Resorting to Romance

by Franky A Brown

  “Personally, I’d love it to be both.”

  She breathed in and out, her heart pounding. “I don’t know if I can really trust anyone again after Cameron.”

  “I understand. I’m sorry that happened, Josie, I really am. This situation with Gina happened because I mixed work with a relationship. And if you’re fired for it, I don’t know how I will ever make it up to you. It’s all my fault.” He watched her with sad eyes. “I would hate to lose you as a friend, Josie.”

  “I’d hate that too.”

  “I know there are no guarantees in starting a new business. But we could be partners in business, and friends…if you’re interested.”

  Her heart jumped. Thoughts of the possible ways they could improve the house he’d shown her flitted through her mind. She had no idea how they would be able to work together on a project like that and keep things strictly professional. But nothing was safe about her current job. For all she knew, Gina would come bursting through the door with Victoria at any moment. There didn’t seem to be a better option.

  “Okay. Let’s give this a try.”

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Joselyn had been certain she wouldn’t make it back to her room without Victoria pouncing on her. But she’d made it through the night with no calls or messages, and no pounding on the door. Watching the clock on the nightstand tick away the minutes had taken up too much of her night.

  Now it was morning and she checked her phone. Still no news. Was that good or bad? Maybe Luke had been fired and somehow she had not? There was a chance of that. Even if it was the teeniest, tiniest dust particle of a chance.

  She started to text Luke to ask, then erased it. If he had just been fired, a text message asking about it would be beyond insensitive. She should talk to him in person. But there’d be little opportunity to speak to him privately. If she still had her job, and for the time being, it seemed that way, she had classes all morning. It was the last day of the conference. Victoria could still pop around a corner any moment and fire her on the spot. But there was nothing to do besides carry on as usual until she was told otherwise.

  The first thing that morning was a workshop on marketing with videos. She didn’t see Luke at all on her way down to the assigned room. She wanted him to be nowhere near her if Gina or Victoria walked in. There were tables set up, and groups around them with laptops and tablets, facing a man standing in front of a large TV screen.

  Joselyn found a chair at an empty table in the back. She wanted a good distance from her and anyone who came through the door. Kelly sat beside her right as the instructor began the presentation.

  “Welcome, everyone. I’m Adam Johnson and I’m excited to get started this morning.” He stroked his long brown beard as he surveyed the audience. “In this workshop, we’re going to be taking you step by step through the process of creating a professional video about yourself to attract business. We’ll also be walking through making your listings more enticing.”

  She wasn’t crazy about the idea of making videos, but she did need to learn how to make an effective one.

  Kelly leaned in to Joselyn’s shoulder and whispered, “Where’s Luke?”

  Joselyn shook her head. “Don’t know, Kelly.”

  “Did you see Gina came all the way down here to see Luke? Is that awkward for you?”

  Joselyn froze. What did Kelly know? There had been such a crowd at the bistro last night, she honestly didn’t know if anyone from work had been there. “Why would it be awkward for me?”

  “Well, everyone knows Gina came down here to be with Luke and he doesn’t seem happy to see her. So maybe you still have a chance with him.”

  Okay, at least she doesn’t know about last night. Still, talk like this would get Joselyn in trouble even if Gina hadn’t badmouthed her to Victoria.

  “Kelly, you need to stop talking like that. I do not want a chance with him. We are friends and we will stay that way.” Joselyn pulled up a blank document on her computer to take notes and nodded toward Adam gesturing his arms around like videos were the new cool trend. “I need to listen to this guy.”

  “Some people have been saying that Luke and Gina broke up.”

  “What?” She froze with her hand hovering over the keyboard.

  “She wasn’t coming by the office anymore all of a sudden, when she used to be in every day. But she came down here to be with him. People talk, you know.”

  “Well, you shouldn’t.”

  “Wow, you really don’t seem that disinterested in Luke.”

  “I really do not want to talk about this right now,” Joselyn hissed.

  “Okay, fine.” Kelly turned toward her computer for a few seconds, then leaned back over to whisper, “But do you think Luke seems annoyed Gina came?”

  Joselyn pointed to the video the instructor was playing for the class, hoping Kelly would be quiet.

  “Have you told him you like him?”

  “Will you back off?” Joselyn’s voice came out a little louder than she’d expected.

  The instructor stopped mid-sentence and the entire room turned their eyes on her.

  “I’m sorry.” Joselyn gestured to the instructor. “Please continue.”

  She sent Kelly a glare and was glad there were no more questions from her. With Kelly finally silent, Joselyn could pay attention. The class was mind-numbingly dull, but it was better than Kelly’s awkward and nosy conversation. She struggled to remain focused on video marketing and not let her thoughts stray to the issues she was facing with her job.

  Once the class wrapped up, Joselyn hurried to the hall, wanting no further conversation with Kelly or anyone else.

  She didn’t know where Luke was or why Victoria hadn’t hunted her down yet. Paranoia was really starting to get to her.

  Other classes were also letting out and agents were everywhere.

  She weaved her way outside and sat by the pool. It was a peaceful place in the morning, when most of the hotel guests headed out to the beach.

  Her next class would start in fifteen minutes and she wanted a minute of fresh air. Only two classes left, then a gala that afternoon to wrap up the week. Though she was in a public place, this seemed like the perfect spot to hide out from the crowd for a breather.

  A warm breath tickled his ear. “Hey, you.”

  Luke snapped to his feet and spun around. “Not cool, Gina. Do you remember our dinner last night? You declared you were done and stormed out.”

  “Let’s just talk.” She was dressed much more causally today, in a coral sundress with tall matching heels bringing her closer to his height.

  “We talked. There’s nothing left to say. We broke up; I’m moving on to a new business venture.”

  “But you don’t have to do that now.” Gina reached out for his arm, but Luke stepped back. “I didn’t tell my mother anything yet. I had second thoughts last night and I hoped we could work things out once you cooled down.”

  He was the one who needed to cool down?

  “Oh, Gina!” Victoria called out from the doorway.

  Gina glanced behind her. “Oh, listen, we can talk about this some more later. I have some shopping to do for the gala tonight. All right?”

  “But…”

  She stood up on her toes and smacked a quick kiss across his cheek, then rushed off as best she could in her six-inch heels.

  What was it going to take for her to really get it? It felt again like he was putting off the inevitable, but this time it wasn’t his choice.

  He checked the time on his phone. He was late for class. His finger hovered over the call button. This whole fiasco could end if he simply called Victoria to resign. But then Josie would still certainly lose her job. Gina would see to it for revenge.

  But today was the last day of the conference, and he seemed to have been given a chance to possibly make it through the day without Gina blowing everything up. She’d be out the next several hours. As much as he wanted to work with Josie, he hated more being the reason she�
��d lose her job. Maybe a little more time would be enough to think of something, anything that would make this situation any better.

  Joselyn made it through yet another class without Victoria popping out from behind her. She didn’t know why she still had her job, but the suspense was killing her. She didn’t know what she wanted to do next, but whatever it was needed to involve an overdose of chocolate fudge. Instead of going to her next class, she went straight to the ice cream shop in the hotel and ordered chocolate ice cream covered in chocolate chips and smothered with hot fudge.

  The girl behind the counter served up her ice cream and handed it over. Once she paid for it, a voice came from behind her.

  “Hey, Joselyn.”

  She spun around with the cup in her hand to see Chris standing there, more than handsome in a light-gray suit.

  “Hi, Chris. How are you doing?”

  “It’s been a long day.”

  “It’s not even lunchtime.” Joselyn grinned and held up her bowl of deliciousness.

  “But, hey, I get it. I’m in here…” Other thoughts about drowning sorrows flashed through her mind, but instead, she said, “to unwind.”

  “Bad day, huh?”

  “It’s been a long week.”

  He ordered a strawberry shake and laid cash on the counter. “Well, I’d love to catch up with you if you have a little time.”

  “Yes, that would be great.”

  They took their treats to a small table and chatted about their times back when they lived next door to each other.

  “Did you tell Samantha I need a new chef?”

  “Yes, she’s very interested. Let me get your contact information so she can send her resumé. Here, add yourself to my contacts.” Joselyn handed Chris her phone.

  “Absolutely.” Chris’s thumbs typed away then he gave her the phone back.

  “She would love it down here and you certainly won’t be sorry to have a chef like her.”

  “I believe it. She brought us dinner a few times when my mom was in the hospital.”

  “Oh, I remember that. How is your mom?”

  “She’s doing well.” He smiled. “Doesn’t want to slow down. She moved down here too, not far.”

  “That is wonderful to have her close by.”

  They started talking about their jobs next. Chris talked about his goal to move up to general manager of Serenity Shores and how much he loved the resort.

  “Do you enjoy being a realtor?”

  Joselyn hesitated. “I have loved it in the past, but lately…” How could she explain it? “It’s been very stressful. Victoria Verratti is a terrible boss, but, at the same time, she’s the best in the business.” She spooned a scoop of ice cream into her mouth. She wasn’t sure she should tell him or anyone about the very real chance she was about to be fired.

  “Have you thought about doing something else?”

  “Well, yes, as a matter of fact, I have thought about trying my hand at house flipping.” Joselyn tried not to cringe. It was true, she’d thought about it a lot. She tentatively agreed to work with Luke on one, but nothing was certain until Victoria came crashing in and terminated her.

  “Why don’t you?”

  “Well…” If I don’t get fired, I may have more options.

  She caught a glimpse of Luke walking past the entryway, down the hall.

  Chris followed her gaze and jerked his thumb in Luke’s direction. “What is the deal with you two?”

  Should she confide in Chris? Everything was a mess. She twirled the spoon around in her ice cream and looked up at him. “How much time do you have?”

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  The gala started at five o’clock. Luke may have been dressed, but he was anything but ready. Gina and Victoria had been out all afternoon. He didn’t know where Josie was. They hadn’t had a chance to talk since last night. She’d agreed to go into business with him, but who knows what she was thinking since Victoria hadn’t fired her. His stomach had plummeted when he passed by her earlier as she sat in the ice cream shop with her “friend” Chris. They seemed like they were having a good time together.

  In the large event room, caterers were setting up a long buffet table and as the minutes ticked by on the clock on the wall nearest him, people gradually filtered in. A band set up on a small stage along the back wall. He adjusted his tie and craned his neck looking for Josie.

  His phone beeped and he jerked it from his coat pocket. Victoria texted: On the way downstairs.

  Text messages couldn’t convey a tone of voice, so he wasn’t sure if her words were casual “in-a-hurry-talk-later” words or angry “I’m-coming-for-you” words. After all, Gina had had the entire afternoon to change her mind and tell her mother he was in love with Josie.

  It was a ridiculous thought. He liked her a lot, but it wasn’t love. Perhaps he thought about her a little too much, and craved talking to her about anything and everything. Memories of the soft touch of her lips would have to be pushed aside. They were things he’d need to work on if they were going into a strictly business relationship.

  The lights dimmed as the room filled up with dark suits and women in dresses of every color.

  Josie walked through the doorway in a silky blue-green dress, almost the color of the ocean. She paused a moment to survey the room, smoothing her soft curls out of her face.

  His feet moved before his brain caught up. It was as if she radiated a magnetic force that drew him to her side. Before he reached her, Chris walked up to speak with her. Luke stopped in the center of the room, taking a few deep breaths while he clenched and relaxed his fists a few times in a row. Then he plowed forward.

  “Hey, Luke,” Josie said, looking from Chris to Luke and holding his gaze long enough to make his heart skip a beat…or three.

  “Uh, you remember my old friend Chris, right?” Josie gestured to Chris and he offered a hand to Luke.

  “Good to see you again, Luke.”

  “And you.” Luke shook his hand firmly with a tight jaw.

  “Josie was telling me you’re flipping a house and thinking about starting a business.”

  “Oh really? That’s actually something we are currently discussing, but—”

  “Don’t worry. I haven’t said anything to anyone else.” He glanced at something behind Luke. “I apologize, I have to go check on something right now, but let’s talk about this later.”

  “Sure thing.” Luke forced a smile and once Chris was past them, he turned to Josie. “You told him?”

  “I’m sorry.” Josie lifted a hand to rub her shoulder. “I know this isn’t information we should make public just yet. I don’t know how the conversation got there. We were catching up and talking about our work.” She touched Luke’s arm. “Chris won’t tell anyone, I promise.”

  The tingling running through his forearm from her grip had him distracted enough to find it difficult to form a response.

  “Okay,” he said. “But we really can’t let this get out.”

  She dropped her hand and peeked behind her, then met his eyes again. “What is going on with Victoria? I thought Gina was going to get us both fired last night.”

  “I did too. Gina came to me this morning to say she’d changed her mind. Then she and Victoria went out shopping the rest of the day.”

  “She wants to get back together with you again?”

  “That’s what she claims, but that isn’t happening. I’m not sure what to do now. I don’t want to be the reason you lose your job.”

  “Are you still wanting to give this business a try?” Josie fiddled with her hair and shifted from one foot to the other.

  “I do.” Luke didn’t want to pressure her or cause her any additional discomfort. But once she didn’t say anything for a little too long, he had to ask. “Do you?”

  Josie pressed her lips together and folded her arms. “I’m not going to lie, I’m scared.”

  Luke took one of her hands in his, hoping to reassure her. He released it quickly, re
membering they were in public. “We can do this, Josie.” She gave him a little smile; then Luke cleared his throat. “I want to tell Victoria myself and get it over with. But…”

  “But there’s a possibility we could get through this gala without a scene.” Josie surveyed the crowd around them. “Maybe we could actually leave the conference with some dignity.”

  Victoria’s voice rang out behind them. “Why have a buffet with no shrimp cocktail? Who is in charge of this?” Victoria stood in front of the buffet table with arms spread out.

  Luke whispered in Josie’s ear, “There’s sure to be a scene with Victoria around.”

  “Let’s just see if we can avoid the fireworks.” Josie turned back to meet his eyes confidently.

  “Luke!” Victoria shouted. “Where’s Luke?”

  Josie’s eyes widened and Luke squeezed her forearm to reassure her. “Don’t worry.”

  “Who’s worried?” She shrugged unconvincingly.

  He braced himself and headed for Victoria, who was complaining to one of the catering staff members about the lack of shellfish.

  Joselyn watched from the sidelines as Luke stood with folded arms listening to Victoria vent about the catering staff. Was that all she wanted to talk to him about?

  The band began to play a slow, jazzy song.

  “Hey, Joselyn, would you like to dance?” One of the younger guys from the office held out a hand in front of her.

  Grateful for the distraction, she accepted and let him lead her to the center of the room that was clearing a space for dancers. He was one of the newer agents with the company and she didn’t remember his name. Fortunately, she managed to avoid having to say it while they sashayed around in circles.

  Joselyn glanced in Luke’s direction and Victoria was still talking his ear off.

  Her dance partner asked her some small-talk questions about the conference, then turned to see what she was staring at behind him.

  “See a better partner?” He snickered and Joselyn knew her cheeks were turning red; her entire face was warm.