Lizzie fought to keep her expression neutral. Rolling her eyes wouldn’t win her any favors and she needed him.
“Come on.” She grabbed her drink off her desk and turned to walk out of the office. Closing the door behind her, she took a few steps down the tabby path. After a minute, she heard Mark behind her.
“Ready?”
“Sure.”
“Great, but we’re taking my car.”
“Why?”
“Cup holders,” she teased, holding up her mocha.
He groaned again but didn’t offer up any other protest.
In deference to him, she lowered down her windows and opened the moon roof. Mark turned to look at her and she shrugged. It’s hard to forget your love acclimating to the weather. He chuckled at her deliberate gestures and Lizzie turned the key in the ignition and pulled out of the parking lot.
Bicycle lanes zigged and zagged across the landscape as they passed homes, hotels some languishing and some thriving and campgrounds.
“I should have known something was up when you didn’t bring your purse in,” he began. Looking at him from the side of her eye, she caught his half-smile. She knew the look well, she’d grown up seeing a similar smirk on her brother every time he teased her.
“Am I that obvious?”
“No, but the giant bag is.” He kicked the purse at his feet.
She rolled her eyes in mock annoyance but her giggle gave her away. Teasing, I can handle. Lizzie drove past the parking lots for the beach, past the picnic areas she always promised herself she’d take advantage of one day, and pulled into the circular drive of the convention center at the end.
“You ready?” she asked turning to him.
Reaching out a hand, Mark tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear. A delicious shiver coursed her body. She opened her mouth to speak, but no words came out. He kept his hand on her neck. The light pressure left her longing to rest her head on his hand. His touch heightened her awareness of him, his scent, the rough callouses of his palm on her smooth skin, and the slow smile that crept over his lips. She didn’t move or shake herself free from his grasp. A tap at the window behind him snapped them both out of the moment. Lizzie jumped when she saw Sam peering at them curiously through the window.
Mark muttered something under his breath.
She didn’t need or want to know what he was thinking. Moment over. That she easily deduced from his stony face and knit brow. If only I could understand what’s happening between us. Grabbing her purse from his feet, she didn’t let her hand linger. Swinging the bag over her arm, she got out of the car and slammed the door shut behind her. The heavy bag weighed her down. She probably carried an extra thirty pounds, but she couldn’t see how to lighten the load without ending up in a disaster. Someone always needed something.
I could really use a fan.
“Okay Sam, I brought company today, as you can see,” she called out.
“I see. Mark. Hello, good to see you again,” Sam said in a happy tone that didn’t quite make it to his eyes.
“Sam, do you think you could walk us through where the cocktail reception and dinner will be held again?” Lizzie crossed her arms over her chest, feeling a slight chill in the cold expressions the men shared. I don’t have time to figure out what’s going between them. Please everyone get along. She gritted her teeth to stop from verbalizing her appeal.
“Of course.” Sam held one arm out, indicating he’d like Lizzie to lead the way.
“Hold on.” She opened her trunk and switched out of her heels for flip flops.
“Yes, I’m ready now,” she said, shutting the trunk.
Lizzie led the way towards the beach, over the dunes and onto the flat powder. She turned in a circle and surveyed the site. Not a bad location if Mother Nature agreed with their plans. In her experience, that was a big IF.
“Have you thought any more about joining my league this fall?” Sam stopped next to her, only inches away, forcing her to jump and take a step to the side.
“You’re working hard to sell me on this aren’t you?” Lizzie arched an eyebrow. “Do you need a certain amount of girls?”
“Hardly, but we are down one team member.”
“As long as you pay out when I win the league,” Lizzie replied.
“Agreed,” Sam said and nudged her with his shoulder.
Mark cleared his throat and stepped between them, filling the void. “What did you want me to see?”
“Right, over here,” Sam began.
He walked Mark through all of the arrangements he and Lizzie had determined. Sam explained where the port a potties would be placed, how the area would be cordoned off from the concert and how the event would be staffed. They both had questions for Mark, relying on his experience with catering to determine what was needed for food service. After nearly forty-five minutes, they were all satisfied with the determinations that had been made. They waved goodbye to Sam and got back in the car.
“Lizzie, did you need me to come?” Mark asked as she pulled out of the drive and back onto the road.
“Of course I did, why wouldn’t I? This is your event. You need to be in the loop.”
He didn’t reply. Pulling the car off the side of the road, she turned towards him.
“We only have a couple more weeks,” she said.
“Sure,” Mark bit the word out.
Crossing her arms over her chest, she narrowed her eyes. His scowl focused out on something in the distance. This is stupid. I can’t sit here all day with him, neither of us talking.
“What? What is it?” Lizzie poked his shoulder with the very tip of her index finger.
“I don’t like that guy.” Mark batted away her hand and turned toward her.
“Sam? What’s wrong with him?”
“He’s too… All he’s doing is flirting with you.”
Lizzie chuckled. Rolling her eyes, she put the car in drive and got back on the road. He sounds ridiculous. Almost like he’s… She let the thought trail off.
“And you flirt right back.” Mark countered.
“I do not, give me a break.”
Is he jealous of Sam? Why? I’m not dating him. I haven’t even been out on a date in… Thinking about her last night out, she hadn’t dated anyone since her parents had forced her hand and she’d moved to St. Simons Island two years ago. But if Sam asks me on a date, why not? Mark isn’t going to…
“Are you going to join that guy’s league?”
Lizzie shrugged. “Why not? I’ve won a few leagues in the past and I think he still underestimates me. It’s not a bad hustle.”
“It’s a scam?” he asked, Lizzie watched his shoulders relax. He had been upset? Did Sam threaten him?
“More or less and it’s a hobby.”
“You seem to know a lot about hobbies.”
“Only the two,” Lizzie replied with a smirk as she kept her eyes focused on the road.
“You and Rose have an interesting friendship. I don’t know that many older women who are friends with much younger women they aren’t related to.”
Gripping the steering wheel a little tighter, she didn’t quite know how to respond. Was his comment an insult or innocuous? How many other orphans have you met?
“Yeah, I understand,” Lizzie replied nodding her head. She’d never have imagined befriending an older woman before meeting Rose. But she’d never known anyone as fearless or fun.
“Rose gets me. She’s supportive, she’s a lot of fun, and she isn’t afraid to call me out. I like that. I need that.”
Silence fell and she mentally kicked herself. Rambling about yourself is no way to make a friend her mother reminded her.
“Do you have someone like that?” Lizzie asked. “Man of no hobbies.”
“I do. My buddy owns a bar.”
“Oh,” she said, disapproval sneaking into the single syllable reply. She scowled.
“No, it’s not like that. I’m not a regular. I’ve known the guy forever he just ha
ppened to move here a few years back and started a business.”
“What’s his name?”
“Phil. He’s pretty much my family.”
She nodded. I don’t know anything about him, do I? She felt like an open book by comparison. Mark seemed more cautious, more circumspect. She imagined gaining his trust enough to be confided in was truly something earned.
“He’s a good listener, though, which I suppose is how he got into bartending.” Mark began, clearing his throat.
“It’s a useful skill for the profession, I’m sure. Rose is a good listener too.”
“And what do you two talk about?”
Lizzie flushed. Oh, you know, when Rose isn’t talking about your butt she’s trying to get me to ask you out on a date.
“Go on, now you have me curious. What do you talk about?”
Her cheeks burned hotter. She rolled her window down a little. The coconut suntan lotion smell that permeated the beach and convention center drifted away as they drove closer to the historic district. She didn’t need to look over to see she had Mark’s undivided attention. She couldn’t shake the awareness, every hair on her arms standing on end.
“Yyo… You’ve come up before,” she relented, stammering on the words.
“But only in a professional capacity.” Lizzie rushed to clarify but her blush told the truth.
Pulling into the parking lot, she turned off the car. Lowering the visor, she opened the make-up mirror and grabbed the extra lip-gloss from her cup-holder. Carefully reapplying her lip-gloss, she ignored Mark. But his eyes on her only increased the temperature in the car. Either from embarrassment or anticipation she couldn’t be sure.
Twisting the cap back on the lip-gloss, she shut the mirror and raised the visor.
“We talk about Sam more,” she teased, turning to wink at him.
Mark chuckled. “Of course. I would too. He’s sooo interesting.”
Chapter Eleven
“I guess that’s everything Sam,” Lizzie said, smiling at her companion as he walked her down the long corridor of the convention center.
“Really?”
Flipping through the pages of her binder, she’d checked off every item on the list she’d emailed. “Yup, we took care of everything. Or, at least, as much as we can.”
Sam wiped his brow with great exaggeration and Lizzie chuckled. They ambled towards the circular drive where Lizzie typically parked her car. After dedicating every spare moment she had to driving over to meet with her convention center counterpart, she’d practically been given a reserved spot.
“Thanks for all of your hard work and your willingness to help,” Lizzie continued. “I know my questions can be a bit…”
“Intimidating? Overwhelming? Excessive?” He supplied.
She bristled at the words, but his hands in his pockets, half-smirking delivery saved her from getting upset. She’d spent a lot of time talking with Sam over the past four weeks but still couldn’t read him very well. Not like with Mark.
“I was thinking persistent, but sure, any of those are good substitutes,” she replied, considering the words as she said them.
Strictly speaking, dealing with Sam was Mark’s job. With plenty of work for her own events, she had little to spare driving over to the convention center. Sometimes she needed the break from the office but mostly she couldn’t stop herself from getting involved. I can’t let him fail. She gave herself a little shake.
“Of course,” Sam interrupted her thoughts. “It’s hard not to respond and get answers when I know how hard you’re working on your end.”
Nodding her head slowly, she didn’t know how else to respond. She and Sam had discussed everything from the best way to maximize table space in a small setting, to forcing a smile and remaining calm while being yelled at by a displeased client, to their favorite football teams and the best place to get a drink in their shared college town. She’d gained a friend in the chaos of planning a huge event in a tight timeframe.
But sometimes he stood a little too close to her and she found herself questioning his words. Poking at what he said with a long stick, the very way she imagined she would if the mysterious crocodile who lived near her marsh ever slid out and onto her lawn. She wanted to stop the beast from making a sudden snap and push the animal back to safety.
I’d like to push Sam back too.
“I just wish Mark would let me set up a contingency plan for the concert,” Lizzie muttered.
They stopped at the doors and Sam stepped in front of her to open the door. But he paused with his hand on the doorjamb and turned towards her. Don’t cringe or flinch. Stay still and smile and he won’t make a move.
“Hey, if the event fails, that’s on him, not you. Remember that,” he said.
“I will,” she agreed, her feet remaining rooted in place as she leaned backwards slightly, to put more than a few inches between them.
Sam nodded and pushed the door open wide, standing back to let her pass through first. Lizzie walked through and he reached out to grab her elbow. She stopped and turned around, quirking an eyebrow as she did.
“I’ve been wanting to ask you…” Sam said, letting the sentence hang in the air between them.
Pressing her lips together, her tongue darted across and licked off the rest of her lip-gloss. Her taste buds noted the cherry flavor, even as her stomach churned. He hadn’t held back any thought throughout the weeks that they’d spent together. But now, with all business neatly wrapped, the threat of what he might say loomed over head. She remembered how Mark teased her about Sam. Mark. She swallowed a wistful sigh. She’d rather be joking around with him than steeling herself for Sam’s words.
“Would you want to grab dinner one night? Now that this project is nearly behind us, I’m sure you’ll have some free time in the near future,” he continued. He looked down at his feet and ran a hand through his hair.
Freezing in place, she forced her lips apart into a smile. His words hadn’t had the impact she’d assumed. No one had asked her out on a date or pursued her romantically in years. Her life had been focused for so long on work and moving past her grief. But here was a guy, a nice guy with a great sense of humor, who was showing interest in her. Why can’t this be…
She shook her head, refusing to let herself acknowledge the thought. Sam inched forward and anxiety crept up her body starting at her feet. His lack of personal space awareness might not seem like a big deal breaker to many other women. But to Lizzie she had at least one reason she could latch onto when she had to explain what happened to Rose. Because of course, she wouldn’t be able to keep being asked on a date a secret from her friend for more than ten seconds.
“No, thanks Sam. That’s a sweet offer. But I’m busy right now.”
Sam nodded, his eyes clouded and hazy. He turned away from her and took a step back. “Are you busy or are you interested in someone else?”
Lizzie bit her lip but didn’t offer a verbal reply. I’m not sure if he is or if it’s even possible.
“It’s okay.” Sam said, saving her from having to reply. “I took a chance. I’ll see you tomorrow?” Sam asked.
“I’ll bring the donuts.”
“Sounds good,” he agreed.
Fussing with her purse to save either of them any more awkward encounters, she shook the bag until she heard the clinking of her keys in the very bottom. She walked to her car, hopped in and waved good-bye to Sam. Lizzie turned the key in the ignition and pulled away from the curb. She’d never anticipated he’d ask her out and she certainly never thought she’d be standing around analyzing her relationship with Mark. But life had thrown her for a loop more than a few times and no doubt would continue to do so.
Her phone rang and she answered on speaker.
“Hello?”
“Frizz, it’s Patrick. Are you busy?”
“I’m always busy,” she sighed. “What’s up?”
“Nothing, I just haven’t heard from you in a while. I get the impression t
hat you’re avoiding me.”
“Hmm…I wonder why that would be?” she asked, rolling her eyes and shaking her head because he couldn’t see her.
“Come on. Don’t shut me out because we have a difference of opinion.”
Lizzie snorted. “Difference of opinion? How about I’ve been screening your calls so you’ll stop yelling at me?”
“AHA! You admit it.”
“Patrick, come on, is there a point to this? I’m almost done with my day here and then I have to head to dress rehearsal for tap. I’m swamped.”
“I want to come to town next weekend. I’ve bought you another month with the lawyers.”
“Oh thank God.
“Don’t thank me yet. I’m taking a day off to drive down so we can finish sorting through everything.”
She took in a deep breath and let his words sink in. “Okay.”
“Have you gone through anything else?”
“I tried to but I don’t know where to start and honestly, I don’t want to without you. Destroying the Track was fun. Nothing else is going to be fun.”
“Agreed. But it’s time. So how is everything going with your job?”
“It’s great,” she replied, biting out the words through a clenched jaw.
“Come on Frizz, be honest with me. You’d rather be doing this by yourself, wouldn’t you?”
Lizzie considered the question. When Mark first assumed the role, yes, she had been livid. She had wanted to take on the job by herself. But as the weeks had progressed, she’d seen the value of what he contributed. His perspective was different and forced her to think from another direction. He had helped her to expand her view and he had helped her to develop an understanding of the business side that she hadn’t paid attention too. While she preferred dealing with clients and vendors, she was intrigued by his world of forecasts, projections, and development.
“You can’t be so cagey in person,” Patrick said, interrupting her thoughts.
“Fine, we can talk about my situation then. I’m pulling into the parking lot now. I’ve got to send a couple of emails and head out before I get kicked out of the Senior-itas.”
“Because that would be the worst thing to happens to you?” he snickered.
Tidal Patterns (Golden Shores Book 1) Page 12
