Page 6 of Just One Summer with the Grumpy

“Come on. That’s unfair.” I paused. “Most of the parts I couldn’t act out properly with my hands tied.”

“Daphne.”

“All right, fine. I watched most of it last night, and I was going to finish tonight, and I will not be judged by you.”

“Just because you’re in love with a man old enough to be your great-great-great grandfather.”

“Not so! You have to be alive to be old. He died like forty years ago.”

“My point exactly. I must insist that you start dating real men. As in, men who exist in this decade. Preferably ones who don’t go around shooting their enemies. You live in New York, for goodness sake. There must be a million single guys there.”

“But they don’t go galloping after trains to win back the beautiful maiden, now, do they? Okay, you’re right. I’ll call my mom and wish her a happy anniversary, and I won’t fawn over men I can’t have.”

She paused. “Well, you can fawn over certain men you can’t have. Just make sure they’re alive first. I mean, you work for Chase freaking Everett. Do you see him every day?”

I thought for a second. “No. He’s usually up in his office before my afternoon shift starts and he stays late. But occasionally.” Not that he’d ever paid me any heed until today.

“Has he ever spoken to you? Like, said your name? I think I would die if he said my name.” Her voice lowered. “Bridget, you were meant to be mine. Marry me.”

And she saidIwas the pathetic one. I took a deep breath. “Actually, he pulled me into his office today.”

“Really???”

I glared at my laptop. “Bridget, I swear. Get your mind out of the gutter. He offered me a promotion, that’s all.”

“Oh. Well, that’s good. Very exciting.” She paused. “But you were alone with him for how long? I bet somethingcould havehappened if you’d let it.”

“Anyway,” I said, pulling her back to the point. “You’re talking to the new on-site event coordinator. I’m flying out to Isle de Pura Vida tonight.”

“You’re moving to Chase Everett’s private island?” She sounded breathless now.

“Yes, but only for the summer. But here’s the best part.” I told her about Ty and running into him today, leaving out the wayward blouse part and other awkward details. By the time I finished, my chattering friend was stunned speechless.

“A fortune cookieanda horoscope,” she said. “That’s, like, a done deal. Guaranteed. You guys are supposed to be together, end of story.”

“Well, I’m not sure he’ll see it that way considering he’s marrying Veronica Loyal in a few weeks.” I’d looked him up after my meeting with Chase and nearly fell over at his fiancée’s name. The woman had starred on a reality TV show, for goodness’ sake. A model. She appeared on the list of wealthiest women in the world. Her and Ty? It made no sense. I only had to prove that to him.

“Veronica Loyal,” Bridget breathed. “Right.”

“Don’t worry though. I have a plan. I just have to keep my job long enough for Ty to arrive, and then I’ll help him see things my way.”

“But…” My friend hesitated for a long moment. “If you steal the groom, Chase will have to fire you.”

“Chase won’t even notice. He’s too busy spending his millions to worry about managing the day-to-day affairs of his company in an opposite hemisphere.”

“Billions, Daphne. He’s a billionaire. Way bigger than millions.”

“I realize that, but it doesn’t change fate.”

“Right, okay. Setting our sights on Ty. Yes, I’ll wait to visit you until the fall when you’re home. Assuming you aren’t getting married before then, and you darn well better invite me. I stayed to help Pops with his dementia, but that doesn’t mean I can’t leave for important stuff like this.”

“Invite you? You’ll be planning it, maid of honor. We both know you’re the real wedding planner here.”

“The bitter irony,” she said with a sigh. “Fine, it’s a deal. But you’d better call me every day. I have nothing else to do out here in boonie-ville but live vicariously through you.”

THREE

Sunshine—check.

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