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He glared. “All I’m saying is, you girls have the upper hand around here. All you have to do is flash a little cleavage and the guys flock to you.”
Kendra, another outdoor guide, overheard. She scoffed as she glowered at Josh and then glanced at me with an is-he-for-real look.
I shook my head. “You know what I think, Josh? You’re just pissed that I’ve turned you down multiple times when you asked me out. Man up, stop being a sassy woman about it, and don’t disrespect me again.”
Kendra guffawed, slapped a hand over her mouth, and scurried toward the station that housed a row of mountain bikes.
Josh’s jaw almost hit the floor. His eyes narrowed to slits and I straightened from where I leaned against the wall to give him a seething glare. A muscle ticked in his jaw and he turned to walk away.
“That’s what I thought, you punk,” I grumbled, scowling at his back.
I’d met plenty of Joshes in my line of work and I knew how to handle them. Plus, Dad always said that my tongue was as sharp as a hornet’s sting… unexpected, painful, and left my victim reeling with disbelief. He never made me feel bad about having a smart mouth, unlike Mom who hated that I wasn’t a proper lady.
I hadn’t been my usual tough and sassy self last night though. Jamie stuck it to me real good and I ran away like a sissy on the verge of tears. I hadn’t even retaliated to hurt his feelings the way he’d hurt mine. It was scary how much control someone I barely knew had over my emotions. How did I let that happen?
When I spotted the guys walking in, I wiped away whatever sadness might be present on my face. They all looked so eager about what adventure I’d surprise them with today, and I felt bad about disappointing them. I glanced out the window as they neared. The sky was darker than it had been five minutes ago and the rain had already started.
I forced aside my sour mood and smiled at the guys. “Good morning, gentlemen.”
“Morning, Charlotte,” they chorus.
I received grins from everyone except Lincoln and guilt pricked me in the chest. Last night, after we got back from the club, he expressed frustration about me seemingly evading every opportunity to talk for the last couple of days. Of course, I proved his suspicion by quickly making my escape with a lame excuse of being exhausted.
In my defense, I couldn’t stand in the hotel’s lobby and listen to Lincoln tell me he wanted me back only to disappoint him by telling him that I wasn’t interested. Not when I was still languishing in hurt and humiliation over the way Jamie shut me down.
Michael, Spencer, and Alex eyed us with curiosity as if they noticed the shift of energy between Lincoln and me. However, no one said a word.
“Where’s the fifth member of your boy band?” I joked.
Jamie was missing… and maybe it was for the best because I wasn’t enthusiastic about facing him.
Spencer chuckled. “We have no idea. He was MIA this morning.”
“Oh…” Not wanting to show too much interest in Jamie, I announced, “I hate to do this, guys, but no outdoor fun for today.”
Alex glanced outside. “We figured we wouldn’t be able to do anything crazy like hang gliding today, but what about something a little less adventurous like a nice walk in the forest? We can get raincoats.”
My eyebrows shot up. “You guys are probably the most eager for outdoor activity of any guest I’ve ever met.”
“Of course, we are,” Michael said. “We sit behind desks day in, day out. This week is the most exercise we’ll get all year.”
“Ah, I get it now. Still, I can’t take you guys out. It isn’t safe out there. The paths winding through the forest will be flooded soon if they aren’t already.”
“Well, then we have a problem,” Lincoln said, staring at his phone. “I haven’t checked my messages all morning.”
He held up the device and we all squinted at it. There was a text from Jamie.
Linc… left early for a solo walk. Really needed to be alone today.
“If he was strolling on the beach, surely he would have been back once the rain started,” Spencer reasoned.
Lincoln sighed. “I’m pretty sure he went further than the beach.”
“What makes you so sure?” I asked as I gazed at the ever-darkening clouds that let out a deluge of water.
“Today is his birthday,” everyone chorused solemnly.
My gaze moved over every concerned face. “Right…”
