Although she was enjoying them, they weren’t going to pay her rent. Roger and Lena seemed sure she was getting the job, but she never counted on anything until she saw it in writing. And maybe the pay wouldn’t be enough to cover her living expenses. She had learned to live without a lot, but rent, food, and utilities weren’t luxuries.
Gia looked in the mirror one last time. He said he liked red, so her red tank top and white jeans were perfect. Casual, yet not a lay-around-the-house look. She took time to straighten her wild mass of curls but pulled it back into a ponytail because her blonde roots were beginning to show. Good thing I promised Vickie I’d go back to being blonde.
Although she really didn’t have time to run down to Maplesville, she didn’t want to meet with Brittney with a blonde streak down the middle of her head. Looks like I will need to call in another favor. Thankfully Vickie was between things and missed girl time as much as she did.
Gia grabbed her cell phone.
“Hi, Gia. Did you get the job?”
“Vickie, things like that take time. But . . . that’s what I’m calling about.”
“You know I’m horrible when it comes to mock interview questions,” Vickie said.
“That’s because favorite food or color is never one of them. And I don’t need help with that.”
“Fine. Do it your way. It’s no fun.”
“I’m thinking about doing it my way as a blonde again. Are you doing anything tomorrow?” Gia crossed her fingers.
“Would there be pizza and beer?” Vickie asked.
Gia laughed. “Afterward, yes. Because I don’t want you distracted with all those chemicals on my head.”
“Have I ever let you down? I mean doing your hair.”
“Not once. So do you want me to come to Maplesville?”
“Normally I’d say yes. But since you promise pizza and beer, I’m coming to you.”
“Why?” Gia asked.
“Because I know all the guys around here.”
“So it’s not really pizza you find better in Boston,” Gia teased.
Vickie giggled. “I need to expand my horizons. And it seems to be working for you. By the way, have you heard from Mr. Handsome?”
“Mr. Who?”
“Don’t pretend like you don’t know who I’m talking about. But don’t tell me now. Save the juicy details for tomorrow. I’ll be there bright and early.”
“Thanks for the warning,” Gia grumbled. She knew when Vickie said bright and early she meant noon. Vickie never was a morning person, and Gia wasn’t one to stay up late. How they stayed friends so long was beyond her. Maybe their differences made them fit so well.
Roger doesn’t seem anything like me either, but I’m kind of enjoying his company too.
She had no idea when he popped back in her mind, but she didn’t want Vickie picking up on it. If she did, Gia would never get her off the phone. The antique mantel clock chimed five times as she heard a knock on the door. The one time she wouldn’t mind him being late, he wasn’t.
“I’ve got to go; my—”
“Date is there?”
“You are ruthless, do you know that?” Gia asked.
“Absolutely. Have fun and remember every juicy detail.” Vickie laughed wickedly as she ended the call.
Brat.
Gia slipped the phone into her purse and went to the door. She smiled when she saw that Roger did know casual. He was wearing a T-shirt that fit snuggly, showing off his muscular body with a pair of khaki shorts. If it wasn’t for the fact they’d be traveling in a Maserati, it might actually feel like they were . . . compatible. Roger was way out of her class. She didn’t know how rich he really was. Was he like Henderson rich? Either way, he was way out of her league, not that it really mattered, since she was working for him. I think.
“Good, you listened. I was worried you’d be wearing a dress or something.”
“It may be hard to believe, but I am capable of following simple instructions,” she said bitterly.
“That’s not how I meant it, and I think you know that,” Roger said with sincerity.
She nodded. Gia knew she was having some trust issues since what had happened at work. It was like she was waiting for another disappointment and building a wall around herself in preparation. That wasn’t fair to Roger or to her.
“Sorry. It’s been a long day.”
“Then I think dinner is exactly what you need.”
“Me too.”
“You might want to grab a sweater. Although it’s a nice night, it gets cool after dark.”
She was up for about anything tonight. Gia just wanted to go out, relax, laugh, and enjoy. One thing Roger wasn’t, was boring.
Grabbing her sweater, she followed him to his car. This time it wasn’t the limo or his fancy Maserati. It was a Jeep with the top off. Now we’re talking.
The restaurant was farther than she’d anticipated, but the ride was enjoyable. Roger took the scenic route, which reminded her so much of home. Funny how she loved living in the big city, but it never really felt like . . . home.
“You’re very quiet,” Roger said as they pulled up in front of the restaurant.
“I was enjoying the . . . fresh air.”
“I don’t know how you do it. The city isn’t for me.”
She turned to him and said, “Really? I would’ve thought that—”
“And you’d have been wrong. Put me near the ocean and I’m happy.”
It was the first real thing Roger had said about who he was. “I’m not from the city either. I grew up in a very small town. One where you couldn’t do anything without someone calling your parents and ratting you out.”
Roger laughed as they got out of the Jeep. “I can’t picture you raising hell as a child.”
“Maybe that’s why I’m a rule follower now. I got it all out of my system as a teenager.”
“Oh, sounds like the topic for dinner.” Roger winked.
“Only if you tell me your dirty little secrets in return.”
She noticed his jaw flinch, but his tone seemed relaxed. “You might find I’m quite boring.”
Oh, I doubt that.
They ordered lobster, and between dipping it in the melted butter and enjoying every sweet morsel, she shared some of her less colorful memories.
“I guess I judged you incorrectly, Miss Gravel. You were practically a juvenile delinquent. I wouldn’t doubt if you actually got a B in behavior.”
Gia snorted. “Okay, so I wasn’t as bad as I make it seem. But I wasn’t an angel either.”
Roger laughed. “Not being home before the street lights turned on is far from being a felon.”
“Does that mean you’re not going to reciprocate?”
“On the same level? Sure.” Roger leaned back in his chair as though in deep thought. Then a wicked grin crossed his gorgeous face as he declared, “I have a library book I never returned. And worse than that, they revoked my library privileges.”
Gia laughed. “Good thing mine wasn’t, otherwise we might not have figured out where that photo was taken.”
“And now you know why I needed you,” Roger said with a wink.
I don’t think you need me at all. She was glad he pretended like he did, though.
“Are you ready for that walk I promised,” Roger asked. He was tired of sharing her with other patrons. The beach was more . . . private.
“Sounds good.”
Roger called the waitress over and whispered a request. She nodded and returned with a chilled bottle of wine and two glasses. He handed her a hundred dollar bill and turned back to Gia. “In case we get thirsty along the way.”
“Too bad you didn’t bring a blanket,” Gia teased.
With the wine bottle and glasses in one hand, he reached into the back of the Jeep and pulled out a checkered blanket. “I believe in being prepared for anything.”
Gia asked, “Should I be worried?”
“Only if the weatherman was right.”
> “Why?”
“He said it was going to rain tonight.” They both looked up at the starry sky.
“But remember, this is New England,” Gia responded.
“What does that mean?” Roger asked.
“It means wait five minutes and the weather will change.”
Roger looked up again. Not a cloud in sight. “I’m willing to take the risk if you are.”
Gia took the blanket from him and said, “A little rain never hurt anyone.”
That’s the spirit.
He led them over a rocky barrier and down to a secluded part of the beach. “This is it.”
Gia opened the blanket and they sat down. Roger pulled out a Swiss army pocket knife and removed the cork. Pouring two glasses, he handed her one.
“What shall we toast to?” Gia asked.
Your beautiful eyes. Maybe your smile. Or that quirky laugh I love listening to. “Your new job?”
She shot him a warning look. “You know I haven’t heard back yet.”
“But I have. Spoke to Brice today, and he was as impressed as I was.” More than likely it was for different reasons.
“That doesn’t mean I have the job. Or if there is one available,” she said firmly.
“Gia, if I wasn’t positive, I wouldn’t say it. I wouldn’t set you up to be let down.” That was why he was trying like hell to keep his distance with her. This was something casual. Not like they were hopping into bed or something. Just wine and the stars. Nothing more.
She either decided to believe him or stop arguing, but she raised her glass to his and said, “To the Hendersons.”
That wasn’t exactly the toast he meant, but he clicked his glass with hers. Roger never drank wine and would’ve preferred a cold beer. He was trying to give her what he thought she might enjoy. But she took a sip and by the wrinkle of her nose, she wasn’t enjoying it either.
“Don’t like red?” Roger asked.
“Sorry, don’t like wine.”
Roger reached out for her glass and put them both off in the sand away from them. “Me either.”
“We still have the stars.” Gia smiled.
“That we do.” He lay down on the blanket and Gia did the same. He put an arm out so she could rest her head on it.
“If you’re not from around here, how is it you know about this place?”
“I’ve traveled to Boston with Caydan so much over the past year, and I’ve had a lot of time to explore.”
“You mean to escape from the city?” she asked.
“Exactly. Although I was invited, he needed time with his family.”
“I’m confused. You seem to get along with them. Why didn’t you want to go?”
If she was going to work for them, she’d learn this soon enough. “Caydan didn’t grow up with his siblings. Actually he never knew he was related to them until last year.”
“Then giving him some space was really kind of you. Too bad I didn’t know you then. Maybe we could’ve—”
“The timing wouldn’t have been good.”
“Oh,” she said softly.
“What I mean is, I was traveling a lot. Here for a few days, then back overseas.”
“But with enough time to come all the way out here and find this place,” she said.
“You’re right.” An awkward silence grew between them, and he knew it was his fault. “I guess I like my alone time.”
“So why did you invite me?” Gia asked as they continued looking at the stars.
That was something he’d been trying to figure out himself. He could tell her she looked like she needed it. Or that it was a thank you for a job well done. This had nothing to do with helping her either. “I enjoy your company.” It was the truth and all he would allow himself to admit.
He could feel her relax against him. “Good, because I hope you’ll give me a ride back.”
Roger laughed. “Do you really want to go back? This place has an amazing sunrise.” He was joking however he could picture holding her all night under the stars. But he wouldn’t want to stop with snuggling.
“Tempting, but I have things I need to do tomorrow, and your project is one of them.”
The Hendersons might not intentionally be fucking up things for him, but damn it, he wished he’d never agreed to do this. Just then a star shot across the sky. He didn’t believe in wishing or hoping. Action was the only thing one could count on.
He rolled over and saw Gia’s eyes were closed. “Sleeping?” he asked.
She shook her head. “Making a wish.”
Figures. As he looked down at her, the urge to taste those sweet lips became too great. Leaning over, he brushed her lips with his. Her eyes fluttered open and she sucked in her breath. He pulled away slightly. “What were you wishing for?”
She smiled. “Not that, but maybe I should’ve been.” Gia slipped her arm up around his neck, and he claimed her lips again.
He wasn’t rushing this; Roger had been waiting to do this since the moment he pulled his car up. With the tip of his tongue he coaxed her to open to him. When she did, he sucked in her sweetness. Although he didn’t like wine, it blended nicely with her. His hand ran up her leg and rested on her hip.
A bright light homed in on them and a deep voice boomed nearby. “Hey, you kids need to move it along,” then added in a firm tone, “Wait, is that an open container of liquor?”
Roger saw the panic in Gia’s eyes. Yeah. So that bad girl type. This only proved she was far more innocent than she let on. Roger rolled off her, sat up, and addressed the officer. “Yes, it is.”
“You know it’s illegal to have an open container on a public beach.”
Roger knew the officer was in the right. “I do. However, as you can see, the bottle is corked and we are not drinking.” Roger also knew that where they were wasn’t considered a public beach. The restaurant owned it, even though they allowed anyone to use it. If it came to that, he’d push the subject. As a former DEA agent, he wasn’t going to sit back and get bagged for something that wasn’t illegal. The waitress knew exactly where he was taking the bottle of wine when she sold it to him.
“Are you really going to argue the law with me?” the young officer asked.
Roger stood up, nice and slow, not wanting to aggravate the officer. “I’m not arguing; I’m stating. If you haven’t noticed, the sign to the left shows that we are not on public property. If you have questions regarding what they do or don’t allow on their section of the beach, I’m sure they would be happy to answer them for you. Ask for Jim. He’s the owner.”
The officer turned and appeared to look at the sign. The scowl on his face said he wasn’t pleased with being proven incorrect. Roger wasn’t trying to give him a blow to his ego. Then again, he wasn’t taking a citation for something he hadn’t done either. There are many things I could’ve been charged with over the past few years. This isn’t one of them.
The two men glared at each other but eventually the young officer turned his attention to Gia, tipped his hat, and said, “Have a good evening, miss.”
Roger noticed her sweet smile in return. “You too, officer.”
As soon as the guy was gone Roger turned back to Gia who was laughing. “What’s so funny?”
“I guess my wish did come true,” she replied still giggling.
“You wanted a cop to come and harass us?”
Shaking her head, she answered, “Not exactly. I wanted a night I wouldn’t forget. Almost getting arrested surely fits that request. Just not as I imagined it.”
Roger almost asked what she had imagined, but he could figure that out on his own. Kissing her, he could feel the fire building between them. Maybe it was a good thing that cop interrupted things. Otherwise tonight might not be ending with just a kiss. And I’m not out to break her heart.
“Hope that wasn’t the highlight of the evening,” Roger teased. Even in the moonlight, he could see her blush.
In her usual way, she deflected his question. “The l
obster was amazing as well.”
Since he was already standing, it might be a good time to call it a night and head back to Boston. “I don’t know about you, but I could use something sweet.” But nothing will be sweeter than your lips were.
“Ice cream sounds wonderful, but only if you allow me to pay.”
Roger wasn’t the type of man who let a woman pay his way. Then again, it was only ice cream. Was his own damn pride getting in the way? Probably. Instead he used what seemed to come very natural between them. Humor.
“Are we talking whipped cream?” Roger asked playfully.
As she folded the blanket Gia answered, “And chocolate jimmies.”
Damn she’s adorable. He wasn’t sure if she knew it or not. Which only made it more intoxicating. “I hope you know I have no idea what a chocolate jimmy is.”
She laughed. “Oh, it’s a Rhode Island thing. I think the rest of the world calls them . . . sprinkles.”
“Maybe you can expand my vocabulary over ice cream.”
Gia smiled. “You have no idea what you’re asking. We have a lot of . . . unusual sayings and words. We might need to order a super sundae to get through them.”
I won’t care if it takes all night.
Roger was in no rush for them to part ways. But after ice cream he was taking her home. And if it meant he stayed in the Jeep, he wasn’t going to act on what his body was yearning for.
Damn, Brice better hire her soon, or I might just change my mind.
Chapter 6
“So he kissed you, right?” Vickie asked as she added more highlights to Gia’s hair.
“I never said that,” Gia stated firmly.
“You don’t have to. I can see it in your eyes.”
“Vickie, you’re standing behind me.”
With a chuckle she asked, “Do you really want to distract me while I’m doing your hair? I mean it’s your head, but you already know that going from brunette back to blonde is a delicate process. So the best thing you can do is quit arguing and tell me what happened. Every scrumptious detail.”
Gia rolled her eyes, knowing her friend wasn’t joking. It wasn’t as though anything crazy had happened, but since Gia had been living, for all intents and purposes, a dull life, she understood Vickie’s interest. “Nothing happened. Well nothing crazy at least. But you’re correct. He kissed me.”
Nine Rules of Engagement (Barrington Billionaire's Series Book 9) Page 7
