Page 21 of Promise Not to Fall for the Rich & Famous

He considered the dilemma. “That would have been difficult.”

“Very. I owed her everything. She raised me and Jill on her own.” Carly glanced over at the view, the story seeming to play out in the depths of those ocean blue eyes. “I was physically ill over it for a solid month.”

“So how did you finally decide?”

It took a moment for her to set her gaze back on him. When she did, Gage detected a new dilemma. “I thought about motherhood. About if…” She chewed at her lip a moment, shrugged, and snatched the pendant from the leather string she wore, rubbing her thumb over it. “If I had a daughter in that situation, I’d never want her to make that sort of sacrifice. Not if it wasn’therdream too.” Moisture welled up in her eyes. Not enough to send tears streaming down those pretty cheeks of hers, but enough to reveal hints of how deeply the subject affected her.

Again came the urge to know more about her, a restless stirring deep in his gut. Gage nodded, realizing it was his turn to speak. “That’s a good way to look at it,” he offered.

Carly grinned. “Eventually, my mom qualified for the loan she wanted and opened up the shop on her own, so that’s good. But what I’m saying is that gaining approval can come at a cost. Had I made a different choice, I probably would have ended up resenting her.”

He was starting to see her point. “That’s good to keep in mind. Thanks for telling me about your situation. It helps.” Gage couldn’t see himself wanting to shoot another film, but he hadn’t been dying to do even one. Perhaps he’d need to apply Carly’s wisdom where his father was concerned eventually.

Either way, he liked that she’d shared that part of herself. It added even more depth to the woman who was steadily seeping further into his heart. At least he could say one thing for himself—he planned to pursue Carly against his father’s will. Didn’t that prove that he wasn’t a slave to owning the man’s approval?

Gage forced himself to get out of his head and focus on the adorable woman across from him. “I’m glad you agreed to be my instructor this summer, Carly. I think we’re going to have a nice time together.”

Her cheeks flushed. She rubbed her lips together while seeming to fight off those dimples. “I think so too. And thanks for letting me lecture you about your dad.”

“Was that a lecture?” he asked in surprise. “If so, I’d say you made a bit of history today: the one and only lecture—outside of architecture—that I actually enjoyed.”

Carly lifted her drink ceremoniously and gave him a playful wink.Dang, she was cute.“Cheers?”

There went that fire in his belly once more. Gage lifted his glass and clanked it against hers. “Cheers.” His time at the Royal Palm was off to a very promising start. Now to see if he could figure out what secrets stood behind that mysterious smile of hers.

CHAPTER 8

Carly had the best job in the world; she was certain of it. She was on her second week of teaching Gage Craven, and each day only got better. She could hardly believe she’d complained about the gorgeous man replacing her pint-sized students for the season, when in fact this was already turning into the best summer at The Royal Palm she’d ever had. Which said a lot. Her summer job at the resort felt like more of a vacation than it did work, and yet the pay rate was much better than her teaching wages.

While Gage hoped to catch one final wave for the day, Carly sank onto the sand. She shrugged off her outer swim top, lay back on the sand, and took in the splendor of the beach. Her shift had ended and she was officially off the clock. Now was her time to enjoy the warmth of the sun, accented by a slightly cool ocean breeze. And the soothing sound of lapping waves and distant seagulls. She propped herself onto her elbows, the sand clinging to her skin as she mused on another perk of her day. The sight of Gage Craven on a surfboard.

A tingly rush of nerves bubbled under her skin. He really was a quick study. He’d be very convincing on the silver screen when his time came. Sure, he was still making a handful of amateurmistakes, and he’d need to improve his technique, but Carly wasn’t through with him yet. Besides, the cameras only needed select shots, enough to convince the audience that it was, in fact, Gage riding the ocean blue and not one of his stunt doubles.

She’d come to appreciate the passion he had for playing his part to perfection. Even more, Carly enjoyed the way his face lit up when he spoke about his true passion—the world of architecture, and what it did to him when he walked into places such as the resort itself. “It’s a masterpiece,” he assured.

An image had been drifting into her mind over the last few days. Of Jimmy on a surfboard of his own, drifting toward the horizon and further from view, as Gage—strong, caring, and actually present during conversation—moved in closer, venturing to parts of her heart that Jimmy never had.

Jimmy wouldn’t have it any other way, would he? One moment he was sending her stupid poems and promising to come out, the next he was texting her some lame line saying that he wishedhe could, but it wasn’t in the cards.

Keep on wishing your way through life, Jimmy. I think I might finally start living mine in the meantime.

She hadn’t even bothered writing back. Since spending so much time with Gage, Carly had been reflecting on her relationship with Jimmy. It surprised her to realize that he hadn’t taken her on an actual date since they’d lost Ava. Carly had been the one initiating what could scarcely be called a friendship over the last five years. Showing up at his door with some “left-over homemade chicken soup” or an “extra apple pie” because, why not? She was baking one anyway. May as well make it two.

The truth was, Carly was beginning to resent the time she’d put into the dead-end relationship, even if the twodidhave a past.

“Woo, hoo!” Gage shook the water from his hair and grinned as he made his way toward the shore, the ocean foam circling his ankles. “That was one wicked ride,” he bellowed.

“You’re looking pretty good out there,” she said as he plunked into the sand beside her. Carly let her eyes close against the sun, enjoying what it felt like to have him nearby.

“You’ve been watching me?”

She pried an eye open. Gage lifted his brows.

“Of course I’m watching you. I’m your instructor. It’s part of the job.” She let her eyes drift shut once more.

“Yeah, but you’ve been off the clock for over an hour now,” he said, voice low, raspy, and…and close.Veryclose.

He was right about her shift being up. She and Gage had a new habit of riding the waves beyond their time before grabbing a bite to eat. Sometimes they’d come back and hit the waves after that as well. Butthis—Gage sitting so very close to her—this was new.