Lizzie was smart. Observant. She asked good questions and clearly cared about doing well. She was also completely, devastatingly attractive in a way that made Sarah’s professionalism feel like tissue paper.
The TikTok suggestion had been good. Sarah hated that it was good. She didn’t want Lizzie to be competent. She wanted her to be forgettable, easy to ignore, just another intern passing through.
Instead she was standing there in a too-big polo shirt, talking about viral mocktails and social media marketing, and Sarah had spent half the tour trying not to notice the freckles on her nose or the way her eyes lit up when she was interested in something.
This was exactly why she’d told Carlos nothing was going to happen. Because she couldn’t afford for anything to happen. Not now, not with Jonathan’s lawyers circling, not when her entire future depended on maintaining her image.
Sarah sat down at her desk and pulled up her email.
Work. She needed to focus on work.
But when she closed her eyes for just a second, all she could see was auburn hair and that earnest expression and that smile.
She opened her eyes and got back to work. The internship wouldn’t last but a few weeks. And surely she could make it
How hard could it be?
Chapter 5
Lizzie
Sarah had spent two hours on the tour and then, Lizzie had sat down, reviewing everything. She’d found folders on the computer about previous events and read through those also. There were hundreds of little details she’d have to remember. By noon, Lizzie’s brain was fried.
She found Chrisla at the front desk, checking in a family with three screaming kids and a truly impressive amount of luggage.
“Give me two minutes,” Chrisla mouthed.
Lizzie waited, watching Chrisla work. She had this easy way with guests, smiling through the chaos, making jokes with the dad about how many suitcases one family really needed. The kids stopped screaming long enough to accept lollipops from the jar Chrisla kept under the desk.
Finally the family headed toward the elevators. Chrisla grabbed her purse from under the desk. “Ready?”
“Where’s the employee cafeteria?”
“We’re not eating here. Come on.”
Lizzie followed her outside to the parking lot where a bright blue scooter was parked. Chrisla tossed her a helmet she pulled from a compartment under the seat.
“You’re joking.”
“Nope. Hop on. That’s how everyone gets around in Key West.”
“I’ve never been on a scooter before.”
“First time for everything.” Chrisla swung her leg over and started the engine. “Don’t worry, I’m a good driver.”
“That’s not reassuring.”
“Just hold on and lean with me on the turns. You’ll be fine.”
Lizzie put on the helmet and climbed on behind Chrisla, gripping the sides of the seat.
“We only have an hour for lunch,” Lizzie yelled over the wind. “Is there even time to go anywhere?”
“The whole island is tiny. You can get anywhere in ten minutes. Did you not explore yesterday?”
“I rode my bike down to the beach. Higgs Beach, I think? Then I went to the grocery store and almost got run over, so I cycle back and decided to look around when I wasn’t tired from travel.”
“I see.” Chrisla said nothing further but pulled into traffic.
