And though I’d steered clear of her the past couple of weeks, I was really looking forward to seeing Zaila. I’d spent more of my meeting this morning mooning over how cute she’d looked with those big, luminous eyes focused on me when I found her up on that karaoke stage than I had on the financials for the newest alternative-energy options my team had brought to the table.
That sort of lack of attention wouldn’t do. Still, I wasn’t sure how to reframe my ever-growing interest in Zaila so I could compartmentalize her as I did most everything else in my life. If I kept everything in a place of my choosing, it couldn’t affect me, unless and until I allowed it to. Spoiler alert: I refused to be affected. Icy control had made me billions and kept me at the top of my field.
And yet…Zaila Monroe affected me. Deeply. Often. I’d stayed away, expecting my interest to wane, but it hadn’t. In fact, I was more interested in Zaila now than I had been before I decided to steer clear of her. I’d finally admitted that whatever this was with Zaila, it was different. I hated that I loved her stubborn presence in my thoughts.
I continued scowling as I settled into the air-conditioned vehicle waiting for me—a sporty and nimble all-wheel-drive powered as much by solar as possible. I’d also requested a standard transmission, which improved fuel efficiency. While I’d made my money in gasoline and oil, we had one world, and I was partial to the pretty parts, wanting to keep them that way for many generations to come. I also preferred manual shifting to the mind-numbing boredom of letting the car’s computer manage the engine for me.
I navigated away from the small airport, and within a few minutes, the lakeside resort sprawled before me, a picturesque setting that did little to ease my irritation. As I exited the car, I smoothed down my tailored suit, a habit I’d developed over years of board meetings and press conferences.
“Mr. Evaldson!” A shrill voice pierced the air. I turned to see Brenda Hernandez, the overly enthusiastic retreat organizer, practically skipping towards me. “Welcome to our Trust Trek scavenger hunt!”
I offered a tight smile. I couldn’t think of any bigger waste of my time than a scavenger hunt. “Brenda. Nice to see you.”
“I’ve paired you with Zaila Monroe for today’s activities,” she chirped as she gave an exaggerated wink. All she needed to do was elbow me to make it more obvious I’d insisted on this arrangement. I tipped my chin in acknowledgment.
“Understood. Thank you. Is everyone here?”
“They are. The lunch hour is nearly complete, and folks should meet in the lobby for their pairings.” Brenda trotted at my side, so I held open the door to the building when I arrived, and she ducked past me. “I think your complementary skill sets will shine today,” she added over her shoulder. “It was a good idea to pair mentors with the younger team members. This set of clues is a doozy.”
When we entered the lobby, it seemed most everyone had gathered. Brenda clapped her hands and waited for the noise to die down enough to run through the same spiel she’d just given me. Then she continued into the rules of the game, the timeline, and the grand prize: a two-night stay on one of the luxury properties along the River Walk in San Antonio.
“So, find your partner and grab your envelope, but don’t open it yet! “ Brenda said. “Cheating gets you immediately disqualified. All righty, we move out in fifteen minutes.” She pulled on a headset that looked like something NASA might have designed and bustled off toward her team, no doubt to ensure a smooth and fair competition.
Zaila worked her way through the crowd. “We meet again, Mr. Evaldson.”
“Gunnar,” I corrected, though I knew she was trying to put a barrier between us. Intelligent woman, though I couldn’t tolerate the distance. “You’ve been in my car,” I reminded her. In my mind. “I think we’re past formality, especially since I know you find me handsome.”
She raised an eyebrow, a hint of embarrassment blushing her cheeks. She was striking with those soft curves, brown eyes, thick hair, and quick wit. “We’ll never bring that up again,” she declared. “I’ve decided befriending Jeff is outside my skill set.”
“On that we agree.”
She stood next to me as I greeted more of my staff. Jay Wilks, I noted, remained off to the side, glowering at us. Rather than having fun with his coming time in the mascot costume, he’d been sulky since he lost the social media competition. I made a mental note to monitor him.
I turned just in time to find Brenda at the top of the staircase in the large entry area. She clapped her hands. “The scavenger hunt has officially begun! Good luck, Wildcatters!”
Pairs of people hurried to the exits, though Zaila and I hung back. And it wasn’t because we lacked a competitive streak. She’d just chosen to open the envelope here and look over the clues before busting through the doors and bottlenecking with the rest of the teams.
She was strategic like that. I loved how forward-thinking and imaginative she’d proven herself to be.
“Don’t worry,” Zaila said as we studied a Polaroid of a golf cart and a riddle. “I’ll try not to let my skill set outshine yours.”
I chuckled. “I welcome the challenge.”
She hesitated, taking a breath before meeting my eyes. “Thank you for that night. For taking me home from the bar. I…” She shook her head. “I’m glad you were there to make sure I didn’t do something I’d regret more than bad karaoke.”
Warmth radiated from my chest, heating my belly, too. The energy was so comforting, so sweet, I almost didn’t recognize it—affection. “I want to be someone you can lean on, Zaila.” My fingers itched to brush her hair away from her smooth cheek, to run my thumb along the curve of that lip. But that would be selfish and stupid, especially since I’d put the barrier between us.
“Gunnar,” she breathed, her pupils expanding as those lush lips parted, inviting...
Brenda bustled over. “Y’all need to hustle. Your first clue awaits! Remember, teamwork makes the dream work!”
I cleared my throat, seeking a level of neutrality I didn’t feel. “Shall we get started?”
“We better,” Zaila agreed. “I don’t like to lose.”
“Noted,” I said, fighting a smile. “The golf carts are behind this building. Let’s go grab one as we think about what the image means.”
Zaila dipped her head, her brow furrowing as she contemplated the clue. “See these lines on it? I think to get the rest of the clue, we have to find this golf cart,” she said.
