Lunch meeting. Fan-fucking-tastic. “I know Emmeline, and she goes by Emmy. Or at least she did two years ago when I spoke to her at an event held here for something or another.”
Dad nodded. “Good. Franny, Captain’s oldest daughter oversees the franchises in Alabama and Tennessee. Emmeline is being trained to take over the Florida and Georgia franchises. She won’t be ready until she graduates college, but Captain starts them young preparing them. Like I should have done with you. Smart businessman.” Dad said as he kept walking expecting me to keep up.
“Are we eating here?” I asked hoping the answer was no. I wasn’t in the mood to deal with the crowd in there.
“No. Captain’s place.”
“Why are we meeting with him exactly?”
“Because we need another restaurant at the club. The poolside grill and the main dining room aren’t enough. Not anymore. It’s time we expanded.”
“So you’re going to put one of Captain’s restaurants in the club?”
“Possibly. It sounds like a good idea. We will see what plays out.”
Dad’s new Dodge Ram was parked out front and a valet had it already started for us. We climbed in and headed off the club property toward the business part of Rosemary Beach where the stores, eating, shopping and touristy shit was located. I didn’t say much, just watched the town pass by. Wondered about Lila Kate because that was my new habit I couldn’t shake.
“Talked to Lila Kate lately?” Dad asked as if he could read my mind.
I shook my head no.
“Then you don’t know about her buying that place,” he said, and my ears perked up.
“What?”
Dad stopped at one of the three traffic lights in town and pointed to a two-story storefront at the corner of the main street. “That one right there on the end. Grant said she bought it. She’s opening a dance studio.”
I studied the coastal pale blue building. Large windows lined the bottom floor and the second floor had the hurricane shutters that were so damn popular around here. “That can’t be cheap,” I said wondering what the hell she was thinking.
“It wasn’t. But she has a trust fund from Kiro. She’s got a good business head. Instead of living off the money she’s using it to make more. To build something.”
I could hear the admiration in his tone. I knew she was fucking special. He didn’t have to nail that point home. I got it. That was why I pushed her away. It had worked too well.
Dad pulled the truck into the front of Captain’s place in Rosemary Beach, and I climbed out still looking back at the place that was now Lila’s. She wasn’t leaving town. That felt good. Like I could take a deep breath. Not that where she lived mattered, but I wanted her here. As fucked up as that was.
“Listen, pay attention, and be polite. Talk to Emmeline. Don’t act like an ass.”
I smirked. “When have I ever been an ass to a female?”
“Numerous times, Cruz. Numerous.”
Scowling, I followed him inside and the smell of seafood hit me. I hadn’t been here in a long time, but it was good food. I should get out more often. Wouldn’t hurt me to come into this part of town.
“Woods, Cruz, good to see both of you,” Captain Kipling said as he shook dad’s hand then mine. “When did you turn into a man?” he joked then slapped me on the back.
Emmy walked up beside him and smiled at me. It wasn’t the kind of polite business smile I was expecting either. She was older and in the past two years she’d matured. She also knew it. Her long blonde hair and bright green eyes were a striking combination against the sun-kissed tan of her skin.
“Hello, Cruz,” her eyes sparkled with mischief as she said my name.
“Emmy,” I replied with a nod. “Good to see you.”
“While y’all get seated I’ll take Cruz with me to get the laptop you need, Daddy. I can show him around in the back.”
Captain and my dad were already doing the chummy talk, and he just nodded. My dad gave me a warning glare before walking away. This didn’t seem like a good idea. Did those two not see the way Emmy had looked at me? Were they that blind? She was not thinking about fucking business.
“You’re getting prepped to take over the club Dad tells me,” she said walking so close to me her arm brushed against me.
“Yeah,” I replied.
“I’ll be in town more often getting to know this place. For the summer, I’m here to work. Until I go back to UT in the fall. We should do something,” her voice had dropped to a sultry tone. Shit.
“Not sure what you’re thinking, but we’ll potentially be working together. Don’t think we need to cross any lines.”
She moved closer then stepped in front of me to open a door and led me inside. I was in the room and realized it was an office before she closed the door behind her. “What’s wrong with having a little fun? It will make working together more enjoyable.”