Free The Resilient One: A Billionaire Bride Pact Romance by Cami Checketts, Jeanette Lewis Page B

entire episode out and have somebody to talk to about it. “Maybe someday it’ll stop.” She thought of Beck and wondered if spending more time with him might stop the terrifying dream.
    “I know you’ll do a great job of researching,” she said to Maryn, “and I really need to know what I’m getting into here. I want to be able to trust him.”
    “Trust isn’t earned by a squeaky clean background.”
    “It isn’t going to hurt though.”
    Maryn sighed. “Fine. I’ll do it. Your main concern?”
    “You know me. How has he treated the women in his life? Does he think being wealthy gives him the right to take anything he wants?”
    “I’ll see what I can find but honestly, Alyssa, you need to do your own research. How does he make you feel? How does he treat Granny? The waitress? The little girl on the street? Trust yourself and maybe you can learn to trust a man.”
    Alyssa soaked the words in. Maryn had been her best friend for long enough she only had her best interests at heart. “But-but… what if he finds out I took those pictures of him after his parents’ funeral?”
    Maryn inhaled sharply. “Deal with that when you get there. It’s okay to allow yourself to have fun, to open up the possibility of having a relationship with a good guy. Don’t let your guilt or your dad’s manipulation ruin the rest of your life.” She paused as if waiting for Alyssa to respond. When Alyssa didn’t, she prompted. “Right?”
    Alyssa gripped onto the railing with her left hand and the phone with her right. Was Beck a good guy? Was she willing to get to know him and find out? “Right,” Alyssa finally admitted.
    “Love us,” Maryn said.
    Alyssa laughed. Years ago, Alyssa had texted “love ya” to Maryn but it had auto-corrected to “love us”. Maryn loved to tease her about it, but it had become a sort of mantra for them and Alyssa truly did love them, their friendship, their closeness, she’d be lost without Maryn.
    “Love us too.” Alyssa hung up the phone and closed her eyes, letting the gentle breeze caress her face. Could she trust a man? She pictured Beck’s blue eyes sparkling at her. Maybe.
     

 
    Alyssa was excited to try out Pa’ia’s Fish Market for lunch. Jerry claimed they had the best fish tacos he’d ever eaten in his life, but she hadn’t stopped on her travels around the island to see if she agreed. Beck, Alyssa, and Granny drove the thirty minutes to the center of the island and found a parking lot a couple blocks behind the restaurant. Beck hurried around and opened Alyssa and Granny’s doors at the same time. Alyssa stepped out of the car and glimpsed a man, with hair so blond it was almost white, duck into a Lexus sport utility a few cars down. She frowned and shook her head. It couldn’t be, but it had looked so much like him.
    “Granny,” she whispered, leaning close. “Do you know where Dad is right now?”
    Granny shook her head, her blue eyes darkening. “I try not to keep up with him.”
    Alyssa looked back at the Lexus, but there was no more movement. Instead a group of scrubby young men lounging on the grass next to the parking lot drew her gaze.
    “Hi, pretty lady,” a guy with dreadlocks called out to Alyssa. “You want to take a drag of my bong with me?”
    “No, thank you,” Alyssa said.
    Beck stepped protectively in front of her.
    “What’s a bong?” Granny asked.
    “It’s the pipe you use to smoke marijuana,” Beck said quietly.
    “Isn’t that illegal here?” Alyssa asked. She’d only driven through Pa’ia to get to the scenic road to Hana for photo shoots, but she’d heard of other tourists being offered drugs in the small town.
    “Yeah.”
    Granny’s eyes widened. She stepped deftly around Beck and came at the young man who had spoken to Alyssa with her purse held high. “What are you doing wasting your life like this?” She smacked him on the arm with her purse.
    “Ouch!” He scowled and scooted away on the grass.
    Beck hurried to