by Parker, Ali
I grinned. Listening to her talk about mingling was strange. “Thank you for staying on top of this. Has Bentley checked in?”
“No,” she answered, offering nothing more.
“Thank you,” I said again and left the kitchen.
Bentley was supposed to have picked up the girls from the hotel twenty minutes ago. They should be arriving any minute. I was anxious to see her in a relaxed setting where I could hopefully get to know her.
I moved to the front door, looking forward to a breath of fresh air, and was greeted by Sade and her friends just coming in.
“Welcome,” I said, feasting my eyes upon her.
“Hi,” she said sheepishly.
“This house is amazing,” her friend exclaimed. “I’m Julia by the way, and that’s Khloe. Thanks for inviting us.”
“You’re welcome. You can put your bags in the coatroom over there.” I gestured to the room off to my right. “There’s drinks being served on the deck, or you can make your way down to the beach if you’d like.”
The blonde one, Julia, grinned. “Is it a private stretch of beach?” she asked.
I chuckled. “As private as it can be.”
“This place is absolutely gorgeous,” Sade said with genuine awe.
“Thank you. I’ll give you the private tour sometime. For now, I’ll take you into the living room and outside where the other guests have congregated.” I stepped beside Sade and put my hand on the small of her back. Her friends had already moved ahead and were looking right and left, taking in the sight of the massive house.
“Sade!” Khloe said loudly. “Come here! You have to see this!”
Sade turned and looked at me. “I better go see what she’s freaking out about, or she she’s just going to keep hollering.”
“No problem. I’ll find you later.” I left her with her friends and made my way to where Richie was standing, quietly gesturing for me to join him.
I smiled, said all the right things, and pretended interest in the conversation Richie and a few business owners were having. All the while, my eyes were searching for her. I had lost sight of her about half an hour earlier. I hoped they hadn’t decided to leave.
I saw her friends. They were mingling, and they appeared to be having a good time, but Sade seemed reserved. She stood just outside the circle of conversation, looking uncomfortable and out of place. I wanted to go to her but couldn’t shirk my duties as the host quite yet. They disappeared from sight.
I heard music and knew the DJ had finally shown up. I peered through the huge windows overlooking the backyard area and saw neon lights flashing from the platform that had been set up. I had spared no expense for the party. It was a kickoff to the summer season that I hoped set the tone for an excellent summer of good revenue.
“If you’ll excuse me, I need to check on a few things,” I said, finally able to pull away from the mundane conversation about taxes and land values.
I ventured outside to where the bulk of my guests had gathered. They were spread out among the tables we had brought in and had set up on the extensive patio area. Several people enjoyed an evening swim, and another group was on the private dock. I searched the area and didn’t find Sade or her friends.
I walked around the corner toward the pool, and I spotted her. It was as if I was naturally drawn to her and could find her anywhere. I slowly made my way to where she was sitting at the edge of the pool, her sandals resting behind her and her feet dangling in the water. Her friends were standing in the water close by, openly flirting with a couple of guys I didn’t remember inviting. I assumed they must be the sons of one of the guests.
“Hi,” Julia said, looking up at me with a big smile.
“Hi,” I said, startling Sade. Her head whipped around, looking up at me with surprise.
“Hi,” she stammered, her cheeks blushing again.
I liked how often she blushed. I kicked off my shoes, rolled up my pant legs, and sat down beside Sade. “Enjoying yourself?” I asked her.
She nodded. “Yes, thank you.”
I noticed her glass was empty. I pulled my feet out of the pool and stood up before waving at one of the waiters moving through the crowd with a tray filled with glasses of wine. I took the entire tray and carried it back to the edge of the pool.
“Here you go.” I balanced the tray on one hand and handed her a glass before offering glasses to her friends.
“Thank you,” Khloe said, grinning. “You are a full-service host.”
“I try,” I said with a wink, taking one of the glasses and sitting back down beside Sade.
“Have you lived here long?” Julia asked.
I shrugged a shoulder. “About two years.”
“Is that how long you’ve owned the hotel?” Sade asked in a soft voice.
“No, I’ve owned the hotel about five years.”
“It looks new,” Sade commented.
I chuckled. “Most of it is. When I bought it, it was falling apart. I got it for really cheap. After a lot of work, we got it turned around, but it was a rough road.”
“I bet it’s rewarding to see it go from shambles to what you’ve turned it into now,” she said, offering me a small smile. “It’s a beautiful place. You’ve paid a lot of attention to the smallest details.”
Her smile made my heart sing. My gaze locked on hers. “I pay attention to all the details. Every detail.”
I saw her suck in a breath. “Oh.”
I grinned. “Are you from Nevada?” I asked, wanting to know more about her.
“No, California. We’ve been at California Institute of Tech.” She seemed a bit more comfortable talking about school than herself.
“Really? What did you study?”
“I just got my master’s in biology,” she answered.
I raised both eyebrows. “No kidding? That sounds intense.”
“She’s a very smart lady,” her friend chimed in.
“I am not,” she murmured.
“She is,” Khloe added. “She’s kind of a genius.”
I looked at her, seeing the intelligence in her eyes. “What do you plan on doing with that kind of a degree?”
“I’ll be working in a medical lab,” she said.
“She’s going to be the woman that cures cancer and all the other horrible diseases out there,” Julia said.
“Impressive,” I commented, still looking at her. I loved that she was humble. It was her friends giving me information.
“It’s not that impressive,” she mumbled.
I heard my name being called and looked back to see Richie calling me over. I sighed, knowing he wouldn’t leave me alone until I joined him.
“Don’t leave,” I said, looking at her again.
“Leave?”
“Stay,” I told her, sensing she was anxious to leave. “Dinner will be served soon, buffet style. It’ll be good food. I’d like to talk with you more.”
I shared her dislike of parties and socializing, but it was a necessary evil for my business. I had to know the right people, and I had to maintain a positive reputation in the community. If the people didn’t like you, they ran you out of town. Lake Tahoe was a close, tight-knit community with a long memory. They didn’t forget and never forgave a snub. I couldn’t afford to have them feel like I had snubbed them.
“We’ll be here,” Julia answered when Sade said nothing. “We’re not going anywhere.”
“Good, I’ll find you,” I said, more of a promise than a statement.
I quickly unrolled my pants, put on my socks and shoes, and joined Richie, who was talking with the mayor. I made nice, offering plenty of platitudes and being kind in general. I was struggling to stay focused. All I wanted to do was find Sade and talk to her.
I loved learning more about her. I would have never pegged her for a scientist. I loved that she was reserved and not all about talking about herself. It only intrigued me more.
“I think dinner is being served,” I said, interrupting the may
or when he started on another story about one of his skiing escapades. “We should probably get in line.”
“Great, I’m starving,” he replied.
I escorted him to the back of the line. “I’ll talk with you later. I need to go check with the caterers and make sure everything is okay.” I patted him on the back. “Enjoy dinner.”
I found Mira in the kitchen, running the catering team like a well-trained platoon. “No, get out,” she told me, ordering me out of the kitchen and back to the party.
“I just wanted to check on things,” I offered.
“No, you wanted to escape your guests. I know you. Get back out there.”
I didn’t argue and fled the kitchen. She was a woman in her fifties, maybe sixties, but I had no doubt she could kick my ass if she wanted to. I wasn’t really hungry but didn’t want to stand out as the only person not eating. I made my way to the back of the line, looking for Sade and her friends.
I didn’t see them and hoped like hell they had already gotten their meals and were back by the pool. I got the impression her friends were on my side and were encouraging her to talk to me. It was good to have allies.
I was done trying to mingle for the night. After dinner, the bar would be open. I had kept the alcohol to a minimum before dinner, not wanting anyone to get too sloshed. Once they all had something in their stomachs, it was game on.
That was when people could let their hair down and enjoy the party instead of trying to network. I was going to find Sade and talk to her for the rest of the night.
Hell, if things went well, I might just get a kiss—or more.
Chapter 8
Sade
“He’s going to come back,” Julia said, sitting beside me at the table we had found near the edge of the patio.
I took a bite of the pasta I had scooped on my plate at the buffet. “He has an entire house full of guests. He’s not coming back.”
“Yes, he will,” Khloe said. “He’s into you.”
“Why? Why would he be into me? Did you see the blonde? I’m positive she’s a model. I think I’ve seen her on billboards. That’s who he is going to want to hang out with. He’s just a nice guy.” I shrugged a shoulder.
“Girl, you don’t see how pretty you are,” Julia said with a firm nod. “He does. I assure you. I saw the way he was looking at you. We both did. He is so into you, and I think he will absolutely find you.”
I wasn’t sure I wanted him to find me. I felt like such a bumbling idiot whenever he was around. He was gorgeous, and I felt truly flattered he had talked to me at all, but I wasn’t foolish enough to believe he was going to choose me out of all the women roaming about.
“What if he’s the one?” Khloe asked in a low voice.
I whipped my head around to look at her. “No!”
“Come on,” Julia said. “You’re twenty-four. There is no time like the present to lose that shiny little V-card you’ve been carrying around. A summer fling is perfect. It’s a no strings attached fling. You get to lose the virginity with a stranger that you never have to see again.”
My mouth fell open. “How is that a good idea? I’ve been waiting this long. I think I’ll wait until I’m married at this point.”
They both choked.
“You’re serious?” Khloe gasped.
“Yes, why not?”
“Because you have no game,” Khloe said, her voice low. “This guy is into you. You’re into him. It’s perfect. Promise us you’ll give him a shot.”
“Why are you—”
“Good evening, ladies,” I heard Trent say from behind me.
I spun around, looking up at him and finding myself all flustered again. “Hi,” I managed to get out.
It was one of the four words I had been able to speak around him. He probably thought the girls were lying about my future job.
“Mind if I join you?” he asked.
“Of course, please,” Julia said with a bright smile.
He put his plate on the table, taking the chair beside me. “Thank you. How is it?” He nodded at the plate.
“It’s very good,” I said, finally finding my words. “Is it a local place?”
“It is. It’s a small company, just started up a couple of months ago. I like to support the local businesses.”
The DJ put on a Maroon 5 song, something mellow but catchy. I liked that it wasn’t overly loud. “That’s cool that you do that.”
“I was the new guy in town once. I know how hard it can be.”
I felt more at ease with him, which surprised me. He was relaxed and easy to talk to. He seemed totally comfortable hanging out with the three of us nobodies. We were some of the youngest people at the party, but it didn’t seem to bother him a bit. I got the impression he was just as uncomfortable with the money milling about the party as I was. I felt like everyone could tell I was poor. They were all people of means and important in their own right. But out of all of them, he was hanging out with us.
“What brought you to Lake Tahoe?” I asked, munching on a carrot.
He smiled. “Honestly, I liked the idea of four seasons. I had some money from some investments I made when I was first starting out in the Army. I had no idea what I wanted to do for sure, but when I checked around for business opportunities, I found the hotel. It was cheap, and I jumped at the chance.”
“Is your family here?” I questioned.
He shook his head. “No, Washington.”
“Like DC or Seattle?”
“Seattle,” he answered. “You?”
I looked at Julia and Khloe. I had almost forgotten they were at the table at all. I had been so captivated by him. “My parents are in Texas.”
“Really? Are you from Texas?”
I giggled, not sure if it was the wine making me feel giggly or his attention. “I’m from everywhere and nowhere. Sixteen homes from the time I was born until I finally graduated high school and moved to California to go to school.”
He frowned. “Were you a foster kid?”
“Military brat,” I announced.
His eyes widened. “Really?”
“Yep. My dad was Army. He retired last year.”
He reached under the dress shirt and pulled out a set of dog tags. “I’m former Army.”
“Really?” I asked, wondering if that was what had drawn me to him.
“You said your last name was Jones. I have to ask, is or was your dad a captain by chance?”
I nodded. “Yes, he was.
He grinned. “Captain Ben ‘Barney’ Jones?”
I giggled. “The one and the same.”
“He was my CO,” he announced.
Both Khloe and Julia gasped. “No way!” they exclaimed in unison.
“Very much way,” he said, getting a strange look in his eye. “He was a good guy. I admired and respected him a great deal.”
“He is a good man,” I said. “Strict, though.”
“I can’t imagine what he would be like as a dad. Well, that’s not entirely true. He was a father to all of us. Lecturing us when we screwed up, there for us when we needed a little support. I’ve missed him. How’s he doing?”
I sighed. “Good. Retirement is not great for him. I think he’s bored. If he could have had it his way, he would have stayed in another four years. My mom put her foot down and demanded the golden years he promised her on their wedding day.”
He chuckled. “I find it hard to imagine a man like him being taken down by a woman.”
I raised my eyebrows. “She is not just any woman. She could have been a five-star general, running the whole damn thing.”
“She’s not lying,” Julia chimed in. “I’ve met her several times. The woman is seriously scary. She scared me more than the captain.”
“I guess that makes sense,” Trent said. “He’d need someone like that to run the show while he was deployed. I can’t believe you’re his daughter.”
“It’s a small world,” I said with a shrug.
; “We’re going to dance,” Khloe said, abruptly getting up and dragging Julia with her.
I opened my mouth to protest, but it was too late. They rushed away, leaving me alone with Trent, obviously their plan, but I was so going to kill them later.
“Do you want to dance?” he asked.
I looked at him, smiled, and shook my head. “I don’t really dance. At least, not in public.”
His deep chuckle vibrated around me. “Me either. I look like an octopus. On ice.”
I burst into laughter, slapping my hand over my mouth. “Oh my god. That image.” I shook my head.
“Sorry, but I have no coordination,” he said. “I can shoot straight and pack an eighty-pound ruck, but damn if I can get my feet to dance. Or my body.”
“I know what you mean. I feel like a walrus when I’m out there.” I laughed.
“No way. You would look hot. Is there any way I can convince you to get out there and shake your thang?” He waggled his brows.
I shook my head. “Definitely not. That is never going to happen. Not when I’m sober at least.”
“Hmm, that sounds like a challenge.”
My eyes widened. “No. I’m not getting wasted enough to dance like I’m alone in my apartment.”
He had a sparkle in his eye, a look of pure mischief. We talked and drank and talked some more. He showed no interest in anyone else. He made me feel like the only person in the room—or the patio, I supposed. There was plenty of laughter and music all around us, but it was as if it was just the two of us.
I noticed the crowd thinning out and realized it was getting late. “I should probably grab the girls and get out of here. I’m sure you have about a million things to do in the morning.”
“No, stay. It’s not that late.”
I reached out and grabbed his hand. The second I touched him, it was like being hit by lightning. The jolt shocked me.
I quickly regained my composure and pulled his wrist across the table to look at his watch. “It’s almost midnight!”
I’d had no idea it had gotten so late. We truly had been talking for hours.
“Stay,” he said, his voice low as his hand reached out and touched mine.