Page 10 of Flirting With Forever
She blinked at his words, only then noticing the fact he had the same dark hair, similar build and seemed to be the about the same height as her new boss and the two brothers she’d encountered.
And the building where she’d first met him? It was located right next door to the gas station and convenience store—which was attached to the rental building.
She’d been so happy about the job and Cole stating that she’d be working for him that she’d blown off the fact a stranger had said she could park behind the building overnight. Of course they were related.
Sloane barely held in a pained groan. He was one of them. A Blackwell brother. He had to be. But did she speak up and confess? Wait and see if she managed to hold onto her job during the brief trial period? Which brother was he?
Cole had indicated one of the brothers bordered on insane due to his many side hustles. That he was the one with the scheduling issues she’d spent all day sorting out yesterday. Apparently, he was an overachieving workaholic who burned the candle at both ends and then threw fireworks into the flames for giggles.
But Cole had said she wouldn’t see that brother much at all, especially if she didn’t plan to stick around.
So, was this the brother? Or just one of the many? There were eight of them in all, so it was possible. But if he wasn’t the brother and co-owner, it wouldn’t matter. Unless he told her boss—bosses—she was homeless?
What should she do?
She ran through worst-case scenarios in her mind. Cole had said there were eight brothers and a sister. He’d listed their names, but she’d barely caught a handful of them at most, more surprised and empathetic for the sister because she couldn’t imagine having eight older brothers. That poor girl.
She only had two brothers, and they made her life a living hell.
But if this guy was one of the Blackwells—and the resemblance was uncanny, indicating he was—should she cut her losses now? Had she blown her chance after one day because of choosing the wrong parking spot—twice?
“Stay safe, Sloane. Remember what I said.”
“Yeah, I will. Thanks.” She nodded dazedly as she slid a leg over the seat and climbed into the front. “Not necessary though. I— I’ll find a place today,” she lied, because realistically? What she’d find was another spot to park. Maybe the far side of the island held fewer Blackwells?
He stepped back when she started up the vehicle and shoved it into gear. She gave him a breezy wave of her fingers before heading down the street, spying him in her rearview.
Arms crossed over his broad chest and muscles bulging. Eyes locked on her as though he could see her in the mirror rather than watching her drive away.
She pressed her head against the seat rest and groaned. Of all the guys and all the jobs on the island…
Why did she keep running into him?
Chapter Four
The day went surprisingly well, considering Gage still tried to make up for lost time.
He threw the bag of tools onto his truck seat and climbed in, reaching for the printed schedule to see what came next.
The highlighted item took him back to Carolina Cove and a meeting with his brothers to strategize how best to handle the upcoming weather. With the hurricane barreling their way, it was a necessary step since they’d added several rental houses to their roster, not to mention prepping their own homes in addition to their many businesses.
The humid November day brought locals out in droves and the traffic to the island stayed bumper to bumper.
He could run for Grump of the Year by the time he rolled onto the parking lot and spotted Sloane’s beat-up Chevy parked in back.
He’d meant she could stay there overnight if she absolutely had to. Not take advantage of his kindness to get free beach parking during the day.
Shaking his head as his temper soared higher, he blocked her car in and noted she was nowhere to be found. Of course. He should’ve been clearer but give a person an inch and they’d take a mile, as she obviously had.
He muttered to himself as he made his way around the front of the building, picking up bits of trash that had blown in with the wind and seeing how many golf carts they’d rented while he was out. Those would have to be loaded up and hauled off to be secured in storage. Another thing for the ever-growing list. The e-bikes and scooters as well.
The weight on his shoulders dragged at him as Gage stalked into the rentals building. It took a moment for his eyes to adjust from the bright sunlight to the darker interior. Maybe that’s why he didn’t notice her at first. That and the fact one breath had filled his senses with the tantalizing scent of cream and raspberry and whatever else made up her perfume.
“Hey, good timing. I was about to let Sloane go home for the day,” Cole said. “Sloane, this is Gage, brother number seven and my partner with the rentals and car service.”
Gage held Sloane’s wide-eyed green gaze and saw the color drain from her face before she flushed a deep, rosy pink. She looked nervous. And guilty. As she should.
“Hello,” she said, voice cracking a bit.
