“I’m sure you were,” she said. “Lincoln Harrington, this is Arik Crest. He and I went to college together many moons ago.”
“Damn,” Lincoln said, shaking Arik’s hand. “Natalie rarely leaves the island. Good for you getting her off of it for a few days.”
He wouldn’t explain the reason for the trip. He was positive Lincoln wouldn’t care and it would help him if everyone thought their relationship was more than it was.
It’s what he wanted it to be.
Maybe once they returned from this weekend it would be.
They brought their bags to the helicopter and Lincoln loaded them in, then ten minutes later they were in the air with headsets on.
Unless they wanted to shout to each other, they spent most of the flight in silence or pointing out things below them or what Lincoln might bring up as part of the conversation.
They landed ninety minutes later; he got his rental car and drove to the hotel.
The minute he opened the door, her jaw hit the floor.
“There is only one bed,” she said.
“Yep. But it’s big.”
She was looking the king-sized bed over. “True.”
She moved into the room as if she had fifty pound cannons attached to her ankles.
“I can sleep on the couch, don’t worry.”
He was going for the long game. A stiff neck might be better than a stiff dick if he had to lie next to her all night.
12
ONLY A DAY
“Dinner was nice,” she said. “The view was breathtaking. Especially lit up.”
“I always thought so,” he said. “But you are surrounded by stunning views every day of your life.”
She smiled. “No. I’m in an office with a tiny window to the parking lot. Hunter, he’s got the million-dollar view.”
Not just in his office but also the penthouse that he and his family lived in.
If she wanted a view, she got it at work walking the grounds. Not in her one-bedroom apartment where she faced another parking lot or more buildings.
“Do you ever stay at The Retreat as a guest and just experience it? You know, live it to explain it?”
She laughed. “No. I’m sure if I asked I could, but I wouldn’t dream of it. There is no reason to. I’ve been on the property for years. We’ve had a lot of weddings in the family there also.”
There’d been no reason for her to step foot in The Retreat until she interviewed for the job.
Her family wouldn’t visit there. Not for a vacation or a special night away. Only ever a family event.
It wasn’t until she was already employed that weddings started to happen that she’d been invited to.
“Which is why you’re prepared with a dress,” he said. “One that I can’t wait to see.”
“I clean up well,” she said, laughing.
She’d set her purse on the small table in their hotel room. It was eight and her feet were dragging.
