There was no doubt that he was attracted to her, as well. She could see it in the way he looked at her, in the way he touched her. Yet he’d respected the boundaries between them, giving her the space to come to a decision on her own. She wanted him, more than any man she’d ever met. But as long as she was engaged to Ben, she couldn’t move forward with Ryan.
    Her choice was simple. Marry a man she didn’t love and avoid a scandal, or call off the wedding, turn her life upside down and possibly ruin her career, for a man she’d just met.
    Maybe her reputation was deserved—maybe she was capricious, fickle, unstable.
    Serena took a ragged breath. But only she knew what was in her heart, and it was suddenly quite clear. She didn’t want to marry Ben. She didn’t want to be caught in a marriage that was doomed to fail. Ryan was right. She deserved better.
    Serena searched the room for her phone and found it on the bed. Though she had international service, she wasn’t sure if that covered Fiji. She set her location, then scrolled through her contacts before pressing the call button.
    One of her former costars was a pilot and also a good friend. He’d know how to help her. “Jeff, it’s Serena Hightower.”
    “Serena! How are you? How are the wedding plans going? We had to send our regrets. I’m going to be on location in Toronto that weekend.”
    “Actually, I need your help. I want to charter a jet to get me from Nadi on Fiji to...” Where could she go to hide? “Auckland,” she finally said. “New Zealand. I have no idea how to do it. Can you help me?”
    “I have a friend who runs a charter service. He probably has some contacts in that part of the world. When do you want to fly?”
    “Tonight,” she said. “Late. Midnight or later?”
    “I’ll see what I can do,” Jeff said. “Can I call you back?”
    “Yes, thank you,” Serena said. “I owe you.”
    “Well... I’ve actually got a project I’m hoping to direct. I’d love it if you’d read through the script.”
    “Send it to me, to my private email. Don’t send it through my agent.” She gave him her address, then rang off.
    Serena set the phone down on the bed and closed her eyes. Was she really prepared to do this? She’d have to call Ben and tell him. But maybe it would be best to wait until later, right before she left the island. She sucked in a sharp breath. Right before
they
left the island. That is,
if
Ryan agreed to come with her, which might not be a given considering all that he had at stake on this trip.
    “This is real,” she murmured to herself. “This isn’t some crazy fantasy. I’m not pretending anymore. This is real.”
    A soft rap sounded on her bedroom door, and Serena grabbed a robe and wrapped it around her naked body. She pulled the door open, expecting Ryan to be on the other side. But Cecily pushed her way into the room.
    “As your maid of honor, I feel duty bound to tell you that I’m so happy you are shagging the pool boy.”
    “Shh! He’s right next door. And I’m not shagging the pool boy. He’s not the pool boy.”
    Cecily waved her hand. “You know who I’m talking about. And I think it’s about time you evened the score with Ben. Now everything will be balanced before you get married. He’s had his affairs and you’ll have had yours.”
    “Ceci, we’re not having an affair. Nothing happened. We fell asleep on the chaise. I went swimming and wrapped myself in a towel and—it was perfectly innocent.” She took Cecily’s arm and led her to the door, but the other woman dug in her heels.
    “Serena, as much as I’m looking forward to standing up with you in that hideous dress that your wedding planner chose, I do want you to be happy. And you need to know something.” She paused, then took Serena’s hands in