Page 54 of Jingle Bell Jilt
She shakes her head. “Nope. I can live anywhere, as long as I have my computer.”
My heart hitches up into my throat. Do I dare ask? “So does that mean you can stay a little longer?”
Her bottom lip pulls in between her teeth. “Don’t you have to get back to work? I thought the boss had to be there to make sure no one started an ugly sweater contest.”
I laugh. I guess I’m not the only one who listens. “I guess I should have said Iwasthe boss. I actually sold my company about a year ago. And due to a non-compete agreement, I get to be on an extended vacation for the next three years.”
She shifts in her seat. “Really? No working for three years?”
I nod. “It’s why I took up furniture making. Just sitting around doing nothing was making me crazy.”
“So you don’t have any reason to go back to New Hampshire?” She sits back. “Although, you probably have to stay here until your manager comes off paternity leave, right?”
“Yeah, it ends on New Year’s. But I’d planned to spend the winter down here anyway.” Those words hang in the air as we both stare out the front window. There’s an unspoken conversation going on, but I feel like I’m missing every other word.
“Well, we’ll see how beach day goes. Maybe if you don’t do anything overtly manly, like splash me or try to pull me into the water, we can see about extending our trips together.”
“Yeah, maybe.” I try to keep my tone level so I don’t frighten her with my over-excitement.
I glance out my side window. What am I thinking? Her staying longer only postpones the inevitable. It doesn’t solve any of the problems on my list. At least not the biggest one. If anything, it only adds new problems. Like, how do I keep from falling more in love with her than I already am?
I point out the window. “Look at the cruise ships.” Several large boats sit at the dock, one of them with very noticeable mouse ears.
“Oh my heck, they look huge from here.” She cranes her neck to see them as we drive past.
“We’re getting close.” We drive a little bit longer before I pull up into a complex of condos. I stop in front of one. Pulling the garage door opener out of the center console I press the button. The garage door opens and I pull the car in.
“You have a place here too?”
I shrug. “I needed to invest some of the money after the sale of my business for tax reasons. Rental properties seemed the best place to put it.”
“And this one isn’t rented? I would think this is high season.”
“Yeah, it is. But I always keep one available in case I want to come down. Or if I have friends or family that need a place to stay.”
She narrows her eyes at me. “So just how many rental properties do you own?” Her face reddens. “Sorry. That’s totally rude of me to ask.”
I shake my head. “Nah, it’s not. I own ten here at Cocoa Beach and ten in Orlando. Then I have four at Key West and four in Miami.”
Her mouth hangs open so far I can see that little dangly thing at the back of her throat. “You own twenty-eight rental properties?”
I just nod because it already feels kind of braggy. Like I’m thinking I’m all that or something.
I push open my car door and hurry around to her side. Once she’s out, I lead her into the house. “I thought this would be the best place because this resort has a private beach. It’ll be crowded but not like the public beach down the road.” We walk up the steps and come out in the kitchen area. The full wall slider gives a perfect view of the beach and water.
Shay sucks in a breath, and I have to admit, I’m a little proud. Not that I have anything to do with the view, but that she admires it so much. I’m happy I’m able to give her this. Okay, I’m sounding braggy again.
“We can come back here for lunch.”
“This is amazing.” She breathes out as she drops her bag on the couch and moves over to the windows. “Why did you stay in Orlando when you could have been here?”
“John is on paternity, remember?” Why do I not tell her about Nathan? This is the perfect lead-in. But that revelation will ruin the beach day. And her staying longer is contingent on the success of beach day. I’ll confess the next time it comes up. Because, unfortunately, there always seems to be a next time.
Besides, I don’t like thinking about what would have happened if I had been here instead of Orlando. “And my house would have floated away.”
She just nods, obviously content to stare out at the water. And I’m content to stare at her. It’s a win-win.
She finally pulls her gaze away and looks at me. “Evan Barrington, you’re a lucky man.”
