Tidal Patterns (Golden Shores Book 1) (12 page)

“It’s a pleasure,” Sam said.

“Likewise,” Lizzie agreed.

Mark cleared his throat and Sam dropped his grip on her hand. They’d taken the measure of each other in that moment, she thought. But Mark seemed to hulk over the pair of them, like they were flirting. Lizzie nibbled the inside of her cheek, Mark’s stern expression reminded her of Patrick’s look of disapproval towards any guy she’d ever dated.

Stepping further into the room, she looked around her. They’d walked into a long corridor with one wall of glass doors and windows opening onto a circular drive, where they’d parked. The corridor seemed to stretch the length of the building and was wide enough to host hundred people, she estimated. Lizzie walked in a circle, taking in the new carpets, the huge crystal chandeliers that hung in the twenty-foot ceilings overhead at regular intervals down the length with enormous pedestal tables beneath each one. The benefit of new construction, she mused, was that it would take very little to decorate.

“This is beautiful,” Lizzie told Sam.

“Thanks. We’re happy to be hosting this event for you,” Sam replied.

Lizzie looked to Mark, but he didn’t add anything. Was she supposed to just stand here and compliment the facility without finding out what they needed to know? Mark clasped his hands behind his back and looked around casually, like a bystander. Lizzie wanted to snap her fingers at him to get him to wake up. And why were they standing inside when they’d be holding all of the events outside on the beach?

“I had a few questions for you, if you don’t mind?” Lizzie asked, halting on the words, unsure if she should take charge.

“Sure, go for it,” Sam replied, smiling.

“Where are the bathrooms that the concert goers will use? Will they come in here?” she asked.

“I’m not sure. Probably we’ll have to bring in some port potties to accommodate the large crowd.”

“What about the VIPs? Are they going to be port potties too? Because I think that will be a problem.”

“Umm…I’ll get back to you,” Sam replied, more slowly.

“Okay,” Lizzie said. She looked down to her sheet, if he hadn’t been able to answer those easy questions, he might not like the rest of her list.

“We are bringing in our own catering staff. When will they be able to get in and set up? And how far away will that be from the beach? They need a staging area before taking the food outside.”

“Oh, okay, I’ll look into that,” Sam replied, patting himself down until he found a scrap of paper and a pen. He began jotting down notes to himself. Lizzie liked him. Anyone with enough presence of mind to take notes was someone worth working with.

“How about parking? How many cars does your lot hold? Is there any overflow parking? Do you have anyone that can direct traffic?”

“I’m sorry, I don’t have any of these answers of the top of my head,” Sam said. “If you’d send me the questions I will find out for you.”

Grinning, she pulled out a sheet of paper with everything she’d asked already written. She had more to ask but had flustered him enough with the basics. She’d been prepared that the staff at such a new facility might still have a learning curve. She watched Sam’s eyes nearly bug out of his head when she handed him the sheet.

“And I thought you were the one in charge,” Sam muttered to Mark.

Lizzie looked at Mark and blanched. She hadn’t intended to take over or try to show him up.

“No, no. She’s the brains of the operation,” Mark chuckled.

He looked at Lizzie in a significant way. He held her gaze but didn’t smile and didn’t frown. She stood perfectly still but relented and walked away. It was his event. He was in charge. She had no need to take over, she decided. She agreed to help, not to do his job.

“Will the building be available if we need to move the concert inside?” Lizzie asked; her voice subdued.

“Yes, it will. Follow me,” Sam replied and led the way across the corridor to the row of solid doors opposite.

Lizzie waited for Mark to follow Sam first, choosing to follow behind him, to show her deference. But he slowed to walk with her.

“Lizzie, we can’t have the concert inside,” he said under his breath.

“But what about the weather? What is your plan for rain?”

“It’s on rain or shine.”

“Even the reception and dinner? If it’s a cool and windy night, you might not be able to keep the linens on the tables out there. Eating on the beach is one of those things that sounds glamorous. But it’s a terrible mess,” she whispered.

“If we have to move those last minute, then that’s what we’ll do. But it’s not something to worry about beforehand.”

Her slow nod was one of reluctance and not agreement. She’d keep her opinion to herself, for the time being. They’d followed Sam into a giant box of a room. Sam turned on the sconces that illuminated the walls surrounding them and Lizzie quickly understood what worried Mark. The room was cavernous and ill-suited for a concert. But if the weather got bad, they needed another choice, even if Mark didn’t want to own it.

“Sam, could we listen to your sound system? Could you turn on the radio or something?” Lizzie shouted at him across the room.

He put up an ear to make out her words and held up a thumbs up sign before disappearing into what looked like a closet.

“This isn’t going to work,” Mark said. “No one will be able to enjoy what they’re hearing. Either they’ll be straining to make out the notes or it’ll be too loud to dance and relax and enjoy.”

“So now you’re an expert on acoustics for dancing?” Lizzie asked.

The room came alive with a Latin rhythm. Lizzie turned to Mark, her arms crossed over her chest, an eyebrow raised in challenge. Without asking, he reached for her hand, grabbed it, and spun her. Her hand burned where he touched her and she shivered when she brushed against him in the spin.

Pulling her in close, he looked deep into her eyes. Awareness flickered in his gaze, her own understanding of their attraction reflected back at her. He shifted his weight forward and backward in short quick steps, directing her with his hands on her back and his thigh forcing hers to move. Without needing to be told, she followed.

After a moment, she recognized the movements of salsa and grinned. She hadn’t danced with a partner in a long time. Moving in sync with another person, trusting them to take the lead, hadn’t happened for years. She’d never have expected to dance while on the clock. He held her close and tightened his grip on her upper back. Her muscles nearly gave out, trusting him so completely that they didn’t need to support her. He would do that. He would hold her up.

She hadn’t had faith in anyone like that in a long time. She’d never thought she’d
find
it outside of her own family. But with Mark, an understanding existed between them that she’d never stopped to give credence. After a few spins, he pulled her in closer, both of his hands on her waist. He held her for a long moment, their chests nearly touching, their eyes locked on one another. She licked her dry lips and then dipped her.

Mark righted Lizzie and took a few steps away. Back to colleagues, back to business, she tugged her jacket back down. It had been a fun moment in a strenuous and stressful day. And more than anything it summed up something that she’d come to grudgingly realize over the last week. They were a good team. They could move in sync.

“Okay, fine, the music is painful to listen to in this room,” Lizzie agreed, clearing her throat.

“And we didn’t even need you to start tap dancing to find that out,” Mark teased.

“Ha, true. Who knew you could dance?”

“There’s a lot more to me than you’ve figured out.”

“I should hope so,” Lizzie muttered under her breath.

Lizzie carried two venti mochas in a drink carrier down the tabby path to the office. The sun shone directly overhead in a bright blue sky with only a few clouds gathering across the marsh. As she watched, a few seabirds landed among the grasses before setting off quickly again.

She reached the door to the cottage and heard the hum of the window air conditioning unit. Lizzie sighed. She hated the constant noise that
drowned out the sounds of the birds in the marsh and the wind rustling the leaves of the live oaks. But the humidity made even thinking impossible without the cool blast of air, even in May.

Kicking the door with her heel, she heard Mark’s loud footfalls. The doorknob turned and the door opened. Mark smiled at her, took in the offering in her outstretched arms, and his grin grew wider. He stepped back and she brushed past him as she walked in. Warmth shot through her from the casual contact, making her right side tingle where she’d rubbed against him.

Heading straight ahead to put the drinks down, she took a moment to recollect herself and her thoughts. Since the first walk through at the convention center, the walls they’d erected between them had begun to crack.
At least I hope so
. No matter how obvious or childish bumping into him might be, she couldn’t help herself.
I like being close to him.

“You come bearing gifts.” Mark sat down at his desk and grabbed a mocha from the holder. “What’s the occasion?”

Biting her lip, she considered how to broach what she really wanted to discuss.
Mark, as you know, I’ve been working non-stop for special events and for the resort. I think I’ve earned a raise of… double my current salary. Or I’m going to have to hand in my notice
.

Taking a sip from her mocha, she stood at the window, her back against her desk. The dark clouds that had gathered over the marshes had already dispersed. Storms moved quickly over the ocean, often dissipating before any rain could fall.
I wish I could move on so quickly
. She sighed. Could Mark help her get a raise? Or was it wishful thinking on her part?

Mark cleared his throat.
Oh right, he’d been talking.

“The occasion is, I need to head over to the convention center. Do you want to come?” 

He groaned. “Do you need me too?”

“Yes. This is your event. If they don’t hire more event planners, I don’t know how much I’ll be able to help you with your next event.”
Or if I’ll even be here
. “I need to make sure you understand everything I’m doing.”

She took his grunt as agreement.

“Okay, let’s go.”

“Now?”

“Let’s get some fresh air. Maybe walk on the beach and get out of this box. Why don’t you like going over there?”

“I never said I don’t like going over there,” he mumbled.

Lizzie fought to keep her expression neutral. Rolling her eyes wouldn’t win her any favors and she needed him.

“Come on.” She grabbed her drink off her desk and turned to walk out of the office. Closing the door behind her, she took a few steps down the tabby path. After a minute, she heard Mark behind her.

“Ready?”

“Sure.”

“Great, but we’re taking my car.”

“Why?”

“Cup holders,” she teased, holding up her mocha.

He groaned again but didn’t offer up any other protest.

In deference to him, she lowered down her windows and opened the moon roof. Mark turned to look at her and she shrugged.
It’s hard to forget your love acclimating to the weather.
He chuckled at her deliberate gestures and Lizzie turned the key in the ignition and pulled out of the parking lot.

Bicycle lanes zigged and zagged across the landscape as they passed homes, hotels some languishing and some thriving and campgrounds.

“I should have known something was up when you didn’t bring your purse in,” he began. Looking at him from the side of her eye, she caught his half-smile. She knew the look well, she’d grown up seeing a similar smirk on her brother every time he teased her.

“Am I that obvious?”

“No, but the giant bag is.” He kicked the purse at his feet.

She rolled her eyes in mock annoyance but her giggle gave her away.
Teasing, I can handle
. Lizzie drove past the parking lots for the beach, past the picnic areas she always promised herself she’d take advantage of one day, and pulled into the circular drive of the convention center at the end.

“You ready?” she asked turning to him.

Reaching out a hand, Mark tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear. A delicious shiver coursed her body. She opened her mouth to speak, but no words came out. He kept his hand on her neck. The light pressure left her longing to rest her head on his hand. His touch heightened her awareness of him, his scent, the rough callouses of his palm on her smooth skin, and the slow smile that crept over his lips. She didn’t move or shake herself free from his grasp. A tap at the window behind him snapped them both out of the moment. Lizzie jumped when she saw Sam peering at them curiously through the window.

Mark muttered something under his breath.

She didn’t need or want to know what he was thinking.
Moment over
. That she easily deduced from his stony face and knit brow.
If only I could understand what’s happening between us.
Grabbing her purse from his feet, she didn’t let her hand linger. Swinging the bag over her arm, she got out of the car and slammed the door shut behind her. The heavy bag weighed her down. She probably carried an extra thirty pounds, but she couldn’t see how to lighten the load without ending up in a disaster. Someone always needed something.

I could really use a fan
.

“Okay Sam, I brought company today, as you can see,” she called out.

“I see. Mark. Hello, good to see you again,” Sam said in a happy tone that didn’t quite make it to his eyes.

“Sam, do you think you could walk us through where the cocktail reception and dinner will be held again?” Lizzie crossed her arms over her chest, feeling a slight chill in the cold expressions the men shared.
I don’t have time to figure out what’s going between them. Please everyone get along.
She gritted her teeth to stop from verbalizing her appeal.

“Of course.” Sam held one arm out, indicating he’d like Lizzie to lead the way.

“Hold on.” She opened her trunk and switched out of her heels for flip flops.

“Yes, I’m ready now,” she said, shutting the trunk.

Lizzie led the way towards the beach, over the dunes and onto the flat powder. She turned in a circle and surveyed the site. Not a bad location if Mother Nature agreed with their plans. In her experience, that was a big IF.

“Have you thought any more about joining my league this fall?” Sam stopped next to her, only inches away, forcing her to jump and take a step to the side. 

“You’re working hard to sell me on this aren’t you?” Lizzie arched an eyebrow. “Do you need a certain amount of girls?”

“Hardly, but we are down one team member.”

“As long as you pay out when I win the league,” Lizzie replied.

“Agreed,” Sam said and nudged her with his shoulder.

Mark cleared his throat and stepped between them, filling the void. “What did you want me to see?”

“Right, over here,” Sam began.

He walked Mark through all of the arrangements he and Lizzie had determined. Sam explained where the port a potties would be placed, how the area would be cordoned off from the concert and how the event would be staffed. They both had questions for Mark, relying on his experience with catering to determine what was needed for food service. After nearly forty-five minutes, they were all satisfied with the determinations that had been made. They waved goodbye to Sam and got back in the car.

“Lizzie, did you need me to come?” Mark asked as she pulled out of the drive and back onto the road.

“Of course I did, why wouldn’t I? This is your event. You need to be in the loop.”

He didn’t reply. Pulling the car off the side of the road, she turned towards him.

“We only have a couple more weeks,” she said.

“Sure,” Mark bit the word out.

Crossing her arms over her chest, she narrowed her eyes. His scowl focused out on something in the distance.
This is stupid. I can’t sit here all day with him, neither of us talking.

“What? What is it?” Lizzie poked his shoulder with the very tip of her index finger. 

“I don’t like that guy.” Mark batted away her hand and turned toward her.

“Sam? What’s wrong with him?”

“He’s too… All he’s doing is flirting with you.”

Lizzie chuckled. Rolling her eyes, she put the car in drive and got back on the road.
He sounds ridiculous. Almost like he’s…
She let the thought trail off.

“And you flirt right back.” Mark countered.

“I do not, give me a break.”

Is he jealous of Sam?
Why? I’m
not dating him. I haven’t even been out on a date in…
Thinking about her last night out, she hadn’t dated anyone since her parents had forced her hand and she’d moved to St. Simons Island two years ago.
But if Sam asks me on a date, why not? Mark isn’t going to…

“Are you going to join that guy’s league?”

Lizzie shrugged. “Why not? I’ve won a few leagues in the past and I think he still underestimates me. It’s not a bad hustle.”

“It’s a scam?” he asked, Lizzie watched his shoulders relax. He had been upset? Did Sam threaten him?

“More or less and it’s a hobby.”

“You seem to know a lot about hobbies.”

“Only the two,” Lizzie replied with a smirk as she kept her eyes focused on the road. 

“You and Rose have an interesting friendship. I don’t know that many older women who are friends with much younger women they aren’t related to.”

Gripping the steering wheel a little tighter, she didn’t quite know how to respond. Was his comment an insult or innocuous?
How many other orphans have you met?

“Yeah, I understand,” Lizzie replied nodding her head. She’d never have imagined befriending an older woman before meeting Rose. But she’d never known anyone as fearless or fun.

“Rose gets me. She’s supportive, she’s a lot of fun, and she isn’t afraid to call me out. I like that. I need that.”

Silence fell and she mentally kicked herself.
Rambling about yourself is no way to make a friend
her mother reminded her.

“Do you have someone like that?” Lizzie asked. “Man of no hobbies.”

“I do. My buddy owns a bar.”

“Oh,” she said, disapproval sneaking into the single syllable reply. She scowled.

“No, it’s not like that. I’m not a regular. I’ve known the guy forever he just happened to move here a few years back and started a business.”

“What’s his name?”

“Phil. He’s pretty much my family.”

She nodded.
I don’t know anything about him, do I?
She felt like an open book by comparison. Mark seemed more cautious, more circumspect. She imagined gaining his trust enough to be confided in was truly something earned.

“He’s a good listener, though, which I suppose is how he got into bartending.” Mark began, clearing his throat.

“It’s a useful skill for the profession, I’m sure. Rose is a good listener too.”

“And what do you two talk about?”

Lizzie flushed.
Oh, you know, when Rose isn’t talking about your butt she’s trying to get me to ask you out on a date.

“Go on, now you have me curious. What do you talk about?”

Her cheeks burned hotter. She rolled her window down a little. The coconut suntan lotion smell that permeated the beach and convention center drifted away as they drove closer to the historic district. She didn’t need to look over to see she had Mark’s undivided attention. She couldn’t shake the awareness, every hair on her arms standing on end.

“Yyo… You’ve come up before,” she relented, stammering on the words.

“But only in a professional capacity.” Lizzie rushed to clarify but her blush told the truth.

Pulling into the parking lot, she turned off the car. Lowering the visor, she opened the make-up mirror and grabbed the extra lip-gloss from her cup-holder. Carefully reapplying her lip-gloss, she ignored Mark. But his eyes on her only increased the temperature in the car. Either from embarrassment or anticipation she couldn’t be sure.

Twisting the cap back on the lip-gloss, she shut the mirror and raised the visor.

“We talk about Sam more,” she teased, turning to wink at him.

Mark chuckled. “Of course. I would too. He’s sooo interesting.”