“I get along with just about everyone,” he said.
“I remember that about you.”
“We shared that trait. Everyone loved you, Natalie.”
“I don’t know about that,” she said. She finished the last of her salad. She should get back to work soon. Normally she’d feel out of place talking about her family background with someone of his wealth, but he was just Arik, the cute kid in college to her still.
“They liked you as a person. I don’t know if anyone ever said anything bad about you.”
“Davey Mitchell didn’t care for me too much,” she said.
“Davey the Douche?” he asked. “What did he say?”
“You knew him?”
“Everyone knew him. He wanted them to. Talk about an ego. He was out to be a legend in his fraternity. He got it.”
“By being labeled that name,” she said.
All she could be thankful for was that everyone realized nothing happened between her and Davey. His fraternity brothers had been waiting to catch them in the act and no one would think to lie that it happened.
Not only hadn’t it, Davey got labeled as the guy who couldn’t get it done.
Nothing ever came about her being there that night. She’d threatened him that if even a whiff of her name came out he’d regret it.
An empty threat, but with Davey not knowing what Bond family she belonged to, he kept his mouth shut just like she did, pretending it never happened and not reporting them.
The last thing she needed was to be caught up in that drama. Davey’s embarrassment over the events of that night had him lying low until he found his next conquest.
“That’s right. Were you one of the women that he tried to get to?”
It benefited her to keep to herself and continue doing what she had most of her life.
She knew how rumors could start in the school.
Rather than go home and run and explain anything to her parents, she’d decided to stick it out after nothing had been said after a few days.
“We dated, but I caught on to what he was after and ended things fast.” No reason to say more when nothing happened other than realizing she couldn’t let her guard down.
“Good for you,” he said. “And I know you’re itching to go back to work, but what about doing this again? Not on working hours so you have a fast escape plan. You’ve got to have a day off or a night. We know my time is flexible. Show me around this island of yours and give me some suggestions of what to do with my time.”
She thought he was asking her on a date, but now it seemed like he just wanted a private tour or a list of places he should see.
She could handle that. It was her job to be accommodating to guests. She reminded herself that was what he was.
“I can do that,” she said. “You’ve got my number. I do have to work tomorrow though, but after that I’m off on Sunday and most nights next week.”
“You’ll hear from me soon,” he said.
She was betting it’d be before she left the building today. Or maybe she was just hoping it was.
5
NOTHING CAUGHT HOLD
He had her warmed up and there was no way he was letting the flames flicker out.
His laptop came out and he got to work on the perfect date. There had to besomethingon this island that would be fun he could pull out of his hat.
