Page 30 of Wildly Inappropriate

I look up and smile at Conrad Ferguson. Mary, the club manager, let me know he would be arriving tonight. She also mentioned he had dinner reservations for him and one of his brothers at the club’s restaurant, so I’ve been waiting at the bar for the last thirty minutes to ensure I don’t miss them. I may also be avoiding listening to Lila talk to someone about her date tonight. I can’t believe she’s going out with a guy namedMatthew.

“Conrad. Good to see you again. I’m staying at Jameo’s place for a few weeks while I’m recovering from a tweaked back.”

“Oh, no. Sorry to hear that. When do your doctors think you’ll be able to be back playing in tournaments?”

“Unless anything major happens, I’m planning to be at the tournament in two weeks.”

“Ah, that’s not too terrible, then. Though I know any time away from your job can feel like too much.”

A snort of laughter draws my attention to the man who just walked up behind Conrad.

“Do you know my brother Tyler?” Conrad asks by way of introduction.

Tyler looks a lot like his brother. Both have dark brown hair that’s slightly longer on the top and neatly trimmed on the sides. They’re both roughly my height, so somewhere between six feet two and six feet four, though Tyler is a bit taller than his brother. He’s also a bit bulkier. While it looks like Conrad likes to spend his time out running, Tyler has the build of someone who spends time in the gym, lifting weights.

I shake Tyler’s hand. “Good to meet you.” I gesture toward the bar where I’ve been posted up. “Want to join me for a drink?”

Conrad shakes his head, and I feel my stomach drop. I didn’t expect much more from him than idle small talk, but I also didn’t think he’d turn down the invitation for a drink.

“We golfed all day, and I’ve barely had anything more than a candy bar to eat. If I don’t get some real food in me, I’m going to pass out.”

“Okay,” I say. “Well, it was good to see you.”

“You want to join us?” Tyler asks.

“I don’t want to intrude…”

“Not intruding at all. Please, we’d love to have you join us for dinner,” Conrad says, heading toward a table in the corner where two walls of windows meet. “I like this table best. Everyone gets a good view.”

“Great, then, I’d love to join you.” I grab my drink and cross the room to sink into the seat next to Conrad’s.

He’s right. The view is spectacular. The sun is setting, and it looks like a flaming ball of fire resting on the horizon, swathed in layers of orange and yellow. There is a foursome of middle-aged men out on the grassy area in front of the restaurant playing bocce ball, each with a drink in their hands.

“So how are you liking Wild Bluffs Country Club, JT?” Conrad asks.

“The course is amazing.” Remembering that I’m supposed to be out with a tweaked back, I backtrack a bit, saying, “Not that I’ve been able to play too much golf.”

“What have you been doing to keep yourself occupied, then?” Tyler asks.

“Jameson said his sister was moving out here this summer. Do you see her very often?” Conrad asks before I can answer his brother’s question.

“We’re both staying at Jameo's place right now. But she’s working, so I don’t spend too much time with her. We mostly just do our own thing.”

“I don’t think I knew Jameson had a sister. Is she older or younger?” Tyler asks. Even though I know it’s a polite, normal thing to ask, I can’t help the irritation that pricks at the back of my neck.Why does he care about Lila?

“She just graduated from college.”

Conrad tilts his head. “I thought she was finishing up a graduate program. Engineering or something like that.”

Good God. Is this man secretly stalking Lila? Why would he possibly know that?

“Uhm, yeah. Something like that,” I say, though I know very well it was a master’s in engineering from Denver College.

The waitress arrives, greeting us with a warm smile as she takes our orders. With a quick nod, she departs, leaving us to our conversation. Conrad picks up right where we left off, leaning in slightly. “Bryn was telling me about Lila’s graduation ceremony. I was bummed Bryn’s sister had a chance to snag her as an employee before we did.”

You’re an idiot, JT.Of course one of the wealthiest men in America is not stalking Lila Walker. He works with Bryn. It makes sense she would mention Lila’s graduation and her moving out here to work for her sister.

“Yeah. She’s a bit fiery, but I’m sure Kelsey wouldn’t have hired her unless she knows her stuff.”

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