Page 52 of Dive Into Me

I turned to him. “Well, my department threatened to fire me.”

“I’m sorry. It’s my fault.”

I shook my head. “No, my actions are all on me, Jamie. I was so worried about you that I didn’t follow the proper protocols. I wasn’t thinking clearly…” Because I’d gotten too emotionally involved with a guest. “But my job is fine. Hours later, Mark called me back to his office. He said he spoke to the higher-ups and told them what an asset I was to the team and that I deserved a second chance.”

“You are and you do,” he insisted.

“Uh-huh.” I watched Jamie closely… suspiciously. “Mark seemed terrified for some reason, and he apologized profusely. I mean to the point of being pathetic really.”

“You don’t say.” He held my gaze, his expression giving nothing away.

“Did you have anything to do with everyone’s change of heart?”

He rocked back on his heels. “I might have paid Mark a visit and told him that you were great at your job and that my friends and I are eager to come back here and spend our money because you helped us have the time of our lives.”

“A glowing evaluation, huh? That's all you said to him?”

His innocent expression as he nodded said it all. My eyes narrowed to slits. I bet he threatened the hell out of Mark. I didn’t know the nuances of Jamie’s business, but I imagined that a billionaire from an affluent family had a lot of pull even outside of New York. I didn’t typically rely on anyone to fight my battles, but in this case, I was grateful. Jamie fighting for me made me that much more certain that he saw me as more than a fun summer fling, and I was relieved.

“Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.” His eyes smoldered as he gazed at me as if he’d kiss me again at any moment.

However, I couldn’t get distracted now. “Have you spoken to Lincoln?”

Shoving his hands into his pockets, he shook his head. “No. He disappeared, and I didn’t bother searching for him because I hoped to avoid a conversation with him until we got back to Manhattan.”

“I see.” Twisting my hands in front of me, I revealed, “He disappeared because he came to see me. He finally told me…”

Jamie glanced at me. “And…?”

“I told him the truth. That I don’t see him as more than a friend and that he shouldn’t have assumed that I wanted the same thing he did when we reconnected.”

Jamie’s eyes widened slightly. “You told him about us?”

“No. I wasn’t sure if you’d want me to or if it’s even my place…”

He blew out a breath. “I should be the one to tell him.”

I nodded. “He was pretty upset. He said he was going to take a walk on the beach to clear his head.”

Jamie stared into the distance and his eyebrows furrowed. I knew what he was thinking… He hated that his friend was hurt. So did I.

“So, I guess this is it…” I said, swallowing the lump in my throat and forcing myself not to show my despair. “You’ll be back in the Big Apple by tomorrow, and I’ll be a distant memory… if not forgotten.” That was meant to be delivered with a hint of humor but I failed miserably because my voice quavered.

Jamie whipped around, his eyes fierce and gleaming with outrage. “You think I’ll forget you just like that? Fuck, Charlotte, you’re…”

There was a loud knock, and we glanced inside at the suite’s entrance.

“Jamie?” Lincoln called. “Are you still awake? I need to talk to you, man. And we’ll need that Stroh you like to drink.”

Jamie sighed and tucked his chin into his chest.

I nibbled my lower lip and actually searched for an escape as if we weren’t on the freaking twenty-first floor. Once Lincoln saw me in Jamie’s room, it would ruin Jamie’s preferred time to reveal our secret.

“Shit, Jamie. I’m sorry.”

He lifted his hand from his pocket to stroke my jaw and give me a slight smile. “It’s okay. I was going to tell him anyway. No time like the present.”

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