She continues to drone on. Sentence after sentence while I take in her brand-new clothes and pre-scuffed boots that make her look the part of avid hiker. I would put money on the notion that she cut the tags off them this morning before she drove up here and that they’re sitting in her garbage at home.
I take the moment to glance around at my colleagues—the six others who are here and their significant others. Obviously, I work with them on a daily basis, but they’re all still new enough that I’m not one hundred percent sure what to make of them or know what they make of me.
Regardless, I wonder what they think of Heather. Is their job just a paycheck to them, or are they biding their time because they think she’ll wear out her welcome sooner rather than later and a new boss will take her place?
I’m inclined to think the latter.
I’ve worked beside them, with them, and have spent late nights in the office getting pitches ready, but I still don’t really know them. As she talks, I smile at some of them when their eyes meet mine while others listen intently.
Where are you, Slade?
“In conclusion, I was hoping that we could all come together as seven couples, have some adventures together, bond, and then leave here as one big, happy family. At least on those nights when I ask you to work late, your spouse or boyfriend will know who you’re cheating on them with . . . me.” Her laugh is obnoxious, but I give her credit for trying to pull this off. “So let’s do a quick intro to get everyone acquainted with each other.”
We take the next few minutes to go around the room, introducing our boyfriends or spouses—or rather, everyone does but me because I’m still waiting for Slade to show.
“We’ll be putting on nametags later so we can get to know each other’s significant others’ names in case we forget them, but in the meantime,” Heather glances over to Sue, who is standing against the far wall of the great room. “Sue is going to say a few things.”
“Thank you, Heather,” Sue says, her infectious tone filling the room. “We are so happy to have you here and to help you build your Glam family unit. I’d like to introduce you to our staff for your stay here. The activity directors, or ADs for short, are here to help facilitate the activities we have planned for you this week. Austin here,” she says, pointing to a man standing at the back of the room. His blond hair curls out from beneath his Red Mountain ball cap, and he has a suntan line on his nose from his sunglasses. He’s mid-twenties, and when he lifts a hand to wave in greeting, his bicep strains against the T-shirt’s cuff. “Is the master of all things water related.”
“Well, I do believe I might need assistance on this trip,” a voice to my right murmurs in an exaggerated drawl. I glance over and find Maddie beside me.
Maddie with her vibrant red hair and loud makeup, her trendy clothes and outrageous stories, is the one person in this group who came over with Heather from her previous company. She always nods and says yes to whatever Heather says, following blindly, and her attention span with men is less than a month. She changes them like her underwear, so even though she’s here with whichever of the men standing near the beverage table came with her, it doesn’t mean they’ll still be together when they leave this retreat.
She isn’t exactly my favorite, and several things she’s overheard me say have somehow ended up in Heather’s ear.
“And over by the door is Leo.” We all shift our attention to an equally attractive man with darker skin and a smile that would win anyone over.
“Welcome.” He lifts his hand.
“Jesus. It just keeps getting better,” Maddie murmurs.
“Evan is around somewhere. He’s our other fixture here,” Sue continues as I turn around to set my empty wine glass down.
And the minute my back is turned, Maddie murmurs, “Nope. He’s the one I want. For sure.”
Down girl. Talk about a bitchy thing to say when your boyfriend is within feet of you.
But, of course, I turn to see what this Evan looks like and then freeze because the person walking across the room isn’t someone named Evan.
It’s Slade.
And we’re talking Slade looking absolutely irresistible in his dark blue jeans and plain black T-shirt.
But it isn’t just what he’s wearing that has my pulse racing and my teeth sinking into my bottom lip to bite back my smile, it’s the attitude he has. The utter confidence and nonchalance about walking into the room and having everyone turn to watch him.
It’s an ease I’d kill to have but love that he does.
It’s his smile, which is genuine and happy, that’s directed my way. The one that says I’m his whole world and he’s been waiting all day to see me.
It’s his eyes, which are more gray today than blue, that are fixed on me and sparkling with the private joke only the two of us know.
And, once again, I forget for the briefest of moments that this is all pretend and that the expression on his face is just for show.
“Sorry I’m late,” Slade says to the
