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Vera beamed. “We’ll be here waiting for you to tell us all about it.”
Snorting, I grabbed my phone off the dresser. “I know you will. Later.”
The hotel’s lobby was abuzz with the arrival of guests. Pacific Paradise hadn’t been around all that long, but it was growing in popularity. The resort was supposedly for everyone, but let’s be real… not everyone could afford the visit. I’d never in a million years be able to afford the place had I not worked there.
Lincoln could afford to live here year-round if he wanted. When I met him, he was a rising NFL star, signing million-dollar contracts. The few times we spoke since we reconnected, I’d learned that he was now an agent to the richest athletes. He was still raking in the big bucks, I was sure.
It had always been surreal, knowing that a small-town girl like me had dated someone famous back in the day. However, Lincoln had been so down to earth during our relationship that sometimes I forgot what he did for a living. I wondered if he was still that humble guy who snuck away from A-list parties to hang out with me at hole-in-the-wall burger joints.
My thoughts about my ex vanished like vapor in the wind when I spotted a man enter the lobby. My next breath got stuck in my throat. The man was tall and had such a commanding presence that I couldn’t look away. I could tell from his confidence—bordering on arrogance—that he was somebody important, and he was in charge of something.
His somber expression piqued my curiosity. Arriving guests usually looked more excited. However, his serious air took nothing away from his looks. He was masculinely beautiful with chiseled angular features. His rich espresso hair was neatly trimmed in a classic style—short at the sides and back with a slightly longer top. Sometimes, you could tell a lot from a haircut. His style told me that he was probably reserved and sophisticated.
He looked my way, and I gasped. Heat infused my cheeks because I was caught staring. The longer his gaze lingered on me, the hotter my skin got. I couldn’t see the color of his eyes from across the room, but I bet they were just as gorgeous as he was.
I blew out a breath of disbelief as my gaze skated away from the hot guy. I’d never had such a profound interest in a man at first sight before. It was like a spark of attraction hitting me square in the chest… and in my nether region. God.
When I chanced a look at the man again, because I couldn’t resist, I sucked in a breath. He still stared at me with his head tilted. Dare I say he studied me with interest and attraction too? I realized that I’d stopped walking and just stood there, looking at the stranger. Suddenly, I felt ridiculous.
Just as I shook myself out of the haze I’d fallen into, a familiar face came into view. Lincoln. He clapped the man I was checking out on the shoulder and said something. My pounding heart came to a screeching halt. Oh, no. I was drooling over my ex’s friend. Talk about awkward. Hot Guy’s gaze finally drifted away from me, and I exhaled loudly. That staring contest was intense.
Lincoln searched the room, and I knew he was looking for me, so I waved. His grin blossomed when he spotted me and he immediately barreled in my direction. My feet stayed glued to the floor because I felt guilty about checking out his friend. Behind Lincoln, a group of guys—Hot Guy included—approached me too.
“I’ll be damned,” Lincoln rumbled. “Charlotte Brooks in the flesh.”
I smiled. “Lincoln Ford.”
I was swept up into a bear hug. I wasn’t too surprised by the warm greeting because, despite our romantic relationship ending years ago, he had sounded super excited to see me over the phone. However, I didn’t read much into it. Lincoln probably had a girlfriend or wife by now.
“It’s good to see you,” I said through my giggles as he swung me around like a rag doll.
He put me back on my feet but kept his palms on my shoulders. He beamed, jade eyes sparkling. “It’s good to see you, too. Damn, you look good.”
I was sure that my face was bright red as I looked down at my feet. Vera and Kaia would be happy to hear that. “Here he goes with the flattery.”
“I’m serious,” he said.
There was something in his tone and the way he gazed at me that made me pause. However, before I could process it, he glanced behind him.
“These are my friends.”
One by one, he introduced them. I shook hands with Spencer, Michael, and Alex. I noticed the one I’d had the stare-down with had fallen back. Lincoln introduced him as James but added that all his friends called him Jamie.
I was taken aback when James hesitated to offer his hand. His expression was hard as stone as he unfolded his arms and tentatively extended one in my direction. My eyebrows bunched together as I placed my hand in his. What was his problem?
I raised an eyebrow when he gave me a gruff, “Hi.” There was no smile or “nice to meet you” like I’d gotten from the others, so I guess he didn’t care about the introduction.
“Pleasure to meet you, Jamie,” I bit out, fighting the urge to throw out an insult because I was embarrassed.
“James,” he corrected.
I blinked when I realized that he low-key put it out there that we weren’t friends, so I had no right to call him Jamie. Sure, we just met, but he didn’t have to be so cold.
I glanced at Lincoln with disbelief. He and the others were staring at James with slack jaws, so I guess this wasn’t his normal behavior. Interesting. Was I the problem? Maybe he was one of those rich guys—it was obvious that he was well off—who didn’t like peasants below his tax bracket.
I wasn’t surprised. Working at this resort, I’d encountered quite a few pompous snobs. However, I was disappointed. I’d just wasted precious seconds being utterly attracted to an ass. Damn. Still, I gave Jamie… James another appreciative glance. The gorgeous jerk.
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