Page 5 of Why Not Us?

My eyes shoot up to him and I catch my breath.

“Nate Sinclair?”

He nods once.

“Ah, perfect. You’re in the right place. I apologize for thinking you weren’t. Derek said he’d bring you up and introduce you. Is the rest of your party here?”

I glance around the ballroom, but I don’t see a little girl. When I turn back to Nate, I suddenly realize our hands are still clasped and I stop myself from jerking mine away. I disengage slowly, because Derek wants this man to sign a contract with us, and I can’t let him know how much he’s affecting me.

“They’ll be up soon,” Nate finally says. “Dani wanted a tour of the kitchens and Taylor went to talk some business.”

“They’re in good hands then,” I tell him with a smile, searching for one of the wait staff and waving them over. “Would you like something to drink?”

“What do you have?”

The staff member arrives and gives him a small card with our limited menu.

“Derek mentioned you’d eat before you arrive. There are sundaes, if you want one. And there’s a special virgin drink on the menu for your daughter tonight. But of course you can order whatever.”

I bite my lip to stop my rambling, but this man has me on edge. His size and silence are unnerving. The way his grey eyes seem to see right through my manufactured confidence.

He returns the card to the waiter. “I’ll have the amber.”

Once the waiter has gone off to get the beer, I stand there awkwardly for another moment before clasping my hands together in front of me. “Well. I’ll let you get settled. I’ll come back when Dani gets here.”

“Why?” he asks, stopping me from making my retreat.

I turn back to him, my head tilted. “To help her get her easel set up. She’s shorter than most of our guests, I would assume. Since she’s ten?”

“How do you know all this?”

“We make it a point to know who our guests are, especially our VIPs.” I offer him another smile that he doesn’t return. “Customer service is a high priority for us at Blue Vista.”

He grunts and says nothing.

I bite my lip again, the silence stretching between us. Then I say, “I hope you have a good evening.”

He lets me go this time when I turn away to check on a few other guests, ensuring they get their easels set up properly. I notice when Dani and Taylor arrive. I can see the resemblance between Nate and his brother, though his brother is clean shaved and has much shorter hair. What’s even more interesting, though, is the way Nate’s granite exterior softens when his daughter runs up to him with a huge grin on her face.

“They have sundaes for us!” she exclaims. “And Lis said I could choose whatever toppings I want, but it would be up to you how many I choose.”

“Three is enough, pipsqueak.”

I watch as he smiles at the little girl and his lips look so soft that I find myself wondering what it would feel like for that beard to brush against my cheek while his lips meet mine.

I’m startled from my thoughts when someone nudges my shoulder, making me jump.

“Whatcha looking at?” Lis says with a sly grin, her arms folded over her chest in her favourite red chef’s jacket.

I look from her, back to the man, then back to my friend, totally giving myself away. “Nothing. I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Sure you don’t.” She turns toward the three people. “Is it the dad or the brother?”

I swallow hard and fluff my curly red hair, trying to compose myself. “Neither. Don’t you have work to do?”

She laughs. “Yep. See you later, Adalie.”

She heads to one side of the ballroom, where our sundae bar is set up. Meanwhile, I take control of my thoughts. I cannot be thinking this way about someone who is currently a guest and potentially a contractor. I smooth my dress down again, straightening my shoulders, and make my way back to the Sinclairs, reminding myself that I am a professional and I can get through this night easily.

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