Suddenly, she grabbed her cleaning supplies and stuck them back on her cart then pushed it towards the door. “Nothing if I get fired for lollygagging. I have to go. Have a good day.”
She hustled out, leaving me standing there wondering, had I said something that upset her? I hoped I hadn’t. I was already looking forward to seeing her again the next day.
Chapter 6
Cara
I shoved my cleaning cart out into the hallway, my shaking hands making it rattle. As soon as the door closed behind me, I took a deep breath, letting it out slowly, trying to settle my nerves. I don’t know what I was expecting an interview with Beau Bennett to be like, but nothing like that. It was enlightening, intimidating, and titillating, all at the same time.
I’d interviewed plenty of people before, but they were all people I knew. Nothing they said ever really surprised me. But Beau was nothing like I expected.
I was awed at first, of course, especially when I walked in on him in bed. In bed! And half-naked at that. I never expected to get that up close and personal. And then he didn’t even bother to put any clothes on, just paraded around the room like he had conversations with people in his boxer shorts all the time. The image of his bare chest was burned into my retinas. I had a feeling I’d be seeing that in my mind’s eye for a very long time.
But the things he said were even more surprising. I thought he’d have a devil-may-care attitude, making excuses and blowing off his drug problem, but when he admitted it was a panic attack brought on by his fear of flying, I believed him. I never thought I’d feel sympathy for him, but who could fault him for that phobia after both his parents died in a plane crash? He wasn’t the cardboard cut-out celebrity I imagined, but a real person with fears and flaws, just like everyone else.
And his comment about the adoration he got from fans not being real? He sounded like a lost, little boy, desperate for someone to care about him. I sympathized with that, too. Wasn’t that why I wanted to become a famous journalist, to get the attention I felt was lacking in my life? If I finally got it, would it be as unsatisfying to me as it was to him?
I thought I was there to get some dirt on him, but all in all, the things he said shattered the illusions I was under and forced me to consider things that could change my whole outlook on life. It was way too much introspection for that early in the morning.
I parked the cleaning cart at the end of the hall, took off the smock, and went to look for Emma by the pool where she said she’d be waiting. There were only a few people down there, but I didn’t recognize her at first. She lay sprawled out on a lounge chair, perfectly disguised as a hotel guest in a skimpy bikini, sunglasses that covered half her face, and a giant hat that cast a shadow over the rest of it.
I plopped down on the lounger next to her. “Good cover. It took me a while to spot you, and I knew you were here. Where’d you get the bathing suit?”
“I brought it so I could hang out at the beach after work. I figured I might as well use it since I had the time.”
She lifted up a fruity, pink drink with a yellow umbrella and took a long sip. “I’ve found my true calling in life. I don’t want to be a maid. I want to be a professional vacationer. That’s gotta be a thing, right? Please tell me you want my job for another day or two.”
I sighed. Did I? I hadn’t gotten the story I was hoping for. I could always write an article exposing Beau’s hiding place and his lie about rehab, but I felt kind of sorry for him after hearing the truth. But was I willing to drop the plan completely?
I had a chance to get the dirt on him that no one else could. He seemed willing to talk to me; if I kept pretending to be his maid, eventually he’d reveal something juicy. Plus, I couldn’t deny that being with him excited me in more ways than I was willing to admit.
“Yeah, maybe a few more. Meet you at the same time tomorrow?”
She raised her drink in a mock toast. “I’ll bring my suit again.”
I headed home then turned on my laptop and opened a new document. I wasn’t ready to write about Beau yet, but I did need to write an article. I needed to earn a bit of good karma after all the lying I’d done.
I pulled out my notepad to review the notes I’d taken during the party then typed out a fluff piece lauding Calvin, his new resort, and all the amenities it offered to guests and employees. I described the beautiful, tropical decor, the delicious, gourmet food — giving a shoutout to the local vendors who supplied it, and the elegant spa that I wished I could spend a day at. Then I praised Calvin for his innovative incentive program that allowed employees to earn rewards and a share of the profit for offering good service. Finally, I expressed appreciation towards Calvin for bringing new jobs and an influx of business to a town whose economy needed a boost.
I knew most people thought badly of Calvin because of who his family was, and they were resistant to the idea of tourists invading Sweet Bay, but hopefully my article would help them see things differently. He wasn’t the villain everyone made him out to be.
I proofread the article then sent it to my boss at the newspaper, satisfied that I’d done one good thing that day. Hopefully, the article would cheer Calvin up some. I heard my mom come in, and, curious if there was any more news about his brother, I went to talk to her. Working at the diner, she was always up on the latest town gossip. Besides, I was hungry, and the scent of French fries wafted from the living room.
“Cara, I’ve got food if you want some!” she hollered as I made my way down the hall.
I found her in the kitchen, pulling hamburgers and fries out of paper bags. I grabbed some of each. “Hey Mom, how was your day?”
“Oh, same old, same old. My feet are killing me.” She took her own food into the living room and plopped down on the recliner. I followed her, taking the sofa.
“Did you hear any news about Steven Montgomery?” I asked before she had a chance to question me about my day. She cared more about hearing the town gossip before it hit the papers than how my day went, anyway, and I didn’t feel like lying to anyone else.
That was the right question to ask, because her eyes lit up like it was Christmas morning and every package under the tree held a secret. “Jackie came in after her shift at the hospital and said he had brain surgery this morning. And guess who was there, wrapped around Calvin?”
“Layla?”
“Yep. Guess they’re an item now. I bet her momma’s gonna pitch a fit about that. Can you believe it? Her daughter finds herself a billionaire, but he’s a Montgomery!” She shook her head, grinning. The only thing my mother loved more than gossip was watching the socialites get taken down a notch.
She rattled on a bit longer, telling me all the other town gossip she’d gleaned during her shift. I half listened, thinking more about how I could get some juicy info out of Beau the next day. If he spent the evening drinking the way he did the night before, he was liable to do something tabloid-worthy. Then maybe I’d get the story that would launch my career.
The next morning, I repeated the cloak and dagger routine, only not quite so early, sneaking up to the penthouse level where Emma had left the cart for me. I guess she’d already gotten a head start on her sunbathing. Draping the smock over my shoulders, I wheeled the cart down to Beau’s room and knocked on the door.
I jolted when he pulled it open a second later, like he’d been standing behind it, waiting for me. He wore clothes this time — a tee shirt and shorts that he looked good in — but I missed the view I had the day before. We both took a moment to check each other out, and I felt woefully lacking compared to him.
I’d never cared much about my looks; I’d realized a long time ago that I didn’t have the sculpted features of a movie star and accepted myself for who I was. But Beau’s perusal made me wish I’d at least worn some makeup or done something with my hair. Oh well, I suppose if I was prettier he’d suspect I was interested in him. This way, I was more forgettable. But why did I feel like he saw me, anyway?
“Hey Cara
, come on in. I was just having some breakfast. You want something to eat?” He pulled the door open but stayed there, so I brushed against him as I pushed the cart inside. My body shivered at the tiny contact, even though I was so close I could feel the warmth radiating off his body.
“No, I can’t take your breakfast.” I shook my head, although the aroma enticed me. The scent of bacon, eggs, warm biscuits, and fresh fruit perfumed the space, instead of alcohol and stale sweat like yesterday. And Beau smelled delicious, too, freshly showered and doused in some expensive cologne. Why had he put that on if he was hiding in his room?
“Nonsense. There’s way more here than I can eat. Come on, help me out here.” He gestured towards the room service cart laden down with enough food for five people.
When I pinched off a piece of bacon, he grabbed a plate and loaded it down with some of everything, poured me a glass of juice, then carried it all over to the kitchen bar. He set it next to his plate and pulled out a stool for me.
“I’m supposed to be working.” Did it sound as pathetic of an excuse to him as it did to me? It wasn’t like I was worried about getting fired. But it seemed like what I ought to say.
“I won’t tell. I’d rather you keep me company than clean, anyway. It’s no fun to eat alone.” He gave me a smile that would melt an eskimo’s heart, and I couldn’t resist him. Abandoning my cleaning cart, I sat down next to him and stuck another piece of bacon in my mouth.
The room didn’t look like it needed much cleaning, anyway. No liquor bottles cluttered the coffee table. “Did you have a better night last night?”
His gaze followed mine over to the empty coffee table. “Better than the night before. I didn’t drink myself into a stupor, if that’s what you’re wondering.”
On one hand, I was glad he felt better, but I had a much better chance of getting some dirt on him when he was hungover and moody. This happy, lighthearted Beau put a kink in my plans.
“So what’d you do instead?” I took a sip of juice and held my breath, hoping he’d say something interesting.
He rolled his eyes. “Mostly just watched TV. I’m never home to watch it, so I don’t know what’s on, but I’d heard about Downton Abbey, so I binged some of that.”
I couldn’t help the laugh that snorted out. I shoved my fist to my mouth so orange juice wouldn’t come spraying out.
He wrinkled his nose adorably. “Is that lame?”
“No, I love Downton Abbey, I just never saw you as the type to watch it. Do you read Jane Austen, too?”
“No, but I might consider it. I was looking for something to read around here, but I couldn’t find anything. Not even a Gideon Bible in the nightstand.”
“I might have some magazines.” I got up and went over to my cart. I’d seen a few in a pocket earlier.
I pulled them out and brought them to him, but he cringed. A blush heated my cheeks when I looked down to see why. His face was splashed across all of them with headlines about his drug-induced meltdown. I quickly tossed them in the trash can. “Sorry about that.”
“I’m used to it.” He sighed and shrugged, splitting open a biscuit with his long fingers, drawing my eyes to his hands. Geez, even his hands were attractive. Was there anything about him that wasn’t? Well, besides his behavior, but even that I was starting to understand.
After a few seconds, he forced his frown into a smile. “So, what do people do for fun around here?”
“There’s a bar in town called The Bay Club. That’s where most people hang out.”
“But not you?”
Was it that obvious I was a loser? “No, I’m not really into partying.”
“So, what do you like to do for fun, anything I would like?”
I certainly wasn’t going to tell him I spent most of my free time stalking TMZ for the latest celebrity gossip, even though that was my primary form of entertainment. It’s not like there was a whole lot else to do in a tiny town like Sweet Bay.
“I hang out with my friends at the diner.” That sounded lame. “We go bowling sometimes.” That sounded even worse. “We go to the beach.”
He perked up at that, but then his shoulders slumped again. “I can’t go out in public. The beach has been tempting me, but even then, someone might spot me.”
“Yeah.” I chewed on some eggs for a moment, trying to think of something he could do. A loud noise outside distracted me, but it gave me an idea. I walked over to one of the sliding glass doors that was open enough to let in the sound of a speedboat, darting across the harbor. “What about boating? You’d be far enough away, no one would be able to tell who you are.”
Beau came up behind me, standing close. “That sounds fun. But only if you’ll go with me.”
Excitement churned up inside me like the wake of the boat. It wasn’t exactly a newsworthy activity, but it would give me a chance to spend more time with him and maybe dig up some dirt. Plus, if I was being honest with myself, the idea of being with him got my heart pounding. I wanted to dislike Beau for being a self-absorbed, badly-behaved celebrity, but like everyone else, I was smitten by his charm.
And he wanted to be with me! I knew it was because I was the only person he had contact with, but still, it meant a lot that he didn’t dismiss me completely. But I had a role to play, which meant I had to turn him down.
I shook my head and turned back around, which put my face tantalizingly close to his. “You don’t want to go with me. I’m your maid.”
“So what? I don’t care. Come on, Cara. Help me out here before I die of boredom.” He grinned down at me, that movie star smile that probably got him whatever he wanted. I forced my own face to stay neutral, even though I was grinning like a lunatic on the inside.
I sighed dramatically. “Okay, fine. But you can’t say a word about it to anyone. If I get caught, I’ll lose my job. Don’t even let my name pass your lips.”
He pulled his thumb across his mouth like a zipper. “You protect my secrets, I’ll protect yours.”
“You call the front desk and tell them you want to rent a boat. I’ll go home and get my swimsuit and meet you at the dock.”
He gave me a mock salute. “Aye Aye, Captain.”
An hour later, I sauntered up beside him at the end of the dock where he stood, admiring the glossy, red and white speedboat that bobbed lazily on the water. With wraparound sunglasses shielding his piercing eyes, a ball cap covering up his movie star hair, and a baggy, white tee shirt and plaid board shorts hiding his toned physique, he looked like any other guy, out for a day of fun.
I’d wrapped my distinguishable red hair up into a bun and covered it with a floppy hat, just in case anyone was close enough to see me. Fortunately, no one else was within range. I had a swimsuit on under a gray tee and blue running shorts. I knew I couldn’t compete with the sexy models he normally entertained, but I wasn’t trying to.
He turned and smiled when he saw me. “This was a great idea, Cara. I’m looking forward to it.”
“Me, too. I brought provisions.” I gestured to my canvas tote bag which held towels, water bottles, sunscreen, and snacks. I figured he wouldn’t think to bring anything like that.
He climbed onto the boat then held out a hand to help me up. It felt strong and large in mine, and I missed it as soon as he let go. “I guess I should’ve asked if you knew how to drive one of these things, because I don’t.”
He chuckled and tossed the keys up in the air then caught them by the squishy orange keychain that would float if he missed. “I’ve driven a boat or two.”
I smirked at him. Considering his family fortune, he’d probably driven yachts big enough to fit a dozen boats this size inside.
Beau took the wheel, and I settled down in the cushy, white leather seat next to him. The engine started with an eager growl. Beau maneuvered the boat away from the dock, and as soon as we were clear, he took off like a rocket.
I yelped and slapped a hand on my hat to keep it from flying away then tightened the chin strap.
Beau looked over at me, a huge smile lighting his face. “Hold on, Ginger!”
I doubted he was supposed to go that fast in the harbor, but I wasn’t going to reprimand him. Soon enough, we were out in the open water. The boat skipped over the sparkling, teal water like a frog leaping across lily pads. The air whipping around us countered the effects of the bright sun, keeping me pleasantly cool.
Beau made a few large circuits just past the mouth of the harbor before eventually slowing the boat down and turning towards me. “Would you like to learn how to drive it?”
“Sure, why not?” It would be a fun story to tell people someday, how Beau Bennett taught me to pilot a boat.
He gave me a look of surprise when I jumped up and came over to the wheel. He let me have the seat then leaned over me, pointing out the controls, explaining how to adjust the throttle and the trim for a smooth ride. I tried to listen, but his nearness distracted me. All I could think about was how good he smelled and how I wanted to reach up and stroke the stubble on his chiseled jaw to see if it was soft or prickly.
When he finally moved away some to let me try it, my head cleared a little, and I did my best to remember what he’d said. The boat puttered forward then gradually sped up as I increased the throttle. Soon, I was flying over the waves.
“This is the best day ever!” I whooped and hollered, and Beau laughed with me, like he was enjoying my excitement as much as the ride. Eventually, I slowed down again and let him have the wheel back.
“Are you hungry? I brought some food.” I reached for my tote bag and pulled out the water bottles, some grapes, and a bag of trail mix.
“That’d be great.” Beau turned the engine off and swiveled to face me, taking one of the water bottles.
My body instantly relaxed at the sudden cessation of noise and movement. I leaned my head back and sighed, enjoying the quiet moment. The only sound was the water lapping at the sides of the boat, a few birds squawking as they flew overhead, and Beau digging into the trail mix. A couple other boats were out, but their passengers were small, unrecognizable dots, so I knew they couldn’t see us any better. We were safe from prying eyes and could enjoy the moment without worry.
Stalking the Billionaire Celebrity (Sweet Bay Billionaires Book 2) Page 5
