Page 10 of Sapphire Sunset

“Well, if we ever graduate from grad school, I’ll arrange afive-hundred-person game ofScattergories.”

Naser reached up and ruffled Connor’s hair. “Don’t be sad,Blondie. There’ll be other parties, and you’ll throw them all.”

Connor smiled, but inside he was wondering if his uncle hadplanned to sabotage his graduation party from the moment they’d put it on thebooks. Rodney had treated Connor like an idiot for as long as Connor couldremember, but this latest move was more aggressive than that. This was hostile.And it was coming just a week before Connor was scheduled to begin hisemployment with him.

“Thanks,” Connor said. “Let’s get the gift bags ready. Lookslike we’ll be handing them out earlier than we thought.”

2

They’d warned Logan the hours around midnightcould either be a nonstop crazy parade or peaceful as a tomb. Tonight, it wasthe latter.

After he’d finished dealing with the fallout from the partycrashers, his supervisor had assigned him midnight rounds.

The shift consisted of walking the resort’s perimeter whilewatching out for wayward kids or lovemakers too tipsy to make it all the wayback to their beds. No doubt most of the senior guys were bored stiff by theroutine, and so assigning it to him was probably a form of initiation for thenew guy.

Or he was being punished for coming down too hard on theparty crashers.

Either way, he didn’t mind. The gorgeous views were worthit. While part of the shift meant being ready to respond to any call that camein through his earpiece, it sounded like Sapphire Cove was turning in for thenight. On all sides of him, the laughter of pleasantly drunk guests danced onthe ocean winds, and some of the sliding glass doors to the guest roomsoverhead stood open even though the rooms were dark, suggesting the rooms’ occupantshad been lulled to sleep by the sound of the surf.

This was the perfect opportunity to take a deep breath andenjoy the peaceful and quiet night. Count his blessings he wasn’t in somesand-blasted tent somewhere, trying to sleep through artillery fire from thesurrounding desert hills.

But he was too damn busy cursing himself for what he’d saidto Connor Harcourt.

Baby blues?

What the hell had he been thinking, hitting on the guy sobrazenly?

And yeah, it had just slipped out, and it had seemed likethe best way to defuse the situation. And damn if the sight of the blush it hadsent to his cheeks hadn’t made Logan’s heart race. But at best, the comment wasunprofessional. At worst, he came off like a guy trying to get ahead in a newjob by hitting on the owner’s grandson.

The wink could be forgiven, even if Connor had let out asmall gasp in response. Winks were private, personal, and they could mean a lotof things, most of them warm. Inviting Connor to dance with him? That couldtake him right over the cliff’s edge.

When he reached the lawn outside the Dolphin Ballroom, hesaw to his disappointment the terrace doors were already closed, the lightingrigs were being broken down, and maintenance was already rolling in a sea often-top tables for some brunch scheduled for the following morning. A brunchLogan was pretty sure had been slated for the Seahorse Room. He was also prettysure Connor’s party had been scheduled to go until midnight, but the guestswere long gone.

Was Connor?

He was searching for a sign of the guy inside when a clearvoice said, “Well, if it isn’t my hero.”

And there he was, the prince himself, walking toward Loganacross the shadowed grass, blond hair blowing in the ocean wind and a little plasticbag bearing the UC Irvine logo dangling from one hand. When he entered thelight streaming through the terrace doors, Logan was left breathless by thesight of the warm, open smile on his face.

Did the guy’s confidence and energy ever wane? He’d beenfully prepared to take on those drunks himself, and they were each about twicehis size.

Logan tried to return the smile, but it felt like the onlyresult was a spasm in his right cheek.

For most of his life, Logan had thought strength meantmuscles and endurance and a battle scar here and there. But an entirelydifferent kind of strength radiated from Connor Harcourt, and it came in asparkly, strutting package. The strength that came from being out and proud andnot needing to butch it up for a crowd.

And money,he thought darkly, in a voice thatkindasounded like his old man’s after one too manyCoronas.Some of it probably comes from having tons and tons of money.

“This”—Connor held up the plastic bag—“is for you, sir. It’sthe gift bag from the party. All the guests got one, and I figure you’reentitled given the excellent work you did shutting down those jerks.”

“Oh, I was just doing my job, Mr. Harcourt.”

“Call me Connor, please. Like, reallyplease. Thereare already three Mr. Harcourts, and spoiler alert”—Connor dropped his voice toa dramatic whisper—“they’re all a lot older than me.”

“Just doing my job, Connor. Truly. It’s not necessary.”

“I know, but I’d rather be nice than necessary.” With a winkthat set loose a hungry gnawing in Logan’s gut, Connor set the gift bag on thenearby balustrade and started emptying it one item at a time.

So the prince wanted this to be an extended interaction.Logan’s excitement and anxiety swelled in unison.

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