Page 117 of Never With You
“You can’t commit to anything right now?”
“Yeah.”
“I get it. But will you promise me something?” He steps back, keeping my hand in his. “Will you promise me that you’ll keep an open mind?”
“Keep an open mind?”
“Yeah.” He shrugs with a smile that’s so cute I want to drag his mouth down to mine again. “Let’s just see how everything plays out when we get home.”
It’s an easy request.
I’m not promising him my heart or anything—although, if I’m being honest, he already has a big chunk of it.
I’m just promising to keep an open mind.
* * *
When the rainslows to a drizzle, we walk to the lobby to assess the damage from the storm.
Mack is already there, talking to Samorn, while other Pureskin execs gather together, waiting for more instruction.
“I’m sorry, but the hotel isn’t responsible for anything that gets ruined,” Samorn says. “Once we did the weather call and your employee signed off on it, the liability is no longer ours.”
Nate cuts into their conversation. “It’s my fault. I should’ve insisted that we move the event inside the second I saw those clouds.”
Mack turns to him. “Are you saying that to protect your girlfriend?”
Anxiety fills my chest like a heavy brick settled between my lungs.
“Carly had nothing to do with this,” Nate fires back. “If you look at the signature on the weather call, you’ll see it was Isaac who made the choice to ignore the forecast and keep the event outside. But I’m not taking the blame to protect him. I’m taking the blame because I’m in charge of the event. As the leader, the buck stops here. I should’ve stepped in and not allowed him to have any say over my event, regardless of his new position with Pureskin.”
His dad considers him. “I respect that. I like a man who realizes his role as a leader.”
Nate nods and then jumps into action with a plan. “Samorn, tell the kitchen we need the easiest meal for sixty people they can make for us in the shortest amount of time. Then, have the staff set up tables and chairs in the ballroom. Send the DJ there with the speakers. While the guests wait in the lobby, get trays of drinks and hors d’oeuvres sent up to keep them happy.” Nate turns to me. “Send out a push notification to all of our guests that the farewell party will resume in one hour in the ballroom and that if they’d like to continue mingling, they can join us in the bar in the lobby.”
The corner of my mouth lifts.
“What?” he asks.
“I like this take-charge version of you.”
Nate shrugs. “I have no problem being in control of things. I just prefer to sit back and watch you lead. You’re very attractive when you’re bossy.”
I laugh, then I remember that his dad is watching us. My eyes dart to Mack. “We’ll handle this so you can still have an amazing send-off party.”
“I don’t doubt it.” He looks at Nate differently—maybe with a hint of pride. “Good job. I like the new plan. Now, I’m going to go find Isaac and let him know that whatever bill for the damaged decorations the rental company sends will be coming out of his generous sign-on bonus.”
Nate and I share a look as Mack walks away. Isaac will finally get the karma he deserves.
His smile widens. “Are you ready to give these people the best farewell party they’ve ever seen?”
“I feel like you’re being overly confident, but yes.”
“Overly confident? Nah. Getting my dad to say ‘Good job’ was the tough part. Everything from here is a breeze."
I laugh.
Confident Nate has always been the most dangerous.
