Chapter 10
10
VIOLET
Lincoln and I haven’t stopped chatting since we sat down at our ocean-view table.
He’s the first man to take an interest in my life and work.
After dessert, I plucked up the courage to ask what he does back home.
I’m currently sitting with my mouth wide open. “Your father and you own a five-star hotel? In Scotland?”
“Yes.”
“With your grandfather?”
“Yes.”
“And you’re a director?”
“Yes. All three of us own it. We have the only privately owned, family-run, five-star hotel in Scotland. We’re currently working toward becoming six-star rated. We’ll be the only one in Scotland.” He looks excited about that. “You should have dug a little deeper trying to find the information you were looking for about me. Google would find the good stuff. Not social media.”
I have to force my jaw not to drop to the ground. I can’t work him out. “Why the hell are you working for the gym? ”
“Boredom. I told you; I like to work.” He shrugs as if his explanation makes any sense. For the record, it doesn’t.
“You’re a weirdo.”
“A workaholic weirdo.” He picks up his phone, taps it a few times, then turns it around to show me whatever he was searching for.
Right enough, there he is. Lincoln Black, Director, The Sanctuary Hotel and Spa.
“That’s you,” I squeal.
“It is.”
“In a suit.”
“In a suit,” he confirms.
I scroll through the pictures of the hotel. It’s out of this world. I look up from his phone. Elbow bent, he’s resting his cheek on his hand, and I feel his mood plummet.
I place his phone back on the table. “You think this changes how much I like you, Lincoln?”
He pops a shoulder.
I slide my hand along the table and turn my hand over, palm up, inviting him to take it. He surprises me by accepting.
“I like everything about you. I want to know more. Trust me, I know exactly what it’s like. Superficial friends and men who want to date me or be my friends all the time. I get it, I do. They think being seen with me will lift their profile, increase their popularity. With money comes fake friendships and it can bring out the worst in people.”
He rubs his thumb back and forth across my knuckles.
“I like you for being you, Lincoln. Funny, caring, boyishly handsome, and the fact that you went traveling just to make your dad happy tells me what type of man you are.”
His eyebrows spring up.
“You’re different and I want to have more date days and nights with you while you are here in California.” I give his hand a firm squeeze.
“Well, if that’s the case, can you dance?” he asks out of the blue.
“I love to dance.”
“No, I mean, really dance?”
“Like ballroom dancing?”
“Kinda. Do you trust me?”
“After today? Always.”
He summons the waiter, pays our bill, and we promptly leave the restaurant, excited at the prospect of dancing.
As we make our way out of the restaurant, Lincoln’s warm hand presses against the base of my spine. He ushers me out of the glass door, and we are hit by a wall of warm evening air.
“Are you not hot wearing those leather trousers?”
“Nope. I’m a born and bred Cali girl. It hasn’t been that hot today.”
“It was seventy-eight degrees Fahrenheit today.” He moves his hand to the side of my waist and gives it a squeeze. I cringe, knowing he’s probably felt my flabby bits.
“Meh, that’s cooler than most days,” I tease him, trying to push down my insecurities.
When we’re almost at the car, someone calls my name. I turn and spot Chad confidently striding toward us. I’m sure he follows me everywhere I go.
“Who is that?” Lincoln asks through the side of his mouth.
“Ex-boyfriend.”
I swear Lincoln grows a few inches taller and broader. “Doesn’t look your type.”
“He’s not.”
“Preppy. ”
“Male chauvinist.”
“Missionary position?”
“Every time. Like clockwork, once a week.”
“Once a week? Fuck, once a day is too little. How boring.”
More than once a day? Holy shit, bring Momma some of that, spank you very much.
“Orgasms were just a rumor,” I whisper as Chad gets closer.
Lincoln snorts and I burst out laughing.
“Hey, Violet.” Chad goes to lean in for a kiss but thinks better of it when Lincoln pulls me closer. “It’s good to see you,” he says, eyeing Lincoln.
I wish I could say the same. “Oh, I know. I haven’t seen you in at least, oh, a week. Going for something to eat?” I don’t actually care what he’s doing. I’m being polite.
“Yes, meeting Jezza and Ryan.”
“A throuple? Nice.” Lincoln’s voice is laced with sarcasm, but his face remains stoic.
I tuck my lips into my mouth to stop myself from laughing.
Chad frowns. “No, nothing like that.”
“Forgive my manners.” I lay my hand on Lincoln’s chest. Oh wow, that is firm . He flexes, looks down at me and licks his lips. The tension between us is becoming unbearable.
“Lincoln, meet Chad; Chad, meet Lincoln.”
Lincoln squeezes his hand in an overly firm grip, making Chad wince, but he says nothing.
“Was lovely to meet you, Chad , and I would love to stand and chew the fat with you. But I have somewhere to take my girl.”
My girl.
“Chew the fat?” Chad frowns. “Sounds disgusting.”
“Oh, it’s British for small talk. We don’t have time.” Lincoln promptly guides me to the car .
“Where are you off to?” Chad shouts from behind me.
“Private club,” Lincoln answers.
Are we? How exciting.