Page 46 of Promise Not to Fall for the Rich & Famous

Wow. Perhaps he’d like to sic a team of bodyguards to escort her off the property.

Cyree snatched a small card off her desk. “Here. Call this number and let Gwen know once you’re ready to leave. She’ll be making the arrangements for you. We only ask that you don’t return to the property until after Mr. Craven’s departure.”

“Okay.” Carly forced a smile on her face and pulled her eyes off the card. “I’ll call this number once I’m ready.”

Her exit was paced, Carly had seen to that. But as soon as she rounded the corridor, she picked up speed and hurried to the double doors.

She pushed the exit door wide open and marched through, wishing she had a pair of sunglasses to cover her eyes. It wasbright out, but she wanted them more to cover the tears welling in her eyes.

Carly couldn’t even be sure what caused the tears. Humiliation? Maybe. Having a huge chunk of her time with Gage snatched away from her? That was more likely. She dreaded even telling him.

She’d been walking so quickly that Carly nearly missed the sight of Christian sitting on a nearby bench, hunched forward, elbows resting on his knees. She sighed, already comforted by his presence.

Christian slipped the reflective sunglasses off his face as he stood, offering them to her as she neared.

“When Olympic Skier Olivia Melbourne stayed here,” Christian said as Carly slid the sunglasses onto her face. “she and I got a little cozy during our private lessons. Not that most women could resist,” he said with a grin. “They had to take action with me too. They shipped me off to a place across town, asked that I didn’t come back until Olivia was gone. Of course,Idid have to come back for the entertainment one evening…”

Carly had heard the rumor a while back; she’d always wondered if it was true.

“You doing all right?” he asked, bumping his arm against hers.

“I’m a little better knowing they did this toyou.You’re like royalty around here. I just don’t want this to mess up what I have with Gage.” Her lip trembled on the words.

“Yeah,” Christian said. “I’m sorry. I came as soon as I caught wind of the meeting.” He shrugged. “Wanted you to know I’m here for you.”

“Thanks,” she said. “I appreciate that.”

“Was Devin in on the meeting too?”

Carly groaned. “Yes. Not that he added anything to it.” She tapped him on the arm. “Hey, is that the guy you were talking about? The whole love/hate thing?”

Christian chuckled under his breath. “Maybe.”

Carly considered that. “Hmm. Theylooklike a match, I can tell you that much.” But as she considered how the pairing between Carly and Gage lined up, she couldn’t help but cringe. She probably didn’t look like a good match for him at all. The tabloids would have all sorts of mean things to say about this average woman who’d captured one of Hollywood’s elite, especially when compared to the likes of Diana McCarthy.

“I’m going to miss Gage,” she said next, a new sting settling over her heart. “I thought we had another week.”

“Hey, hey,” Christian said, wrapping an arm around her back. “You’ve got as much time with the guy as you’d like. You just can’t be seenheretogether right now.”

“You’re right,” she said with a nod.

He tossed an arm around her. “Want to go over to his place? I’ll walk you there.”

“That’s probably against the rules at this point.”

“True. How about I walk you back to the bungalow, you can pack up your things, and I’ll bring Gage over in the ATV.”

Carly shot him a look. “You’ve replaced the golf cart?”

He gave her a shrug. “Life guards drive them right on the beach. Gives me a little more freedom.”

She sighed. Christian really was a good friend. “Thank you. That would be perfect.” In reality, things werefarfrom perfect. In less than a week, Gage would be thrust into a whole new world, one that didn’t involve her. He may have confessed his love for her—heck, he’d even declared it to his own fickle father—but Carly couldn’t get past the sense of foreboding that hung over the cloudless sky like an invisible threat. The fact was, everything they’d spent the last month building betweenthem could come crashing down as the winds set in. Rough waves were definitely heading their way; Carly only hoped their budding romance would survive the storm.

CHAPTER 17

Gage eyed his rearview for the millionth time as he pulled up to the gated entry for The Royal Palm. Not a vehicle in sight.Good.

He wasn’t so worried about being spottedwithoutCarly, but if the press could confirm that Gage was staying at The Royal Palm, they’d focus their efforts on staff members and patrons alike, hoping to get a morsel of information on the surf instructor who’d stolen his heart.