Page 31 of In Good Company

The closer we get to the pro shop, the more people there are. It’s a little odd to see people I’m used to waiting on, but I try to push the uneasiness of feeling out of place from my mind.

Like Charlotte, it’s my day off, and I’m going to enjoy Pembroke the way all the members do. It’ll be a fun day in the sun with some golfing, my best friend, and the guys, and it’ll be in the name of charity.

“There they are,” Charlotte exclaims, tugging on my arm. I search the sea of people for Cal and Jude but don’t see them yet.

I follow Charlotte’s lead until we walk up to our company for the day.

“Luce! You made it, and you brought your very pretty friend. I knew you wouldn’t let me down.” Jude closes the distance between us, his eyes locked on Charlotte and barely sparing me a second glance.

Charlotte eats up the attention as Jude takes her hand and places a soft kiss to the top of it. Because he’s a complete flirt, he lets his lips linger against her skin for a little longer than necessary. She pulls her hand from his and places it on her hip. “Don’t get any ideas, playboy. You’re a member at the club, and I don’t date members. You’re cute though.”

Jude’s eyes light up with Charlotte’s denial. He licks his lips before placing his hand over his chest. “What a shame.”

The rest of the conversation between them fades away as Cal steps right in front of me. He wears a cream-colored polo and a pair of chinos, and he pulls it offtoo well.

“Good morning,” he muses. His shoulders are pushed back confidently as he keeps his hands tucked into his pockets, his focus on no one but me.

“Morning, Cal,” I respond. His familiar smell immediately hits me. I try not to take too deep of an inhale at the rich scent of the bergamot and sandalwood of his cologne.

“Thank you again for showing up this morning. I know you worked late last night because of the dinner party. I tried telling Jude to let you off the hook, but he insisted that you and Charlotte would have fun today.”

I give him a reassuring smile, trying not to stare too long at him. His blue eyes look extra vibrant under the sun this morning. A man with eyes as light as his and hair as dark as his shouldn’t be possible. It’s a lethal combination, paired with the intense way he stares at me as if there isn’t a horde of people around us, that makes my skin heat. “Charlotte’s been excited about it, and coffee exists for a reason, right?”

Cal takes a step closer to me to let a group of men holding their golf bags through. His eyes don’t move from mine. “What about you?” he asks, his voice deep.

Charlotte laughs at something Jude says, but I can’t look away from Cal’s piercing blue eyes.

I cock my head to the side. “What about me?”

“Are you excited about today?” He takes another step closer to me, completely surrounding me in his scent now.

He towers over me, having to curve his back slightly so his eyes stay connected with mine. I’m so distracted by his sudden nearness that I briefly forget he asked me a question. “Yeah, I guess,” I mumble, wincing at how awkward my words come out.

He smirks. “You guess?”

I shift on my feet, wondering why he feels the need to stand so close. Not like I’m making any attempt to back up. There’ssomething about him that pulls me in, even when I don’t want to be. “It’ll be fun to experience a Pembroke event like this. But I’ve never been very good at golf.” I playfully swat at his midsection, the back of my hand meeting hard muscle. “Hope you don’t expect me to play.”

Before he can answer, his attention moves to a group of people walking up to us.

SIXTEEN

CAL

I can’t help but laugh at the sight in front of me. “You look like hell, Davenport.”

Ryker groans before leaning forward and massaging between his eyes. “I was going to just donate double today and nurse this wicked hangover at home, but someone wouldn’t let me do that.” He looks behind him where a group of our friends is standing.

Camille, Ryker’s babysitter for the summer, plasters on a smile after hearing Ryker’s words. “Nothing cleans up an image more than a charity event. I’ve told you for a week you were participating. It’s not my fault you drank too much last night.”

Ryker tosses a dirty look her way. “Maybe I wouldn’t feel the need to drink if you’d leave me alone.”

Camille opens her mouth to respond, but before she can, her eyes land on Lucy. “Hi, again,” she says excitedly, sounding friendlier than I’ve ever heard her.

Lucy returns the smile, making me wonder if they know each other through Pembroke. “Hi, good to see you again,” Lucy responds, taking a step closer to Camille.

Charlotte catches wind of the conversation and steps nextto Lucy before giving Camille a knowing smile. “Is this who you’re having to babysit?” Charlotte asks playfully.

Everyone but Ryker smiles. His eyes shoot to Camille as his mouth falls open. “You’ve been telling people you’re babysitting me?”

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