The guys are all hanging out on a fishing boat with Lake and Madden, apparently this lake has some good fish in it, but they don’t eat them, they always throw them back. Those are the rules according to Enzo, who is currently showing Emily how to kayak. It’s heaven, no doubt about it, my soul is slowly but surely relaxing into this paradise.
“Hi there.”
I turn to see two girls approaching me.
They’re the most beautiful women I’ve had the pleasure of seeing in my life, and I can’t help but stare in awe at their utter beauty. One of them has the longest, curliest, most gorgeous dark hair I’ve ever seen accompanied by green eyes and boobs to die for. The girl by her side is equally as gorgeous, with her beautiful skin, dark unruly hair, and almond-shaped eyes. They’re just stunning.
“Oh, hey,” I say, giving them a little wave.
“You must be part of the first group out here, I’m Gabby, I’m a friend of Rhett’s. This is Maggie, also a friend. We just wanted to come and check it all out now it’s up and running.”
Of course they’re friends of Rhett, they’re gorgeous. These are the kind of girls I can see him with, they’re so beautiful it almost hurts to look at them.
“I’m Lei.” I smile. “We’re all part of an orchestra.”
“Wow,” Gabby says, eyes wide. “That’s incredible.”
I give her a shy smile.
“Hey.”
I look to see Rhett walking toward the two girls. When he reaches them, he stretches his arms out for Gabby as if she’s the love of his life and pulls her close, hugging her and pressing a kiss to her temple. Oh my. He gives Maggie a nod, and the way he looks at her tells me the two of them have history, it’s something about the awkward glance and the way the two of them seem hesitant.
Hell, I wonder if they all have history.
My cheeks burn with shame over the fact that I thought, even for a second, that I’d ever have a chance with a man like Rhett. I mean, look at these girls. They’re utter perfection. Such beauty.
“How are you, Rhett? You didn’t answer when I called last night,” Gabby says, shoving at him playfully. “When I call, you answer ...”
He gives her a look. “Fairly certain I call you plenty and you don’t answer, and I was busy, got my first crowd.”
She smiles. “I see that, we just met Lei.”
Rhett looks at me, and I blush, glancing away.
“Don’t listen to anything they tell you, sweetheart,” Rhett murmurs. “None of it is true. Gabby is my best friend, but she’s a big fuckin’ liar.”
Gabby scoffs and shoves him again. “I am not! Everything I tell you about his devil will be the truth.”
I laugh softly. “I can’t wait to hear all the stories.”
“What’re you doin’ out here anyway? I thought you swore you weren’t comin’ out again after what happened with the cows,” Rhett asks Gabby.
She glares at him. “You and your cows. They’re horrible. Don’t get me started on the horses.”
“I can attest to the horses,” I point out, raising a hand. “I got thrown off Porky. I don’t know why you would call a horse Porky and expect him to do any less than throw people off his back. The poor thing has a complex.”
Gabby laughs. “I like her, she understands me.”
Rhett grins, his eyes moving to me. “I gotta go and make sure Emanuel is organizing lunch without chatting up the cook and forgettin’.”
Rhett gives Gabby another hug and then he’s gone.
“Well,” Gabby says, flopping down beside me on the towel, “I’m going to need to know what you’ve done to my best friend.”
I blink, confused. “Pardon me?”
“I have to know, too,” Maggie says. “The few times I was with Rhett, I never saw him grin. Not once. He’s like a stone wall. And sweetheart ... damn, girl, what did you do to him?”
I’m not sure what they’re getting at. I give them a confused expression.
“Well, he is running a retreat. It wouldn’t be very successful if he didn’t learn how to smile for the guests,” I offer up, lamely.
It’s the best I’ve got.
I don’t know Rhett well enough to comment, but he has been good to me and seemingly always up to offer a grin. Of course, you can see the man doesn’t laugh a great deal, and he’s definitely got a wall up, but he’s open enough to letting his guests see a good side to him. I can’t fault that.
“Honey,” Gabby says, “I’ve known Rhett nearly my entire life, he’s my very best friend in this world, I’ve seen the absolute best and worst of him, and I’ve never seen him look at a woman the way he just looked at you.”
I shake my head again. I really don’t understand what she’s getting at. Has she seen me? Has she honestly had a good look at me? I’m not Rhett’s type; I’m so far from Rhett’s type we might as well be on a different planet. There is also the fact that he doesn’t know me, like at all.