Chapter 5 #3
“Who knows what Gage will do?” he finally said. “That guy’s unpredictable.”
Those inner ocean waves pushed her anew. It was time for a topic change, and quick. “How are the dance lessons coming so far? Got any lovely ladies requesting you this year?”
He grinned that wide, cocky grin of his. The one she’d seen on TV talent shows over the years. “Always.” He rapped a closed fist on the railing, dropping his gaze to the action before looking back at her, a thoughtful expression on his face.
She sensed it then, the energy that surrounded the question she usually dreaded to hear.
Only tonight, a part of her wasn’t dreading it.
Not that she wanted to date Christian. What she did want is to prove that she was someone who could say yes, despite the strings that attached her to the fickle cowboy poet back home.
“Maybe I’ll see you at the dinner?” he said with the lift of his brow. Dinner. She’d almost forgotten about that. The resort treated staff to a gourmet dinner twice during the summer season. A welcome buffet and a farewell banquet.
It took everything in her not to ask if Gage would be there as well. Which was annoying. She didn’t like him; she didn’t care if he would be there. Besides, why would he go? Gage was a guest, not a staff member.
But he was friends with Christian. A very welcome friend of his as far as the resort was concerned. She pictured the dress in her closet. The sparkly silver number she’d brought with the banquets in mind. Thank heavens she’d brought the one with the slit that made her legs look long.
“Sure,” she said with a shrug. Images of Gage in a tux floated to mind, causing a wild dose of heat to climb up her neck. Stop it, Carly.
“Good,” Christian said. “I’ll see you over there. Better yet, I could score a golf cart and give you a ride. In case you’ll be in heels.”
She would be in heels. “They don’t want us riding those things off of the course,” she reminded.
“Yeah,” he said. “Unless you go the secret route. What do you say—pick you up at six forty-five?”
Perhaps Christian had asked her out after all, in a roundabout sort of way.
Still, it was something she’d usually say no to with as overly conscious of not leading anyone on as she’d always been.
But not anymore. Maybe Jimmy would come out to the resort, maybe he wouldn’t.
But Carly had the urge to free herself up a little.
Especially where Gage was concerned. “Sure,” she said. “That’d be great.”
She wasted no time getting ready. Probably not the best idea since she was zipped up, powdered off, and strapped into her heels nearly an hour before it was time to leave.
When Christian arrived in the golf cart, Carly had already known that Gage wouldn’t be seated by his side. He wouldn’t be at the banquet either, she told herself.
Which proved to be true.
Christian danced as part of the night’s entertainment.
He’d even shot her a wink from the stage while busting into one of his signature dance moves, something that made her smile and blush as the females in the crowd roared wildly.
It wasn’t until they were stopping at the gift shop on their way back to the bungalows that she thought of Gage once more.
And that’s when she spotted him, walking down the aisles with a small basket of items.
At the mere sight of him, Carly felt the tides of her emotions rise once more. Did Christian see him too?
“Here’s your card back,” Tiffany said, gaining her attention once more.
Carly stuck out her hand, palm up. “Thanks.” She tucked her card back into her phone case and snatched the package of sunflower seeds off the counter.
Christian had scored himself the same peanut butter protein bar Gage had given her. He tucked it into his pocket and motioned to the exit. Beyond the small shop, the golf cart was tucked against a shrub. “Shall we?”
Carly nodded, glanced to where she’d spotted Gage, and came up empty. “Sure.” As she moved her gaze to the exit, she spotted him once more. Those dark eyes narrowed as he inspected something in his grip.
“Hey, that’s Gage, isn’t it?” she blurted.
Christian stopped walking. His hand moved to her lower back. “Hey, Craven,” he called out. “Fancy meeting you here.”
Gage glanced up from the object in his hand, his dark eyes widening as he spotted her. A smile curved his full lips. And then he strode toward them. “What’s up, you two?”
Christian ditched the subtle hand-on-the-back for a more obvious claim—an arm around her shoulder—and pulled her into him. “Just heading back,” he said.
Gage looked at Christian, then back at Carly before speaking up. “Where were you?” He cleared his throat. “You both look really sharp, so…”
“Dinner,” Christian said.
“A staff party,” Carly added. She took one small step away from Christian, putting the slightest bit of distance between them, and felt her face flush with heat. She glanced down at the item in his grip.
“It’s for my mom,” Gage said, holding it for her to see. “She loves scented candles.”
She looked at the jar, the Royal Palm logo etched into the glass. “I do too,” she said. “What scent is it?”
“Here.” Gage pried the small lid from the jar, took a sniff of it, and then handed it over. “What do you think?”
Those gorgeous brown eyes held hers as she reached out and took the jar.
Her heart pounded wildly at his brief touch, and though she couldn’t exactly control it, Carly scolded herself for it just the same.
She brought it to her nose and inhaled. It was a tropical scent, her favorite.
Pineapple and coconut combined. “I love it,” she said.
Remembering that Christian was by her side then, Carly lifted it for him to smell. He gripped her hand gently as he lowered his nose to it. “Nice.”
Carly couldn’t help but love the way Gage had thought to purchase something for his mother at the gift shop. It was sweet. She handed it back to him and nodded. “I’m sure she’ll love it.”
“Well, we better get going,” Christian said.
“Yeah.” Gage straightened up and ran his fingers through his thick, brown hair. He shot her a smile, but she could tell it was off. “See you tomorrow, Carly.” He nodded at his buddy. “Christian.”
And with that, he strode back down the aisle.
“See you then,” she mumbled, not sure he’d hear it.
Christian removed his arm in time to open the door for her. Once they stepped outside, he didn’t move it back in place.
During the short ride back to the bungalows, the salty air a perfectly warm temperature, Carly mused back on the events of her long day.
Gage, Jimmy, and Christian seemed to be vying for her attention all at once.
Or perhaps it was just in her head. Either way, it was unsettling; she wasn’t sure who she wanted vying for her attention anymore.
Still, Carly was surprised to find that a part of her liked it too. At least a little. One thing was certain after her first workday of the season at The Royal Palm: this summer was sure to be an adventure. And this year, for the first time in a long time, she welcomed the idea.