Chapter 2 #2
Christian shrugged. “I figure I’m good-looking enough that it’s a toss up between my body and my fame.” His friend’s words were casual, but his lips pursed as his gaze moved back to the crashing waves.
Something was bothering him, Gage realized. The guy’s sunglasses reflected the view like two framed pieces of art, but it wasn’t enough to hide the conflicted crease in his brow.
“What’s up, man?” Gage asked. “Something’s bugging you.”
Christian cleared his throat and spun around. “It’s nothing.”
It obviously wasn’t nothing but Gage wasn’t the pry-it-out-of-them type. If Christian had something more to say he could say it.
“Think Carly’s probably in the staff lounge,” his friend muttered.
Gage followed him into the lounge.
Then onto the staff’s patio.
And finally to the tennis courts. Still no Carly.
Along the way, Christian introduced him to a dozen of the Royal Palm’s finest, including the owners, a couple who’d followed Christian’s entire dance career. They were also big fans of Mark Craven, Gage’s father. Most people were.
Gage wasn’t sure why, but as he and Christian explored every quarter of the resort while looking for this Carly chick, a knot of nerves rolled through his gut.
To make matters worse, the anticipation mounded each time they came up empty at yet another spot.
At last they came to an outdoor dining establishment not too far off from the beach.
“She’s carving the wave, guys,” a bartender told them while shaking a stainless steel mixer with both hands. The short man squinted and nodded toward the beach. “The red wetsuit. You can’t miss her.”
Gage twisted to look over his shoulder. At first glance, he couldn’t see her at all.
But as he looked closer, sharpening his gaze with narrowed eyes, a small blonde in a bright red top emerged from a massive tunnel of water.
She cut beyond the crashing wave, seeming to hover above the foaming white as she rode the remaining swell.
If he didn’t know better, Gage might say she controlled the water itself, like some sort of sea goddess.
If she’s Amphitrite, I want to be her Poseidon.
Gage scolded himself at the thought, not that he could’ve helped it; she was incredible. Sure, he couldn’t exactly see her face from there, but a woman who could surf like that was definitely sexy.
Chuckles sounded behind his back. “Yeah,” the bartender said. “That’s what I said when I first saw her out there.”
Gage hadn’t noticed until then that he’d taken a few steps away from the bar and was facing the ocean with a dropped jaw. He shot the man a disapproving look. “I didn’t say anything.”
“Exactly,” the man bellowed with a laugh.
Christian rolled his eyes.
The bartender, a mustached man in his mid thirties, Gage guessed, leaned an arm over the bar. “William’s the name. Can I get you anything to drink?”
Gage crossed back over to the bar and shook the man’s hand. “Gage Craven. And thanks, but I’m good for now.”
“Craven?” His brows lifted. “You’re not—”
“Yep, that’s him.” Christian slapped a hand on Gage’s shoulder. “Mark Craven’s son. Of course, you know the rules—got to keep that tidbit on the down low. But between us, he’s taking surf lessons from Carly to train for a lead role in an upcoming film.”
“Ah,” William said. “Lucky guy.”
A spark of unwarranted jealousy rumbled through Gage. “Yeah, thanks.”
“Looks like she’s heading back, guys,” William said with a nod. “Here’s your chance.”
Gage glanced over his shoulder to see Carly striding away from the shore. A fresh round of nerves stirred in his belly.
Christian tapped out a riff on the counter before stepping away from it. “Thanks, man,” he said. “Catch you later.”
Bright sunrays soaked into Gage’s skin as they crossed the sandy beach. He tried to keep his eyes trained on his steps, but he couldn’t help but glance up and take in the sight ahead.
Carly was running fingers through her blonde, shoulder-length hair, leaning to one side so the water dripped onto the sand.
“I hope Cyree already told her about the changes,” Christian mumbled.
Gage squinted over at him. “What changes? And what difference will it make?”
Christian kept on walking. “A lot,” he said with a dark chuckle.
Gage’s nerves spiked up a notch. “Are you serious?” He grabbed Christian’s arm to stop him. “Why? Why does she care who she’s working with?”
Christian spun to face him. “She prefers working with children. In fact, I’d say it’s one of the only reasons she even took this job. She requests training any kids twelve and under. Teens too, if she has room for more. But Carly never trains our adult guests.”
Gage’s heart pounded out of beat at the news. Sheesh. First Christian practically accuses him of toying with the woman’s emotions—before he’d even met her—and now he finds out she only wants to train kids? Gage was starting to feel more like an intruder than a guest.
He put his head down. “Dude, call that Cyree chick you were talking about and make sure she already told her. I don’t want her to be all ticked off.”
“Too late,” Christian said, raising an arm over his head. “What’s up, beach betty?” he hollered.
Gage glanced up and, before he could avoid it, met her gaze. Gorgeous wide eyes, blue like the ocean, locked on him. His pulse spiked.
“Come on,” Christian mumbled. “She’s already seen us now.”
As if hearing the statement, Carly glanced back out over the water, giving Gage a moment of reprieve.
Be cool, Gage. Sheesh.
He tried doing just that. Rolling his neck.
Lifting then dropping his shoulders. Blowing out a slow breath as they neared.
But none of it worked. It didn’t help that they were on her turf, not his.
The truth was, they came from different worlds.
One surfed the tube, one drew up mock blueprints and—now—would step into one of Hollywood’s most anticipated productions.
The acting gig alone should keep him from being intimidated, but Gage had a hunch that this woman wouldn’t be impressed by that type of thing.
“Carly,” Christian said as she turned back to look at them. “This is my lifelong friend, Gage Craven. We met at a dance competition when we were just six years old, and we’ve been causing chaos ever since.”
Carly’s eyes drifted from Christian to Gage. It was warm out, but that was nothing compared to the heat that rushed to his face as their eyes met once more. His dad’s warning echoed through his mind. “Don’t go getting involved with the help. It’ll ruin everything.”
“You dance too, huh?” She snatched a bright towel off a nearby beach chair. Sun glistened over her tan skin as she patted her face.
“I used to.” Should he shake her hand or just stand here like an idiot? “I’m um…going to—”
“He’s an actor,” Christian blurted. “Ever heard of Mark Craven?”
Carly lifted a brow. “Of course.”
“Gage is his son. And he just scored the lead role in a film of his own. So feel free to call him Hollywood for short.”
Wow, way to put it out there, Christian. Not that it wouldn’t have come out eventually, but still, it would’ve been nice to spend time with a woman who didn’t know who his famous father was.
“Well,” she said, a grin spreading over her face. “Congratulations.”
Fire roared low in his belly at the sight of her smile. Dang, she really was beautiful. “Thank you,” he said shyly, because somehow he’d turned into the classic movie geek in her presence. “It’s a surf movie, actually.”
“Really? That’s cool.” She made the hang ten sign and lifted her arm. “You ever surfed before?”
Oh no. Here it came. The part that would—from what Christian said—tick her off big time. He dropped his chin and took interest in the sand grains falling over his feet. “Nope.”
“That’s what he’s here for.” Christian said it with such flourish you’d think he was announcing that she’d just won the lottery.
“Is Marcus going to teach you?” she asked.
Gage noted the way she’d addressed him in the question, not Christian.
He moved his gaze to the sand between him and Carly, then slowly moved it up her curvy legs, small waist, and her high-zipped wetsuit until their eyes met.
She looked at him like he was a pop quiz someone had slapped onto her desktop—a compilation of problems she might not have answers to.
“Yeah, no,” Gage mumbled. “Christian said it’s going to be you. Not Marcus.”
She’d brought the towel to her hair, but Carly was no longer using it to dry the dripping tips.
She was frozen in place like a mannequin.
One that only had control of its brows. The deep furrow gave her the ticked-off look Gage had been dreading.
Suddenly her arms dropped to either side. She shot a glare at Christian.
“Why?” Her voice went high and tight. “I’m all booked for the season.”
Gage gulped as she glanced over at him. She mustered an apologetic look. “Sorry, no offense to you, but I like working with kids. I specifically request it.”
Christian raised his hands in surrender. “Yeah but these guys requested a professional, and that’s you,”
Gage’s pulse pumped as he looked back and forth between them.
“C’mon,” Christian urged, “you know you’re way better than Marcus. You’ve got plenty of competition wins to show for it. Gage would train from that guy if he wanted to look like an amateur. You’re the professional.”
Carly’s jaw stayed tight. She looked over at Gage once more, angry heat in those blue eyes, and gave him a curt nod. “Excuse me.” And then she was off. Marching through the sand toward the resort.
Gage glanced down to the towel she’d dropped beside her board.
Christian blew out a whistle. “Yep. She’s ticked. She’s going to go talk to Cyree right now.”
Prickles of guilt settled over Gage as he glanced back over his shoulder. Determined strides took the woman farther away with every step. “What’s Cyree going to say?”
When Christian didn’t answer, Gage shot him a questioning look. One his friend hadn’t even caught; he was too busy staring at Carly as she hurried off. A hint of realization sank in as Gage took in the guy’s brooding expression.
Christian likes her.
It would make sense, explain why he’d been so protective outside the resort. Was it possible he’d ticked her off on purpose? In hopes that Carly would stomp in there and get her way?
“Cyree will make her do it anyway,” Christian said, still not managing to pull his gaze off her.
Gage blew out an irritated breath. “You should have let her boss do that. Now she’s going to be mad at me this whole time.”
Christian seemed to pull out of his daze, but only partly. He shrugged, looked down at the sand, and then looked back toward the resort once more. “I figured they already told her.”
Yeah right. Gage would drop it for now, but he couldn’t help but think his friend had caused a rift on purpose. Who cared? Gage wasn’t here to hook up with some intimidating blonde he’d be forced to leave once his five weeks were through.
He’d simply concentrate on the surfing, cross the film off his list, and get back to school where his heart was. His father was right—this was no time to get distracted by women anyway.