Page 52 of Ten Day Affair
I straighten a little, keeping my voice casual, but project it loudly enough for her to hear over the wind. “Didn’t mean to interrupt. I heard you two, so I was about to go back inside and give you the beach.”
“You’re not. This beach is big enough for all of us. You must be Cole.” Her smile’s easy but curious, like she’s already putting the pieces together.
Sam appears behind her, face slightly flushed, and eyes wide.
I give her a nod. “Evening, Sam.”
She walks forward, glass in hand. “Cole, this is my friend Arden. Arden, Cole.”
I nod my head, glancing back at the blonde. “Nice to meet you, Arden.”
Arden gives a knowing smile. “Likewise. Heard a lot about you.”
Sam mutters something into her glass and then tips it up. Arden ignores it.
“We’re having a bit of a wine-and-wisdom night over here,” Arden says.
"Great night for it. Enjoy." I push myself off the banister.
“You’re welcome to join if you’re interested in some company.”
Sam starts to protest, but I catch the hesitation in her eyes. Perhaps it's less protest, more uncertainty.
I lift my glass. Part of me knows that is just her being nice, but I don't care. “If you're sure I'm not intruding.”
Arden shifts her stance and gestures to the open chair. “If you were, I wouldn’t have invited you. Come on. I need to get to know the mysterious Cole Houston.”
Sam doesn’t say anything, but she doesn’t stop me either. I watch her before I head down the steps, and I see what I think is a smile.
That’s all the permission I need.
I refresh my drink and take the stairs down from my deck and cross over to theirs, lowball in hand. Sam watchesme come up the steps, her expression unreadable but not closed off.
The empty chair across from them has a throw draped over the back. I settle into it, nod a hello, and set my glass on the table.
Arden shifts slightly, eyes sharp but friendly. “So, Cole. What brings you to Palm Beach? Besides, obviously, the sunshine and hot real estate market?”
Sam exhales like she’s been bracing for this. “Arden.”
Arden just lifts a brow, innocent. “What? I’m making conversation.”
I smile. “I’m on the board at Good Samaritan for now. It's a short-term role. I was brought in to assist while the hospital evaluates some structural changes.”
Arden nods slowly, taking a sip of her wine. “Ah. Very official.”
"I guess you could call it that."
I can't tell if this woman is mocking me or feeling me out. Or both. Surely she already knows I'm on the board.
I let myself glance at Sam. “The tour today, thank you again. It meant something, seeing it with you.”
Her lips part like she might respond, but she only nods once and looks down at her glass.
Then Arden claps her hands once. “Perfect. We've gotten that out of the way. Now we drink.”
Arden tips the bottle of wine toward Sam’s glass, topping it off. Then she lifts the bottle in my direction. “Can I get you a glass of wine?”
I hold up my glass. “I’m good.”
