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“I take it yours is messed up too.”
“Definitely. I wonder if we’re the only ones or if all of the flooring is messed up. I need to go check on this.” She moved off down the hallway and began knocking on doors.
It was so much easier to deal with the flooring mix-up than it was to deal with Lane’s bad mood. Of course, she felt really bad about what happened to him, but she’d apologized. She didn’t know what else to do. She’d just keep apologizing until he finally heard her.
CHAPTER NINETEEN
Thehurtlookinher eyes dug at him.
Lane knew it wouldn’t be easy disengaging from Jo. And it was even harder than he’d been expecting. There was nothing more he wanted to do than to take her in his arms and kiss her lips, but he refused to allow himself that comfort.
He couldn’t let himself become vulnerable again. He couldn’t stop remembering what it was like when he was a kid—when he would pray that his mother’s family would come save them from life on the streets. Every time his mother would say she was going to call his aunt, his hopes would rise. And every time his mother told him her family wanted nothing to do with them, his hopes were dashed. It was like each disappointment was another brick in the wall he’d built around himself.
It had started with his father, who’d walked out on them. After he left, things with his mother had spiraled out of control. It was then he’d determined if what his parents had was love, he wanted nothing to do with it. He’d lived his life by that motto, and it had served him well.
He had to think with his head and not his heart. And that was why he’d taken a preemptive step. He’d contacted his assistant. She was flying in today with a replacement phone for him and a potential buyer.
The doctor’s orders had been for him to rest with his foot elevated, but he didn’t have time to sit around. He had a contest to win—even with the wrong flooring. He might have to modify his design, but that wouldn’t stop him. Nor would the boot on his foot. He would work through the pain to finish this contest. It was what was best for him. And it was what was best for Jo.
She didn’t know what she was getting into by being involved with him. He came with a lot of baggage. Some was his own, and a lot of it was heaped onto him by his past. Jo didn’t need to be bothered with any of it.
Not wanting to think about any of his problems, he set to work. He needed to rethink the room with the floor playing a big part in the décor. It took him a bit, but eventually he decided the wood flooring could be a boardwalk.
He had no time to waste. He had to get to town to purchase the paint he’d need as well as other supplies. His wall wasn’t going to be just paint. It was going to be a 3-D rendition.
His first stop would be the hardware store for new paint, but with him hobbling along, he was going to need to take one of the inn’s carts. He had just reached the lobby when he spotted Jo. He inwardly groaned. He’d been hoping to avoid her.
She was busy talking to the desk clerk. He couldn’t remember the young woman’s name. Before he could slip away, Jo lifted her head. Her gaze immediately connected with his. It was as though that connection caused an electrical arc between them because his heart gave him a jolt, and his pulse began to race.
He averted his gaze, breaking the connection. He chose to ignore the sensation. However, maneuvering on the crutches took him longer than he wanted. In no time, Jo was standing next to him.
“Did you change your mind about continuing the contest?” Jo asked.
“No.” His answer came out fast and clipped.
Her eyes briefly widened. He couldn’t tell if it was from the terseness of his answer or her surprise that he was going to continue with the contest.
“I should let you know that somehow the instructions for the flooring got mixed up for all of the rooms. I’ve spoken with the judges. Taking into consideration the cost of removing the new flooring and putting in other flooring and the fact this affects everyone in the contest, we’ve decided to leave the flooring as is. It’ll add a new challenge for all of the entrants.”
He nodded. He was already ahead of things. “Do you mind if I use one of the carts?”
“Not at all. Let me get you a key.” She turned and headed for the front desk. A moment later she returned with the key. She didn’t immediately hand it over. “Could we get together later and talk?”
He didn’t want to get together, but he knew what he had to say couldn’t wait forever. He glanced around at the guests in the lobby. This wasn’t the place for this conversation.
“I know.” Jo’s voice interrupted his thoughts. Her voice carried an excited tone. “Let’s go out for dinner. I can take you to a new place.”
The very last thing they should do was go out to dinner. Because if he looked into her eyes too long or his gaze slipped down to her glossy lips, he’d be doomed. He’d forget all of the reasons they shouldn’t be together.
He didn’t know how she’d slipped past his defenses, but somehow she had, and now he needed to put distance between them. Now that his assistant was on her way, he would be able to wrap up his business on the island much quicker, and soon he’d be back in San Diego.
“Maybe we should talk now.” He glanced around for someplace where they could have a private word.
“We could go to my office.”
He nodded in agreement. He followed her into her office and closed the door. “I want to apologize for last night. I don’t know what came over me, but I shouldn’t have suggested that we go for a walk on the beach. It was a mistake.” He was talking about their moonlit kiss. “And I shouldn’t have suggested climbing on those rocks.”
“You’re sorry?” When he nodded, she asked, “Are you sorry we kissed too?” Her gaze searched his as though desperate for him to deny it.
