Page 18 of Summer Affair

“So? Did you go?” he asked casually.

Beth shook her head. “No, you’re more my type than she is.”

“She’s dated your type and mine before,” he admitted.

“That doesn’t bother you? Not that it bothers me, but…” She shrugged again and glanced towards the pool house. “I mean, I hope you’re not barking up the wrong tree or whatever.”

He chuckled. “Andrea would tell me if I was barking up the wrong tree.”

“Heading back to the main building?” she said as he climbed back into the golf cart. When he nodded, she asked. “Can I bum a ride?”

“Hop in.” He patted the seat next to him.

“I’ve often wondered why you two haven’t gotten together before,” she said as they started making their way down the path.

“I guess the timing wasn’t right.” He glanced at her. “I’m not sure we’re technically together now.”

She shrugged. “I won’t tell anyone. So many people who work here like to keep their secrets.” She chuckled. “Besides, I like you both, I wouldn’t want to ruin our friendship or whatever is between the two of you.”

“Thanks.” He parked the cart with the others by the back door of the main building.

“Thanks for the ride,” Beth called over her shoulder as she rushed towards the door. She was glancing back at him and didn’t see Aaron Michaels, one of the new security guards on the grounds, step out of the double doors. They collided and Dean tried very hard not to laugh when Beth’s bag went flying, dumping everything she had in it on the ground.

Of course, Aaron immediately started helping her pick everything up, and Dean figured the guy had things under control. He could hear the two apologizing profusely to one another.

Speaking of perfect couples, he thought as he headed towards the dining rooms.

A couple of hours later, the dining hall was buzzing with excitement as guests arrived for the fifties-themed dinner. Dean moved between tables, ensuring everyone was well taken care of. He was dressed in a white shirt, black trousers, and a bow tie, with his hair greased back to complete his retro look.

While the jukebox played classic hits, people danced or enjoyed watching others while they ate dinner. The atmosphere was vibrant with laughter and chatter, and the dining hall looked like something out of those black-and-white movies his grandmother used to love watching.

As he delivered a tray of milkshakes to a table, Dean noticed two waiters, Kyle and Jake, exchanging heated words near the kitchen entrance. They were raising their voices, and it was clear they were on the verge of a confrontation.

He quickly set his tray down and hurried over to them.

“Hey, what’s going on here?” he hissed, stepping between them.

“He messed up my order!” Kyle snapped, glaring at Jake. “Now my table’s furious!” Kyle was normally a well-tempered man. He was roughly Dean’s age but built like a linebacker.

“Well, maybe if you paid attention to what you’re doing, this wouldn’t happen!” Jake shot back. Jake was a high school kid who, since being hired a few weeks back, seemed to cause more trouble than he was worth.

Dean raised his hands to calm them both down. “All right, all right, enough. Look, mistakes happen. Let’s focus on fixing it, not fighting about it. Kyle, I’ll help you sort out the order. Jake, go take a breather and then get back to your tables.”

The two waiters grumbled but backed off, nodding reluctantly. Dean clapped Kyle on the shoulder. “Come on, let’s get this sorted. What do you need?”

With Dean’s help, Kyle managed to smooth things over with his table, and the tension in the dining hall dissipated. It wasn’t the first time he’d stepped in between those two. He was thinking of asking Brent to put them on different shifts.

As he made his rounds, Dean stopped to chat and flirt with a few guests, ensuring they were enjoying the evening. His flirting wasn’t something he’d thought much about before. Even married women liked compliments and attention.

“You make a pretty good Danny Zuko,” one of the women said with a playful wink, referring to his outfit and hair.

Dean laughed. “Thanks. You look like you stepped right out of a fifties movie yourself.”

He continued making light-hearted conversation, but his mind kept drifting back to Andrea. The kiss they had shared on her back deck and the conversation earlier that day played over in his mind, making it harder to genuinely enjoy the banter with the other women.

As the night wound down and the guests began to leave, Dean finally had a moment to catch his breath. He stepped outside, inhaling the cool night air, which felt refreshing after the evening’s hustle and bustle. The sounds of laughter and the crackling of the campfire faded into the background, and he found a quiet spot near the edge of a grassy area near the smaller pool.

Just as he started to relax, a commotion caught his attention. From the corner of his eye, Dean noticed a group of guests arguing near the pool area. He straightened, his senses immediately on high alert. The group consisted of three men, all clearly intoxicated, and a couple of women who appeared to be trying to defuse the situation.