Her smile was still filling her face. He always could make her laugh.
She’d never forget the day he’d introduced himself to her in a class they were taking. Just an elective for them both.
He said his name was Arik without an E rather than Arik with an A. It tripped her up, sending a frown flashing across her face before he’d burst out laughing.
“I believe most things until someone gives me a reason not to,” she said.
“That’s what I always liked about you. You’re more open than most.”
She said the words but didn’t always carry the actions.
She might believe people but was still wary of them and often held her true feelings just out of reach.
“I put a good face on for the public. Are you here alone?”
“I am,” he said.
“Solo vacations are all the rage now.”
“I’ve been doing that for years.”
Her phone vibrated in her pocket. “Excuse me.” Natalie pulled out her phone, saw the text from the front desk, and resisted the urge to roll her eyes. Some days keeping that chipper attitude was harder than others. “I’m sorry, I need to take care of this.”
“No worries. It was nice running into you. Maybe we can find time to catch up while I’m here.”
His eyes flickered to her left hand. She remembered the way he used to flirt with her back in college. If she hadn’t been so focused on finishing school a year early, she might have taken a chance on him.
She’d taken no chances on anyone after Davey. Not fully. But something about Arik back then just loosened the ropes on her wariness.
Wanting to go away to college had been a mistake. Big city living wasn’t for her.
Give her her island any day.
“Maybe, if you’ve got time while you’re here,” she said.
“I’ve got all the time in the world,” he said.
“I’ll be here.” She turned and walked to the front reception area where a large group of people was milling around.
There was a convention starting tomorrow and through the weekend. She loved this part of the business, but it put more on her plate.
“Natalie,” Kathleen said. “Thank God.”
“What’s going on?” she asked, moving behind the counter.
“I requested a room with a view for the conference and they said that I didn’t get it. I’m facing the back gardens.” The guest's nose was wrinkled enough you’d think a skunk just crossed their path.
“Let me see,” she said. She punched into the computer and pulled up the rooms on the two floors that were reserved for this conference. “It looks as if your company made the reservationsand there are no comments about what kind of view. All rooms at the Bond Retreat come with beautiful calming views.”
“I want to see the ocean,” the woman said, crossing her arms.
“Lisa, stop holding everyone up. You get what you get. Be happy we’re here for five days and not at our desks.”
“Yeah, Lisa. Stop always being a diva.”
Oh boy. Lisa’s face matched the crimson of her purse. “Half the rooms on the floor have ocean views. Your company reserved five rooms. Two of them have ocean views, three of the gardens. If you’d like to switch with one of your coworkers, we can do that, but they’d have to agree.”
“Just do it,” Lisa said. “I’ve got seniority over them.”
