Page 12 of Bad for Business (Pembroke Hills #2)

TWELVE

CAMILLE

“Are you having fun?” Jude Kensington’s voice pulls me from the article I was reading on my phone.

I look up, finding him sliding into the empty golf cart seat next to me. He wears a massive grin, his eyebrows lifted as he waits for me to answer.

I lift a shoulder, letting the hand holding my phone drop into my lap. “I wouldn’t say golf is my definition of fun.”

“Why don’t you give it a try?”

I frown, my gaze moving to where Ryker stands on the green, having a conversation with two of his friends. “Give golf a try?” I ask, looking back at Jude.

He smiles and nods. “Yeah. If you’re going to be stuck babysitting Ryker for the summer, I bet a lot of your time is going to be spent on the course. You could learn to golf and show all of us up.”

I can’t help but laugh at his words. “I’ve golfed here and there.

I’m not terrible, but I don’t enjoy it. And I’m not naive enough to think that I’d beat any of you in a round of golf.

I’d put money that at least one of you was on the golf team at boarding school.

And even if none of you were, you grew up on courses.

I won’t win, and I don’t like playing games I have no chance of winning. ”

Jude gives me a wolfish grin. “Competitive. I like it.”

I roll my eyes. He’s a flirt, but it doesn’t bother me as much as it typically would. I have zero interest in the guy, but something about him is likable. If I’m going to be stuck with these men for the foreseeable future, it’d be nice to have an ally in him.

“Yes. But not interested in competing with anyone in the group today. I’m a sore loser.”

“Did you know Preston Rhodes, right there, used to be the quarterback for the Manhattan Mambas?”

“I’m well aware,” I respond, eyes following the direction he’s pointing. “I’m a publicist, remember? I know Preston Rhodes. He’s had quite the last couple of years.”

Jude nods, the smile never leaving his lips.

Preston is now retired, but in his final year, he won the Super Bowl and then took his relationship public with an influencer named Emma Turner.

There was a period of time when you couldn’t open up any of the typical media sites without seeing their pictures plastered all over them.

“Well, Preston was also on the golf team at boarding school. So was Archer Moore. Preston quit to focus on football, but he does win most of the time.”

I look at the small group of men out on the course.

Ryker is busy lining up a shot, while behind him, Preston talks to Archer Moore—another member at the club who has more money than I could ever imagine.

I’ve met Archer and his wife, Winnie, a few different times, and they’re both incredibly kind, but I don’t know a lot about them.

They prefer to stay out of the media as much as possible.

“And what about you?” I ask, focusing back on Jude. “Are you any good at golf?”

His entire face lights up with the question. “I’m not too bad. Need me to teach you?”

I roll my eyes and focus back on my phone. “I’m good.” I nod toward my left. “It’s your turn, isn’t it?”

He laughs. “So you are paying attention.”

“Just because I don’t want to play doesn’t mean I’m not paying attention.” I point to where Ryker stands, talking to Archer. I can’t fully tell because he wears a pair of Wayfarer sunglasses, but I’m pretty sure he stares right at me and Jude. “It’s my job to keep a close eye on him, remember?”

Jude snickers before sliding back out of the seat. “Oh, I remember. And even if I didn’t, his complaining about you wouldn’t let me forget.”

Before I can respond, Jude saunters away. As he lines up his shot, he looks at me over his shoulder, his grin only growing. “Watch how it’s done, Camille.”

I’m so focused on shaking my head at Jude that I don’t even notice Ryker has closed the distance between us. He steps in my line of sight, blocking my view of Jude.

“What were you and Jude talking about?” he asks.

I look up at him and cock my head to the side. I stare right back at my reflection in the lens of his sunglasses. “Excuse me?”

He hooks a thumb over his shoulder. “Jude was just over here. What were you talking about?”

“Why does it matter?”

He clears his throat and scrapes a hand over his mouth. “It doesn’t. I’m just making sure you aren’t telling him anything you shouldn’t.”

I can’t help but laugh. He can’t be serious. “He asked if I wanted to golf. I told him no.” I make a shooing motion with my hand. “Now, leave me alone and get back to golfing. You were insistent on seeing your friends. Go see them.”

“Next time, I’m golfing alone. You’re annoying me.” He grabs onto the top of the golf cart and leans in, waiting for me to answer.

“No, you’re not. Don’t even try. Bye now.”

Ryker smiles before sliding into the seat of the golf cart. He gives no warning before pressing on the gas, sending my body jolting backward.

I can’t help but yelp as my shoulders hit the seat.

“Ryker,” I scold, my fingers tightening around my phone before it can go flying out of the cart.

“What? We have to get to the next hole.”

I glare at the side of his face, even though he stares at the path ahead. I want to wipe the smug grin right off his face. “You could’ve given me a warning.”

“And miss you screaming like that? No, thanks.”

I clutch the handle next to my hip for dear life. He’s driving awfully fast, considering the course is packed this morning. My hair whips around in the wind, some pieces getting stuck in the lip gloss I applied while waiting for them to finish the last hole.

Finally, Ryker slows down as he nears the starting point for the next hole. I relax a little, removing my hand from the handle and pulling the stuck pieces of hair from my mouth.

Just as I let my guard down, Ryker yanks the cart to the right, catapulting my body against his.

“What the hell!” I yell, my cheek pressing against his shoulder as he steers the golf cart straight again.

He chuckles, no hint of remorse in his demeanor. “Lost control for a moment,” he explains, tossing a look over his shoulder at me.

“Right,” I mutter, pushing myself off his body and sliding as far away from him as the seat will allow.

My phone vibrates as he guides the golf cart to the edge of the path and puts it in park. We both sit there, quiet for a moment, as we wait for the others to catch up.

TROY VAUGHN

Any updates?

CAMILLE

Things are going according to plan.

“Is your dad’s contact in your phone really his full name?” Ryker asks, his voice far closer than I was expecting.

I look up from my phone and narrow my eyes on him. “Don’t look over my shoulder. It’s rude.”

Ryker doesn’t move. He keeps his face way too close to mine, and a satisfied smirk graces his lips. “You’re talking about me. I should be able to know what you’re saying.”

I scoff and bring my phone close to my chest. There’s no way in hell I’m going to allow him to peek at my confidential conversations.

“That’s not how it works. Why are you being even more annoying right now?” I look over my shoulder to find the other men’s golf carts parked behind us. I bring my attention back to Ryker. “And you’re going to miss your turn.”

“What are you saying about me to your dad? Were you telling him how charming I am? Incredibly handsome? Oh…” His entire face lights up as his tongue darts out to wet his lips before he keeps going. “Did you tell him that the board will eat out the palm of my hand in no time?”

I frown, respecting his confidence but knowing we’re nowhere near the board eating out of the palm of his hand. I overheard two of Ryker’s board members talking about him this morning as I waited for him outside the men’s locker room.

I only heard bits and pieces of it, but they were discussing Ryker’s dad and wondering if he even believed in Ryker’s ability to take over the company. It’s not looking great at the moment, but that doesn’t mean we won’t be able to turn it around.

“Camille.” Ryker’s voice pulls me from my thoughts.

I sit up straight and focus on him. “What?”

“What’d you say to your dad about me? And why is his contact so professional?”

I decide to completely ignore the second part of his question.

The way my dad is labeled in my phone is truly none of his business.

For a moment, I weigh my options. I could lie to Ryker, or I could just tell him the truth.

Maybe if I’m honest, it’ll give him the kick in the ass he needs to take this summer seriously.

Deep down, I believe he wants to. Just everything with his mom has clouded his judgment recently.

“My dad thinks you’re a lost cause. That working with your family will just be a way for us to make money. He doesn’t believe in you, and he doesn’t believe in me.”

Ryker’s face falls. Normally, there’s a whisper of a smirk on his lips and a glint in his eye that makes it seem like he finds the world amusing. Neither are there right now. “What?” he asks, his voice quieter than normal.

He swallows, distracting me from answering him for a moment. I watch as his plump Adam’s apple moves up and down his throat.

“You heard me,” I finally get out, meeting his eyes once again.

I don’t know how I feel about this version of Ryker—the vulnerable one.

I think I prefer the annoying one. At least then, I know what to expect.

“My dad doesn’t think you have a chance of getting the board’s approval.

Therefore, we’re going to prove him wrong. ”

He leans back, his eyes focusing straight ahead. I follow his line of sight, taking in the scenic view of the golf course. The green leads right to the beach and the ocean. It’s stunning, and I can’t complain about the view I have while he golfs with his friends.

“Maybe I am hopeless,” Ryker mutters, his eyes still staring ahead.

I don’t even think. I react. I reach up and softly hit him on the back of the head. “No,” I scold. “Don’t think like that. You aren’t hopeless. We’re going to get it done, Ryker.”

He rubs the back of his head, his eyes wide as they connect with mine. “Did you just hit me?”

I roll my eyes. “ Please . It was barely a tap. You’ll be fine. Now, you have an enormous ego and an annoying amount of confidence. Bring back that Ryker, and let’s prove my father wrong. I know you have it in you to impress your board. And you’ve already told me you think you can. Let’s do it.”

Ryker smirks. “Is this you saying you believe in me?”

I purse my lips. “Don’t fish for compliments. You still annoy the hell out of me, and I wish I was stuck with anyone else this summer.”

Ryker’s smile gets wider. “But?”

“How do you know there’s a but?”

He lifts a shoulder coolly, not seeming to care that one of his friends is calling his name. “Because I know there is. What else were you going to say?”

I let out an exasperated sigh. “But I think you can impress your board. And as much as I hate to admit it, I need you. Without their approval, I’ll never become partner. I’m ready to prove my dad wrong. So get your shit together and start listening to me so we can prove everyone wrong.”

Ryker stares at me for a few seconds without saying a word. His grin doesn’t falter, and just as quickly as it came, the self- doubt that had crept into his features is gone. “Fine. But you’re still not in charge. We plan together. And I’m counting down the seconds until I can ditch you.”

I laugh and focus back on my phone. “You and me both.”