Chapter 3 #3
“I care for him, too,” she said, and he heard the wistfulness in her tone. For a moment, she had a faraway look in her eyes, and then she seemed to come back to reality. Her gaze met his.
“Don’t worry, Zane,” she said firmly. “Sullivan and I know we’ll be going our separate ways soon.
But first, we’re going to kick up our heels next weekend and enjoy our stay at Tidewater.
I’m looking forward to dining on delicacies.
Taking advantage of the swim-up bar. Luxuriating in sheets with an obscenely high thread count. ”
Piper smiled brightly, and he thought perhaps he had been wrong. That Piper didn’t care for Sullivan as much as he cared for her.
“I really appreciate you allowing me to accompany Sullivan to Tidewater. It’s not the kind of place I’ve ever stayed before.
I know I’ll enjoy it. Our friends, too.” She glanced around.
“Cecily is a nurse, and Michael is a firefighter. Mila and Carson teach at the high school. Danny runs the ferry, while Denise owns the local bakery. It’ll be nice for all of us to be spoiled by staying at Tidewater. ”
He shrugged, not wanting to take credit for having invited the eclectic group.
While they were not the clientele that Tidewater would serve, those present tonight would appreciate their stay at a luxury resort.
They would also give more honest feedback than one of the wealthy clients who frequented Wagner properties.
That kind would say charming things to your face—and stab you in the back with vicious gossip among their friends.
“Sullivan is the one who is in charge of the list. He’s added who he wants. What I will need is honest feedback.”
Piper laughed, and Zane could see how her rich, vibrant laugh had attracted his friend.
“After running the Bay Breeze and cooking and cleaning for guests, you can be sure I’ll be very frank in whatever feedback I provide.”
Zane smiled evenly at her. “Being in the people business is tough.” He glanced up. “I think Keaton is taking things off the grill. Shall we grab something to eat?”
He followed Piper to the kitchen, and Zane piled his plate high with food he rarely ate but knew would be delicious.
Then he reached a bowl of something unfamiliar. “What’s this?”
Kylie responded. “I brought that. It’s Texas caviar. Some people refer to it as cowboy caviar. You can use those tortilla chips in the bowl next to it to scoop it up.”
He took two generous spoonfuls of it, as well as a handful of the chips, intrigued by the mixture. He spotted black-eyed peas, corn, and black beans, as well as green onions and bits of red bell pepper.
Zane followed others into the dining room and took a seat. Kylie wound up sitting next to him.
“Have you tried the caviar yet?” she asked, placing her napkin in her lap as a smile played about her lips.
“I’ll make it my first bite.”
Zane took two tortilla chips in hand, using one to push some of the dip onto the other.
After chewing, he said, “This is incredible. I used to come to Texas every summer and stay with my grandparents, Neville and Nellie Wagner from the diner. I put in a lot of hours at that diner. Sweeping and mopping. Working the grill.”
“You worked at the diner?” she asked, clearly surprised.
“What? You think a city boy can’t come visit his country grands and put in a little sweat?” he teased.
Zane never teased anyone. He had been a prankster and wild child in his youth, enjoying a good time over grades, which seemed to come easily for him.
He had extended those good times during his college years, but he had begun to change once he started working for his father.
Alexander Wagner was a perfectionist and expected the same from his employees, especially his son.
Zane found he had grown more sober over the years.
It had only become stronger after his failed marriage.
These days, it seemed Zane was all work and very little play.
Suddenly, he wanted to play with this woman seated next to him. Recapture a bit of his youth and fonder times.
He dug into his food with gusto, listening to the bantering about the table, but he spent more time thinking about whether or not to have a fling with the woman beside him.
She seemed playful and at ease with him, even though Piper must have told her of his wealth and status.
Since Kylie came alone tonight, he needed to find out if her significant other had been detained or if she might be available during his time in the Bay.
“You came alone tonight,” he said to her. “Boyfriend or husband tied up?”
“I’m not seeing anyone,” she said, her eyes growing suddenly wintry, and his gut told him that she very well might have gone through something which hurt her as much as he’d been hurt. That she wasn’t ready—or open—to a brief, casual affair.
Treading carefully now, he said, “Piper told you why I’m here. What do you do for a living, Kylie?”
The smile returned to her face. “I’m Kylie Mayfield—of Mayfield Charters.”