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“You don’t—”
“I want to.” He crooked his elbow.
“Okay, then.” She took his arm, happy for the escort, but also nervous. Sophie the woman wanted to invite him up to her room for a drink. That was the standard MO, right? But Sophie the event planner knew that was a bad idea. That was not the standard MO in a working relationship.
What would he expect if she did ask? Whispers of his reputation floated around like fairy dust on a godmother’s magic wand. Every girl wanted to be the next lucky one.
Wait a second. She was delusional if she thought he wanted to sleep with her. She didn’t hold a candle to the kind of girls he made a habit of seducing.
“Thanks, by the way,” he said, steering her down the boardwalk toward her hotel and breaking into her crazy thoughts.
“You’re welcome. I’ve never had my picture in the newspaper before,” she said.
“No, I mean thanks for the info you gave Julia. She texted me you’d been in touch already about the American…the American Cancer Society, and I can’t tell you how much that means to me.”
Hearing his voice crack broke Sophie’s heart. She so wanted to reassure him that Julia would be okay, that the odds were very good given her young age and diagnosis, but she knew his mind would rest only after the surgery and treatment.
Zane’s father, she’d read, had died of a sudden heart attack, and that had to have been hard. Had to up the worry he felt about his sister. Sophie would never forget the love that had shone in his eyes for Julia.
“I’m happy to help,” she said. “Your sister is amazing. I really admire her positivity and strength. We’re the same age, and I’m not sure I’d have half as much poise as she does.”
Not for the first time, she thought about switching gears and working for a company that solely did charity fund-raising. Yes, fiftieth wedding anniversaries and milestone birthdays were important. Celebrating life was important. But she wanted to go above and beyond in that celebration.
“From what I’ve seen, you’d handle it just as well.” He watched her out of the corner of his eye.
Her breathing stuttered. He didn’t have to pay her compliments.
A group of skateboarders charged toward them. “Wassup, Sophie?” Dylan called out just before Zane put an arm around her shoulders and brought her closer so the riders could pass.
“Hi, Dylan.”
“We’re partying down the way if you want to join us,” Dylan said, flashing a smile and slowing to a near stop with both feet on his board. His friends passed by.
“Sounds like fun,” she said, not at all interested in the party scene.
Dylan nodded before lowering a foot to the ground and pushing off to gain speed. “It’s gonna be epic.”
She spun out of Zane’s hold to watch Dylan skate away.
“Zane can come, too,” he called over his shoulder.
“Thanks for asking,” she called out.
“If you want to go, I won’t stop you,” Zane said, his voice gruff.
Twisting back around, she frowned. “You were invited, too. Is there anyone who doesn’t know you?”
He shrugged.
“I’m, uh, good right here,” she said. “But if you—”
“I’m good, too.”
They resumed walking, quiet filling the space around them until Sophie remembered the question she’d wanted to ask before Dylan had come barreling toward them. “Were you always close to your mom and sister, or did your dad’s passing make you guys closer?”
Sophie noticed Zane clench his hand at his side. “That’s personal.” His tone held a brusque edge again.
“I guess I just thought that today we’d…” She ran her hands down the sides of her dress. The twinkling white lights in the palm trees outside her hotel came into view. Uncertainty wormed its way back into her vocal cords.
