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CHARLOTTE
I guided my group along the winding trail. Foliage enveloped us, and the air was thick with the heady scent of tropical bloom. I loved it out here. It was so peaceful and relaxing. The further you walked, the lighter your mind got. I hoped the hike had the same effect on everyone as it did on me.
Each time Lincoln made his way to the front of the line to chat, I had to fall back after a while. It wasn’t that I didn’t want to talk with him. Catching up over dinner last night was fun, and I wouldn’t mind doing it again. However, considering that I had an entire group with me, I didn’t want anyone to think I was paying Lincoln more attention because I knew him. I had to share my time with everyone.
When Lincoln specifically requested me as a guide for his group, I’d been a little nervous. Working with a group of men like this usually had uncomfortable moments because plenty of them assumed that because I didn’t have a dick between my legs, I was less qualified to instruct them on anything about sports or the outdoors.
These guys were different though. I liked Lincoln’s friends. Even when Alex and Spencer flirted with me, I knew they meant no harm. It was clear that they did it just to mess with Lincoln. It was cute but unnecessary. It wasn’t like Lincoln and I were a thing anymore.
I glanced at Spencer, who seemed immersed in the environment. He gazed at everything with a gleam of appreciation in his eyes that most didn’t have. I learned that he was a songwriter, so I got it. Alex and Michael were walking side by side, murmuring amongst themselves. They stopped to listen each time I pointed out native flora and interesting landmarks or shared a snippet about the island’s history.
As we trekked deeper, the trail grew steeper and more challenging, so I knew we had to turn back soon. I wouldn’t push them too much on the first day, even though they all looked fit. Seriously, I felt like I was leading a group of models to their tropical photo shoot. Lincoln’s friends were all swoon-worthy, but there was something about Jamie that kept pulling my attention back to him.
I looked around and noticed he had fallen back. “Alright, guys. It’s time to turn around.”
“Already?” Spencer asked.
“Yeah, we’re enjoying the trek,” Alex said.
Lincoln snorted. “Really? There are no scantily dressed women along the trail and you’re enjoying it?”
“Shut up,” Alex grumbled, which had me fighting back a smile.
Between Lincoln telling me about his friends and spending the morning with them, I had their personalities figured out. Alex was the reckless playboy of the five friends for sure.
Lincoln was the humorous one which I already knew. Again, my mind kept wandering back to Jamie.
As I tried to shove him out of my head once more, I said, “I’m glad you guys are enjoying the hike and I’m sorry it has to end. However, we’re not prepared to go any further. Things get stickier further up. Maybe we can take the challenge another day when we’re more prepared.”
I didn’t imagine they’d have such a great time. I was guilty of misjudging the group, assuming that a bunch of rich guys who made millions behind their desks wouldn’t appreciate a nature walk. Shame on me.
As we turned back, I couldn’t fight the urge to speak with Jamie anymore. I noticed that he’d avoided me like I was contagious all morning, and I wasn’t going to let him get away with it.
Since we were heading in the opposite direction, he was the one ahead of the group, so I hurried my steps to fall into stride with him.
“Hello, James.”
I saw him frown at me from my periphery and folded my lips to keep my grin suppressed.
“Why do you say my name like that?” he asked.
My grin emerged because he took my bait. “You mean in that snooty tone?”
I glanced at him and found him staring at me with furrowed eyebrows. “Yes.” His eyes then narrowed.
Despite my playful mood, my breath hitched. This close to him, I could finally look into his eyes. They were like pools of shimmering liquid silver fanned by thick black lashes. When they landed on you, they were magnetic. You couldn’t look away. I swallowed hard, noting the haunting intensity of their depth. They said the eyes were the windows to the soul, so what haunted Jamie?
I blinked to shake off the snare he’d caught me in with his gaze. “Well, you seem the arrogant type. Plus, your surname is Winchester. I imagine that when one says your full name it should sound snobbish.” I squared my shoulders, lifted my nose into the air like plenty of the self-important rich folks I encountered at the resort, and said in a deep, haughty tone, “James Winchester.”
He stared at me for a moment and then there was a suspicious twitch at one corner of his mouth. Aha! I almost got a smile out of him.
“First, how do you know my surname? Second, what’s with the British accent?” he asked, a trace of amusement lining his words.
He had a nice voice… deep, yet smooth and velvety. It was made for whispering sweet words into a woman’s ear. Goodness, I was into James Winchester after convincing myself that I didn't like him.
I laughed. “Lincoln told me all about you guys last night.”
So I knew that Jamie was more out of my league than I thought. He was a billionaire CEO who ran EcoEnergy Solutions, a renewable energy conglomerate. I liked that he cared about the environment.
