“I’m hoping to go horseback riding tomorrow while August attends the first meeting. You could come with me if you like, Janey?”
Janey looks like someone just asked her if she’d like to drown in a vat of acid.
“Oh, n—no. But thank you for asking.”
“She’s terrified of horses,” Todd explains, patting Janey’s hand.
“Oh well, maybe we could try… tennis, or hiking. There are some great trails around here. Later in the week perhaps.” Erin cuts her gaze to smile at the waiter filling our water glasses.
Two more couples arrive, completing our table.
The first couple are tall, British, highly polished, aristocratic almost. Exceptionally well-groomed. The husband introduces them as Miles and Clara Miller. I clock the Tag on his wrist, the sharp tailoring and almost aggressive confidence. I’d bet my right arm he’s an investment banker, specializing in offshore.
The second couple catches my attention more than the others. The husband speaks as though American English is his first language, but then he speaks quietly in a different language to his wife, who appears to speak very little English.
Again, I stand briefly to introduce myself.
He looks directly into my eyes. “Nicholas and Anna Parker.”
I introduce myself and Erin. “It’s good to meet you.”
As people settle into their seats, the chatter across the room picks up.
Erin skillfully engages our table in light conversation which allows me the chance to look around the room, matching people with their possible professions, assessing the level of risk they pose, how many jabs to the ribs it would take before they fall to the ground.
I’m not planning to beat the shit out of anyone while we’re here, but it’s good to be prepared.
“So, what do you do, Erin?” Clara asks, an enormous diamond atop her finger fluttering in the candlelight.
I’m about to open my mouth to jump in with a response, but Erin beats me to it.
“Charity work. Mostly education initiatives. Girls programs.”
I blink once. Nice improv.
“Although, I was bartending when this one found me.” She flicks sparkling blue eyes in my direction, momentarilydisarming me. “I wouldn’t have had the confidence to pursue my dream were it not for August.”
She rests a hand on my arm, the sparks from the contact and her words making me jump. I cover up my reaction by taking hold of her hand and lifting it to my mouth. I only intended to brush my lips across them to demonstrate affection but the softness of her skin and the sweet smell of her perfume make me want to taste her. So, long, slow kisses to the curves of her knuckles follow until I force myself to lower her hand.
But not before I catch Clara Miller dropping her gaze to Erin’s ring finger. She’s wearing what appears to be her old wedding band—nothing glamorous. Not like most of the other women here.
My eyes flash to her once, just in time to see a flush of heat blossom across her cheeks.
The starters arrive and conversation settles into a discussion about how delicious the food is.
When I’m sure no one is paying us any attention, I lean into Erin.
“I’m going to need to put a tracker on your phone.”
She chokes a little on her water. “You’re what now?”
“For your safety,” I tell her, quietly. “You’re technically my employee while we’re here, so I’m responsible for you. Can’t have you wandering off.”
Her eyes narrow. “Wandering off where? I can’t leave the resort without you, and this place is so vast it would take me a week to locate the exit.”
Well, that’s reassuring. Still…
“I just need to know where you are when I’m not with you.”
