Page 6 of More Than Friends

Going to ignore the second part of your text and focus on the stroking part.

I grimace. He’s absolutely ridiculous. I toss my phone back into the compartment and finish stocking my cart. Since I’m already here, I walk back into the garage and grab a bucket of ice. The weather is beautiful this morning, cool enough that I might even ask one of the guys at the pro shop to lend me one of the fancy Pembroke Hill jackets they have. I keep meaning to get myself one, but I know if I sweet-talk one of them, they’ll lend me theirs.

“How’s it been this morning?” Mia asks before sliding into her cart.

“It’s been good. I didn’t expect so many people to be here for the weekend already, but it’s been steady. What about you?”

Pembroke Hills has two eighteen-hole courses. On a day like today, when it’s steady, two cart girls work the bev carts. We each take one of the eighteen holes. As long as the players don’t have a preference, they alternate which course they send the group to, so that way things don’t get congested. As a private club, we try to do everything possible to make sure all members have the ultimate experience every time they step onto the course.

Mia adjusts her ponytail before putting her cart in drive. “It’s been good. There are more people out than I was expecting. Good tippers too,” she yells over her shoulder with a wave.

I wave back at her, smiling as I watch her drive away. Hopefully, the good tipping continues throughout the morning. The pay at Pembroke is better than at any other country club around. I make good base pay at Pembroke, but it’s expensive to live in the Hamptons. I’m trying to give more to Devin so he lets me stay in my apartment for the summer instead of renting itout to tourists who can pay more. I need as many tips as I can to compete with the typical renters Devin’s used to having for the busy season.

I slide back into my cart and take a sip of my coffee, my eyes fluttering shut in euphoria. It tastes amazing, and I didn’t realize how much I needed the caffeine. It hits my soul, giving me the pick-me-up I need to continue the rest of my shift. My morning started out rough, but it has turned around with Jude coming to the rescue. On top of that, it really was thoughtful of him to drop off the coffee. I make the mental note to tell him how much I appreciate it, but for now, I plaster on a smile and pull up to the group of men waving me down.

FOUR

JUDE

“Hey, Tyson,”I mutter from the driver’s seat of the golf cart. We’re on our tenth hole for the day, and I’m really enjoying his company. He isn’t someone I’ve spent a lot of time with in the past, but all of my friends are finding girlfriends and getting married and becoming too busy for me, so I’m clinging to whatever single friends I can find.

“Yes?” he asks, looking at me over his shoulder. I know I’ve interrupted him setting up his shot, but I’ve spotted Charlotte two holes away from us, and I know she’ll be here soon.

“Can I ask you to do me a favor?” I question, reaching into my back pocket and pulling out a hundred-dollar bill.

Tyson raises his eyebrows as he looks at the cash in my hand. “Whatever it is, I don’t need the cash, Kensington. I’d like to remind you how well Bishop-Moore hotels is doing right now.”

I laugh and roll my eyes at him. Tyson runs the Bishop-Moore hotel empire alongside his sister, Winnie, and her husband, Archer. They’ve only been at the helm of the company for a couple of years, and their increase in revenue is more than impressive. We’ve recently started a partnership where some of our luxury brands are featured in their hotels, and it’s really helped both our companies financially. “I know you don’t needthe money, but in about a minute, a cart girl is going to pull up and ask for our drinks, and I want you to tip her this.”

Tyson narrows his eyes but closes the distance between us and snatches the bill from my grasp. “And why can’tyoujust tip her?” he asks incredulously.

“Because she won’t take it from me.”

“Does Jude Kensington have a girlfriend?” he asks, his lips lifting in a half smirk. “I know I prefer to stay clear of the social scene in our circle, but even I know the gossip when it comes to you.”

My cheeks feel hot as I watch Charlotte get closer to us. “She’s a girl who’s a friend. Don’t forget to tip,” I whisper before plastering on a smile. “Char!” I yell before sliding out of the golf cart.

Her mouth turns up in a radiant smile. Why does she have to be so damn beautiful? I aim a look in Tyson’s direction, hopinghedoesn’t notice just how stunning she is. “I was wondering if I’d run into you today. Do you two want a drink?”

“Always,” I answer, coming to a stop next to her bev cart.

She grabs the club’s iPad and stands up, a smile staying on her face the entire time. “What do you want? Beer? Or are you switching to liquor?”

My eyes rake over her body, and I’m just about to answer her when my mouth snaps shut. I cock my head to the side. “Since when do you have a pro shop jacket?”

Charlotte looks down at her jacket. On the left side, right over her chest, is the Pembroke Hills logo, and it doesn’t take long for my eyes to focus on the name stitched underneath.

“And since when is your nameTeddy?” I ask, my gaze bouncing between Charlotte’s eyes and the name stitched over her chest.

She looks down before lifting a shoulder in a shrug. “I was cold, and Teddy let me have his jacket. I still need to order myself one. What do you want to drink?”

I tell myself that it doesn’t matter that she’s wearing Teddy’s jacket. It’s just a jacket, but something hot runs through my veins at the knowledge she’s wearing something of his. I stare at his name stitched across her chest for a few more seconds before shaking my head and turning my focus to her face. She smiles at me with a lifted brow, clearly waiting for me to answer her.

“I’ll take a beer. What about you, Tyson?”

I look over at him, finding him taking a step closer to us. “A beer’s perfect. And they’re on me.” He hands the cash over to Charlotte.

She gives him a warm smile. “Perfect. I’ll grab your beers and your change.”