Page 5 of What I Like About You

“You know about this stuff?”

“A division of Southland Holdings is construction. The company might be best known for the gardens and nursery divisions, but construction is actually where a large portion of the profits come from,” Dalton replied.

He hated talking about the family business. He worked really hard to keep it all as much of a secret as he could, but Cullen had inadvertently managed to uncover those secrets. When Cullen retired from playing, he briefly entertained the idea of coaching on a professional level before turning it down to move to St. Thomas full time to start a life with Leona. What no one had realized was that the owner of the team he was rejecting was Dalton’s father. Cullen had long been Dalton’s favorite player on the pitch, but he became one of his favorite people when he heard that he’d also told the old man to shove it.

“You are a man of many mysteries.”

“I shall choose to take that as a compliment.”

They walked in silence for a bit as they approached the pool. The area was busy, especially for a Saturday night. Since most guests either arrived or departed on Saturday or Sunday, there was lots of coming and going. Weekends at the Indigo Royal were always insane for the staff. Dalton thought it was always just mass chaos, and was glad his job kept him away from most of it and down at the marina, if not out on the water. Getting vacated rooms ready for the next guests, mixed with a small number who were there just for the weekend, was a nightmare he couldn’t wrap his brain around, no matter how many times Leona and Drea had tried to explain it to him.

There was a flurry of activity a little ways in front of them, and Dalton could see a Black man starting to make his way toward them. Although it was possible that he wasn’t a fan of Cullen’s looking for an autograph or photo and that he was just a guest who was walking to his room, since Cullen had taken up residence at the resort, Dalton had figured out the walk of those who were merely passing by and those who were on a mission. This guy was on a mission.

“Looks like you've got a fan,” Dalton muttered, only loud enough for Cullen to hear.

“This bloody cap never was a good disguise.”

The fan stopped and turned around to look at the tall, curvy brunette that he had been dragging toward them a moment ago. Maybe Dalton had been wrong, maybe the guy wasn’t a fan and was just a passionate walker. But then, something caught his eye.

Dalton wasn’t sure what drew his attention to the brunette’s wrist. Perhaps the sunlight hit it just right, or maybe she moved her arm in some grand gesture. But either way, he knew it when he saw it. He didn’t need to see her face, which was turned away from them, to know it was her. He would know that bracelet anywhere.

The dainty little chain held a small engraved plate that read “wicked strong,” in a script that had too many loops and curls for his taste, but that he had known was just perfect for her inner girliness. She had said the font was “elegant” when he’d given it to her in Boston on their junior class trip. She had seen the phrase graffitied to the side of a building while they were walking along the Freedom Trail and commented on how that was what she wished she was—wicked strong. It had killed him a little inside to hear her say she didn’t think she was strong, because she was. She was one of the strongest people he’d ever met, dealing with all the taunts and name-calling from the other girls in their class. So he’d snuck away while they were at Faneuil Hall and had the bracelet made, as a reminder to her of who she was.

He couldn’t believe that she was still wearing it. After all these years and everything that had gone on between them, she was still wearing the bracelet he’d given her more than a decade ago.

When she finally turned enough that he could see her face, he felt all the air rush from his lungs. He didn’t know how, but she was even more beautiful than she had been back in high school. Her coffee-brown hair was a little longer now, falling just past her shoulders in loose waves. But her eyes were the same soul-stealing green they had always been. Her curves were still full and lush, although now she seemed to carry herself in a way that exuded more confidence in those curves than he’d ever seen her exhibit before.

Without a doubt, she was still the most stunning creature he had ever seen. And she was standing here, at this resort, right in front of him, like he was in a dream. Reminding himself to breathe, he adjusted his board shorts a bit to accommodate his physical reaction to seeing her again. It was almost hard to believe it was really her, but after seeing the bracelet, there was no chance it was anyone else. Why was she here?

“Dalton, you okay, mate?” Cullen’s voice cut through his thoughts.

“Yeah. I just…I think I know her.”

“Who? The plump brunette?” he asked, nodding toward her.

“She’s not plump, she’s…” he trailed off. Perfect.

Before he could find another word to use, she and the guy she was with started toward them.

“OMG, you’re Cullen Cruz, aren’t you?” he said, waving his hands flamboyantly. “I am a huge fan!”

“Thanks, and nice to meet you…” Cullen trailed off, waiting for an answer.

“I’m Antwan. And this ravishing beauty is—”

“Zara,” Dalton said, unable to hold back. Her name felt amazing as it rolled off his tongue. He couldn’t remember the last time he had uttered those four simple letters, and just thinking about them now sent a shiver down his spine.

“Hi, Tripp.”