Page 54 of Seaside Cowboy's Marriage of Convenience

He was falling in love with her, probably already had. But her parents’ story was a prime example of what happened when only one person in a marriage loved the other.

What was he going to do if she’d never be able to open her heart to him?

Chapter Fourteen

“MAY I SPEAK WITH YOU?” Kennedy’s assistant’s neatly combed head popped into her office three days later.

“Sure.” Kennedy closed spreadsheets on her laptop. “Please come on in, Mason.” She mentally prepared herself for another issue with a hotel guest and recalled her uncle’s words.

Rule 1: The customer is always right.

Rule 2: If the customer is wrong, see the first rule.

Except when it affected other customers’ safety, of course.

The rest of the lanky man followed his head into her office, then shifted from one leg to the other. He adjusted the toffee-hued tie matching his suit. His suits never had a single wrinkle on them. He represented the hotel well and usually had much more confidence than now. “I don’t know if it’s important. And I don’t know if I should drag it up again.”

“Come on. I believe we know each other better than that.” She rolled back her chair to face him more fully and gave him a reassuring smile. He could solve many issues on his own, so whatever this was, it needed her attention. She’d already promised the bright young man a scholarship if he chose to go to college. “I’m all ears.” She gestured for him to take a seat.

He did so, and his fingers tapped her polished oak desk. For a moment, he didn’t say anything, and she didn’t push him. She breathed the orchids’ faint aroma—the nearby bouquet Austin’s gift. And for the first time, she wished she hadn’t had to come back to work. Well, Austin needed to return to his clinic, anyway.

Her entire being missed him already, and she ached to return to the world where there seemed only the two of them—plus or minus a few thousand tourists. Despite her failed attempt to find Zoey, the time in Lazoria was magical, and so far, the best time of her life.

Her heart stirred. All her time with Austin, be it in Marina’s restaurant, volunteering at the animal shelter, walking on the beach, or just bathing their pets was the best time of her life—every single moment. How she craved his presence now!

And now that scared her.

Even when she tried to concentrate on work, she craved the gentle touch of his fingers on her skin, the cheerful sound of his voice caressing her ear, and yes, the butterflies quivering in her stomach the moment he’d kissed her.

“Remember, we thought my girlfriend’s ex might’ve cut the brakes on your car?” Mason visibly swallowed as his Adam’s apple knot moved. “And once again, sorry for taking your car to her place. I don’t know what I was thinking. I mean, she knew I couldn’t afford such a car. And anyway, we were saving for the wedding. I, um, I proposed after attending yours.”

“Congratulations! Like I said, no hard feelings. And you know you’re welcome to use our venue for the wedding. Let me know when your out-of-town guests plan to come, and I’ll make sure they have rooms free of charge. Within reason, of course.” She’d also write a large check to pay for the wedding. She’d take care of that this afternoon.

She believed loyal employees should be rewarded.Loyalemployees. Her heart squeezed as she thought about Emma. Marina had said Emma met with Kennedy’s main competitor. Did that mean Emma was providing inside information about Kennedy’s business they could leverage?

“You’re too kind, but I don’t know if we’ll need it.” He propped wire-rimmed glasses on his long nose.

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