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  The corners of my mouth pressed in. I’d always hated seeing my dad worried. It was an occupational hazard, given that he was now the CEO of a multinational company, but it had only been us and him for years.

  Danny was always more focused on what people thought about the public image of our dad than the man himself. It left me to be the one to take care of the man behind the business.

  Traveling didn’t bother me. It never had. I checked in with my dad often, and spoke to him at least once a week. I didn’t realize the traveling was a problem for him. “I love doing what I do, Dad. You don’t have to worry about me. I don’t need to stop or take a break at all.”

  A grim smile crossed his features. “I know, I don’t have to be concerned, but I am. Settling down wouldn’t be a bad thing. Choosing one place to call home. A place where you wouldn’t have to drink hotel coffee or order breakfast through room service.”

  I laughed, shrugging. “I love ordering breakfast through room service. I don’t need to cuddle with the guy who delivers it and I can get whatever I feel like every morning instead of having to eat whatever is put in front of me.”

  “Don’t you miss having a place to go home to at the end of the day?” I’d never seen my dad like this. I knew he still felt guilty about our mom leaving him because of the business. She had no qualms about taking the money it made him, but claimed she couldn’t play second fiddle to a company.

  Dad never really got over it, or her. Danny and I both suspected he dated casually, but like me, he kept his private life private. I knew he hadn’t been in a serious relationship since Mom left. He’d never gotten onto me about entering into one either.

  “You don’t have to do this. I’m happy, I promise. The thing is Dad, if I ever did choose someplace to settle down—it wouldn’t be here.”

  “I know, and I wouldn’t ask you to settle here. You’ve made your feelings about the state very clear, though I don’t understand it. You say you’re happy, but I don’t want you to waste your life without ever taking the time to find someone to share it with.”

  So, this was about Mom. I exhaled on a deep breath, letting my cheeks puff with air for just a second before releasing it.

  A part of me wondered whether this was the right time to talk to him about Mom. It was time he let go of his guilt and move on with his life. Fuck, it was long past time and had been for a while.

  The blue smudges under his eyes told me he’d been working too hard again. I thought it yesterday, too, but knew there was no point in talking to him about it. Especially not while Danny was there.

  All I could do was be there if he ever decided to talk to me about whatever it was that drove him to work as hard as he did. I’d always thought it was because Mom left him for the company. I wondered if in his mind he had to keep pushing the company because he had failed to do so with their relationship.

  I ended up letting it ride. I wouldn’t push him. “Like I said, Dad, I really am happy. I don’t need to settle down and I don’t need a woman to fulfill me.”

  Sighing, he nodded and finally took a sip of his coffee when he sat down. “I’ve never hounded you boys about marriage, but I’m starting to feel like maybe I should have. Not all marriages end up like Mom’s and mine did. I just want to see you both happy. I’d like to still be able to walk by the time you get married and I sure as hell want to meet my grandchildren. Mom and I might not have made it work, but plenty of other people do.”

  “I think the national divorce rate says otherwise.” I appreciated that my dad didn’t hound my brother and me about our relationships and I hoped to hell that wasn’t about to change. I had abandoned the man-whorish ways of my youth a few years ago, and while I wouldn’t mind companionship, my lifestyle didn’t really allow for relationships. But I meant it when I told my dad I was happy with my job the way it was. I would hate to have to start justifying my life and the way I chose to live it. I also wasn’t anywhere near ready to talk to him about marriage and grandchildren. No way. “Thanks Dad, but you don’t need to worry.”

  For a second, I thought he was about to push the issue but then he let it go. “Maybe California will change your mind about settling down. When are you flying out?”

  I glanced down at my watch. “About four hours. Just a warning though, I’ve been to that property many times and so far, nothing about California has got me thinking about settling there either.”

  There was something different in my father’s expression, but I couldn’t place it. Hope maybe? He stood up when another knock sounded at the door. Finally, my fucking pancakes! Unless it was my brother coming for a heart to heart. Honestly, I’d had my fill of deep conversations for one morning.

  My father opened the door and thankfully, a waiter was waiting behind it with my breakfast. Turning before he left, my father gave me a quick wave. “You never know, son. Something could be different about it this time. Enjoy your trip.”

  With those cryptic words, he left. Unless he was talking about a California located in a parallel universe I hadn’t yet visited, nothing could possibly be so different it would convince me to give up what I already had. And it definitely wouldn’t convince me to settle down there.

  Chapter 4

  Aston

  “Please tell me you aren’t planning on working late again?” Tiffany came bounding into my office exactly one minute and thirty seconds after her shift ended. She had a ratty backpack over her shoulder and had already changed out of her uniform—a navy pencil skirt and white blouse—into a pair of cut-off jeans and a green tank that matched her eyes.

  I eyed the pile of papers lying next to my laptop. The hotel was looking for a new supplier for cleaning supplies and a couple of the couches in the lobby needed to be replaced. I had a ton of other stuff left to do, but none of it was urgent.

  My high profile client was checked in, we hadn’t heard another peep from the frat guys since I sent up the complimentary champagne, and there didn’t seem to be any other problems with the guests that needed my attention.

  “No, I don’t think I will. I’m beat.” Staying late was a way of life for me, but my feet were aching in my new stilettos, my eyes were burning from staring at my computer screen for too long and my three hours of sleep the night before was catching up to me. The night before that I only had four.

  Tiffany’s smile spread from ear to ear. “That’s exactly what I was hoping you were going to say. Come on, I’m going to the beach and you are coming with me.”

  I shook my head so hard I almost gave myself whiplash. “Not a chance. I’m going home and going straight to bed. The only stop I would consider making is in my bathroom for a long, hot bath.”

  Tiffany stuck her freshly glossed bottom lip out and crossed her arms. “When was the last time you were outside during daylight hours? All work and no play does more than make Aston a dull girl, you know. You also need some vitamin D. Some of the staff members are starting to wonder if you’re actually a vampire.”

  I laughed. “They are not. They see me outside on the pool deck all the time.”

  Sliding open my bottom drawer, I pulled out my purse and started gathering my things. It wouldn’t take me long. My phone was lying next to me on my desk and there were only a few other items I used during the day that I needed to pack up.

  My office was in a state, at least by my standards, but I could tidy it up tomorrow. The office I called my own was a glorified broom closet and while I loved it, it only took about fifteen minutes to clean from top to bottom.

  It was an office in a true minimalist style. The walls were a pale gray with only a clock and a noticeboard up against them. The only furniture was my desk, a couple of chairs and a side table with a fake plant on it. A perpetual item on my to-do list was to pretty the place up a bit, but in the couple of months it had been my office, I hadn’t found the time.

  Tiffany fell into step beside me once I locked my door. “Okay, but when was the last time you were outside for fun and not work? The bea
ch is fun and if you’re not going to let me get you laid, this is the least you can do.”

  I didn’t agree with her last statement, but my mind was preoccupied with the question before. When was the last time I’d been to the beach? It was a good question. I was there a couple of weeks ago to organize a fundraising event for one of our guests, but that was for work and it was night time.

  Truly, I hadn’t always been the workaholic I was now. I’d never been a slacker either, but I used to make time for fun. My promotion to manager was something I had worked toward for almost two years. It became the thing that drove me, the thing that occupied all my time. Since the promotion, I was more focused on work than ever before.

  Truth be told, I couldn’t remember the last time I’d been to the beach for fun. Imagining what the warm sand would feel like between my toes, and the waves gently lapping over my feet, I changed my mind about going right home.

  “Okay, I’m in. Your car or mine?” I asked, but Tiffany was already linking her arm with mine and leading me to the parking lot out back where she parked. One of the perks of my promotion was parking in the executive lot. It was only a couple of paces closer to my office than where I used to park, but it was in the opposite direction of Tiffany’s car.

  She clasped my arm tight and waved a finger in my face. “I’m not taking any chances with you deciding to go home on the way there. I’m driving, and we’re staying for at least a couple of hours.”

  A couple of hours was much longer than I’d been planning on staying, but she was right. Left to my own devices, I probably would find a reason to come back to work once I’d had a little break, or to go home to get to bed early so I could be back at work even earlier in the morning. No, better to go with her. It was time for some me-time for a change.

  “Your car it is. We’re going to have to stop so I can buy a suit and stuff though.” Tiffany nodded and started telling me all the gossip among the floor staff about a new chef I’d hired. It was exactly what I needed to shut me off from work—mindless chatter and laughing with my friend.

  Half an hour later, we’d made a quick stop so I could buy what I needed, and just like that, we were pulling up at one of the quieter beaches on the outskirts of the city.

  “I’m so glad you decided to come with me. I really didn’t feel like working on my tan alone and it’s been forever since we spent some girl time together.” Tiffany gathered a small beach umbrella and towel from the back of her car, grabbed a water bottle and pulled a cap on. We walked to a public restroom so I could change into my newly acquired beach wear, buying some sodas from a stand nearby once I was done.

  Tiffany chattered nonstop and kept my arm linked with hers like she was afraid I was going to take off on her. I followed her onto the beach and as soon as I felt the sand between my toes, I knew I’d made the right decision.

  We weren’t even sitting down yet, and I already felt myself relaxing in the company of my best friend. It felt good. I could practically feel my batteries recharging. “I’m glad I came too, Tiff. Thanks for convincing me. I needed this.”

  Spreading her towel out on the sand, she dug a shallow hole for the umbrella and lifted an eyebrow as she looked up at me. “You know what else you need? A good orgasm that is not self-induced.”

  “We’re continuing that discussion now, huh?” I groaned. Just when I thought this was going to be a nice, relaxing afternoon. Maybe I was wrong and I shouldn’t have come. Or maybe I could distract her. Unlikely, given that Tiffany seemed determined to have this out with me. But I had to give it a shot. “Isn’t this nice weather we’ve been having?”

  Tiffany smiled like she knew something I didn’t, then called me on my tactic immediately. “Oh no you don’t. You aren’t getting away from this that easily. Seriously, why are you so afraid of being with a guy? They don’t bite. Well, not hard anyway. Unless you want them to, that is. Some guys can be convinced to be into that if you are.”

  “No thanks. I definitely don’t want to be bitten.” I sighed and flopped down on the towel I had spread out beside hers. If we were going to be having this conversation, there was no reason I shouldn’t be comfortable while doing it. “I’m not afraid. It’s not like I haven’t thought about it. I just haven’t found the right guy yet.”

  A tiny line appeared between her eyebrows. “Are you waiting for marriage?”

  “No, not really. But would it be so wrong if I was?” Sometimes, it felt like marriage was never going to happen either. What if I waited for marriage and died a virgin? Would that be so bad? I didn’t think so. I had a pretty trusty vibrator that had helped me through some stressful times. No guy could be that effective.

  Her eyes widened. “Not at all. I just didn’t figure you for the type, and I’ve known you long enough that I feel like I would have known if you were.”

  I released a heavy breath. She did know me well enough. “I’m just waiting for a guy who isn’t a complete tool—like those frat guys today. I might have found him by now if I didn’t work so hard, but honestly, I would rather work than spend my days looking for a guy.”

  Tiffany drew her knees up to her chest and looped her arms around them, staring off over the ocean. “Do you want a career rather than a family?”

  She didn’t say it in a way that made me feel insulted. The question sounded sincere. “Not necessarily. I would love to have both as much as anyone else, but I haven’t had too much time to think about it. At the moment, I feel like entering into a relationship would end up with me being one of two things—a sugar mama, or controlled. I’m not interested in being either of those things.”

  “It doesn’t have to be that way. Besides, for the immediate future I was only asking about sex. Not marriage, not now anyway. I’ve dated plenty of guys who didn’t see me as a sugar mama, and who didn’t try to control me. Why would you think they all would?”

  “There might be some of them who aren’t like that, but like I said, I don’t have time for that search right now.” Born and raised in California, I hadn’t done much traveling. While Tiffany might have dated plenty of guys who weren’t like that, most of my friends only had those kind of stories to tell. It didn’t paint a convincing picture for trying to date around here.

  “Or maybe I’m just in the wrong state for that search right now,” I mused, watching a couple of children playing near the shore. “I haven’t heard the greatest things about the availability of men in this city lately, and I’ve been too busy to venture away from work anyway.”

  Tiffany threw her head back and laughed, shaking it at the same time. “Isn’t it great that you work in a classy hotel where men from all over the world come for a stay?”

  Actually, it was great. I just hadn’t thought of it that way before. Why hadn’t I? The hotel was the perfect place to find a suitable candidate to mess around with if and when I wanted to. It would mean I wouldn’t have to leave work to find a date, which was good since my apartment was the only other place I spent any time. It also meant I could keep focusing on my career, because the guy would only be in town for a short while.

  It was an interesting point. I didn’t plan on throwing myself at every out of state man who arrived at the hotel, but it definitely was a point to keep in mind from now on. “Way to go, Tiffany. I think you just broadened my horizons a bit.”

  Chapter 5

  Blake

  California, sweet California. Although I didn’t get out to this property as often as I liked, it had always been one of my favorites. It was a small hotel, but it was popular and really did feel like a home—to me, anyway. Having thought about my talk with Dad on the plane, I still didn’t want to settle down in one place for good, but I wouldn’t mind spending a couple of weeks in California.

  The people, the vibe, the weather, the food. Everything was better here than it was in Florida. It helped that my family was far enough away, but not so far that I couldn’t get there if I needed to.

  Compared to some of our bigger hotels, the lobby h
ere was downright cozy. It had the big windows and panes of glass for walls like most of our hotels did, but it seemed warmer because it was smaller.

  I made mental notes of things I noticed while walking in. Part of my job when I visited the properties was to report back on general impressions and things I thought we could improve in order to attract more business. Quality assurance.

  The first thing I noticed was the sign out front. It wasn’t as eye-catching as it used to be, before some of the bigger hotels in the area sprung up. It seemed dull. We were in the process of rolling out bigger, improved signs anyway. I’d approved the budget just last week. This property would have to be added to the list of the ones being swapped out first.

  Some of the bright red couches in the lobby were looking threadbare. Another thing I would have to approve a decent budget for. The front desk of the lobby sat right up against the back wall, next to a glass panel providing a pretty damn awesome view of the sun setting over the ocean.

  Behind the front desk was a velvet lined wall filled with clocks telling the time in half a dozen states and countries where McAllen had hotels, and had a hidden door leading to the back where the staff had their break rooms and offices. A pretty redhead stood behind the desk, staring intently at her computer screen. Whatever was on the screen was apparently more interesting than a guest, since she hardly looked up when I entered the doors.

  My eyes narrowed briefly. Part of our policy was that all staff should be warm and welcoming from the moment a guest stepped in the doors. Attentive front desk staff was crucial in that aspect. I wouldn’t make any snap judgments though. It was probably near the end of her shift and most guests wouldn’t expect, or even notice a smile as soon as they entered the lobby.

  When she did look up, she blinked a couple of times before her lips curled into a wide smile. Almost non-existent lashes batted as I neared her. “Welcome to the Palo Alto McAllen. Are you checking in?”