Page 23 of Off-Limits Bosses
“I do hope we’ll be taken to a beach,” Allan said, chuckling. “I haven’t been to a beach in ages.”
“We went to a Spanish beach three weeks ago,” Megan reminded him, patting him on the shoulder. “But with your workkeeping you so terribly busy, I shouldn’t be surprised that you don’t remember.”
“Please, follow me,” I said as we exited through the doors and toward the parking lot, where a luxury SUV sat waiting. It had enough space for seven people, so with only three and the driver, it was more than comfortable.
Megan sat up incredibly straight in her seat, with both hands on her lap. Allan clambered in beside her, his eyes glued to the windows.
“We will be meeting your personal tour guide in Carmel,” I explained, checking the schedule on my tablet. “They will be taking you through to your lunch appointment, which I will not be present for, as requested. Afterward, I will meet you at the restaurant for the mini National Park tour.”
“Oh, how exciting,” Allan said with a grin. “Isn’t it exciting, dear?”
“I suppose,” Megan answered, though I did hear a hint of excitement in her tone. She was simply pretending to hate everything.
I didn’t pay attention to their conversation. I was looking forward to my own plans for lunch. My best friend, Sierra, lived in Carmel, and she’d agreed to meet me at her favorite coffee place for a quick bite.
Plus, I was escaping from the hotel and the whole Landon situation for an afternoon, which was a break I desperately needed.
The place Sierra had chosen was cozy and small, tucked away in the corner of an area slightly away from the main tourist traps. It was clearly a bohemian-style spot, with loads of plants and dream-catchers and earthy colors; exactly the kind of place Sierra would pick.
I spotted her sitting by the counter that faced the window, and hurried inside.
“Look at you!” I said, and Sierra turned, shrieking when she saw me. She rushed at me and wrapped me up in a hug that smelled like jasmine and sandalwood. When she let me go, she squeezed my shoulders and looked me up and down.
“Look atyou,”she finally replied, a greeting that we’d shared for many years. “Come on, sit down, spill the tea, tell me everything about your new fancy life.”
I laughed dryly as I followed her to the counter and took a seat. We ordered a pair of iced lattes and got comfortable. I noticed that Sierra wasn’t wearing shoes; something she’d often done ever since I knew her. Usually, it meant she was in a good mood and happy about how the day was going.
“Okay, so you’re saying you metDahlia,likethe Dahlia?” Sierra said excitedly after I told her about the VIPs that stayed at the hotel.
“She’s nice,” I said with a shrug. “Her future mother-in-law is… Something else though. Pretty sure the tabloids are going to have all the drama in there. But you didn’t hear it from me.”
“My lips are sealed,” Sierra laughed. “Honestly, though, I’m not sure if it’s all worth it. Don’t you feel like pulling your hair out sometimes?”
“I do, but you know I’ve always been the ambitious type,” I answered with a drawn-out sigh. “I just can’t resist high-pressure situations.”
That made me think of Landon for a moment, and I looked away so Sierra wouldn’t notice something was up. I needed to change the subject before I blabbed too much. I was pretty sure Sierra wouldn’t be too happy to learn that I’d slept with him. I had to feel out the situation first, test the waters.
“So, how’s the business?” I asked when I turned back to her, and the waitress arrived with our lattes.
Sierra thanked her before she answered me. “Great, actually. You wouldn’t think there’d be a big market for custom frames in a place like this, but… Well. Guess I’ve found my people.”
“Are you still painting, at least?” I pushed curiously, knowing that she had difficulty pursuing just one passion. She’d always wanted to be a frame maker, but she would get bored of it eventually if that was all that she was doing.
“Mm, I’m working on a little vegetable garden,” she mused with a smile. “And I’m thinking of starting sourdough baking. It can’t be that hard, can it?”
“As long as you’re doing what makes you happy,” I laughed, wondering how it was possible for one person to dive into so many creative hobbies at once. It had always been Sierra’s thing, though; if there was a craft out there, she’d probably tried it already.
“Are you happy?” she asked, switching the topic up on me again. By now, I was pretty sure she noticed something in my face.
Usually, I was good at hiding my feelings, but that was impossible when it came to Sierra. It was like she had some kind of sixth sense. No matter how hard I tried, she’d know something was up. At this point, I didn’t really know why I was even attempting it.
But I didn’t want her to judge me.
“Yeah,” I said finally, but I knew that my tone wasn’t completely convincing. I could hear my own uncertainty. “This job is a dream for me. It’s high-pressure, sure, but I get to solve new problems all day. I get to figure things out. Plus, the hotelis gorgeous. Honestly, even on my pay, it’d probably be a whole month’s salary just to stay a night.”
“I believe that,” Sierra said, stirring her latte almost absent-mindedly. “But there’s something you aren’t telling me, isn’t there?”
“What would make you think that?” I asked, but the question ended in a squeak, and I shook my head. “Fine. Yes. But you’re going to hate me for it.”
