Up to Me (Shore Secrets)

by Christi Barth

  “That’s why you found me at the front desk. I came out here to give orders to Eugene, the desk clerks, and all the bellmen not to let anyone into the spa without an appointment. And not to transfer calls either, unless it was to make an appointment. Enough is enough.”

  “Good for you.” He gave her hands a quick, double-squeeze.

  “But then I picked up all these messages, and Joanna accosted me.” Her shoulders sagged. “How can I expect my staff to follow rules I don’t follow through on? I should’ve sent Joanna packing without trying to placate her.”

  “Don’t go overboard. You handled her perfectly. You heard her side, and then firmly stated your final decision. Better than ignoring her completely. Keep the message and delivery consistent, and I’m sure word will spread quickly that you’re not messing around.”

  “I didn’t cancel the party. I moved it by six damn days. In the grand scheme of life, how does that matter? They can’t just come in here and tell me what to do. Tell me that my parents would be disappointed in me. Tell me that I must not be fully recovered to make such a harebrained decision. You know what I want to tell them?”

  Aware that guests were still milling through the lobby, Gray tempered his response. “To do something anatomically impossible to themselves?”

  “Repeatedly.”

  He waited for a beat. Put on his most serious face. “Maybe you could go write that suggestion in the journal.”

  Ella giggled. Then quickly progressed to a full-blown belly laugh that doubled her over. Until soon she was gasping for air, hands pressed to her ribs.

  “You okay?”

  “I am now. Thanks to you.”

  “Glad I could help.” And he really was. Kind of a new feeling. Sure, Gray helped old ladies carry their groceries to the car. Braked to let a kid retrieve his football in the street instead of running over it. But this feeling of being in a partnership was definitely different.

  “I’ve whined enough. There’s some good news and some interesting news I want to share with you.”

  Gray looked up at the carved grape clusters on the ceiling molding, pretending to think, one hand stroking his chin. Then he snapped his fingers and grinned at her. “You canceled your appointments for the rest of the week and booked us tickets to Jamaica.”

  “Gee, you know, that was my original plan,” she said, without missing a beat. “Before you came up with the idea to move this party. Now I’m stuck here dealing with the blowback. All your fault. All this,” Ella shimmied in her seat a little, “covered in coconut oil, could’ve been yours for the taking.”

  He squeezed his eyes shut against the magnificence of her breasts jiggling in the neckline of her sweater. The fireplace behind them could’ve been roaring again, and all Gray would’ve felt was the heat she fired up between his heart and his dick. And he was well on the way to worrying that one time with Ella would in no way dowse that heat. That they could spend three days straight in bed and it wouldn’t begin to sate his burning hunger for her. Then where would he be when it came time to leave?

  “If you want, we could continue this private celebration up in my suite.” He leaned closer, shifted one leg against the chair. Winced as it scraped against his still seeping cut. And remembered why he’d come inside in the first place. “Damn it, no.” Regret speared through him. “I’m on a mission of mercy. Joel and I are babysitting a kid.”

  “You really are a take-charge guest, aren’t you? We need more like you. It’d cut down significantly on our staffing costs,” she said, tongue in cheek. “One of the bellboys called in sick. Feel free to help out during check-in around four o’clock.”

  “I’m afraid I only take on one staff job per day. Before I start expecting to be comped, that is. What would it be worth to you if you got to sit here and watch me pop my biceps, carting in luggage?”

  Her eyes widened, then darkened. Smoldered with the heat of white-hot briquettes. “That’s a tempting offer. But I wouldn’t want the female guests distracted by your display of manliness.”

  “Thoughtful as always.” Gray stood. “The kid’s dad is golfing. Mom’s at your spa. Doesn’t seem like they gave a second thought to what he’d do while they were off having fun. We’re gonna play some badminton with him until she’s done. Will you have Brooke send his mom out to the lawn when she’s done?”

  “Absolutely.” She popped up to tug on his sleeve. “But I need two more minutes to share my good news.”

  “Sorry—you sidetracked me with your talk of oiling up.” And that was an image he would not be able to shake even if he poured a pitcher of crushed ice down his pants. “Hit me with the goodness.”

  “Interesting news first. Kevin, the grandson of the bank manager who discovered some company’s been sniffing around the Manor’s financials? I think he’s got a future in cyber security.”

  A cold wash of dread slicked through him. “Why?”

  “He back-traced,” her nose crinkled adorably, “or something close to that in computer-ese—don’t ask how, because I sure don’t understand it—Kevin found out the name of the company gunning for us. Ruffano & McIntosh Holdings, LLC.”

  “The kid’s a whiz,” said Gray, with honest appreciation. But God, what if he kept going? R&M didn’t have a list of staff on the website for obvious security reasons. Hard to be undercover with your name splashed under the company logo. But if this computer prodigy kept hacking, he might unearth Gray. Then what? Should he assume the worst? Check out right now without waiting for his cover to be blown?

  He probably should. Probably would, if this was any other assignment. But Gray didn’t want to give up a second of the scant time he had left with Ella. Their big date was tonight. He couldn’t disappear. But how could he justify the risk of staying?

  Ella tucked a stray lock of hair behind her ear. “I told him to stop there. I don’t want to raise any red flags to let them know that we know about them. They look like a huge, money-grubbing corporation. I’m hoping that we’re too small to be worth their effort.”

  “Here’s hoping.” Okay. That bought him some time. He could see this thing through without worrying about being revealed. Desperate for a new subject, Gray rubbed the back of his neck. “Interesting news as advertised, but I’m ready to hear the good news.”

  “Well, with the party moved, the Manor’s already gotten four new bookings for the long weekend. All suites, all three days.” Ella jumped up and down twice. Clapped her hands together with a dazzling smile of glee. “Your plan worked. We only opened the availability on those dates last night. Eugene thinks we’re on our way to being sold out.”

  Gray folded her into a tight embrace. “That’s great.” And it was. He was thrilled for her. Genuinely happy. In this moment, he wouldn’t let his heart battle with his brain. Wouldn’t even acknowledge how this could end up making things trickier for his company. How the bank wouldn’t be as willing to let Ruffano & McIntosh call the note on a more solvent Mayhew Manor. With a new manager coming on board and the uptick in sold rooms, Ella could rightfully argue that they were on the road to turning things around financially. If nothing else, it’d buy her some breathing room with the bank. Maybe even help her get a new loan. R&M never wanted a fight on their hands. They specialized in quick-and-dirty takeovers.

  No, he’d concentrate on Ella’s personal victory. The way she’d done what she believed to be right, even though it meant standing up to the town. He was so damn proud of her.

  Shit. Gray wasn’t just proud. Or thrilled. The realization washed over him with the refreshing softness of an ocean breeze. And the strength of a tsunami. He’d fallen for her. His head right over her peach polka-dotted, sneakered heels. Sure, there was a healthy dose of lust at his core, ready to erupt at any second. But more than that was his appreciation of Ella’s strength, her passion for the things she cared about. Her sweetness. The way he
r tenderness touched him in places he’d forgotten or ignored for years. What the hell was he supposed to do about this? Gray closed his eyes and pressed his cheek a little tighter to the soft sweep of her hair.

  But she pulled out of the hug. Framed his face with her hands, stood on tiptoe and gave him a slow kiss on the forehead. “Thank you. Not just for the idea, but for forcing me to work through it, weigh the pros and cons. It was a smart move. It was the right move for the Manor.”

  Right. The Manor. Gray slammed the door on his pain-in-the-ass feelings. “I’m glad you feel that way, because I’ve got some news of my own to share.”

  “Okay.”

  He hoped this went over well. That Ella didn’t call him an interfering jackass and storm off. Especially now that she’d tapped into her feisty side today. “I booked you a wedding.”

  “Why Mr. Locke, this is all so sudden.” She held out her left hand, waggled her fourth finger. “I’ll need to see the ring before I decide, of course. I prefer pear-shaped, set in platinum, and at least a full carat.”

  “Very funny. I booked a wedding to take place in the ballroom.”

  Her arm dropped to her side as though she were a marionette with severed strings. Then she took a step backward and pretty much fell into the chair. Gripping its arms, Ella said, “Are you serious?”

  It was definitely a big reaction. Gray just couldn’t tell if it was good or bad. “Don’t worry. I didn’t roll out a contract or anything. But I did talk to Marsha.”

  “Marsha...our events manager? When did you even meet her?”

  Going with the truth—that he’d deliberately waited for her to get off shift, then struck up a conversation with her in the parking lot to ask about the events department—would just lead to more questions Gray didn’t want to answer. Didn’t even want Ella to know that he’d asked. So he plastered on a wide-eyed grin and said, “I’m a friendly guy. Anyway, you know that historic schoolhouse out on Route One?”

  “I know the one that used to be there before it burned down last week.”

  “Exactly. Marian Derulo and Darrell Fridley were supposed to get married there on Memorial Day. I ran into them in the flower shop, when they were trying to come up with an alternative. I mentioned that the Manor was free, and they flipped out. Literally. Marian flipped her chair over backwards and hugged me.”

  “I know the feeling.” Ella jumped up and threw her arms around Gray. “I can’t believe you hooked them up with us. That’s the most romantic thing anyone’s ever done for me.”

  Whew. Good. Cause he’d offered up the Manor hoping it’d wring a positive reaction from her. Gray just hadn’t counted on one this enthusiastic. Not that he was complaining. It helped him ignore the stern voice in his head that warned him about staying objective. About not picking sides. About being a company man who put work first and foremost. The voice that said he’d just drawn a line in the sand—and then stepped way the hell over it. Straight into a pit of emotional quicksand.

  Chapter Thirteen

  Ella pressed her palms against the smooth leather of the car seat. Then she moved her hands beneath her jean-clad thighs. And considered running the entire multiplication tables in her head. Anything to soothe her jitters. Anything to distract her from a serious case of first-date-itis. That horrible mix of nausea, dry mouth, sweaty palms and rapid heartbeat that felt like the flu crossed with a minor pulmonary embolism. She didn’t know if men were immune, but women were struck down by it all the time. The only cure? Surviving the first date and moving on to a second.

  She looked over at Gray. Took in his tousled hair, chiseled profile, and looked away again before suggesting they pull over and make out in the car like teenagers. Stared instead at the familiar landscape of fields and trees off to the right. “Where do you usually take women on a first date?”

  “Whoa. Flag on the play.” He even threw in a long beep of the horn to drive home his point. “You can’t do that.”

  “Do what?”

  “Ask about other women.” Gray shook his head. “That’s not standard first-date material. That’s a conversational minefield couples try to avoid as long as possible.”

  Whoops. “You’re right. I’m sorry.” She tipped her head back against the headrest. Closed her eyes to enjoy the sensation of the wind whipping through the convertible. “You realize that makes me want to know even more. It’ll probably be the only thing I think about all night.”

  “I’m not falling for it.”

  “For what?” The car slowed, paused, turned. Ella didn’t open her eyes yet. She wanted to be wholly surprised when they arrived at their mystery destination. Gray’s choice of location for their first official date would reveal the kind of man he was. Sports bar equaled sports addict. Movie theatre indicated an utter lack of imagination. A super-fancy restaurant would say he was trying to impress her. And the local no-tell motel would just announce that he didn’t want to risk the maid walking in on them when they finally had sex.

  “Your lame attempt at reverse psychology,” said Gray. “I don’t believe for a second that you’ll be unable to fully interact with me on this date just because I dodged your first question.”

  “It’s possible. I can be very single-minded.” The car rolled to another stop. Sounded like it was on gravel. Ella tried to remember how many restaurants had gravel lots. And promptly came up with nothing. Who noticed if a parking lot was pavers or asphalt or gravel? More to the point, who cared?

  “I’m insulted. Seriously. You ought to give me more credit.”

  “About what?”

  “My ability to focus all that single-mindedness on something else. This may be our first date, Ella, but it isn’t my first date. I know what I’m doing. I know how to show you a good time. How to focus your mind with the precision of a laser.”

  Her eyes flew open as he drew a finger across the thin slice of her stomach exposed between her jeans and her lacy white tank. Ella wanted to look down, but was snared in his burning blue gaze mere inches from her. Back and forth went his finger. Slowly. Maddeningly slow. “Kiss me,” she demanded.

  “No. Not yet.”

  A breathy laugh escaped her. “Then stop teasing me.”

  “No. Not yet.” Gray pushed a finger into one of the wide stitches in her hot pink crocheted cardigan. Tugged it off her shoulder. Traced a squiggly line from her collarbone up her neck to her ear, then back across to her shoulder. All this while still keeping up that slow and steady rhythm across her stomach. Ella couldn’t breathe. She couldn’t so much as twitch. At the same time, she desperately wanted to squirm about until his hands met somewhere in the middle.

  “Are you ready for the first stop on our date now?” he asked.

  So ready. Ready, truth be told, since that first afternoon she’d ogled him through the window as he jogged by. “Yes.”

  “Do you give a rat’s ass about where I’ve been on other first dates?”

  “No.”

  “Then let’s get on with it.” Gray removed his hands and got out of the car. “I’ll save my I told you so for later. I don’t want to spoil the moment by gloating.”

  “You’re a real charmer,” she said as he circled around to her door.

  “You mock me now, but I’ll bet your tune changes soon.” Gray opened the door and took her hand to help her out. “Here we are.”

  It took Ella another second to shake off the tingles still fuzzing her brain. Or maybe it was surprise dulling her reaction. Because she stood in the parking lot of Cosgrove General, utterly befuddled. And she had no intention of politely trying to hide her confusion.

  “You think this is an appropriate first date? What are we going to do—shop for Seneca Lake travel mugs and fill up on fudge?”

  “Again, your lack of faith in me is appalling. Insulting. It may very well impact the awesomeness of the after-dat
e necking I had planned.” Gray took her hand and led her across the road. To the mailbox. “I know you said you’d be fine going out with me no matter how the town voted in the journal. But I also know you’d feel a lot better if they did give us a green light. So I figured we’d swing by and check it out.”

  Thoughtful. Romantic. Full of understanding and patience for this quirky tradition that he mocked but knew meant so much to her. Ella’s heart didn’t just fall. It tumbled. This man got her. In all the important ways. He’d made tonight oh-so personal and special with a gesture she’d never expected.

  Then a niggle of suspicion sent her—as fast as she could go across grass in sky-high pink patent leather wedges—bolting in front to cut him off. “Did you pre-peek?”

  “Nope. This visit’s kind of a crap shoot.” Gray sidestepped her and kept going.

  She walked backwards, wanting to see his face as he answered. “What if the town gives the two of us a thumbs-down?”

  “Well, you did already commit to tonight, no matter what.”

  “And I’m sticking to that plan,” she reassured him. Gray still looked calm. Not at all tense about what the journal would reveal or her reaction to it. Actually, what he looked was movie-star handsome in that tan sport coat over a crisp white shirt open at the neck to reveal a tuft of dark chest hair.

  “But I’m a pretty nice guy. Hit it off with most of the people I’ve met here. I’m not worried about what it says.”

  Neither was Ella. Not much. Not that she’d admit, anyway. They scrambled up the slight slope to the clearing. Ella sat on the bench while Gray retrieved the journal. He hitched up his darker tan trousers and sat next to her. Instead of opening it, he raised his eyebrows expectantly.

  “Ready?”

  She nodded. “Ready to spend tonight with you, no matter what’s in here.”

  “In that case, we can leave now, without even looking at it.”

  Ella grabbed the journal from him and quickly flipped to the page with their questions. Used her finger to skim down one page, another, and then a third.