by Anthology
“Tell her that I’m looking forward to seeing her tonight.”
“That’s all you got?” Skepticism laced Archer’s voice. “I know Sam, and you’re going to have to do better than that.”
Trent thought about it for a second. Archer was right. He was going to have to do a lot better. “Tell her that I think I’d be willing to let her be the captain if she’s willing to go sailing and to meet me at nine.”
“Okay.” Archer drew out the word. “I’m going to assume she’s going to have some idea of what this means?”
Trent couldn’t keep the grin off his face. “She’ll know.”
“Alright, man. Good luck.”
His plan in place, Trent hung up the phone and was finally able to settle into work. By filling the time with taking care of all the last-minute details on his list, the afternoon flew by and he was just about to close down his computer and find Dylan to head over to the festival when his brother found him.
“Trent.” His office door flew open and his brother, looking rather disheveled, stood in the doorway. “I need your help. Now.”
He hurried around his desk. “What’s wrong? You look like hell.”
“That’s because I’ve been cleaning out fountains and filters for the last hour. We need your help. There’s no way we’re ever going to get it all done. Come on.”
“Slow down.” Trent followed his brother from the office and into the main corridor. “What are you—”
The question died on his lips as he saw the chaos in front of him. The normally serene space had been torn apart with what looked like pieces of pumps or mechanical debris piled on tarps. “What the hell?”
“This,” Dylan waved his hand, “is what I’m talking about. Kurt finally figured out what was causing the fountains to stop working. It turns out that the minerals in the natural spring water we were running through the system basically overloaded the main pumps. Maintenance didn’t account for the mineral-dense water and…” He waved his hand around again.
“Shit. Really?”
“Really.”
“So how do we fix it? Can we—”
“The main pumps have been repaired and Kurt worked some sort of magic, basically treating the water that will go through the fountain system so it’s not quite so problematic. The water in the pools will stay full strength springs water, but the decorative water has to be, pardon the phrase, watered down.”
Relief coursed through him. Thank goodness his brother was on the job. “That’s a relief.” He looked at Dylan, who did not look as relaxed as he should considering the crisis had been averted. “What?”
“Don’t get too comfortable yet. The main system is fixed, but the water has left deposits in all the fixtures and they’re not going to work until they’re cleaned. Which means—”
“They won’t be running for the opening.”
“That’s right.” Dylan bent down and grabbed a wire brush from a nearby tool bag. “And given the sheer number of water features you insisted on at the resort, it’s all hands on deck, brother.” He slapped the brush into Trent’s hand. “We have a lot of work to do to get everything up and running.”
~ ~
Everything was in place. As Samantha walked through the room, she marveled at how it could even be her Grizzly Paw. The place was entirely transformed. Jules had done an amazing job. How an eleven-year-old could pull off such a feat was beyond her, but she was more than impressed. And it hadn’t mattered to the girl that the majority of the festival took place outside; she insisted that the Grizzly Paw look the part as well. It was stunning.
Paper pom poms in bright summery colors hung from every available ceiling space to give the room an almost surreal feeling as the lights illuminated the tissue and cast a multicolored glow throughout the space.
Even though Trent had said the budget wasn’t an issue, Sam still encouraged Jules to do it on the cheap, so she’d dug around in the storeroom and found a box of unused mason jars that she’d filled with wildflowers and placed on all the tables and along the front bar. The whole space looked, well, summery—which was the point. As Sam moved through the room, enjoying the way her skirt of the red sundress she’d picked out just for the occasion floated around her bare legs, she let her hand trail along the tables and chair backs and a feeling of what could only be described as happiness washed over her.
It was fleeting, however, as thoughts of Trent intruded on her good mood. Given the day before, she should have been feeling good. Better than good—she should have been floating through the day. But during the night, of which she’d slept very little, she’d come to a realization. Despite her best efforts, she’d fallen in love with Trent.
If pressed, she couldn’t have explained it to anyone but there was no other way to account for the tingle in her belly whenever she thought of him, the heat that washed over her making it almost impossible to function, and the overall ache in her heart when she realized her feelings were definitely not reciprocated. Trent wasn’t a relationship kind of guy. He was all business. And even on the off chance that he did want more than one night with her, she’d done her best to make sure he knew she wasn’t interested.
“God.” She spoke aloud to the empty room. “I’ve been such a bitch.”
“It happens sometimes. But you look hot. You really should wear your hair down more often.”
Sam turned around to see Beth, dressed in her gorgeous dress, her hair piled high on her head, standing at the bar. “Sorry,” she said. “I know you’re not open for the festival yet.”
“For you, I’m always open.”
Needing her best friend more than ever, Sam pulled her into a hug, careful not to crumple her dress.
“What was that?” Beth asked kindly. “Just needed a hug for some reason?”
Sam nodded.
“And I bet I could guess what that reason is.” Sam didn’t bother to protest. “Does the reason start with a T?”
Beth took Sam’s hand and led her to a nearby table. “Talk.”
Sam sighed. “I think I’m in love.”
Beth couldn’t have smiled any wider if she’d just been proclaimed Miss Cedar Springs. She jumped up and down and clapped her hands like a schoolgirl. “That’s so amazing,” she squealed. “And Trent is perfect. Tall, dreamy, successful, and oh so yummy.”
Sam narrowed her eyes and tipped her head. “I don’t think you should be thinking about your boss like that.”
“He’s not my direct boss. Besides, it’s the truth.”
Sam didn’t bother to answer; instead, she devoted her attention to a napkin that she suddenly felt needed to be ripped into tiny pieces.
“Wait.” Beth slapped her hand down on the table. “If you’re in love, shouldn’t you be happy? Lord knows I’m no expert, but from my very limited experience I think you should be dancing and shouting it out and at the very least, smiling.”
Sam looked at her best friend. She was glad she was back in Cedar Springs, and hadn’t Trent made that happen? Even if it was indirectly. For that, she’d always be grateful to him. And even if it wasn’t possible to be with him, she couldn’t stand around and mope about it. “It’s fine,” she said after a minute. “I think I just got my hopes up for something that wasn’t there.”
“How do you know?”
“Pardon?”
“You’re a smart woman, Sam. Strong, too.”
Sam waited. “And?”
“And…I’ve never known you to be such a wimp.”
Sam’s mouth dropped open.
“Seriously,” Beth continued, obviously on a roll. “The Sam I know goes after what she wants and at the very least doesn’t sit by and let it slip away without so much as a peep. Are you seriously going to let it go? Just like that? Without saying one word to him? That doesn’t sound like the strong, independent, determined woman I know. Does it?”
“Well…I…there doesn’t seem to be…oh for God’s sake, you’re right.” Sam pushed up from the table. “I’m bein
g a total baby about it all.”
Beth nodded in agreement. “You are.”
“Thanks for that.” She gave her friend a smirk. “But you’re right. I at least have to say something. How else will I ever know what could have been?”
“Or what could be. Besides, maybe he feels the same way.” Beth leaned back in her chair and crossed her bare legs.
For a moment, Sam allowed herself to consider that possibility. She remembered the way he’d looked into her eyes, the tender way he’d touched her and stroked her hair. “No.” She shook her head, not letting herself get her hopes up. “But at least this way I’ll know for sure. I’ll say something when I see him later.” She smoothed her hands down her dress and fluffed her hair—that she’d worn down on purpose—back, behind her shoulders. She took a deep breath and as she exhaled, let the stress and worry of the last twenty-four hours go with it. “Thank you. Sometimes I need a bit of Beth in my life.”
“And that’s why I’m here, darling.” She blew Sam a kiss. “Now go and make this the best summer solstice festival the town of Cedar Springs has ever seen. How can it not be? We have Jacked Crackers, for goodness’ sake. I read an article on them last month, and the guitar player, Slade, is kind of cute.” She batted her eyelashes and Sam laughed.
“Slade?” She eyed her friend knowingly. “Don’t tell me you go for the rock star type?”
Beth stood and joined her. “You know I don’t. That would be the last type of guy I’d need or want in my life. But hey, a girl can dream, can’t she?”
CHAPTER 10
As the sun set, the party was in full swing and Sam’s mood lifted just walking through the transformed field area that was full of her friends and neighbors all laughing, dancing, and having a great time. Jules had worked her magic on the outside area, too. With the help of her new friends, she’d strung an incredible amount of twinkling lights through the trees, and pulled some old patio lanterns across the dance floor, which was really just a few large sheets of plywood that Archer had arranged to be donated by the hardware store.
“How about a dance?”
Preston. With everything going on with Trent, she’d totally forgotten about him. “No time to dance.” She shrugged. “I have a party to run.”
“I think the party is running itself.” Preston ran the back of his hand down Sam’s bare arm, causing a chill to run through her. Suddenly the gentle breeze blowing off the lake was too much. She pulled away and wrapped her arms around her waist. “You look beautiful, Sammie. I can’t remember the last time I saw your hair like that.”
She touched her hair self-consciously, before remembering why and who she’d worn it that way for. “Thanks, Preston. I feel good. But I’m also very busy tonight. I’m sure there’s some single woman who’d be happy to dance with you.”
“But it’s not you?” He tipped his head in question and batted his eyelashes in the pouty way that for some bizarre reason used to work on her when they were younger.
“No.” She laughed. “It’s not me.”
Even if she put herself out there and Trent rejected her, Sam knew in that moment as she looked at the man who’d occupied so much of her time that now that she’d had a taste of what real passion and love—even if it might be one-sided—looked like, she’d never go back to what she had with Preston. Never.
“No,” she said again, this time with a big smile. “It’s definitely not going to be me.” Leaving him staring after her, she walked away, being sure to wiggle her hips so the skirt swished around her bare legs in a way that she knew was killer.
The band was onstage, finishing up their first set, and it didn’t seem to matter to the older residents that they had no idea who the Jacked Crackers were; they were dancing right along with everyone else. She had to admit, the band was a success. It didn’t seem to matter, Sam thought as she danced her way across the dance floor. No matter what was playing, the people of Cedar Springs were in a partying mood and the fact that she brought it to them made her glow with pride. She tried not to think of the expenses, even if they were smaller than she’d forecasted, what with Jules doing the decorations and Trent providing a band. A stack of bills on her desk would still need to be paid. She’d worry about it later.
Sam pushed her concerns from her mind and went to find Jacked Crackers backstage. She gave her name to their security team and the beefy bouncer let her past. Thank goodness they’d thought to bring their own security, because it hadn’t even occurred to Sam that they might need some. The life of a rock star, or musician or whatever, was so far from her reality, she hadn’t given it much thought beyond the music they’d be playing.
The backstage area wasn’t much more than some tables and chairs arranged in a loose circle. There was a curtain that had been draped up around the space, presumably to give them privacy. And all in all, it was actually kind of cozy.
“That was great,” she said to the guys as they came offstage. “The crowd loves you.”
The men nodded and smiled as if they heard that all the time, which they probably did considering they were big news pretty much everywhere.
“It’s cool playing a small town.” A particularly scruffy, yet very good-looking man who Sam recognized as one of the guitar players, said. “We usually play big arenas, with the crowd screaming and—”
“It’s awesome,” one of his bandmates interrupted him. “Chicks screaming and throwing themselves at—”
“Shut up, man.” The guitar player punched his friend and stood, putting distance between him and his bandmate. “Sorry about Cal. He’s a drummer and…well, anyway I’m sorry you had to hear that.” He ran his hand through his scruffy dark hair before offering it to Sam. “I’m Slade.”
“Slade?”
He nodded and shrugged. It was easy to see why Beth thought he was so cute. But she was right, a rock star was definitely not the type of guy she needed in her and Jules’s life. Especially after what she’d just overheard.
“Nice to meet you.”
“I want to thank you for letting us play your gig.” Slade’s smile was genuine, and despite the fact that he was probably used to people fawning all over him, Sam could see there was a real guy under the facade.
Sam laughed. “No,” she said. “I’m pretty sure I should be the one thanking you. We really appreciate you guys coming out to play such a small town.”
“It’s a nice change. We usually play such big places that you can’t connect with the audience, you know?”
Sam didn’t know, but she nodded.
“And we’re about to go on tour again,” Slade continued.
There was a flash of something in his eyes when he spoke. Regret maybe? Sam didn’t have time to think on it because the lead singer, Axel, who she’d been introduced to earlier, joined them. “Everything okay, boss?”
“I’m hardly the boss.” She smiled, relaxing. “And yes. Everything’s great. You guys sounded awesome. Everyone’s having a great time. Do you guys have everything you need? Because if you need anything, I can get…Archer?” She stared as he walked into the circle and placed a tray full of appetizers and drinks on the table in front of the guys. “I guess you have everything you need.”
“We’re good, love. Arch has been taking good care of us all afternoon.” Both men went immediately to the food and joined their bandmates in devouring the offering.
“Oh, I bet he has.” She shot Archer a look, but he just smiled and shrugged.
“You were busy. Someone had to do it.”
“Uh huh.” She bit her lip to keep from smiling. “I didn’t take you for the groupie type.”
Her friend’s face flashed with shock and then a very rare blush before he smiled and said, “Little-known fact, but I’ve always wanted to be in a band.”
Sam narrowed her eyes. “But you don’t play an instrument.”
“Details.”
“And we’d love to have him, too,” Axel called. He held up a chicken wing. “With food like this, you can be
our road manager.” The other guys grunted in agreement as they devoured the food in front of them.
“No deal.” Sam laughed. “He’s mine and you can’t have him.” She grabbed his arm and led him away to a quiet corner. “Is everything good to go back here?”
“I got it covered, Sammie. Nothing for you to worry about. I promise.”
She nodded. “Thank you. So they’ll go back on, sing for a bit—”
“A set,” Archer corrected. “They’ll play a set.”
“Okay, fine. They’ll play a set.” She looked to him for approval and when he nodded, she continued. “And then the toast to the summer around ten. And then they’ll si—I mean, play another set.”
Archer laughed. “You’ll get it.”
“Uh huh.” She smoothed her dress again. She still hadn’t seen Trent, and she was beginning to get nervous that he wouldn’t come. “Hey,” she asked, changing tack. “You haven’t seen Trent, have you? Has he come to check on…what?”
Archer’s face underwent a transformation that made her breath catch.
“Oh shit.”
“What?”
“I totally forgot.” He dug through his back pocket and produced a crumpled napkin. “I’m such an ass.” He thrust the napkin at her. “Here.”
It wasn’t like Archer to forget anything, and it really wasn’t like him to look so stricken. She opened the napkin slowly, smoothing it out before she could decipher Archer’s scrawl. She stared at the words for a moment, and read them once. And then again, before looking up at him.
“Sam,” he started before she could say anything. “I’m sorry. It totally slipped my—”
“What time is it?”
“Sammie, don’t be mad. I really am sorry. I can’t—”
“What time is it?”
Archer blinked and pulled his cell phone out of his back pocket. “Almost nine thirty.”
“What?” Sam took a deep breath and forced herself to calm down. It was only half an hour after when he said he’d be there. It wasn’t the end of the world, or more accurately, the end of her chance with Trent.