Robby and Sawyer are polar opposites. Where Sawyer seems so serious, Robby is very chill. He has the best sense of humor of anyone I’ve ever met. He was always the one to cheer me up when I was down when we were teenagers. Sawyer reminds me more of my dad, which is odd, considering I’m highly attracted to Sawyer. At least, physically. I haven’t gotten to know him enough yet to find out how I feel about the whole package. Inside. Obviously, I love his package. Probably the best I ever had. Yep, drunk.
Once Sawyer is out of sight, I smack Robby in the leg—hard. “I hate you so much.”
Her smirks, sucking his straw into his mouth. “You love me and you know it.”
Chapter Ten
Sawyer
I didn’t go for a run. I walked out the front door of Tito’s and headed straight to the back entrance to the hotel. It seems I spoke before thinking again and I’ve got plans with the spunky assistant tonight. I’m not regretful, by any means. Just nervous as hell. I haven’t hung out one-on-one with a girl since Taylor—aside from bedding random girls from the bar. I wouldn’t call this a date, though. More like, two friends watching fireworks together. Two friends who fucked before even knowing each other’s names. Two friends who also work in the same building—something that I’ve always frowned upon.
It’s scorching hot out so I go with a pair of navy blue over-the-knee shorts and a three-button white polo. I didn’t mean to dress for the festivities, but it appears I have. Even got red briefs on. Using my fingers, I comb through my hair and give myself two squirts of cologne then slide on my khaki-colored Birkenstock sandals.
Before I go, I pull out the bottle of scotch I opened last night and pour a drink. I’m lost in my thoughts, sipping on the drink and watching people from a distance when my phone buzzes on the dresser. I set my drink down and walk over to retrieve it. An unknown number flashes on the screen, so I hit end and let it go to voicemail. If it’s important, they’ll leave a message.
Once I finish off my drink, I give my mouth a swish with some mouthwash and spit it back into the sink. I shouldn’t worry about smelling like liquor; I’ve seen Mia at the bar more times than I’ve seen her at Glasson. It’s apparent the girl likes to drink. I’m not sure if I should be concerned about that... Why does it even matter? This isn’t a date, and we’re not starting a relationship.
I need to get out of my own head. It’s a scary place.
I grab one of the smaller hotel blankets and leave the room. Pulling out my wallet, I double check to make sure I have my room key and some cash, just in case we stop at one of the vendor stands for a drink or a snack.
I’m walking down the hall to the elevator when my phone vibrates against my leg. I pull it out of my pocket and see that I have a voicemail. Must have been the unknown number. I tap play and listen to the message on speakerphone while I wait for the elevator to reach my floor.
“Mr. Rhodes, this is Julia Mears, Niles Tanner’s assistant at Tanner Enterprises. I’m calling because Mr. Tanner was interested in setting up an appointment with you to discuss bringing you onboard with our marketing team. Please call me back at your earliest convenience.” She goes on to leave her number and I end the message.
Tanner Enterprises? I don’t remember applying there. If I remember right, they’re a competitor of Glasson. Weird. I’m not sure how they got my resume or contact information.
Ignoring it for now, I drop my phone back in my pocket and step onto the elevator. While I’m riding down, I do a quick google search of the company. Sure enough, it’s the beverage company I was thinking of.
I step out of the elevator and stand there for a minute before going to meet Mia at Tito’s. Another search of Glasson Waters vs. Tanner Enterprises pulls up a long list of articles about Richard Tanner and Floyd Glasson’s possible merger to end the long-time rivalry. There is discussion of the two companies coming together with potential to form the biggest bottled beverage company in the world.
“Hey, there.” My head snaps up when I hear Mia’s voice.
I tuck my phone back in my pocket. “Hey, sorry. I was just doing some research. Nothing important.” Taking in her presence, I bite the corner of my lip. She’s dressed in an all-white sundress and a pair of white strappy sandals. Her long chocolate colored hair is down and curled at the ends. She looks breathtaking. “You look…very nice.” I suck at compliments, especially when it comes to women. I’m so damn rusty at this shit.
“Thanks.” She smiles coyly at my idiocy as we walk side-by-side out the back entrance of the hotel. “Not so bad yourself, Rookie.”
A couple comes walking up and they pick up their pace to catch the door I’m holding open for them. Mia stops walking to wait for me. Once they’ve got the door, we continue our walk to the pier. “Rookie, huh? Is that what I am?”
“Well, you’re a new hire so therefore you are one of the many new rookies at Glasson.”
“Ah. So I guess I can just call you Temp, then.” I tease, but I get the feeling she didn’t find it funny at all as her smile drops and she stares straight ahead.
There are people everywhere so we have to twist and turn to slide through the crowd. Once we find an opening, I look over at Mia, hoping to rectify whatever I said to make her uncomfortable. “It was just a joke.”
She returns my gaze with a half-smile. “I know.”
We keep walking until we make it to the beach. The crowd here isn’t any better. The sand is barely visible beneath all the towels, chairs, and blankets covered with bodies. I’ve never seen anything quite like it. I’m not even sure we’ll be able to find a spot to sit.
“This way,” Mia says, nodding her head to the east end of the beach. She picks up her pace and I speed walk to keep up with her. “If we get away from the pier a bit, the congestion thins out.”
We pass by the entrance to the pier where everything is lit up in a neon glow. There’s a ferris wheel spinning around and it makes me nauseous just looking at it. There aren’t many things that freak me out, but ferris wheels have always been one of the things that does. When I was eight years old, my sister, who was fourteen at the time, dragged me on one while she was ‘babysitting’ me. There was this guy she had a crush on and he asked her if she wanted to ride it. She couldn’t leave me, so I had no choice but to join them. We made it all the way around once before the thing stopped and left us stuck at the top for over an hour. I got so freaked out that I threw up over the side and I’m pretty sure I hit a few people. I swore I’d never get on one again.
Mia stops walking about a quarter mile down from the pier, so I follow suit. “How about here?”
She wasn’t lying. The crowd has definitely dwindled this way. There are still quite a few people, but there’s an empty spot that should fit the blanket. “Works for me.” I grip the blanket with both hands and spread it out.
Mia takes a seat, and I drop down beside her. This is about as far out of my comfort zone as I can get. I haven’t done anything like this in years. I’m not even sure how to act right now. My encounters with women usually last an hour tops and involve my dick inside of either her mouth or pussy. Nothing as intimate as sitting on the beach under the sunset, waiting to watch fireworks.