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Rayne pulled his messenger bag from around his chest as he struck up a pleasant conversation with Ms. Beth, short for Bethany. If he was going to be there for the next two to three weeks, he wanted to give everyone he met a good first impression, especially her. Ms. Bethany was apparently Virginia Beach royalty. The Cavaliers were well-known property developers in the health and wellness community.
The main criteria any reputable spa looked for in a potential therapist was the instant aura they gave off. They had to be someone the client could relax around, be comfortable and personal with. Because there was nothing more intimate than a massage. That’s why Rayne had been working so hard on recentering and calming his chi. “This is a beautiful spa, Beth. It must be gratifying to work in this kind of environment.”
“Oh, it is.” She nodded, touching her neck and throat as if she was getting warm. “That’s precisely how I’d classify it.”
“Seems as if I got lucky, then.” Rayne smiled softly.
Beth shifted in her chair, then cleared her throat. “Can I give you a quick tour of our lobby while you wait?”
“That would be nice. Thank you.” Rayne turned up the charm just a little. He would not lead her on, but he figured Beth could be a good friend to have if he needed her to put in a good word to her bosses—her parents—for him. If this was two years ago, Rayne wouldn’t have thought twice about flirting shamelessly and sweet-talking her into anything he wanted. A tour would only be the beginning of what she would offer him.
Beth came from around the counter, smoothing her hands down the sides of her narrow waist. She had on a crisp white blouse and slim-fitting black slacks, a simple combination that she made look good.
Rayne set his bag in one of the plush chairs near the wall fountain. The room smelled of lemongrass and aromatic incense that was spraying from the essential oils diffuser in the corner. He paused to allow the melodic sound of delicate chimes, flutes, and trickling water to sink into his soul as Bethany watched him closely through light brown eyes.
Rayne released the single button on his blue-gray, Italian-knit summer blazer in an effort to appear more relaxed around her. But now, Beth’s eyes were on his chest. She seemed to appreciate the way his white cotton polo shirt clung to his torso. Rayne wasn’t even trying, but he sometimes had this effect, even when he was just wanting to be friendly.
“How long have you been working here, Bethany?” His voice was low and smooth.
“Well, it feels like I’ve grown up in spas all over Hampton Roads, but I’ve been here at the oceanfront spa for almost three years. Although my parents own this place, I still had to pay my dues and earn any position I applied for. I started out in hospitality and worked my way up to concierge. Now I’m studying for my own therapist certificate.”
Beth led him farther inside the lobby toward an electric fireplace that was on for decoration and ambiance, not heat. Above it on the wall was an inlaid fish tank with colorful exotic fish that he’d only seen on National Geographic.
Rayne clasped his hands behind his back while he strolled casually beside her. “That’s amazing. Good luck on your exams.”
“I hear they’re not as hard as I’m preparing for.”
“You seem like a confident, self-assured woman.” Rayne winked. “You’ll ace it.”
Bethany glanced over at him, her cheeks now matching the color of her pink lip gloss. “Thank you,” she said sweetly, batting her long lashes.
Rayne held her gaze. Her lips parted slightly before she looked away. “Um, the lobby was remodeled about nine months ago, and as you can see, my family strives for opulence and quality.” She stopped at a marble-and-glass cosmetics counter and waved her arms Vanna White–style at the fancy display.
Rayne was indeed impressed. He recognized the entire line, and he knew the brand well; he’d even used a few of the skin products. He quickly wondered if he could get a discount if he was a full-time employee.
“When clients come into the Cavalier Spa, we want them to enter into another world, one opposite from their own stressful reality.”
“I understand. This place is…” Rayne paused. “Stunning.”
She placed her manicured hand over the smile tugging at her mouth. “So, um… we also have a heated pool in the back, a sauna. The salon is down that hall and to the right, and the guest quiet room is right through those doors. Our therapists always encourage their clients to take at least twenty to thirty minutes inside there after their massage. It’s an internet-free zone with zero-gravity recliners inside,” she bragged proudly as if she’d purchased them herself.
“Sounds like I want to spend the night in there, actually.” Rayne smirked, and she ate it up as a blush worked down her slim neck. Bethany was going to make a strong ally if he decided to work there.
