Page 10 of Promise Not to Fall for the Rich & Famous

She nodded.You’re looking at his eyes again, Carly.But how could she avoid it? They were having a conversation. Her heart skipped to keep up its rapid pace.

“Are you going to have me do pushups or what?” He glanced over his shoulder before setting his eyes back on her.

Carly followed his gaze to the group of guys from the surf shack. “What’s up, betty?” one called.

She grinned as a realization came to mind. He was embarrassed. Was that even possible? Maybe she was wrong. “Not pushups,” she said. “It’s an arm exercise. It basically makes you look like a giant turtle crawling in the sand.”

He held her gaze for a blink, the look of contemplation forming on his face. “I wonder if we could maybe…do this someplace…”

The group was approaching now, waving their arms at her to catch her gaze. “Enjoy the waves, boys!” she hollered before taking her voice down for Gage. “You wonder if what? We can do this someplace a little more private?”

Just saying the words gave her a ridiculous thrill.

Gage’s shoulders dropped. He huffed out a relieved breath and nodded. “Exactly. Yes.” His eyes locked on hers once more. “Please.”

If she thought her heart was beating hard before, it was straight-out hammering now. Like bolts of thunder pounding in her chest. Not only were those eyes of his weaving a spell over her, the sound of his low, raspy plea toyed with the rest of her senses.

“Sure,” she said. “Follow me.” Carly picked up her board and led the way to a more private area of the beach. Several of the bungalows, including the one she stayed in, were tucked away in a spot nearly hidden from the others.

“This is awesome,” Gage said as he trailed behind her. “I didn’t see this spot on the reservation map. I would’ve picked it for sure.”

The comment took her by surprise. A quick glance over her shoulder had Carly remembering her don’t-look-Gage-in-the-eyes rule. Her heart started into a paddling frenzy of its own, as if trying to catch the best wave of the day. “You’d choose to stay in these instead of one of the mansions?”

“Definitely,” he said. “I’m actually just in one of the beach homes west of the resort. But these…they definitely weren’t on the map. They’re pretty cool looking.”

“Yeah, so they built these with the intent of offering patrons a more private spot on the beach since, like you say, not everyone wants to rent out one of the mansions. But do you feel how the sand is more coarse here?”

“Not really,” Gage said. “I mean, I guess it’s not as smooth as it was back there.”

Carly led him around a set of sand dunes where the beach vanished for a space, replaced by what looked like a small, isolated mountain ledge. Beyond that was another stretch of private beach.

“It’s not an obvious difference, but it’s enough that some big-name billionaire left a negative review about the “feet-pricking sand” and the “obnoxious mountain” that hindered his view. The owners pulled the bungalows right off the reservation map and decided to offer them to select staff instead. Mainly the entertainment. I just got lucky. Probably because I work out here on the beach.”

“That makes sense. So is Christian over here too?” They were nearing the beach once more, but Carly could tell by the sound of Gage’s voice that he was trailing farther behind now.

She slowed her own footsteps, spun around to see Gage had stopped walking altogether. “Yes,” she said. “Haven’t you checked out Christian’s place yet?”

“Nope. Jerk. Hasn’t even taken meback to his room.” He’d placed an insinuative tone on the last few words, then chuckled under his breath.

Carly grinned. Gage was different than she’d imagined. Friendlier, easier to talk to. And he smelled good too. Since she assumed he hadn’t put cologne on his wetsuit, Carly figured it must be aftershave of some kind. The spicy scent toyed with her senses as she inhaled a long, deep breath of it.

Don’t get sucked in by him, Carly.

Gage took a few slow steps toward the housing area. “So are these the same layout as the bungalows closer to the resort?”

“Yes,” Carly said. “They don’t update these as often, but everything still looks new to me.” She spun back around and continued toward the beach, reminding herself of the rather childish look on Gage’s face when he’d requested they go someplace more private. Who knew a man like him, in his mid-twenties, no less, would be intimidated by a group of teenage boys?

She fought back a grin as she considered it, wondering why the humor of it was hitting her right then. Men and their pride. She chuckled under her breath.

“What are you laughing about?” Gage asked. He’d come up alongside her and seemed to be scrutinizing her expression.

It made her smile grow wider. “Just thinking about the way you didn’t want to dothe turtlein front of those boarder boys.”

He grinned sheepishly. “Can you blame me?” His brown eyes held hers, causing a wave of heat to rush through her chest.

This was an endearing side to him. She didn’t want to be endeared by it, but she was. Carly bit her lip. Just what would the next few weeks look like? Was it possible she really would end up making out with a guy on the beach this summer? Not just any guy, but this one?

There went the heat in her face again. Carly cleared her throat and dropped her board. “Okay,” she hollered as a wave crashed in. “Let’s get down to business. First drop your board, then drop your bod. Let’s see you practice those paddles.”