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“I think it’s more of a team-building thing.”
“Lucky you.”
Preston chuckles. “Do you remember when my dad brought a bunch of his board members to Lovers for a week one summer?”
I nod slowly. “Was that the year he rented jet skis for everyone and one of the people he was with ran out of fuel in the middle of the lake?”
“Yes! We were hiding under the canoes, laughing.”
“And your mom caught us and was so mad that we snuck out of the restaurant, where all the parents thought we were.”
“Yeah.” He grins. “We had some good times.”
“We did.”
His eyes meet mine, holding my gaze for what feels like an eternity. He breaks contact first.
“Then we grew up and are now fighting to keep the companies we love.”
“Right.”
I needed that. A fresh reminder that this thing between us isn’t real. I mean, the friendship we are building is though, right?
That’s what one would call it, wouldn’t they?
“Is there anything you want to do while we are here?” Preston asks, taking the chair next to me. He turns so that our legs are pointed at each other, and our knees bump.
I shrug. “I thought maybe I’d actually try to relax.”
“I think you should.”
“What about you?”
“I don’t know yet. I’m waiting to get a feel for how things go, but yeah, I guess a little relaxation would do me good.”
“I agree. We sort of did ourselves in with this plan of ours, and while we don’t have to do a whole lot, knowing that eyes are on us at any moment and reporters are, well, everywhere—it’s mentally exhausting.”
He nods. “And trusting anyone is hard because those same reporters will pay a lot of money to be the first to know something.”
I’d say it’s safe to assume I’m not the only one who still worries if we can pull this off.
He glances out the window and then his gaze drops to my bare legs and slowly roams up to my face.
I’m grinning when his eyes meet mine, and he actually blushes.
“You look good today, Sunny. Very pretty.”
I bite my lip and look away. “Thanks.”
In a split second, he reaches for my chin and turns my attention back to him. He’s leaning forward, his face inches from mine.
“I get jealous when you bite your lip,” he admits.
“You do?”
“Yeah. I want to do it, but you said that was off-limits.”
“I did.”
