Risking the Crown (The Crown 2)

“Let me know if you want to go shopping again. I’ve got to get to work before the other spring breakers wake up.” Sasha laughed. “And have fun with Cole.”

“Thanks for going to Tassels with me, and for the Cole advice. It’s nice to have a friend here.”

“Anytime, Kaitlyn. See you later.” Sasha waved as I hopped out of the truck. I was quickly learning that everyone in Texas preferred to drive a truck.

I watched as she turned on to Gulf Boulevard in the direction of the Wave Oasis.

“Early morning shopping?” Cole stood behind me. My shoulders felt the tingle of his presence before I whipped around. How did he always appear like that?

“Yeah, I think I’ve given up on my luggage appearing this week.” I held up three bags. “The airlines haven’t returned my calls. I think it’s a lost cause.”

“Are you going to give me a private fashion show later?” His eyes were all mischief.

I stepped closer to him, reveling in the heat building between us. “Maybe.” I winked before ducking under his arm and into my room.

“I left a cup of coffee for you on the desk,” Cole called through the door. “See ya.”

“Thanks.” I hugged the bags against me.

I had been nervous about seeing him after the night we spent together. This was my first official fling and I didn’t know how we were supposed to act around each other. The whole point of a fling is not having to think about it, but there was no way I would stop thinking about the line Cole and I had crossed.

It had been at least six hours since Cole had dropped off coffee in my room. I had worked straight through lunch and my stomach was growling. I stretched my legs and reached my fingertips toward the ceiling, easing the cramp that had started to form in my right shoulder.

There were twenty-four rooms at the Dune Scape, and there were twenty-two pending reservations that all started this weekend. I had placed calls to all twenty-two of them and confirmed each one was planning on a three o’clock check-in Friday. Cole needed the reservations, but I wasn’t sure the Dune would be ready or that he could handle the onslaught of visitors.

The receipts had all been tallied, and I made a spreadsheet with the past two years’ expenses along with a projected forecast for the rest of this year. I was impressed that my applied business skills were coming in handy.

I heard the familiar ring of my phone, and smiled when I saw Mary Ellen’s picture flash on the screen. “Hey.”

“Hey, girl, you haven’t called to give me the scoop,” Mary Ellen shouted into the phone. It was doubtful she was alone. “Are you ok?”

“I know. I know. It’s just been so crazy here. How are things in Myrtle Beach?” I leaned back in the office chair, happy to have a break from the numbers.

“Awesome. There is a swim-up bar. You should see it.”

“Sounds cool.” I looked at the freshly printed spreadsheet. Mary Ellen and I could not be having more opposite types of spring breaks.

“Ok, so are you going to tell me about what’s going on with Cole?”

I spotted Cole walking across the parking lot toward the office. “I can’t. He’s on his way in. I’ll call you later—promise.”

She sighed. “All right, but I want to know what’s going on with you. I miss you.”

“I miss you too. We can talk later when he’s not around. Ok?”

“Ok, but you better call.” Mary Ellen sounded like she was pouting.

“I will. Bye.”

“Bye.”

I slid the phone in my back pocket as Cole entered the room. It wasn’t that I didn’t want to share my Cole story with Mary Ellen. I told her absolutely everything, but my North Carolina life seemed so far away right now. How could I explain Cole to her? In only five days, I felt like I had a whole new life, with new friends and the man I’d always crushed on.

I adjusted the new tank top I had bought this morning at Tassels, and brushed my bangs to the side. It would be nice to go to lunch together at Peabody’s. I was willing to risk Hank’s nosey questions to have a few minutes with Cole.

“Damn it,” he muttered. The doorknob had broken off in his hand.

“Too bad there’s not someone around here who could fix that,” I joked. I walked around the side of the desk to greet him with a kiss.