“Three.” She twisted around to face me when she asked, “Yourself?”
“At least one. No more than three,” I’d replied.
This morning, I was still thinking about the wistful little hmm sound she made after I gave my answer. It made me grin even after I shut the door of her room behind me, the sound tugging at heartstrings I didn’t know I had.
A moment after, I spotted Colin in the hallway.
He was coming from knocking fruitlessly on my door down the hall. Turning from it, his eyes shifted from Sara’s door behind me to my wrinkled shirt. His smile was surprised but delighted, and much less restrained than I expected from him.
“Sorry,” he apologized hastily before going straight into work mode. “So, Turner and Carter are here, and they’re… clearly not accustomed to working straight off a flight. Carter is going to sleep in his room right now, but Turner insists he’ll come for your meeting with the advisors.” Colin smirked. “He made it a really big deal that he was bestowing us with his presence, considering his jet lag.”
I laughed. “Jesus. I don’t even need him here anymore. His work is done.”
“Yes, well, now he just needs to be babysat and ego-stroked while you talk to the guys with the brains. Speaking of them, they’re early for the meeting in the salon, but I had the kitchen set up coffee and a breakfast platter in the meantime. Is, um, Sara joining?” Colin asked, eyeing the door of her room not too far behind me. That kid-like grin reappeared on his face.
“I would say it’s not what it looks like, but it is,” I said as I nodded for us to start walking. Colin adjusted quickly to his surprise for my candor.
“Oh. Well, she’s extremely smart, kind and capable, so if a rule were to be broken for anyone, it should be her.”
“I appreciate it,” I said. We exchanged one amused look before returning to business. “To answer your question, Sara won’t be joining this meeting. She needs to meet with members of hotel staff to prep the Roths’ tour after breakfast,” I said as I got to my room. Colin stopped me as I opened the door.
“Uh, sir – I know the itinerary is clear, but Turner specifically requested that she join us at breakfast,” he said. I exhaled.
“She’s busy right now, so I’ll have her join late. See you down there in ten.”
30
SARA
I had mentioned wanting a second just to walk around outside the resort last night, so despite Turner apparently waiting on me in the salon, I snuck out of the back of the hotel to check out Biarritz in the daytime.
Greeting me at the door was the green 1958 Cadillac Eldorado Julian had called to take me on a fifteen-minute drive. With the top down, it particularly matched the glamorous vibe of the town. I had to giggle to myself, thanking the driver who held the door for me before whipping out my phone to text Julian.
ME: Are you trying to make me feel like old Hollywood in this car?
JULIAN: Whatever puts a smile on that face
ME: Trust me there’s a big one right now.
I couldn’t stop grinning as the driver whisked me down the street, providing his charmingly accented tour of Biarritz, the “gem of the Basque Coast” that once served as the exclusive holiday spot for European nobility.
I was so very in awe.
Every street felt like a mix of styles I never knew coexisted. There were bright colors and pastels, as well as stone castles and cliffs. It was trendy surf town meets fairytale kingdom, and I could hardly believe it was real.
Though we had stopped a few times for me to wander and snap pictures, I didn’t at all feel like I’d had enough time. Of course, my consolation in going back to the resort was seeing Julian. A part of me already missed him. He’d snuck out early this morning while I was sleeping, and somehow, having only woken up next to him the past three mornings, I was already spoiled. I needed more.
My cheeks were still flushed pink with excitement when I returned to the hotel, and by the time I got to the ritzy checker floored salon, I spotted Julian at a table with Colin, Turner, and four other men. Turner, despite looking deathly hung over with his sandy blonde hair in his eyes, spotted me first and rose quickly to throw his heavy arms around me in a bear hug.
“This one!” he boomed. “The party doesn’t start till this one arrives. Gentlemen, meet the star of the show, Miss Sara Hanna.”
I smiled graciously as I went around the table shaking hands and making introductions. All of the advisors were at least ten years older than Turner, but at least a few of them had the same wandering eye that he did.
My outfit this morning was a striped top with flowy, high-waisted pants and espadrilles. Topknot. Headband scarf. Simple, sexy and not too showy. I was going to be in a swimsuit around these guys later, so I figured I’d pace myself.
Of course, this outfit alone was causing Turner’s hand to linger for longer than necessary on my lower back. I could tell Julian noticed because his eyes were glued to Turner’s arm, and his posture was noticeably rigid under his white shirt.
“Man, I can’t wait to take you surfing later,” Turner grinned as his advisors engaged Julian in some talk about inspections.