Page 36 of In Good Company

By the time it’s time for her downswing, I know it’s a perfect swing. The club hits the ball, and it goes soaring into the air—right in the direction she meant it to.

The golf club falls to the ground as she jumps up and down. “I did it!” she yells excitedly, her arms waving in the air as she looks ahead of her.

The smile I give her is genuine. Joy courses through my veins as she closes the distance between us. She leaps into my arms, and I immediately catch her, pinning her body to mine as her wide, excited eyes meet mine.

“Was that good?” she asks, her arms wrapping around my neck.

“That was incredible,” I assure her, spinning both our bodies around in celebration. Her legs swing in the air as the cutest giggle leaves her, making her entire body shake.

“I thought I’d miss it,” she confesses, a little out of breath from her laughter.

I smile, unable to resist directing my gaze to her lips for a brief moment. Our faces are so close it’d be easy to lean in and kiss her, but I can’t, no matter how much I can admit that I want to.

There’s nothing I want more at this very moment than to kiss Lucy Rae Owens.

I don’t care that she’s my employee for the summer. And I certainly don’t give a damn that she’s my brother’s ex-girlfriend. Nothing matters more than the desperate desire to feel her lips against mine.

Her breathing gets shallower, and she leans in just a little closer, her lips slightly parted. I know she’s mine for the taking.

It takes everything in me to put her back on the ground.

I take a step back and clear my throat. I stuff my hands into my pockets as I try to calm my racing heart. “Let’s go see how close you got,” I get out hoarsely.

Lucy smiles before turning to walk toward the golf cart. With her back to me, I’m able to close my eyes for a moment and take a deep breath to calm myself. Desperate longing courses through my veins, but I push it aside, reminding myself that there are a multitude of reasons I can’t kiss her.

The problem is, I’m still deciding if just because I can’t kiss her means I won’t.

NINETEEN

LUCY

“This is too much boob, isn’t it?” I ask Charlotte, adjusting my bikini top as we walk up the driveway leading to Cal’s house. After the event wrapped up and we were enjoying lunch with the large group of Cal’s friends, Cal had offered to have everyone over for a swim. It was so hot we thought about just hitting the pool at the club, but Cal was insistent on something more private at his house.

He asked the whole table to come over, but his eyes had been pinned on me when he said the words. Charlotte said yes before I could think better of it.

“Is there such a thing as too much boob?” Charlotte asks, her tone completely serious. She throws a glance in my direction and looks my outfit up and down.

I laugh nervously, looking down at the oversized linen button-up shirt I’m wearing as a dress. “There is when you’re at your boss’s house,” I mutter under my breath, feeling anxious. The offer from Cal came as a shock. I’m used to the members at Pembroke having dinner parties with formal attire and a full menu; a pool party seemed so…casual. But everyone’s excitement at going back to Cal’s to hang out after the tournament took me by surprise. Maybe despite their deep pockets and lavish lifestyle, Cal’s friends are more normal and laid-back than I’d thought they were.

After we were done at Pembroke, everyone had gone their separate ways to go home and get refreshed. I’d thought about canceling. I work for Cal; I shouldn’t be attending private events at his home unless I’m working one. But Charlotte was insistent we go when she showed up at my apartment dressed and ready to attend the last-minute pool party. Jude’s constant flirting must’ve not been a total turnoff to Charlotte because she was excited to keep hanging out with him.

Charlotte lets out a dramatic sigh as she turns and stops in front of me. There are already plenty of cars in the driveway—most of them so expensive I can’t imagine driving something worth so much—but Charlotte doesn’t look at anything but me. “Cal is cool. He’s notreallyyour boss.”

I cock my head to the side. “Then who is?”

Charlotte rolls her eyes at me and lets out an exasperated sigh. “Okay, so yes, technically, he’s your boss…but it doesn’t really count. You’re cooking for him for the summer, and then you’ll go back to Virginia and never see him again. If he invites you to a pool party, you attend the pool party. Don’t make it complicated.”

I narrow my eyes on her. “Says the girl who makes it obvious she’s got a crush on Jude but wouldn’t ever date him.”

She gasps before excitedly leaning forward and grabbing my hands with hers. “Are you saying you have a crush on Cal?”

My heart plummets with nerves. “No,” I rush to get out. I shake my head adamantly. “Not at all,” I lie, realizing a crush is exactly what I have. “Plus, we changed the subject to you and your crush on Jude.”

Charlotte’s nose crinkles as she waves her hand through the air dismissively. “It’s not a crush. He’s hot, and it’s easy to flirt with him, but he’s a member at the club, and I don’tdate members. Plus, I think he’s actually fun, and he mentioned he’s here a lot, even in the off-season. It’d be nice to make a friend out of him since I’m here all year.”

I click my tongue and nod. “Mm-hmm, sure. Itotallybelieve you.”

She lets go of my hands and swats at my stomach. “I’m serious, Lucy. I can’t let his charm get to my head. I want him to be my friend. That’s it. Although, a little playful banter never hurt anyone.”

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