To Love Again: A Sweet Romance (Forty and Free Book 1) (4 page)

“I can assure you, sir, it
is
a real resort. In fact, if you truly do not want to participate in the matchmaking program, you’re not required to. I do highly recommend it, however. We’ve had many success stories.” Tony looked over at Nicole and smiled.

Nicole pursed her lips and leaned an elbow against the counter.
 

“Like the woman on the plane? She said she’s here for the third time.” Gavin chuckled. “There’s a word for that, and it’s not success.”
 

“Sir, some of our guests are very selective. Yes, we do offer our guests the opportunity to renew their vacation for half the price, if they don’t connect with someone during their first visit. Our goal is not profit, it’s connecting hearts.”
 

“Oh, okay.” Gavin narrowed his eyes. “Well, this heart wants to be connected with a manager who can refund this absurd vacation.”

Nicole took a slight step to the side. Gavin’s brusque nature left her feeling slightly intimidated. Still, she remembered that she was trying to be a different version of herself.
 

“Yes, I’d like to speak to the manager too please.” She cleared her throat. “And I was here first.”

She stole a glance in Gavin’s direction.

Gavin looked over at her in the same moment. His strong jaw tightened and light brown lashes shadowed the steel blue of his eyes as he looked at her.

She expected that he’d launch into a tirade for being interrupted, but instead the tension in his features relaxed.
 

“I apologize. You’re right, you were here first.” He stepped back a few paces from the desk.
 

Tony looked past them at a few other guests that had arrived. “Why don’t you take a seat in the lounge. Have a drink—courtesy of the resort—and I’ll get the manager down here to speak to you. Alright?”
 

Nicole opened her mouth to speak but she didn’t quite know what to say.

Gavin’s eyes locked to hers. “You were here first.” He gestured to Tony.
 

“Oh, okay. Sure. That’s fine. Thank you,” said Nicole.

“It better not take long.” Gavin looked at Tony. “I’m not a patient person.”
 

“It won’t be long at all, sir.”
 

Nicole reached down to pick up her suitcase but found that it had been picked up before she could grab the handle. Gavin held it at his side as he tilted his head toward the lounge.
 

“Shall we?”
 

Nicole smiled far too widely and nodded. A flush rose to her cheeks in reaction to her awkward response. She turned and walked into the lounge, fully aware that Gavin followed only a steps behind her. As her heart raced, she wondered whether she would even be able to hold a conversation with him.

When they sat down at a table together, she took the time to really look at him.

In that moment, she was jolted by a vague sense of recognition.

Chapter 8

Gavin stared at the woman for some time. Too long—he sensed it when she shifted in her chair. But he couldn’t help it.
 

It’s not possible, Gavin. You must be losing your mind.
Yet there she was, face-to-face with him. He’d remember those green eyes anywhere.
 

“The shirt looks very nice.” Gavin shifted in his chair and offered her an easy smile. He braced himself for her reaction.
 

“
That’s
where I know you from!”

The surprise was etched into the subtle curves of her features. The rise of her cheeks and the slope of her chin all blended together to give her an angelic visage.
 

“Small world, hm?”
 

“Who knew it could be this small?” She stared at him wide-eyed as the waitress brought them their drinks.
 

“Considering that I just got tricked into this strange vacation, I’m more inclined to believe in just about anything right now.” He picked up his glass and took a sip of the Scotch it contained.
 

“Yes, I wasn’t told the whole truth about this situation either.” She sighed as she glanced toward the door of the bar. “My first instinct is to run, but…”
 

“But?” He set his glass back down and looked into her eyes.
 

“I don’t know.” She cleared her throat. “Maybe it won’t be so bad.”

He nodded a little. “Maybe not for you. I, on the other hand, am far too old for this.”
 

“Please. You can’t be more than forty.”
 

“I am.” He winked at her. “Thank you, though. I’m Gavin.” He offered her his hand.

She took it in a quick, oddly tilted shake.

He noticed the moisture of her palm and the tremble in her fingers.
 

“Nicole.” She drew her hand away and looked away in the same moment. “You’re right. This whole idea is silly.”
 

“It’s silly for me.” He paused and swirled his drink in his glass before looking back across the table at her. “That doesn’t mean that is for you.”
 

“Of course it’s silly.” She laughed—a little too loudly, she thought. “I mean, what was I thinking by coming here in the first place?”
 

“What were you thinking?” He reached out and took her hand. The movement surprised him as much as it looked like it had surprised her. He trailed his thumb along the back of her hand in a slow circle. “We have time—and drinks—no reason not to enjoy it.”

Her muscles twitched beneath the pressure of his thumb. He studied her as she bit into her bottom lip. It didn’t take much imagination for him to realize that this woman was not used to being the center of attention. And she still hadn’t answered his question.

“So Nicole, why did you decide to take a vacation all on your own?”

With her free hand she picked up her glass and took a drink. When she put it back down she flicked her gaze toward him. She seemed to be eyeing him carefully before she spoke.

“Life has gotten a little routine, but I guess I’m hoping that that’s because I’ve not been expecting something different.” She laughed a little and the sound of it made him smile. “I’m not so sure about this wild twist in the plan though—the matchmaking idea is certainly more than I’d bargained for when I booked the trip.” She smiled at him, and again, he felt quite stunned as he looked into her eyes. “Why did you decide to take a vacation, Gavin?”
 

He chuckled. “I didn’t. My best friend, who also happens to be my boss, threatened me. I complied—under protest.”
 

“Nice friend.” Nicole slipped her hand from his and reached into her purse for her cell phone. “I suppose it was a friend of mine that thought I needed this too. She recommended the resort without mentioning its purpose.”
 

“I just don’t understand people’s obsession with pairing up. Do you?” He let his newly freed hand come to rest against the table not far from hers.

She tilted her head to the side, causing a tendril of her blonde hair to tumble onto her face.
 

“I don’t know. Not now, that’s for sure. But maybe in time, I could see myself with someone again.”
 

“Someone hurt you?” He lifted his glass for another sip but didn’t take his eyes off her.
 

“I can’t even really say that. Did it hurt? Yes. Was it really all his fault? Probably not.” She toyed with her glass and refused to look up at him. “It’s easy to cast blame and point fingers, but the truth is, a marriage takes two people, and I think we both had one foot out the door for a long time.”
 

“That’s refreshing.”
 

“Hm?” She looked up and he treasured the brief visual contact she allowed.
 

“Your perspective. I’ve known a lot of women who are rather bitter over their divorce. You seem to have bounced back well from it.”
 

“Bounced back?” She laughed and shook her head. “Trust me, if you knew me, you wouldn’t say that. As for bitter…I guess I spent a little time that way. But, there’s only so long that you can be blind to your role in things. I’m sure that’s why I’m hesitant to get back into the dating game. I have all these flaws that drove the man I thought was the love of my life away from me. How could I expect any other man to see past them?”
 

“See? That’s my point right there. Why would I put myself out there just to be judged? Is that really fun for people?” said Gavin.

“I don’t think I’ve ever thought of it that way. That’s a good argument for staying single and happy.” She picked up her glass and held it out to him. “To freedom.”
 

“Freedom?” He held up his glass but did not clink it with hers.
 

“Freedom from awkward conversations, impossible-to-comprehend overpriced menus, and the inevitable ‘It’s not you, it’s me’ speech.”
 

“I can toast to that.” He clinked his glass to hers and met her eyes as he took a sip. “Although, I’d find it hard to believe that anyone would be giving you that speech.”
 

“Trust me, I’ve heard it.”
 

“Oh, I trust you—but not the fool that gave it.” He winked at her. “To freedom. I think that deserves one more toast.” He raised his glass again.

Maybe the trip had been a waste, but as Nicole lifted her glass to his, he found himself glad that he’d had the chance to meet her.

Chapter 9

The spark in Gavin’s eyes left Nicole feeling distracted. All of the times that she’d read a passage about shining eyes, or the light in some poor guy’s gaze, she’d never understood it—not until that moment when she looked into Gavin’s.

When she’d first seen him at the check-in counter, his eyes were dull and tight. But as he looked at her across their raised glasses now, it seemed to her that now they were wide and light. It gave her a little buzz of excitement to think that she could be the cause of the difference that she was seeing.

Of course that was just a silly notion. Gavin was the type of man that could have any woman he desired. Nicole was certain of that.

“Excuse me—Gavin, Nicole?” Tony walked up to their table. His brows were knitted tight over the bridge of his nose. “I know that you were both hoping for a resolution this evening, and I’m sorry to say that we won’t be able to do anything about a refund until tomorrow. Your rooms are still reserved and you’re welcome to use them tonight—our compliments. In the morning, I’m sure that we can get this all straightened out.”
 

Gavin opened his mouth as if he might argue, but then finished his drink instead.

Nicole looked over at Tony. “Well, I guess if there’s no other option.”
 

“None, I’m afraid. But I do still hope that you might enjoy your stay if you give it a chance.” Tony swirled a hand through the air. “Our purpose is to please.”
 

“I bet.” Gavin quirked his lips. “Just how do you do that with two people who have no interest in dating?”
 

“As I mentioned, the dates are an opportunity, certainly not one you have to take. The resort still has plenty of activities available that promote relaxation and enjoyment.”
 

“It does seem like a beautiful place.” Nicole smiled politely at Tony. “I hope I haven’t caused you too much trouble.”
 

“Not at all. Unfortunately, due to the selective nature of our resort, not every guest is fully informed when they arrive. This is not the first time this has happened.”
 

“Don’t you think there are ways to fix that?” Gavin stood up from the table and picked up his bag as well as Nicole’s. “A simple blurb on your website would make things more clear.”
 

“Perhaps, but it would also draw some unsavory characters. I do hope you understand, sir.”
 

“Sure.”
 

Nicole noticed that Gavin’s stance had become more casual. Despite his implied impatience, his shoulders were relaxed.
 

“It’s a misunderstanding.” Nicole smiled at Tony. He’d been providing great customer service, which was something that she could appreciate.
 

“May I show you to your rooms?” Tony looked between Gavin and Nicole. “Unless you’d like to share another drink?”
 

The question hung in the air between the three of them. Nicole’s mind swirled as she thought about how to invite Gavin for another drink. She enjoyed his company. But before she could think of something clever, she heard an excuse coming out of her mouth instead.
 

“I’m tired. I’d like to see my room.” The moment the words left her lips, she regretted them.

A touch of tension returned to Gavin’s stance.

But what was the point of extending their conversation? They’d already made it clear that neither was interested in dating. In her opinion, it would only be delaying the inevitable moment of goodbye.
 

“Right this way.” Tony gestured to a hall at the opposite end of the bar.

Gavin didn’t show any sign that he was about to hand over her suitcase.

As they walked down the hall she noticed the décor was very uplifting. The walls were painted with bright blues, shimmering golds, and specks of white.

Gavin slowed his pace and Nicole naturally matched it. Maybe it was because she was accustomed to walking in groups, but she suspected it was because he drew her to him in an unusual way.
 

“I can take that, you know.” She started to reach for her suitcase.
 

“I’d like to carry it for you, if you don’t mind. It’s just how I was raised.” Gavin grinned at her.

“Alright.” Nicole smiled and glanced over at him. “That’s very kind of you.”
 

“There isn’t enough kindness in the world, you know—or honesty—never enough honesty.”

“I can agree with that.” Nicole tilted her head toward him. “Maybe if our friends had been honest with us, we never would have ended up here.”
 

“Maybe. But I’m second-guessing my ideas about that.” He smiled as he looked over at her. “I’ve enjoyed our time together—as short as it may have been.”