8. Ryan
“Are you in a hurry to go home?” I ask as soon as she gets settled into my work truck. Normally, I drive an SUV, but working for Dad this summer, it’s easier to drive a company rig.
“Not really,” she admits. “Though you’re the one with an early schedule. I’m not working until eleven.”
“You let me worry about me,” I say, shutting her door and running to the other side of the truck to hop in.
The minute I join her in the cab she asks, “Why do I get the feeling you’re going to regret that statement? You have to get up early tomorrow.”
“I’m not an old geezer who goes to bed before the sun. Can I help it if I’m not ready for my time with you to end?”
“So you say,” she mumbles something about wondering why, but I don’t quite catch all of it.
That shit won’t do in my book.
“Look, I know you’re a client. I know shit could go sideways and it would be a miserable summer for both of us—but what if it doesn’t?”
God, she’s gonna think I’m nuts. I need to find an explanation that will make sense. To both her and myself at this point.
After a few moments of silence, I lay it all on the line.
I’ve watched from the sidelines for way too long.
After watching the one I compared all others to meet someone and truly fall in love, I vowed I wouldn’t stand back and let life pass me by again.
I’m tired of staying in the safe lane and it’s fucking time I stepped up and took a chance on being happy for myself.
But there’s no way I can explain this to Lanie—just yet.
Maybe when the time is right. But the time isn’t today.
Realizing she’s waiting for me to say more, I blurt out the rest of my conversation from my mind.
“Hell, I’m certainly not gonna get into this now, but trust me when I tell you I’ve wasted way too much time not listening to my gut.
With you, there are just too many coincidences to ignore. ”
“So… I’m not the only one feeling whatever this is… that’s going on between us?”
“I have no idea where it will lead… but can we start by spending more time together—not because we’re forced to—but because you choose to be with me?”
A playful smirk forms on her beautiful face. “Let’s start with tonight and go from there.”
“Okay, I’ll take that. Are you up for heading over to the Point? The tide is out and we can walk along the beach.”
“Sure. I can’t tell you how many hours I’ve spent watching my sisters surf from there. ”
Interesting.
“You don’t surf?”
Shaking her head adamantly, she says, “Nope. I prefer to know what’s under me when I swim. Besides, I crashed and burned once while I was learning pretty bad. That was all it took for me to view surfing as a spectator sport.”
She’s freaking adorable.
“That can do it to you,” I say with a laugh, but quickly add, “Sorry, you were hurt though,” when I realize she might take it the wrong way.
“It was more a hit to the ego and confidence, but I’m just not into drinking the ocean when I crash.”
“Yeah, it’s not supposed to work that way.”
Her light laugh fills the cab of the truck as she spits out, “No kidding.”
Once we’ve made our way down the few rocks between the road and the shore, Lanie stops and takes a seat on one of the bigger rocks. “Don’t get me wrong, I love the sand, but it doesn’t belong in my work shoes.”
Within seconds, she’s got her shoes off and is wiggling her toes in the sand.
When she doesn’t get up right away, I sit beside her on a rock and kick off my own shoes.
Unfortunately, I didn’t have another pair of boots this morning, so my Romeos had to do.
But they’re much easier to kick off than work boots, so I can’t complain.
Once we start walking she waggles her expressive brows and asks, “So… when you’re not working, what do you like to do in Seaside?”
“Hmmm…. When I was younger, I hung out with friends. Bu t since high school, we’ve all gone our separate ways and kinda outgrew one another. I hadn’t planned on being in town this summer, so I haven’t really told anyone I’m back. Lately though I haven’t done much but work.”
“I can relate. I don’t think I talk to many people from high school either, other than a few of my closer friends. Wait… what were your original plans?”
“Let’s just say, I originally planned to spend the summer in Boston and it didn’t work out.”
I watch her chew on her lower lip for a long minute, then she straightens her spine and looks me directly in the eye. “Girl problems?”
“God, no,” I spit out in a laugh from her unexpected bluntness. “I know I work for my family company, so I don’t have a lot of room to talk, but let’s just say nepotism isn’t always a good thing for companies.”
Her brows knit together and her lips purse. “What do you mean?”
“I went to Boston for an internship. My goal is to get into managing commercial projects on a large scale. I had this awesome opportunity to work for Don Stanford, a bigwig out in Boston, who’s taken his small company and is doing the things I would love to learn more about.
I’ve studied his career and admired some of the things he’s been involved in. ”
“So what happened?”
“He’s getting close to retirement and wants his son to take over the company…
and let’s just say we didn’t really see eye-to-eye.
His son wants to take shortcuts and some could have risked injury.
When I brought it up, he used his clout of being th e owner’s son as his defense for how things would be done on the project.
I tried to stick it out a few weeks, but when it became obvious Don was not actually going to be teaching me anything this summer, and one of my co-workers had to file for workman’s comp from an unnecessary injury, I quit on the spot.
I’m not willing to risk my name or reputation working for a clown that doesn’t know his ass from his elbow on a job site. ”
“Was he hurt bad?”
“No, he only needed a few stitches. But the fact that it happened at all is what pushed me to the breaking point. We’d already worked nearly twelve hours that day and Theo was pushing for us to rush through this one section.
In his haste, he left a hammer on the ladder to grab something he needed.
Andy thought he was done and went to move the ladder as he’d been instructed and the hammer came off, and it missed his hardhat, but sliced his shoulder on the way down. ”
“Ohmigod, that’s horrible.” She gasps.
“Yes. It was. But the worst part is instead of apologizing for leaving it up there to begin with, he ripped into Andy for moving the ladder in the first place. If this had been the first incident. I would have chalked it up to the wrong place, wrong time situation.”
Anger courses through me, remembering his response. Calming myself, I take a deep breath. “Let’s just say… Theo’s management style didn’t mesh with mine. He created an extremely hostile work environment.”
Lanie shakes her head and mutters, “No one deserves that.”
“The first time I had concerns, I tried to handle it myself. After another week went by and things kept happening, I finally voiced my concerns to the owner. Unfortunately, he dismissed it as… ‘well, Theo’s still learning the ropes.’”
Lanie groans and rolls her eyes, but I continue. “Yeah, I couldn’t agree more. I just couldn’t in good conscience stay at a company like that.”
“It sounds like you made the right decision.”
Rubbing the back of my neck I sigh, relieving all the tension built by just discussing this subject. “I did. Though it sucks that it didn’t work out. I really wanted to expand my experience in that area.”
“I get it. But maybe it’s like that old Garth Brooks song about unanswered prayers?”
“You’re a country music fan?”
She stares out at the crashing waves as a slow smile spreads across her face.
“It was Nana’s favorite. I can’t tell you how many times I’d visit and she’d have everything from Patsy Cline, Merle Haggard, and Dolly Parton to the most popular singers today, like Jason Aldean.
Honestly, I’m eclectic in my music tastes. ”
Now I’m curious. “Really, how so?”
“I grew up listening to country with Nana, heavy metal and classic rock with Dad, and Mom was more into top forties, though she would throw in some alternative rock and even R&B, hip hop, and artists like Eminem… so basically, if you turn a radio station to nearly any channel, I’m notorious to singing along with it. ”
She’s so animated as she talks, I’m dying to know more about her. “But do you have a personal preference? ”
“Nope. I’m more or less a mood listener. Growing up with three sisters we’ve always had music on in the house, and trust me, we’ve each gone through many stages. I guess if I had to choose, it would likely be pop or alternative rock. What about you?”
“Alternative rock and whatever’s popular on the radio. Living out here, we don’t always have the best reception for streaming and I hate riding in a quiet car for long distances, so I often resort to the radio.”
“Will you go to any concerts at the Seaside festival?”
“I hadn’t really thought about it. The town’s already crazy enough being summer but between the festival and that big movie being filmed, I’m not sure I want to deal with the crowds,” I admit.
“Wow, you wake up at the ass crack of dawn and you don’t like crowds. Do you also yell at people to stay off your lawn?”
This woman. “Har. Har. I’m not nearly old enough for that. I just like the quiet side of Seaside, when we can get across town in less than ten minutes, versus thirty. I take it you’re a fan of the festival?”
“Honestly, I am. I can’t wait for it. Not only will I kill it in tips, but I typically get at least one night off to enjoy the festivities. I’ve already got tickets to the book signing happening. A few of my favorite authors are coming to town. It will be amazing to meet them.”
The way she lights up at that last part makes me think there’s something more. “Really? Who’s that?”
“Ohmigod, two of my favorite authors are coming to this tiny town. Charlotte Anne and Stone Ryder will be in the same place at the same time.”
Holy shit. What are the odds?
How the hell do I tell her, without giving up Dani’s anonymity? Rubbing my palm down my face, I admit, “I… uh… met Charlotte Anne’s brother on campus last year.”
“What?” she practically shrieks. “He goes to CRU?”
Fuck. She got it wrong. “No… he’s not a student. He’s actually dating… I mean, engaged… to my best friend’s sister.”
“Wow. Have you met Charlotte?”
“Not yet, but I’m sure it’s only a matter of time. Since freshman year, Vince has practically become family and I’m attending his twin sister’s wedding next month.”
“That is so cool. With her being married to Luke Leighton, I’m sure you’ll meet him, too.”
“I take it you’re a Renegades fan as well?”
“How can I not be?” she asks in disbelief. “Though he certainly does make watching the games easy on the eyes.”
Did she really just say that?
Cocking a brow in her direction, I ask, “Is this something I should be worried about?”
Lanie swats at my arm. “No, silly. Though I appreciate his beauty, he’s happily married and a little out of my age range, don’t ya think?”
Somehow my body relaxes and I didn’t know just how much her answer would mean. Before I can let myself dwell on that bit of information, I quickly respond. “Hey, no judgment, but it’s nice to know I won’t need to view him as competition. ”
“Competition?”
Way to go, doofus. How the hell do you plan to get out of this one?
“Just trying to figure out your type,” I admit honestly.
Shit. Lanie’s rolling her lower lip under her teeth.
Why the fuck did I say that?
Slowly she exhales and her back straightens, as she pins me with those beautiful blue eyes. Fuck. I’m not sure I want this answer.
My heart’s thundering so hard in my chest, it might bruise my ribs.
“So, we’re perfectly clear. I’m fairly certain if I had to choose a type…”
Fuck.
Simultaneously, I blurt out, “You don’t have to answer that.”
As she says, “It would be you, Ryan.”
Blinking in surprise, I’m certain I’ve misheard her.
“C… Come again?” I sputter in disbelief.
I swear my heart is about to take flight out of my chest as I process the words she said.
Cocking her head to the side, she stares at me for an immeasurable amount of time.
Finally, she puts me out of my misery and she utters the words I never thought I’d hear. “You’re exactly my type, Ryan.”