Chapter 8
Chapter Eight
O nce she’d made the deposit and got back to the camper, Sara changed her mind a million times on whether or not to call up the hotel and leave a message for Rhys, cancelling the car service and the evening. At least her part in it.
Sara shoved the laptop off her lap onto the couch and glared at the clock, stomach churning when she remembered asking billionaire-heir Rhys Lachlan if his money was real. And then? Checking every bill to make sure it wasn’t counterfeit—in front of him.
She groaned and covered her face with her arms as she leaned back into the pillow behind her. The Lachlan family was world-renowned for their business acumen and success, and she’d insulted the man while dressed as a raccoon .
She’d read the amusement on his face, but now her ignorance and question took on a whole other level of embarrassment.
And today? The photos?
Standing next to him with every breath bringing with it the tantalizing scent of his cologne, feeling the way she fit against his side, his arm around her shoulders tugging her closer. And then closer.
She’d struggled to smile, to breathe normally. Because that man?
There was a reason he’d made the sexiest-man list repeatedly. Men like him could get whatever they wanted. Whomever they wanted.
So why her? He’d flirted with her despite the stupid costumes and— why ? She knew her number. She was a solid six on a good day. And that was being generous. Rhys was a fifteen on that same scale of ten. Seemingly a nice guy but so far out of her farm-girl league. She was a deeply rooted Christmas pine while he was a shooting star in the galaxy above. Something to be seen and admired from a distance.
She’d done some research after working on the story design she’d started a few weeks ago. Read the articles about his ex and their breakup. She’d even watched the video of Quinley Anders hanging over a penthouse balcony to make her escape on her wedding day.
Yet they still worked together on projects, like today, and Quinley’s fiancé’s restaurant was housed inside Rhys’s hotel?
It was…odd. Like, seriously weird. Wasn’t it?
Or was it an endgame play by Rhys to take his power away when and how he wanted to bring Quinley and her ex down? A power play he waited to deploy to destroy them at the most opportune moment? Because the uber-rich did things like that, didn’t they?
Her phone rang, and she lowered her arms to see who called, body tensing even more as she answered. “Hey, Dad. How’s Mom?”
“She’s doing great. Every day is a little better,” her father said. “Saralyn, what’s with the bank deposit? Is that a mistake? And Buck said you called to get more trees delivered?”
“It’s not a mistake, and I did call about more trees. I didn’t say anything last night because I wasn’t sure the customer would return today, but—I had a buyer come in last night and take every tree.”
“ All of them?”
“Yeah. And this morning he even brought help to load them, so all I had to do was drive the truck to deliver them to the hotel. They’re going to be displayed. I was about to call you, to check in and ask about visiting Mom since Buck said it would be a few days before he could get here.”
Her father relayed the news to her mother, and Sara could hear her mother’s groggy response in the background.
“And they’re for a hotel?” he asked next.
“Yeah, the big new one. They had someone there to take pictures when I got there and… Actually they asked me to return tonight once some of them are decorated to do more photos, for social media. They…mentioned it would be good exposure for the farm.”
“I’d say it would be by the looks of that deposit. You’re going to go back, right?”
She glanced at the clock and frowned. “I thought I might cancel, actually. I just think it would be better if you were in the photos. Since Buck’s going to be a few days, I could lock up and come stay with Mom while you take a break and come do the PR stuff.”
“Ah, sweetheart, I know you want to see her, but that makes no sense. Besides, it’s too expensive to do all that. I don’t want to leave your mama either. I want you to go. If the lot’s empty, you should get out and have some fun before you’re tied down by the trees again.”
She wrinkled her nose and rubbed a palm against her eyes. “It doesn’t feel right. To have fun while you’re both stuck in a hospital.”
“Nothing will make me budge from your mama’s side right now, and no one wants to see my old mug when they could see a pretty girl like you. Buck’ll be working all weekend at the farm for the big Christmas event there, but I’ll get him on the road as soon as it’s over. Probably Tuesday or Wednesday. Thursday at the latest, but he’ll be there before the weekend rush.”
“That’s fine, but are you sure I can’t take the time to come visit Mama?”
“Booking a flight this late would cost the world, Sara. You can’t afford it and neither can we. Wait until Christmas. When she’s not sleeping due to the pain medicine, they’ve got her doing physical therapy or running more tests. Just wait until the season is over. She might be in the rehab place by then and up for company.”
She hated that Mom was so far away but knew her father was right. She would be sitting around the hospital climbing the walls, or she could pitch in and do her part to actually help. “Okay, I’ll wait. I guess I should go get ready for tonight. Give Mama a kiss for me.”
“What costume you wearing for this one?” her father asked.
She bit back a groan. “No costume this time. Just regular clothes.”
“Well, you’ll represent us well either way,” her dad said.
They hung up, and she pressed the button on her computer to save her work.
It was going to be a long time before her mom recovered enough to not need hourly care. She wasn’t even out of the hospital yet, and while her father was great, he couldn’t do it all. While she could use the time to send out résumés, she hesitated because she didn’t know how long her family would need her.
Sara got up and went into the tiny camper bathroom. She’d changed out of the costume and washed her face as soon as she’d returned from the Lachlan Hotel, but when it came to going back this evening…
Professional was the way to go, she decided. She needed to showcase the other side of the coin, so to speak. Something opposite from the crazy costumes and fun family events on the farm.
She hadn’t packed a cocktail dress with her when leaving in such a rush to take her parents’ spot on the lot. But she had remembered how they were always invited to parties or gatherings by the local regulars, so she’d hastily thrown in a few dresses at the last minute, though at the time, she hadn’t exactly known why since her parents were the ones who’d made the connections over the years, and it was doubtful the dresses would be needed.
She pulled the deep red, body-molding sweater dress—her one and only designer label that she’d picked up at a second-hand shop—over sheer thigh-highs, and then dug into the bottom of the suitcase for the heels with ankle bands.
Maybe it wasn’t as fancy as a cocktail dress, but with her dark hair and olive complexion, she knew she looked nice.
She focused on her makeup, giving her eyes a bit of a winged appearance and adding a soft gloss to her lips. Out of time unless she wanted to be late, she ran a brush through her long dark hair and left it loose around her shoulders.
Nerves threatened to overtake her, but she shoved them off and reminded herself of the goal. Her parents desperately needed money to cover the hospital bills and rehab, and if a few photos would help the cause, and possibly get other hotels or businesses to notice them, who was she to argue?
A knock sounded at the camper door. Seven on the dot.
She grabbed her bag and coat and marched over, unlocking it to see a man in a dark suit on the other side. “Ms. Zinnick,” he said with a dip of his head. “My name is Cole Blackwell, and I’m your driver for the evening. Are you ready to go?”
She frowned at the name. “Do you know Analise Taylor? I met her earlier today.” Rhys employed yet another Blackwell? Weird just got weirder.
The man flashed a smile that lit his whole face, softening it. “She’s my fiancée. We’re getting married in the spring.”
“Congratulations,” she said, maneuvering the soft sand beneath her heels by shifting her weight to her toes.
Cole murmured his thanks and opened the rear door of the sleek town car, waiting patiently while she climbed inside. The ride to the hotel didn’t take long, and a valet ran to open her door once they stopped.
She entered the beautiful new hotel, taking in the upscale furnishings and decor. This wasn’t some run-of-the-mill beach motel but an honest-to-goodness resort that wowed.
“You look lovely, Sara.”
She turned to face Rhys and watched as his gaze ran over her, feeling her body warm in response.
“I wondered if you’d cancel our date.”
She blinked at his choice of words, heart stuttering at the heat in his gaze. “This is a photo opp. It isn’t a date.”
He gently took her elbow in hand to lead her toward a set of double glass doors. Outside she saw that some of the trees had been grouped and layered in varying heights and now twinkled with bright, sparkling lights. Giant lit gift boxes and oversized ornaments in pearl, teal, and gold lined the ground beneath.
“Hopefully by the end of the night it will be.”