Page 28 of Promise Not to Fall for the Rich & Famous

Christian gave her a reassuring grin. “Talking about tragedy is no easy feat.”

A dose of warmth rested over her heart. She appreciated the way Christian seemed to understand. “You’re right.”

“But you can trust Gage with the truth. When you’re ready.”

“That’s good to hear.” Carly imagined what the conversation might be like. She was nervous about exposing such a privatepiece of her past. Would it scare him away? Make him see her as damaged goods? She couldn’t help but fear that it might. Confiding in him could deepen their relationship too though, couldn’t it? She guessed it all depended on Gage’s reaction.

After dinner, Carly offered to help with the dishes, but Christian let her off the hook, insisting he walk her back to her bungalow before it was dark out. The timing was perfect, she realized as they stepped outside. The setting sun cast an orange glow over the beach. It was impossible not to stare at the reflection along the rippling water, a vision of warmth and light and…and hope. Hope for future sunsets she might possibly enjoy with Gage on this very beach.

Christian shared stories of what it was like to be friends with Gage as a kid as they walked. Yes, Gage was spoiled as a child, getting almost everything he wanted, but according to Christian, he was generous too. She liked seeing him through Christian’s eyes. It confirmed what she’d concluded herself since getting to know him better: Gage Craven really was a great guy.

“Well,” Christian said as they reached her bungalow. “When I was texting Gage about spending some time with you tonight, we ended off with the oldmay-the-best-man-wintype a thing. Obviously,thatdidn’t happen…” He chuckled under his breath, and Carly couldn’t help but laugh as well.

“But,” he continued, “I want you to know that Gage can be trusted. He’s not going to jerk you around the way Jimmy did.”

Carly gave Christian a quick hug. “Thank you. That means a lot.”

After thanking him again for dinner, Carly wished Christian goodnight and headed inside. Thoughts of their conversation ran through her mind as she settled in front of the TV with a bowl of sunflower seeds. It wasn’t until a bunch of advertisements came on that she noticed she wasn’t even watching the show on the screen.

Instead, she’d been feeding the growing fear rising in her heart. Already she was getting herself into deeper waters than she’d known, but what if it didn’t mean anything to Gage? After all, hadn’t Gage just canceled their date so that Christian could spend time with her?

Come on, Carly. You’re making something out of nothing. You’ve only shared a kiss with the guy.But inside, Carly knew what a very big deal that was for her. She’d opened up to Gage in ways she normally wouldn’t allow. And now, she was about to take things to a whole new level by opening up about her past. She couldn’t help but fear what that might look like, exposed in the unknown depths, foolishly hoping for Gage Craven to…to what? Come to her rescue by accepting that part of her past? By saying he wanted to be part of her future?

The more she considered it, the less possible it all seemed. Perhaps what Carly was really doing was making one great big mistake. Maybe she’d be better off just staying in the shallows where it was safe.

CHAPTER 11

Gage fastened the last two buttons on his shirt and studied his reflection. Sure, he’d spent the entire day with the woman he was about to have dinner with, but this wasn’t a mere surf lesson. This was dinner. At her place.

After they’d just shared their first kiss the day before. That familiar heat flared up as the kiss played back in his mind. Dang, it was nice. Very nice. The gentle push and pull of those pouty lips. The way her touch sent his skin ablaze.

Sure, they’d hit a speed bump when Christian showed up, but Gage felt confident that he’d done the right thing. Forget about the fact that he’d spent each slow-moving minute in agony over giving up his date with Carly. He’d been very tempted to score a pair of binoculars, hit the beach running, and somehow spy on the two of them from the sand dunes.

What he had done is lace up his shoes after the sun set and step out into the night, ready to stroll on over to Carly’s house when Christian gave him a call.

“Well,” his friend said when Gage answered. “She really is falling for you. Lucky dog.”

No sweeter words had been spoken, Gage was sure of it. It had given him enough assurance that he decided to skip thevisit to Carly’s and wait for the morning; he didn’t want to come on too strong. The trouble was, when he showed up to surf lessons today, Carly hadn’t been the same. He wasn’t sure how to put his finger on it, only knew that she’d been quieter than usual, sticking to details pertaining to surf and not much more. Hopefully tonight he could figure out what was bothering her.

He hurried over to the pedestal sink, splashed on some aftershave, and gave himself another look over. Just as he wondered if he should change back into the T-shirt he’d tried on earlier, his phone started ringing. He snatched it from his pocket and checked the screen.

It was Dad. A deep sense of dread rushed in. His dad had called last night too, but Gage had sent it to voicemail. The truth was, Gage was battling something of his own—trying to maintain his father’s fickle approval. It was like the video games he and Beau played as kids: do everything you can to get the key and get to the castle so you can win the game.

Half the battle was scoring the key in the first place. Failure after failure, one lost life after next, the opposition coming to a great head the moment before the battle was won and the key was handed over at last.

But the mission wasn’t over yet. No, next it was time to get to the castle. Navigating bubbling lakes of lava, fire-breathing dragons, and dark, hidden enemies while hanging onto that precious key you’d worked so hard to earn.

That’sexactly where Gage was now. He’d finally scored the key to the old man’s heart, but at any moment, he could lose it. A recollection of his brother Beau came to mind. The way Dad stopped talking to him after he’d said he might quit football to get his doctorate in engineering. A week of the silent treatment, and that idea was out the window. Beau went back to being the star football player Mark Craven loved most.

For Gage, the lake of lava was his blooming relationship with Carly.

Now that they’d been spotted kissing on the beach, Gage could practically feel the key slipping from his grip. Dad wouldnotapprove of him warming up to her, and Gage hated how very much he cared. How much he wanted to have the best of both worlds: love from the warden as well as the heart of the princess from the highest tower. He just wasn’t sure how he could do it.

Still, Gage tapped the screen before it went to voicemail and brought it to his ear. “Hello?”

“How’s it going out there, son?”

Gage stepped away from his reflection and strode down the hallway. “Good, good. Just…about to go grab a bite to eat.”