“How about both?”
“I was born in Panama. When I was eight, my parents moved to Canada. When I was twelve, we moved to the States. That’s why I love moving around so much now. How about you?”
“Born and raised in New York. Although I love to travel, I’m a city boy.”
“Really? I pictured you more of the ranch-hand type,” she teased.
“You couldn’t pay me to muck a stall.”
“I actually did that one year.”
“And you liked it?” Gareth asked.
Brooke wrinkled her nose. “I loved the horses; does that count?”
“Were you on community service or something?” Gareth joked.
“No. Actually I try something new and different every year. This year I’m waitressing at a resort. I’ve waitressed a few places, but the locations have all been different.”
“You mean you can’t commit to anything longer than twelve months?” He arched a brow.
That sounded too much like what her friends had asked her. “I can, but why? Think about the endless possibilities. The world is a big place and I want to see it.”
“I’m glad you found a way to see it. But isn’t that . . . dangerous? I mean you going off to all these strange places alone?”
Brooke knew it sounded odd. And if Gareth knew her family, it would sound more ridiculous. But she rarely let anyone know who she was. Otherwise they might not hire her. At least not in the jobs she’d applied for. All she needed was room and board and enough of a wage to keep her stable for the year. Someone like Gareth definitely wouldn’t understand.
“Trust me. I do plenty of research. Going out with you is probably the riskiest thing I’ve done in a long time.” She thought about how that sounded. His expression didn’t show that it bothered him at all.
“I’m glad to hear it. And you’re right. Knowing what you can and shouldn’t do in a strange country is what will keep you safe. If you weren’t out with me right now, I wouldn’t advise leaving the resort either.”
“So everyone says, but no one actually says anything more than that. I’m a rule follower. Well, for the most part I am. You seem to bring out the—”
“Naughty side?” He winked.
“I wouldn’t go that far. And for the record, I let my boss know we were having dinner. There may have been a few details left out, but she knows.”
“Good, because I don’t kiss and tell either.”
Kiss. Yeah. Never mentioned that.Brooke smiled. If she was lucky, there would be more of that later. They are so worth breaking the rules for.
She hadn’t been paying attention to where they were going, but when they turned up a long driveway, she had to ask. “Your friend’s house?”
“Yes.”
“Who exactly are they?”
“Alex and Ziva Henderson.”
Brooke sucked in a deep breath. “I can’t be here. We’re not supposed to be dating. And I never told anyone I was leaving. Oh shit. I’m going to get fired. I need you to take me back right now, please.”
Gareth chuckled and took her hand in his. “One, you’re not getting fired. Two, they are expecting us. And I think you’re allowed to leave New Hope when the owner invites you to dinner, don’t you think?”
I wouldn’t have dressed sexy if I’d have known.“I’d like to change my answer.”
“To what question?” Gareth asked.
“Whether or not I like surprises.”