his hands into his pockets, he took a step back and figured he really should get back to work. “Anyway, like I said, if you need a place to let off some steam, there are plenty of options.”
She seemed to relax a bit at his change of subject.
“Thanks, Cade,” she said, smiling again.
“No problem.” He walked over and opened the doors and squinted at the bright sunlight. The weather was perfect today; there was a light breeze, the temperatures were mild, and there wasn’t a cloud in the sky.
Perfect.
He held the door open for her and watched as she walked out and seemed to look around to get her bearings. “If you follow this path to the end and turn left, it will take you around the business offices of the resort. There’s a glass door that should take you right to the events offices.”
“Thanks. The property is a bit massive and I’m still finding my way around. It was sort of dumb luck that I even found my way here.”
That wasn’t what he’d call it, but he wasn’t about to argue with her. “Welcome to the Emerald Grove Resort, Cammie. I hope I’ll see you around again.”
“Thanks again, Cade,” she smiled as she turned and walked away.
And Cade was more than happy to admire the soft sway of her hips as she did.
2
Two days later, Cammie was still smiling about Cade. He had been the perfect distraction to her miserable morning. And while she had thought she wanted a pity party, she found that talking to a nice guy worked out even better.
She knew who he was–had remembered him from school even though he was two years older. Football player, popular, and pretty much all-around good guy. Everyone at Grove County High seemed to know who Cade Taylor was, but he was a senior when she was the sophomore new girl and they did not run in the same social circles. It didn’t stop her from seriously crushing on him for a while, though.
Not that she was going to share that information with him–or anyone–any time soon.
It hadn’t taken long for her to recognize him–even before he said his name. He still had the same dark hair he tended to keep a little long, dark eyes, and dimples that made you want to smile every time he did.
Yummy.
And definitely a nice way to deal with an icky situation.
Now she was sitting at her desk when she heard Anna May walk in. Cammie had been working on designing a seating chart for a wedding they were doing next month–graphic design was a little side hobby of hers–when Anna May appeared next to her desk.
“What up?” Cammie asked, smiling.
Anna May looked around and then spoke in hushed tones. “Okay, I totally don’t condone what I’m about to do, but…I didn’t want you to get upset.”
Her stomach sank. “Why? What’s going on?”
“Your ex is on his way down here to meet with Dixie about the food for the wedding. She tried to keep him and his fiancée up in the dining room, but they were pretty insistent about speaking someplace more private.”
“Oh.” Great. Even though she knew this was a possibility, Cammie had hoped it wouldn’t happen quite so soon.
“So what I’m trying to say is…go! Run! Get out of here for a while. Give her about thirty minutes and they should be gone,” Anna May said hurriedly.
“Really? Are you sure?”
Anna May nodded, and they each turned when they heard voices near the doorway. “Go out the back door! I’ll stall them. Go!”
Cammie did not wait to be told again. She quickly made her way down the back hallway and slid out the door that led to the gardens as quietly as she could.
And found herself looking directly at Cade Taylor.
“Oh!” she cried. “You scared me again!”
He chuckled. “Do you normally scare this easily?”
She shook her head. “Nope. Sorry. I wasn’t expecting anyone to be right out here.” She looked at him and saw he was dressed similarly to how he was the other day–khakis, a dark t-shirt that read Emerald Grove Properties on the upper left section, and a pair of work boots.
Very rugged.
“Well, you’re not screaming or cursing this time, so I guess that’s a good thing. Just taking a break?”
“Um…yes. Sure,” she said vaguely. The door was glass and there was a large window next to it and she needed to keep moving and get out of sight. “Anyway, have a good day!”
She’d gone no more than five feet