I stood there, still surprised by what he had told me.
Nick had sold his other company for twenty million dollars?
Was that why he gave me such a great deal when he gave me the quote to work on my backyard? I had no doubt he could have charged me double for what he was doing.
Dee told me he was the best, and the best companies usually charged a premium for their services because they were in demand. Was that why he kept giving me freebies, even though I kept telling him to charge me for them?
If what Steve had told me was true, I would have an even greater respect and admiration for Nick and his generosity, which would lead me to wanting to kiss him more.
But the kissing would have to wait for later since I was still at a work event.
My mind was going a million miles a minute as I walked toward the restroom.
I looked for Nick on the way but didn’t see him.
Hopefully, he didn’t sneak out on me.
He would never do that.
At least, I hoped he wouldn’t.
Chapter Twenty-Five
RUTH
A few minutes later, I came out of the bathroom and pushed open the glass door that led out to the garden terrace. I made my way through the other partners and consultants, searching for Nick since someone had stolen the table where we had been hanging out earlier.
Where are you, Nicky?
As I searched for Nick, I noticed something odd.
A few people snickered as I walked by them.
A handful of other coworkers whispered, watching me.
One partner even pointed at me.
What was going on with them?
Were they talking about me?
It was like they knew something that I didn’t.
Or maybe I was part of an inside joke that I would find out about later.
I finally spotted Nick on the other side of the Garden Terrace near the gate that went to the pool area. He waved me over, a concerned look on his face as I approached.
Something definitely happened.
What could have possibly happened while I was in the bathroom for a few minutes?
I threw my palms up in confusion. “I don’t understand what’s going on here. Everyone including you is acting weird all of a sudden.”
“Come here for a second.” Nick slid his hand around my waist to my lower back and guided me around to the other side of the cocktail table next to the tree.
We were almost completely out of view.
Did he want to sneak me a kiss?
I was all for it, but this was not the time nor the place.
Nick suddenly yanked the side of my dress. “There you go. All good.”
I glanced down to my side, confused. “What just happened?”
“Your dress was stuck in your panties. You were flashing a good portion of your leg to everyone. I really didn’t mind the show, but I’m guessing you didn’t do that on purpose.”
Now I knew what all the snickering and whispering was about.
I blew out a frustrated breath and covered my face with my hands. “Why does every possible embarrassing moment of my adult life happen when I’m with you?”
“I guess I’m here to keep you humble.”
“Mortified is more like it.”
Nick chuckled. “I’ve seen you at your worst.”
“There’s no doubt about that. What’s your point?”
“I’m still here.”
I let out an audible sigh.
My heart is going to melt.
I reached up, kissing him on the cheek.
“Careful, you’re going to get in trouble.”
“Screw them.”
“Can I tell you something else?”
“Of course.”
“It pisses me off that I had to witness ten or twelve of your coworkers, all watching you walk across the terrace with your dress stuck that way, and not one single person had the decency to stop you and let you know. They just watched! I don’t know how you can work with these people.”
I glanced around the courtyard and shrugged. “I can handle them.”
“I have no doubt about that, but you’re different when you’re around them. Too serious. Uptight. Cranky, even.”
I sighed. “Behind every cranky woman is a sweet girl who’s a little tired of everyone’s bullshit.”
“Well, I love seeing that sweet girl when she makes her irregular appearance.” Nick thought about it. “And don’t get me wrong, being in this toxic environment is making me feel uptight, as well. Your coworkers leave a bad taste in my mouth. Can we go?”
I stared at him for a beat.
“You promised me we could leave if we were bored.”
I had promised him that and I wouldn’t go back on my word. “Yeah. We can go.” I glanced around the courtyard, trying to figure out an escape route. “But we need to leave separately, so it doesn’t look like we’re actually leaving. Nobody will notice. I’ll meet you in the foyer inside.”
“Roger that.”
I pulled my phone from my purse. “Okay. Here I go.”
Pretending to talk on the phone, I avoided eye contact with everyone and walked back inside the hotel, waiting by the large painting of a beach sunset. I slid my phone back into my purse and glanced back toward the glass door that led to the garden terrace, expecting Nick to come through right behind me.
A minute later, he came through the same door, spotting me, and walking my way.
I smiled. “Ready?”
“More than you know,” he said.
I surprised myself by grabbing his hand. “Let’s go, then.”
I loved the way his hand felt wrapped around mine.
We walked down the long hallway toward the front of the hotel, Nick glancing down at our intertwined hands. “Holding hands, huh? Looks like this is getting pretty serious.”
I smiled. “It is for me.”
“Good.” He pulled me toward the open door of the banquet room with people dancing inside. “In that case, we can’t leave until you dance with me.”
“Nick, we can’t go in there.”
“Yes, we can. Just one dance. Listen, they’re even playing our song.”
I did my best not to laugh. “This song is going to haunt me for the rest of my life.”
It was “Shake Your Booty” by KC and the Sunshine Band.
The song that was playing when I got the wedgie at the gym.
The same day I met Nick but didn’t know one day I would have feelings for him.
“Turn that negative memory of a wedgie into a positive one.”
“That’s impossible. That wedgie will be stuck in my—”
Nick laughed.
“Okay, poor choice of words.” I couldn’t help laughing with him. “This is me being serious now. We’re going to get kicked out of the hotel if we crash this party.”
“We were leaving anyway. The difference would be we would have a private escort out of the place. Just like royalty.” He grinned and gestured toward the banquet room with his head.
I laughed. “You’re crazy.”
A woman approached us from inside the banquet room, waving us in. “You can come inside and dance. We’re just finishing up, it’s okay.” She headed back to the dance floor and waved at us again to come inside.