Well. Maybe I am sexier in my current state than I’d thought.
With that possibility tiptoeing around me, I take the gallant—and sexy—stranger up on his offer, leaving the ridiculous party behind and heading to a very posh hotel.
Maybe I’ll do some networking there.
With that beard.
4
I TOLD YOU SO
SAWYER
Juliet’s by the gazebo, chatting with a surfer-looking woman with tan skin and beads in her hair. My sister can make friends with anyone. My other sister, Rachel, is the same way. Me? Not so much. But that’s okay. I’m not trying to win friends at this point in my life.
I briefly contemplate telling Chloe I’ll be right back so I can say good night, but Juliet is training her laser vision on me from across the lawn and smirking in anI told you somanner. Clearly, she doesn’t need formalities. I tip my forehead in her direction, keeping an arm wrapped around Chloe’s towel as we head for the exit. In the distance, the woman with the Mastiff is waving goodbye, looking remorseful. I give a nod, then I open the first gate, then the second.
“Your sister approved of your early exit?” Chloe asks.
“You saw that?”
“She’s not exactly subtle,” the wet woman replies.
“Truer words,” I say, shutting the gate behind us. As we wander down the path toward the street, Chloe tosses a glance back at the dog park.
“So let me get this straight. Your sister is your wingwoman. The bartender wished you good luck?—”
“You saw that too?” I blink. Does she have eagle eyes?
Chloe shrugs. “I notice little things. It’s kind of what I do.”
That could mean a million things, but instead of asking the obviousWhat is your line of work?question, I wait. She’s clearly going somewhere.
“Which raises the question, Sawyer,” she continues, her eyes sparkling with playful accusation. “Did you pay off that Mastiff to knock me into the lake so we could make a great escape sooner?”
I laugh again. Dangerous habit. One I shouldn’t let stick. I school my expression as we near my car. “What can I say? I was determined to get the hell out of there.” I pause. “With you.”
Her gaze drifts down to the cotton clinging to her legs and stomach. “News flash: it worked.”
“It did,” I agree, then stop at my car. I click the key fob, unlocking it. But Chloe shoots me a worried look.
“Are you sure you want me to sit in your nice, pretty car?”
“It’s a car, Chloe. It’ll survive,” I say.
A smile drifts across her pretty lips like that was the perfect answer. I bet she dated a prick who loved his car more than her. Asshole. I reach for the towel and spread it across the passenger seat. “After you,” I say.
“Thank you,” she says and settles in. I shut her door, then head around to the driver’s side, trying not to get too far ahead of myself, even though my mind is already making some seriously spicy leaps.
Once we’re both in, I turn on the engine and ask, “Where to?”
“The Resort,” she says, as if it tastes like sugar. “I’ve always wanted to stay there.”
“What do you know—I’ve been staying a few blocks away at The Luxe.”
“Oh.” She pauses, weighing that. “You’re not from here?” Her tone shifts a little, like maybe she’d rather I wasn’t local.
“I am. But I just sold my house. Been staying in a hotel.” I glance over at her. “Let’s get you to yours.”
