“If you can all take out this sheet, we’ll be starting with it. Then later we’ll move on to the practical activities which are always more fun, right Nate?”
“Right,” Nate said with a curt nod. “Jim and I will come around to each of your tables and help you with that sheet. In the meantime get started discussing different team building strategies with your partner using the worksheet as your guide.”
Jim was already off and circulating around the room while Nate stood staring after him. Jim’s laugh echoed through the room as he joked with the first table.
Amelia watched Nate, trying to catch his gaze. He glanced at her for a moment and she smiled, hoping to ease the tension she could see building within him. Instead of returning her friendly gesture, he seemed to frown even deeper before looking away.
Odd. What was that about?
Nate moved to the table closest to him. Moments later she heard him laugh—a forced laugh. Not at all like what she’d heard the night before on their date.
In fact, now that Amelia watched him closely, Nate didn’t seem like himself at all. His usual relaxed and casual “go with the flow” style mannerisms she loved were nowhere to be seen. Instead his shoulders were wrapped so high around his ears, they may as well be earmuffs and his jaw was set so tight you could use it to crack walnuts.
“Earth to Amelia.”
She jumped in her seat, startled by William’s voice beside her. She’d been so focused on Nate; she’d forgotten William was even there.
“Sorry, what?” She tried to focus on William’s face, but she couldn’t help seeing Nate in her peripheral vision.
“Are you going to help me with this or not?” William pushed the worksheet page toward her.
She grabbed her coffee and gulped back some of the hot liquid. She needed to focus and hopefully caffeine would help. “Absolutely. Where should we start?”
Amelia listened intently as William began talking about different team building ideas he had for the company. Surprisingly, many of them—more than she had to offer—were great. She’d never realized that William had such an eye for evaluating his fellow colleagues’ individual strengths and weaknesses. Amazing.
They were halfway through the worksheet when the new workshop presenter sauntered up to their table. “Well, if this isn’t the most beautiful table in the room, I don’t know what is,” he said, moving to stand next to Amelia. His hand rested on the back of her chair.
Something about the proximity of his touch made her uncomfortable. Her eyes instantly sought Nate in the room. She found him easily, glaring at her table—no, glaring at Jim.
Jim squatted down next to Amelia so he was even with her. Even though he had a smile on his face, he looked tired and watery-eyed, like he had a bad cold or something. “I’m Jim,” he said, the rasp in his voice confirming her suspicions. “And you are?”
She leaned back, trying to put a little more distance between herself and Mr. Germ Factory. When the weekend was over, she didn’t plan on taking a cold home with her as a souvenir. “Amelia and this is William.” She motioned to William, who she now noticed had also moved closer to her on the other side of her chair. He peered around her at Jim, his hand also resting on the back of her chair.
She suddenly felt like sandwich filling.
“So you’re Amelia.” Jim grinned and looked her over quickly. She felt like she was being evaluated. Who was this guy and why did he look at her like that, like he knew her already when she’d never even met him before?
“Um, yeah.” Her words faltered. Being under Jim’s intense stare made her uncomfortable. “So we’ve been discussing some great ideas on how to build a strong department team based on individual colleague strengths. Perhaps you can tell us what you think?”
“You bet. What’ve you got for me, William?”
William told Jim all the ideas they’d just discussed and Amelia took the opportunity to shift in her chair so she was further away from both of their hands. It didn’t work.
Both men abandoned the back of her chair and were now hovering in front of her, examining the paper sitting on the table where they’d made their notes. She leaned back in her chair, trying to get comfortable while still participating in the conversation.
Amelia glanced around for Nate again. For some reason she simply felt better when she knew where he was. She found him at a nearby table, bent over someone’s worksheet, but watching her. If she wasn’t mistaken, his face looked a little red, but it was hard to be sure from this distance.
“Well, I think you two are off to a great start,” Jim said. “A little tweaking and these ideas will be solid to take back home with you. Great job.”
Jim patted her on the shoulder and gave it a gentle squeeze. Amelia stiffened at his touch. “Thanks.”
“Hey, Jim, how’s it going so far? Met all the attendees yet?”
Amelia blinked. How had Nate appeared at their table so quickly and why? Wasn’t he still working with that other table—the people at said table now staring at them?
Jim took his hand back from Amelia’s shoulder and crossed his arms instead. Nate stepped forward, taking his place alongside Amelia.
Territorial?
“I’m still working my way around the room, but I think I’m done here if you want to work with this table for a bit.”
“Sure thing. I think those people,” he nodded his head to the left, “are still waiting for some guidance. Maybe you should go and meet them while you see what they need help with.”
“Nice to meet all of you. I’ll be around if you have any questions. Don’t hesitate to ask.” Jim smiled at the group, then walked away from the table, striding across the room as if he’d heard someone call his name. No one had, but Amelia was happy he’d left nonetheless.
Nate glared at Jim as he walked away from the table.
“What was that about?” Amelia lowered her voice hoping that only Nate would hear.
“Nothing.” His eyes flickered past her to the rest of the table.
“I just wanted to make sure you’re okay. You don’t seem like yourself this morning. Well, not since the workshop started again that is.” She hoped he’d caught her reference to their early morning make-out session.
“I gotta go.” His jaw set, not even a hint of acknowledgement for their time spent together that morning.
“But you haven’t spent any time with us.” She tried to ignore the sting in her chest at his apparent memory loss.
“Sorry, but I can’t spend all my time here. I’m trying to do my job.”
Amelia felt like he’d just smacked her across the face. She wasn’t asking for him to take her out for coffee, she’d asked for him to help her table with the workshop exercise. Why was that a problem for him all of a sudden?
“Fine. Don’t let me keep you.”
She turned her back to him and faced into the table. Her pulse pounded in her ears. How could he treat her like that? She studied her coffee cup, forcing herself to take deep breaths. Maybe if she concentrated on something else for a little while, she wouldn’t care that Nate had just treated her poorly. Maybe she wouldn’t care that he’d just dismissed her like she meant nothing more to him than any other workshop attendee.
Maybe she wouldn’t cry.
“He’s gone now,” William said softly.
She glanced at him from beneath her lashes, not raising her head. They were alone. The rest of her tablemates were now by the coffee machine, laughing and smiling. They didn’t seem to care at all that Nate hadn’t stuck around to offer them any guidance. Apparently, she was the only one hurting.
“That’s not right.” William spoke again, still quietly like he was afraid they’d be overheard.
“What’s not right?”
“Nate. Treating you like that. It’s not right. Not after what you guys did last night.”
“How do you know what we did last night?” She glared at him. What did he know about her and Nate? Nothing.
“I k
now that you guys were out on a date last night. And I know that you practically floated in here this morning looking like you hadn’t slept more than a few minutes. I can draw my own conclusions.”
She squared her shoulders. “What we did or didn’t do last night isn’t your business.”
“True. But you are my partner this weekend and it is my business if someone is hurting you.”
She took a shaky breath. That was a nice thing to say. “Thanks. For caring, I mean.”
He placed his hand on hers. “I’ll always care.” He squeezed her hand before letting go. “So, wanna go get some lunch with me when we break?”
“I don’t know. I’m not really in the mood.”
“You gotta eat.” He nudged her with her shoulder. “Come on. I promise it’ll be fun and I’ll do my best to make you forget what a jerk Mr. Workshop is being.”
She shook her head. “No. I’m not going if you just want to bash Nate. You can do that with someone else.”
“I’m not going to bash him. I just think it’s shitty that he’s used you the way he has. Doesn’t seem very gentlemanly if you ask me.”
Cringing, Amelia slumped back in her chair. His words stung. She did feel used, but she didn’t understand why the hell Nate was acting like this all of a sudden. Last night—heck, earlier that morning—Nate had been talking about being together after the weekend. Hadn’t he?
Maybe he hadn’t actually said anything about being together after the weekend. Maybe he’d only said that they’d figure something out. She slumped back further in her seat as the weight of this realization set in. The words he’d said earlier could have meant anything. She’d been the one to think that their one night together could turn into something more.
She wasn’t going to be the victim again and go off trying to convince Nate to spend more time with her. She wasn’t going to beg this time. If he’d gotten what he wanted and didn’t feel the need to spend anymore time with her, then that was fine with her. She’d find someone else to spend time with—someone like William who’d been hoping to score a date with her for months.
Today was William’s lucky day.
“I’ll do it.”
William choked on his coffee. “Do what?”
“Lunch, with you. I’d love to have lunch with you.” She said the words with conviction she didn’t feel.
William beamed at her. “Great. So it’s a date then.” He got up from the table and wandered away with a huge grin on his face.
“Whoa.” She held up her hands defensively even though he was already gone. “I didn’t say anything about a date.”
Oh no. She’d just agreed to a date with William. Was it too late to say she wasn’t hungry?
Chapter Thirteen
Amelia sat with her shoulders hunched as the others at her table laughed. They were all newly energized after their quick coffee break. Everyone except for herself of course. Nothing could energize her today.
She didn’t understand what they all found so funny. It was a stupid worksheet full of hypothetical scenarios, hardly something to call the comedy club about.
“Smile.” William nudged her with his arm. “It won’t kill you to loosen up and have a little fun while we work, you know.”
“I know that, William. It’s just not that funny.”
“Ah, sugar, why the sad face today?” Stacy from Orlando asked from across the table.
Why was it that Stacy from Orlando—she still couldn’t help but think of her that way—always seemed to notice every little thing? Amelia didn’t want to be noticed right now, she wanted to be anonymous and left alone. Not something likely to happen at a group participation workshop.
“No reason. I’m fine. I’m a little tired, that’s all.” She hoped the lame excuse would be enough to get the spotlight off of her. She hated being the center of people’s attention, especially when she was tired and didn’t feel like making small talk with new friends.
“Oh I bet you two were up late cuddling again. I can tell by the twinkle in William’s eyes that he’s a tired puppy, too.” Tonya from Detroit squealed. “You two are so cute. I can barely stand it.”
“That makes two of us,” Amelia mumbled under her breath.
William put his arm around her. “She’s a tired girl today, so you’ll have to forgive her sour attitude. Don’t worry, honey, I have a nice lunch planned for us today. You can relax and I’ll take care of everything. And I’ll make sure it involves lots of coffee to help wake you up.”
“William,” Amelia shouted, annoyed that he would contribute to their delusions. “Don’t call me honey.”
“You’re too much,” Stacy sighed longingly at William. “Isn’t he too much?” She elbowed her partner Stewart in the side.
“Yep, too much all right,” Stewart grumbled, narrowing his eyes at William. “Maybe we can leave the lovebirds alone and focus on getting this stuff done. Some of us would like to get through the work as quickly as possible so there’s time for the slopes later.”
“Stewart’s right, we should be focusing on the work,” Amelia encouraged. “Let’s move on.”
With a few more sighs from around the table and even more expressions of yearning to be as “happy” as William and Amelia appeared to be, her tablemates finally got back to work. She fumed in William’s direction.
“How could you do that?” she whispered to him so no one else at the table would overhear her.
“Do what?” he asked casually, not bothering to lower his voice.
“Act like we’re a couple. Call me honey. That.”
“Well, we are a couple of friends on a lunch date, or did you forget?” his voice finally low enough they wouldn’t be overheard anymore.
Amelia looked around the table to see if everyone really was back at work or if ears listened in. Everyone appeared to have moved on, finally. “We are not a couple. And it’s not a real date.”
He shrugged. “Meh, I don’t think there’s a difference. If there are two people and they share a meal together, then it’s a date in my books.”
“You must have a lot of dates with Dan from Sales then, huh? I always see you guys leaving for lunch together.” She grinned when he turned a little red in the face. “I never knew you guys were dating.”
“Very funny. You know what I mean.”
“And you know what I mean. This isn’t a typical date and you are not allowed to call me honey. Got it?”
“How’s everything going over here?” Nate smiled, walking up to the table. He scanned their faces, only pausing briefly on Amelia’s. It was enough to make her cheeks hot. Why did she still blush for him even after what he’d just done?
Murmurs of positive answers went around the table, but Amelia stayed silent. She didn’t want to talk to Nate at this moment. She didn’t want him anywhere near William and his talk about their lunch date later. Not that it should matter to Nate now anyway, but she still didn’t feel comfortable about the situation. The sooner Nate moved on to the next table, the better off she’d be.
“Well, everything’s great with us, isn’t it?” William beamed back and forth between Nate and Amelia. “We couldn’t be better…”
Call me honey in front of him and I will make you pay for it.
“Right, Amelia?” William finished.
“Right,” she said through teeth clenched so tightly together she could crush diamonds between them. He wasn’t funny.
Nate stared at the two of them for a moment like he was trying to figure out what was going on. She thought she saw a flash of jealousy darken his otherwise calm exterior.
Good. Let him be jealous.
“Okay. Great. Good to hear that. I’ll go check on the other tables then and see if they need any help.”
“You do that, Nate.” William put his arm around Amelia and pulled her close to his side before overly focusing on the worksheet on the table in front of them. “We should really get back to work on this.”
Amelia glared at William as Nate w
alked away.
“You just succeeded in making me hate you a little bit more,” she said flatly.
“Don’t worry, honey. One date with me and all that will change.”
Amelia didn’t like his over-confident smile. She’d totally wipe it off his face right now if she could get away with it. Unfortunately, she couldn’t. Not without making a scene and that was about the last thing she wanted to do right now.
“Call me honey one more time and I’ll make sure you choke on your lunch.”
William laughed. “Such a feisty girl. Come on. Let’s finish this so we can go grab lunch. I’m starving already.”
She nodded and pretended to focus on the worksheet. Instead she watched Nate move around the room.
What changed since this morning?
* * *
“What are you doing back here, Jim?” Nate had waited all morning to ask him that question. Now that everyone was on lunch break, it was the perfect time to find out just why Jim was here instead of at home in bed where he should be.
“I started feeling better so I thought I’d help you out.” He sniffled and wiped his reddened nose.
“You really look better.” He couldn’t hide the sarcasm in his voice. Jim was still obviously sick. What the hell was he doing here other than spreading his germs?
“Okay, so I’m not a hundred percent yet. Big deal. I could do this workshop on my deathbed if I had to.”
“I’m sure you could, but you don’t need to. So why are you really here? Feeling like you’re missing out knowing that I’m the one that scored the hot chick this weekend?”
“Only because I wasn’t here to score her first.” Jim punched him in the shoulder. “You know you don’t stand a chance against me.”
“I wish you had been here so that you’d have to watch from the sidelines while Amelia chose me.” The smile fell from Nate’s face. “Oh, and if you ever put your hand on her again, I’ll break it. Don’t touch.”
Bunny Hills and Bikinis Page 16