“You don’t date anyone,” she retorted.
“Exactly, which is why it’s over before it began.”
Chapter 9
Cade
I stepped out of the shower, feeling refreshed after my morning workout. It had taken a long time to get to the point where I actually liked the workouts, but now that I was there, when I skipped too many days in a row, I missed it.
I could hear my phone ringing in my bedroom and rushed to grab it before voicemail picked up. Part of me was hoping it would be Eliana. I knew it wasn’t likely, but there was always a chance.
I read the name above the number, and at first, it didn’t ring a bell. Then I remembered my meeting in the gazebo.
“Hello,” I answered, my hair dripping down my bare back with the towel slung around my waist.
“Hey, Cade, it’s Maceo.”
“What’s up?” I asked.
“You doing anything today?” he asked.
I looked down at my bare chest, running a hand over it to wipe off a water droplet. “Not particularly.”
“I’m going to be taking a fishing trip,” he said. “I thought I’d see if you wanted to go along.”
Odd. I didn’t even really know the guy. Then I remembered he said he was rich. Rich people did tend to be a lot lonelier than people thought. He probably needed a friend.
It wasn’t like I was surrounded by friends. Rand was gone, and I didn’t really associate with many other guys. “Sure,” I heard myself say.
“Perfect. Want to meet me at the marina in about an hour?”
“I’ll be there,” I agreed.
I had planned on checking on the shop and then spending the day doing nothing. Maceo seemed nice enough, though. If he turned murder-y, I could take him I was sure. He was kind of a lean guy. My new muscles gave me an advantage—I hoped.
I put on a pair of cargo shorts and a loose shirt. Then I grabbed my shades and headed out the door. I was actually looking forward to some time on the water. I often thought about buying a boat, and then I remembered they cost a lot and I didn’t make a lot, and the thought vanished.
Maceo was waiting at the end of the dock when I showed up. “Thanks for coming,” he said.
“Thanks for inviting me.”
His boat was huge and luxurious, which didn’t surprise me at all. He gave me a quick tour before we moved to where he had fishing poles set up and ready to use once we got out on the water.
“Ah, there’s my captain,” he said when an older man wearing a white cap and a white shirt approached the boat edge.
“Sorry I’m late,” the captain said.
“Not a problem,” Maceo said, clapping the man on the shoulder. “Thanks for taking me out on such short notice.”
Ten minutes later, we were headed out to the open water. The sun beat down on us, and the fresh smell of sea air blew around us. I really wanted a boat.
“Do you actually fish or just go through the motions?” I asked him when he kicked a bucket of bait to where my pole was positioned.
He laughed. “Both. Honestly, I just like being out on the water and away from all of that.” He gestured at the land mass behind us.
“I could understand that,” I said. “What is it you do?”
“I’m a financial investor.”
“What is that?” I asked with a laugh.
He chuckled, took a seat on one of the benches that rimmed the deck, stretched his arms out, and ignored the fishing pole altogether. I took a seat on another bench and figured it wasn’t really a trip about fishing at all. I was cool with that. I wasn’t really interested in cleaning any fish I might have caught.
“Basically, I use my money—my company’s money now—and invest in new businesses or buy buildings with another investor. I get my money back over time, plus interest or a share of any profits.”
I nodded with understanding. “I take it you’re good at it?” I asked with a laugh.
He chuckled. “I am very good at it. I have a knack for knowing which business investments are good and which to avoid. I’m not going to say I haven’t been burned a few times, but I’ve always recovered.”
“You own a company then?”
“Vitalis Investments,” he said with a grin. “Clever, huh?”
I laughed. “Hey, keep it simple, I always say. What kind of businesses do you invest in?”
He shrugged. “Anything that looks like it could turn a profit. Tech companies are popular, but there are plenty of investment firms that will loan those guys money. I like to look for that one rare nugget and make it flourish. I like to make money.”
“Who wouldn’t?” I quipped.
“What about you? What do you do?”
I wasn’t embarrassed by my modest business, but it didn’t come close to comparing to what he had done with his life. “I own a gelato shop in town.”
“Gelato? Like ice cream?”
“Yes, like ice cream, but gelato.”
He nodded. “You’re Italian?”
“Technically, yes. Born in Italy. Family is Italian but raised in Greece.”
“Ah, yes, your father is Lorenzo Kouris,” he said, nodding.
“Yes.”
“And you’re the son that wants nothing to do with his father’s money?”
I laughed. “Are you guessing, or he told you that?”
“I’m assuming. You seem like the kind of guy that wants to make his own way. I admire that. I was the same way. Although I will confess, I had a little help in the beginning, but the reward was all my hard work.”
“My father had no interest in helping me out, and I had no interest in asking him for help,” I said bluntly. “I do just fine, but I wouldn’t have been at that party if my dad hadn’t insisted on it. I’m not rich.”
“I admire your tenacity to do it on your own.”
I smiled. “Thanks. I’m not interested in being wealthy. I’m satisfied with what I have. No offense to you, but this isn’t my lifestyle. I like simple.”
“I get it. I do. I sometimes long for those days.”
“Do you spend a lot of time at work?” I asked.
He shrugged. “Not anymore. I used to toil away for twelve hours a day, working and working and trying to milk out a good profit. Now, the company kind of works for itself. I have managers and department heads, and I really do nothing.”
“You’re bored,” I stated.
He laughed. “I am bored. I keep thinking I need to find a woman to spend my time with, but it’s so hard to choose just one. I see one, and I think it could be a good thing, and then another catches my eye.”
I grinned. “I have a friend that used to be like that.”
“And what happened to him?”
“He found the right one, and she hauled him off to America, and they now have a daughter together,” I said with a fond smile.
He cringed. “Ouch. Another one bites the dust.”
“He’s happy. He tells me he’s happier than he’s ever been.”
“Do you believe him?”
I nodded. “I do. He’s content, calmer. I can’t explain it but he just seems happy. He doesn’t bust out into a song, but he seems to be in a good place.”
“Do you want that?”
I shrugged. “I wouldn’t mind having a good woman to come home to every night.”
“I saw you at the party, talking to the waitress with the dark hair, the pretty one,” he said with a smile. “The one you met outside. Did you get her number?”
I grinned. “I did.”
“Do you think you’ll call her?”
I grimaced. “I’m hoping to. I’ve got to work up the courage. She thinks I’m rich.”
“Why does she think that?”
“I might have told her I was,” I said with a small laugh.
“Ah, I see. Well, my friend, be careful. I will tell you these young women, they want a man who can spoil them. They want a man that will give them everything they want. Unfortunately, it’s not
the man they want, but the money.” He sounded as if he spoke from experience.
“Been burned before?” I asked.
He scoffed. “More times than I care to count. You would think a man would learn, but I think they are getting better at the game. They must have a special school they send the beautiful girls to. Teaching them how to playact to convince a man they love him so he will shower them with expensive gifts until they get bored and move on to the next dolt dumb enough to fall for their scam.”
He’d definitely been burned before. That was a very detailed hypothetical.
I laughed. “Well, lucky for me, I’m broke.”
“But your girl, she thinks you have money,” he reminded me.
“Shit, you’re right,” I said.
“No worries. I’ll let you use one of my cars, my house, my boat, whatever you need to keep up the charade.”
“To what end?” I asked.
He shrugged. “I guess that’s up to you. It might only be a date or two. Maybe you’ll find out she’s not who you thought she was.”
“Possibly, but it’s more likely she’ll figure out I’m a sham and dump me,” I said.
“Sorry, man,” he said.
I shouldn’t have opened my big mouth and bragged about my nonexistent wealth. I hadn’t meant for it to come out like I was truly rich. I was being sarcastic, but a lot of people, especially those who didn’t know me, couldn’t tell when I was being serious or joking.
It was one of my biggest character flaws. Sarcasm came easily. It was an excellent defense mechanism.
I debated losing her number and forgetting about even trying to take her out. Maceo’s offer to use his things to impress her was tempting, but I wasn’t that guy. I wasn’t a guy that could fake being rich. I might manage to make it through one date, possibly two, but eventually, I’d screw up, and she would see right through me.
“Come on,” Maceo said, getting to his feet. “Let’s try this fishing thing and get your mind off the girl. How about a cold drink?”
“Sure,” I said, lacking any real enthusiasm.
For the first time in a very long time, hell, maybe ever, I almost wished I did have wealth. Wealth could get me the girl. Then again, I knew any girl that only wanted me because I was wealthy wasn’t worth it, but it still didn’t hurt to have a chance at making her love me for me.
We cast out our lines and waited. I stared at the water, mulling over what I should do about Eliana. There was something about her I really liked. There was a magnetic attraction that was undeniable. It couldn’t hurt to at least explore the possibility of dating her. I could have misread everything about her and would find out she annoyed the hell out of me and we had nothing in common.
“Just do it,” Maceo said from beside me.
“What?” I asked.
“Call her,” he advised. “Take her out for coffee or a simple dinner. You’re never going to be able to let it go until you know.”
I nodded my head. “I think I will. What’s the worst that can happen?” I laughed.
“She can break your heart and make you wish you had never met her,” he answered.
I flinched. “Ouch. Good point. Thanks for the vote of confidence.”
“Anytime,” he said with a laugh as he began to reel in his line.
Chapter 10
Eliana
Today was going to be a lazy day. I was beat after a busy week of long hours and didn’t care that I needed clean clothes. It could all wait. I was going to lay on the beach with a good book and think about nothing.
The tourists were clearing out, leaving the beaches to us once again. I tossed a bottle of water into my beach bag and slid on my sandals. Lola was going to be meeting me at our favorite spot. It wasn’t necessarily warm, but it was warm enough for me.
I walked across the street which would lead me down to the beach that was about a mile from my apartment. It wasn’t an overly long walk, and I enjoyed passing the various shops and staring at all the things I planned on buying for myself one day.
When I got to the beach, Lola was already there, stretched out on a blanket, wearing her skimpy two-piece. I debated kicking sand on her but thought twice about it. She was feisty enough to get revenge by burying me in the sand when I fell asleep, which was absolutely on my agenda.
“Finally,” she said without moving a muscle. “I thought you weren’t coming.”
“I told you I was ready for a beach day.”
“Did your boyfriend call you yet?” she asked.
I stepped out of my shorts, folded them, and put them in my bag, leaving my long swimsuit coverup on. “He’s not my boyfriend,” I answered, stretching out beside her on the blanket.
“He could be. He was way into you.”
“He was drunk.”
“He was hot,” she replied.
I closed my eyes, letting the sun infuse my body with warmth. “Did you count your tips?” I asked.
“You know I did. I made enough to cover rent for the month. What about you?”
I smiled. “I did all right. The good thing about running around like a chicken all night, answering every beck and call of rich people trying to impress one another, the tips are worth it.”
“Yes, they are. So, about that man…” She trailed off, leaving the word hanging.
“What about him?”
“You liked him. I know you did. You never give out your real number.”
I sighed. “He was nice and funny. He didn’t help a lot, but when have any of the guests ever helped us clean up or even talked to us?”
“Guests talk to me all the time,” she said.
“True, but they don’t talk to me because I’m not flashing my tits in their face every chance I get,” I said dryly.
“Well, you must have flashed something. You certainly got his attention.”
“He seemed really down to earth and nothing like the guys you talk to. The men you flirt with are so openly arrogant, it makes me ill. I don’t know how you tolerate it.”
“Easy,” she said with a laugh. “They buy me things, and my tolerance level goes sky high.”
“I’m going to paste a sign to your forehead that says, for sale.”
She burst into laughter, obviously not the least bit bothered by my insult. “Make sure it indicates references and bank information required.”
“You’re so bad.”
“I know.”
We both fell quiet, enjoying the peacefulness of the nearly empty beach. I thought about Cade. He had seemed different than the other guys I had met at those things. I didn’t get hit on nearly as much as Lola, but there had been a few occasions when one of the men would approach me and ask me to dinner.
Those guys had all been easy to say no to. It was the way they asked or the way I had watched them interact with other people while I served them. I was very good at observing and judging people based on what I saw. I didn’t care if judging people wasn’t right. It was right for me.
“When he calls, will you go out with him?” she asked.
“I don’t know.”
“I think you should.”
“Of course, you do. You’ve been pushing me to date forever.”
“One date isn’t going to kill you,” she said. “What if you find out you really like this guy? What if he turns out to be a genuinely good guy? You said he was funny and nice. I think you owe yourself a chance to see if he could be the man for you.”
I shrugged. “I will think about it if he actually calls. I’m not holding my breath that he will. Besides, what could we possibly talk about? He lives in a different world than I do. We can’t talk about our jobs. I doubt he’s ever waited a table in his life. We can’t talk about how we spend our free time because he probably jets around the world or attends parties like the one last night. We won’t have any friends in common.”
“But you could talk about things you like and things he likes,” she said. “You could talk about your love of art and how you used to
dream of being a painter. Those are the important things, not the material, boring stuff.”
“What do you talk about with the men you go out with?” I asked, turning my head to look at her.
She took a deep breath. “Honestly, it’s usually them talking about their businesses or the new thing they’re going to buy. They talk about wine a lot. They talk about traveling and things like that.”
I groaned. “See, I don’t know shit about wine. We’re told what to pour. I have no interest to hear about business or how they are getting richer. It’s all so shallow to me. The men my mom always brought home, that’s the kind of thing they talked about. I used to sit at the table and listen to my mom fawn all over the guys and pretend she knew what they were talking about. She is really good at pretending to be rich.”
“You don’t have to pretend to be interested in what he says,” she said. “If you don’t like it, tell him. I know you’re the kind of girl that will do just that. I choose to listen because I don’t mind. Sometimes, it’s boring, but it makes them happy, and honestly, like I said, the dates I go on are more about companionship for them. I’m just doing my public service and helping to keep the world a happier place.” She laughed.
So did I. “You have left a trail of very happy men in your wake.”
“I aim to please.”
“God knows you do,” I muttered.
We laid out for another hour before deciding to use our hard-earned tips to treat ourselves to lunch. We walked to one of the restaurants that overlooked the water, specializing in seafood.
“Splurge,” she ordered as I scanned the menu.
“I’m going to. Laying out made me hungry.”
We both ordered grilled fish and talked a bit more about our upcoming week of work. “Have you seen the schedule?” she asked.
“No, I didn’t bother looking last night. I was so tired and so ready to get home. You?”
“Same thing,” she said. “I didn’t see anything that looked overly exciting.”
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