Page 36 of Caught Up In You (Indigo Royal Resort)
Cullen just stood there and watched her walk away. As much as he hated to admit it, he couldn’t help but feel like he’d been sucker punched. Who was he? Her boyfriend? She sure had a funny way of acting for someone who belonged to someone else.
“If you want to see her tonight, I can text her and let her know,” Drea whispered, stepping closer to him.
“Who is he?” Cullen asked through gritted teeth.
“Carlos is one of our maintenance technicians.”
“Is he her boyfriend?”
“Oh no,” Drea answered quickly, shaking her head. “They’re just— You know, it’s probably better if she explains it to you.”
Cullen grunted in confirmation as he strode away, leaving her and the other two men behind. As he headed to his cottage, the thought occurred to him that his statement from earlier was taking on a new meaning all over again. Maybe she really wasn’t who he thought she was.
Chapter Seventeen
The walk back to the main building was normally a relatively short one. However, in this moment, Leona felt like it was taking forever. Probably because the silence between her and Carlos was the loudest thing she’d heard in a long time. Every little noise seemed amplified by it, from the crunch of the gravel under their shoes to the sound of fabric rubbing together from his coveralls.
After what seemed like an hour, rather than the five minutes it actually was, they finally reached the outside of the lobby. The lobby was abuzz with all sorts of guests coming and going. Late afternoon and just before dinner was generally a time when she tried to avoid the lobby and dining room if she could. She had figured out over the years that hiding out in her office or the laundry room was the best option to avoid the insanity, yet still be close enough that she was available if needed. Standing outside the lobby now, it was interesting to watch all the action in progress with the knowledge that unless there was a major emergency, she would not have to be the one to deal with whatever popped up.
“So, you and Cullen Cruz,” Carlos said, breaking the silence. “Thought there was nothing between you.”
The look on his face wasn’t quite accusatory but wasn’t playful either. Leona wasn’t entirely sure what that look was, but it was certainly not a happy one. There was almost a level of hurt to it. Frankly, she couldn’t blame him either. She probably would not have been entirely thrilled if the tables were turned and she had seen him hanging all over some super-hot, ultra-famous model.
“It’s not what it looks like,” she started.
“It looks like you just spent the day out on the water hanging out with a football star,” he remarked, turning away from her.
“Okay, well, yes, that I did,” she admitted. “He wanted an excursion, and Vaughn and Grayson volunteered a group of us to join him.” It wasn’t a lie, exactly. Her bosses knew exactly where she was and that she was entertaining a VIP guest. Carlos just didn’t need to know that it was because said guest had requested her. Just prior to making her lose her damn mind up against a shower wall.
“You seemed to be having a lot of fun for having been forced onto a boat.”
“What would you have me do? Act miserable in front of our guest? A VIP guest at that?”
“It’s okay to admit you enjoyed it,” he said, turning so they were now facing each other head-on.
She had enjoyed it too. It had easily been one of the best days she’d had out on the water in a long time, maybe ever. The whole group jelled really well, laughing and joking around. Even Maeve had joined in. Plus, she’d gotten plenty of alone time with Cullen, just talking and getting to know each other. Her feelings had changed so much for the man over the last twenty-four hours, and she wasn’t sure exactly what those feelings were anymore. But she knew one thing for sure—she wanted to continue to explore them and spend time getting to know him.
“I did. I had a lot of fun. He’s not who I thought he was,” she said, sighing.
“An arrogant, footballing manwhore with more money than God?” he offered.
“He’s not that at all. There is a lot more to him than the face he puts on for the world to see.”
“You would know all about that, Lee.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” she remarked, unsure if she was supposed to be offended.
“You do the same thing, Mamacita. You let the whole world think you are this tough, no-nonsense, uncaring person, and only let a few of us in to know that you’re anything but that,” he answered, stepping closer and cupping his hands around her shoulders.
“Carlos…”
“Look, Lee, I know I’m not your boyfriend. That was never our arrangement and I’ve never presumed myself to be. But that doesn’t mean I don’t care about you. Deeply. I just don’t want to see you get hurt, especially by someone who has brought a different woman with him every year and when he leaves here, will be all over the Internet with yet another new one.”
His words hit her hard. It had been so easy to forget all the different women Cullen had paraded in front of her over the years and all the ones that he’d been linked to back in the UK. Was she just a fling? Something he needed to conquer? She reminded herself that he’d confided in her on the boat today, but then again, maybe that was just a line he used to win over the women he was trying to seduce.
“I’m a big girl, Carlos. Let me make my own choices, please,” she said, trying to hide the fact that what he’d said about Cullen had cut her up inside.
He sighed heavily, dropping his head and stepping back from her. “Okay,” he replied, giving in to her request. “It’s against policy to take up with a guest, VIP or not, so please be careful. With both your job and your heart.”
