I couldn’t believe I let Hamish drive me from the Hard Grind to The Blue Spot to meet with Eric.
My heart was thundering so loudly in my chest, I worried he’d hear. There was no way I would agree to tracking down Lola. I glanced around the perfectly appointed hallway with expensive paintings that hung on the walls and wondered if I could just run. Would Hamish come after me? Probably. And that man was fast.
Hamish lifted his hand once again to knock on the navy-blue door, but I grabbed it before he could. “I don’t think Eric’s here. We should just go.”
He turned to face me. “Jenner, I don’t know why this is such a big deal for you. I suspect it has something to do with his sister, but since you won’t tell me, then I can only assume tracking her down won’t be a big deal for you.”
I stood there, refusing to say anything as he glared at me.
After a minute of intense staring from Hamish, I gave in. “I’ll knock.” I lifted my hand as it shook and gave one quick, yet firm rap on the door.
Five. Four. Three. Two. One.
“Well, he doesn’t seem to be home. We should turn around and—”
The door flew open, and the man who stood in the doorway smiled. And when he grinned, two perfect dimples indented his cheeks. Eric.
The guy was as tall as Hamish, but that was where the similarities ended. Hamish wore nothing but suits, whereas Eric liked sweatshirts and jeans or T-shirts and jeans in the summer months. Most people who walked by Eric Hudson would never suspect he was a billionaire—he didn’t act like one or dress like one, and he spoke like he grew up in the country, just like the people of this town.
“Oh, damn, Jenner.” He reached for my hand, grabbed it, and pulled me into a one-armed hug, slapping my back hard. “It’s been so long.” He let go, and I quickly stepped back.
All these qualities were the reasons I became friends with Eric. He was the most down-to-earth guy I knew. It surprised me he had a room at The Blue Spot since he usually stayed in motels or inns.
“Eric, how are you?” I asked before clearing my throat.
“How are you?” Eric made a face and moved his arms wildly in an obvious attempt to make fun of me. “Dude, you’re so stiff. Loosen up.”
He swung at me, and, for a moment, I believed he was going to punch me in the nose—that, somehow, he knew about my secret. But he wasn’t aiming for my face; it was my arm that took the brunt of his friendly blow.
I winced and swallowed the cry of pain, as I knew what would happen if I showed any sign of discomfort. He’d laugh and then the taunts would begin.
Those were the qualities I didn’t like about Eric, namely his rough, overly masculine demeanor.
He thought it was what guys did to each other—the intense physicality and the joking. I wasn’t like that. I preferred a simple handshake or just the one-armed hug without the excruciating slap on the back.
Yeah, Eric was a little much, but he always meant well. And when it came down to it, he’d do anything for his friends. It was fun being his friend until his caveman mentality demanded too much from his sister.
“Come on in.” He waved us through.
We stepped onto the lush blue carpeting and into a room that was unusually small, given how The Blue Spot was known to be luxurious. I had been in a few other rooms at the resort, and they were much bigger.
I suspected Eric was trying to save money. For a billionaire, he liked to penny-pinch where he could.
“You guys want a beer?” Eric made his way over the small kitchenette area of the room and opened the wood-paneled refrigerator.
“Uh, it’s ten in the morning, Eric,” Hamish said.
“Really? Huh, I thought for sure it was noon. I’m hungry, and I always get hungry at noon. My body talks to me, and I always listen.” He closed the appliance door and leaned against the marble counter.
Listened to his body? That was new. The man never listened to anyone, least of all his own senses. I shrugged it off and decided I needed to get this meeting over with.
“Hamish tells me you wish to discuss something with me?”
Eric narrowed his eyes and jerked up his chin. He had a lot of tells, and the expressions he gave told me what he was thinking. This one said he was ready to discuss something serious. And when Eric got serious, it was time for you to listen because he never joked about business.
“I miss my sister.”
My heart cracked just a little upon hearing him. I missed her too, more than Eric realized. But she was his flesh and blood, and I knew it devastated him when she disappeared. He hurt, and it showed.