Chapter 4 #2
“What about you?” she asked, jolting me out of my mini-fantasy. “You have to have a cleaning service for your big mansion in California, right?”
I hitched a shoulder and then drug my paddle through the clear water.
“I lock up my closet and my office on days that they’re scheduled.
Honestly, I’d lock my whole bedroom suite, but then I’d have to clean my bathroom, and that’s not happening.
” I smiled at her cute snort again. “I guess like you, I like my privacy, and maybe I have a hard time trusting people too.”
“Huh.”
“And I never thought about it from that perspective before. So thank you.”
Saylor nodded and didn’t say anything after that, but I could tell by the tilt of her head, she was taking what I said in.
I smoothly turned our kayak in the water and let the current carry us most of the way back to the main beach where we’d started. Once we beached, I hopped out and went to help Saylor, but she was already stepping out on her own. “That was fun. Thanks for talking me into it.”
“Thanks for being a good sport. I love being on the water, not as much as Samu, but still.”
The smile slipped off her face. “I guess I get now why you laughed about being anti-billionaire.”
“I’m not a billionaire. I’m nowhere near billionaire status.”
She didn’t look like she believed me.
I gestured to the beach around us. “Billionaires own their own beaches, hell they own their own airplanes. They don’t accidentally book a vacation at a couples resort.”
Her shoulders dropped away from her ears. “You got me there. I mean, I know you didn’t fly private, since you tried to seduce me into joining the mile high club.”
I laughed, totally unashamed now. “In my defense, women throw themselves at me on a regular basis. I thought you recognized me and were interested. You were giving me all these signals.”
“I was going to pee and made eye contact with you.” She scoffed. “How was that a signal?”
I gestured helplessly. “I was horny and you’re hot.”
She rolled her eyes and turned to leave.
“Again, in my defense, I’m going through a dry spell, and I was vulnerable because I’m pretty sure this is the end of my whole career.”
She turned back to me and narrowed her eyes. “Seriously? You just told me you just ended a two-year international tour. What’s your idea of a dry spell? One day?”
“More like eleven months.”
Her eyes widened. “Months? You don’t mean days?”
I shook my head.
“But you’re…you. Why would you… I don’t get it.”
It was my turn to hunch my shoulders. “Shit, this is more truth telling than I was planning on doing today.” I rubbed a hand over my face.
“You know how I’ve been sober for eight years?
Some parts of my lifestyle are triggering, so I needed to make some sacrifices to maintain my sobriety.
It kinda drove a wedge between me and most of the guys on this last tour.
Our bassist, Beau, was off with his bride most of the time, so all the single guys would hang out together, but I didn’t—I couldn’t.
By the end of the tour, Leif wasn’t talking to me, Gio was avoiding me like I was the problem, and Ryker wasn’t much better.
Shit was awkward. Welcome to life as an addict. ”
She nodded, but I could tell that she didn’t really understand it. That she couldn’t relate.
I sighed. Clearly all this truth telling was a mistake. “Come on. Let’s go return our gear.”
She stepped around me and moved to grab one of the struts on the kayak.
“Ah, they’ll grab the kayak. We’ve just got to return the oars and vests.”
She nodded again then turned and head for the main building, leaving me to follow and watch her swinging little ass in those tiny shorts.
Fuck.
Fuck!
It felt like I screwed everything up. She wasn’t ready to hear about my job. Or my insane life. And really wasn’t ready to face what life with an addict meant.
Not that we were planning a life together.
This was just some vacation fun. Although I did travel to Vegas a lot…
Jone was manning the desk now and took our vests and oars with little patter. He must’ve read our body language and knew not to bother us.
We walked side by side away from the equipment rental hut toward the general direction of our treehouses.
Finally, I cleared my throat roughly. “You got any plans for the day?”
She huffed. “I’m gonna put on a swimsuit, avoid my phone, and probably read by my private pool. Get some sun. Maybe take a nap.”
“Sounds like fun.” I waited a beat but no invite to join her came.
“Um, what are you gonna do today?”
That was only a polite social return. There had been zero interest in her tone.
I definitely screwed this up. “Probably the same minus the pool, since I don’t have one. Maybe I’ll check out my outdoor shower instead.”
Her breath hitched, and I watched her out of the corner of my eye as her cheeks flushed.
Maybe all wasn’t lost after all.
“Maybe I’ll break out my guitar and work on some songs and my fingering. Gotta keep the digits nimble.” I wiggled my fingers in front of me.
She made a whimpering sound that she tried to cover with a cough.
I grinned.
“Uh, yeah. That sounds like a fun day. This is me.” The thank god was clear in her tone, and then it was my turn to muffle my reaction as I literally wiped my smile off my face.
“We still on for dinner?”
Her gaze slid to the side before she nodded. “Of course.”
“Great. And just warning, I plan to dress for dinner tonight, so be prepared to be wowed.”
“Isn’t that my line?” She gave me a funny look.
I shook my head. “I’m wowed every time I see you, baby girl. I just want you to know that I’m here and willing to put in the work. See you at six.”