The clubhouse did not disappoint. Sawyer opted for the men’s charcoal turtleneck, the famous crest stitched into the upper right side.Perfect.
Another glance at his watch said it was twelve o’clock on the dot. Quickly, he made his way toward the cabanas, flashing his membership card as he checked in. Soon he’d know exactly what Betzy had on her mind. If it wasn’t what he hoped it would be—and he should face it now, it probably wasn’t—he’d be disappointed. But either way, Sawyer knew this was the year to make his move.
Go right ahead,came that inner voice.Get ready for rejection.It was the same voice that tormented Sawyer year after year.Still not enough money. Still not enough success. Still not enough to score a woman like Betzy Benton.
After the incident with his father, Sawyer had convinced himself that he’d simply jumped the gun. If he’d have waited until he was a little older, the guy might have been interested in meeting him.
Heck, they could’ve become friends. Hung out. Grabbed a couple of drinks. Sawyer had spent years scrutinizing the school photo he’d given him. Ofcoursehe rejected the awkward adolescent in that picture—some freckled kid with big teeth and overgrown hair. Why had Sawyer picked that year to grow it out anyway?
As time passed, he found himself wanting to send the guy a list of his recent accomplishments.
What do you think about these? Am I good enough now?
It was no wonder he’d tortured himself over this whole thing with Betzy.
But now was his time to silence that voice.
No more waiting around as the years ticked by without her. Sawyer had known what he wanted since he was eight years old. This time, he’d make his move, ready or not.
Chapter 7
Private cabana number three offered the quintessential view of serenity. An infinity pool that seemed to go on for miles. Palm trees swaying in the distance. Music strategically selected to allow for a peaceful, quality experience.
But even still, Betzy was anything but calm. Two opposing emotions warred within her as she waited for Sawyer to show. She pulled in a soothing breath and pictured what the next few minutes of her life would look like:I’m about to ask Sawyer Kingsley to be my fake fiancé. That fact was enough to twist her nerves into one massive train wreck.
When she let the idea resonate, her palms broke out in sweat, her heart pounded itself into a frenzy, and her throat dried up, which forced her to take yet another sip of her iced tea. Poor Phillip, her cabana attendant, had already refilled it twice.
To counter the unpleasant emotion, Betzy tried to stick with a different focus: Daisy. And poof, the nerves were gone. Magically replaced with something quite different: fury.
But the fury came with a physical backlash all its own—chest tightening, fist squeezing, and jaw clenching until it hurt. And while those weren’t great side effects, they came with a tempting promise of something she really wanted—revenge.
Daisy’s article would be made irrelevant in one hot media flash. Boom! And there’d be no avoiding it. No pulling the magazines off every grocery store stand and digital shelf. It would be out there for all to see, proof thatSlipper Magazinewasn’t as “slipper-stealthy” as they thought.
That reassurance brought with it an emotion all it’s own. Excitement. Betzy could not wait to put Daisy in her place.
“Your guest is here, Ms. Benton.”
Betzy spun to glance over her shoulder, but a simple glance wasn’t enough. She almost didn’t recognize the clubhouse merchandise he sported. Mainly because the twill turtleneck had nevereverlooked so good.
Sawyer’s eyes scanned over the LA landscape, wandered across the table, and then settled on her at last.
Holy gorgeousness!
Sure, she’d stared at his bachelor spread at least four dozen times in the last twenty-four hours, but seeing him up close and personal was an experience all its own. One that had become increasingly impressive over the years.
That jaw was chiseled out of god-marble. Was that a thing? And he had the most attractive smolder when he squinted against the sunlight. Those hazel eyes slightly narrowed, making him look so serious.
Betzy came to a stand as he rounded the table, and watched as his face transformed from that brooding expression to a full and glorious grin. Yep, that killer smile still had the same effect.
A flash of heat flared in her face. Chills rippled up her arms. Heaven help her.
She smiled in return as he came in for a hug. He smelled incredible. A spicy, heavenly scent that reminded her of all of his masculine qualities. The things that had set them apart since they were young.
He was the one to squish the spiders when the eight-legged things got into the house. He’d always been the one to jump into the lake at the cabin to test out the water for her. And best of all,he’dbeen the one to take her by the hips, hoist her onto that barrel, and give her a mind-blowing, life-changing kiss she’d never forget.
“Hi,” she said softly. Their embrace was caught between formal and familiar. Each using the same approach: one arm wrapping around the shoulder, the other coming in lower around the waist. But then Sawyer kicked things up a notch (as if she weren’t already rattled enough) by rubbing his scruff-covered jaw against her cheek. “It’s good to see you.” He kissed her cheek, and her pulse spiked into oblivion.
“It’s good to see you too,” she said. But suddenly, she wasn’t so sure that it was. This all seemed so easy for him. Mr. New York’s Most Eligible Bachelor. For all she knew, he could be juggling ten girls at once back home. And here she was, unattached, and waiting for him to move back home and decide that he wanted her?
