Page 25 of Blame It on the Bikini (Ocean Shores #4)

"A mystery thriller about a woman who marries a man and then he disappears on their wedding night. She has no idea who he really is or was."

"Sounds interesting."

"It’s a page-turner. I was reading it last night and stayed up way too late to finish a chapter.

I'm almost done, and I think I know who the villain is, but I'm not quite sure, and that's my favorite kind of story when I don't really know what's happening, even though I think I do.

It's fun. What's the first book you ever read? "

As Grayson told her about the first book he remembered making an impact on his life, she settled into her seat, eager to know more about him, even if it was just what he liked to read. He seemed to feel the same way, and for the next hour, they chatted about everything under the sun.

He liked basketball because it was fast-paced and fortunes could change in an instant.

She told him there was nothing better than a day at the ballpark with a foot-long hot dog smothered in mustard and relish and the sun beating down on the field, the players battling to get a hit when most of the time they didn't.

They also talked about music and movies, their worst first dates, and their best memories from their childhood.

They actually had a lot in common when it came to family.

They were both only children. They both had fathers who were brilliantly successful and driven and mothers who had created separate passions for themselves, but at the end of the day were still happiest in their roles as corporate wives.

She wondered if Grayson would end up with someone like that, someone who knew his world and would be good at hosting client dinners and managing a big house. And she found herself asking that very question, a little surprised when the words came out, but she was curious.

"I haven't really thought about marriage," he said. "I'm thirty-three. I have plenty of time."

"But you must date, right? Do you have a girlfriend?"

"If I did, I wouldn't have kissed you," he said pointedly. "What about you? You're not seeing anyone, are you?"

"No. Same answer you just gave me." She paused. "Have you had any serious relationships?"

"I'm not sure how you define serious. I've dated off and on.

Some were relationships that lasted several months, but nothing beyond that.

Frankly, I find relationships to be a lot of pressure, and I have preferred to focus on business, especially with my dad wanting to hand off pieces of it to me.

I have to be at the top of my game. And I don't want to worry about disappointing someone because I'm taking a late meeting. "

"That makes sense. But at some point, you'll want more than business."

"Probably," he conceded. "When was your last relationship?"

"It ended right before I came here two years ago.

My boyfriend was also a lawyer, and he could not understand how I could walk away from my dad's firm when I was going to be on the fast track up the ladder.

He didn't support me at all. In fact, I started to realize that maybe he was more interested in attaching himself to my fast track than he was in having a loving relationship with me. "

"Sounds like you avoided a land mine."

"I think so. Since then, I've dated but I haven't met anyone I really connected with.

" She took a breath, making sure she didn't add the final two words that were hovering on her lips: until now .

Because they weren't dating, and while they had an undeniable chemistry and what she considered to be a pretty strong connection, they were definitely on different paths.

As a somewhat awkward silence fell between them, she knew she needed to change the subject. "Tell me about this building we're going to see."

"It's a vintage motel in Palm Desert, built in the nineteen twenties when the Hollywood stars would head to the desert in the winter.

In fact, I think a bunch of stars stayed there back in the day.

It's, of course, completely run-down now, but the bones are good, and I think I could give it a new life. "

"By renovating it? Or would you tear it down and build a luxury apartment building?"

"Actually, I was thinking about turning it into a development with a mix of affordable housing and retail space."

"When you say affordable housing, what exactly do you mean? Is that like three units are affordable and the rest are not?"

"No. The land the property sits on is quite large.

We could have two buildings, and the first floor of each building could be affordable housing, and the upper two floors would be market price.

The ratio would be about thirty percent, which I realize could be better, but I also have to pay for what I want to do. "

"I understand. It's good that you even want to do affordable housing. So many builders don't."

"To be honest, it's probably going to be required by the city, so I'm not being that generous.

Maybe I could improve the percentage to fifty-fifty.

It's just an idea at this point. I've seen the property in photographs but not in person.

Once I'm walking around, I'll know more about what I can do and what I want to do.

At the end of the day, it might not be the right project for my company.

My father isn't that excited about it. He thinks the desert is a harsh environment, and with summer temperatures into the 120s at times, the cost of utilities will be high.

It's also not centrally located to the music events and tennis tournament, so there are things to consider.

" He gave her an apologetic look. "Sorry if I'm boring you. "

"I'm not bored at all."

"You're being nice."

"No. I just like getting to know you, and it's fun to go on a road trip."

"It is fun," he agreed. "I don't usually look at my property evaluations as road trips, but this one is different. Have you done your research on Joshua Tree?"

"I have. But like you, I think I'll have even better ideas when I actually get there."

"Well, my part of this trip won't take too long."

"It can take as long as it needs to take, Grayson. I'll support you just as you're supporting me. That's what friends do."

"Friends, huh?" he muttered. "Never thought you'd call me your friend, Lexie. I'm not sure I like it."

"Because you'd rather be my enemy?" she asked in surprise.

He shot her a hot look. "Because I might want to be more than your friend."

She shivered at the intensity of his gaze, the shocking bluntness of his words.

"I shouldn't have said that," he muttered, looking away. "I don't know why I did."

She didn't know why he had said the words, either, but she was happy to know she wasn't alone in the way she was feeling. But she also didn't know what to do about it, and he didn't seem to know, either.

As Grayson pulled into the parking lot of the Desert Palms Motor Lodge, he almost wished it had taken them longer than two hours to get there, because he'd enjoyed talking to Lexie.

The conversation had flowed fast and easy through most of the trip, until he'd created an awkward tension between them, but hopefully they would get past that.

And he couldn't worry about that now. It was time to get down to business.

The lodge sat like a time capsule in the desert sun, its pink stucco walls and turquoise trim faded and dirty, probably from many a desert dust storm whipping up the dirt lots on either side of the property.

As he stepped out of the car, the heat hit him hard, already nearing eighty degrees.

"It's hot," Lexie commented as she came around the front of the car.

"We are definitely in the desert, and this place has seen better days.

But like you said, there's an old Hollywood kind of vibe to it.

" She paused as a white SUV pulled into the parking lot, and a tall, thin blonde, wearing a short, sleeveless dress got out of the car.

"Is that the agent?" Lexie asked. "She looks like a movie star."

"Yes," he said as Paula Conroy walked over to greet them. She had a leather bag slung over her shoulder and a thick folder in her hand.

"Sorry, I'm late, Mr. Holt."

"That's fine. This is Lexie Price."

"Nice to meet you," Paula said with a cool smile in Lexie's direction. "Have you looked around?"

"Not yet. We just got here."

"Then I'll show you around. Follow me. I'll show you the pool area first."

She led them through an iron gate that was swinging on one rusty hinge into a large area with palm trees still swaying above the empty swimming pool. There were old barbecues and picnic tables under a broken-down wooden canopy, as well as a large grassy area that was overgrown with weeds.

"Back in the day," Paula continued, "they used to show movies on that wall.

" She pointed to the white wall, which was the back side of the building.

"The grass was trimmed. The barbecues were smoking.

The bar area was active, and drinks were being served to all the guests.

Of course, that was like sixty years ago, but there are still some people who remember this place in its prime.

" She took a breath as her phone rang. "Excuse me for one minute. I have to take this."

As Paula moved away to take her call, he looked at Lexie, who was wandering around the area and was now staring at the big white wall, actually not so white anymore. "What do you think?" he asked as he joined her.

"The possibilities are endless. I like the image of movies being shown outdoors.

What if you incorporated a small outdoor theater into your plans?

It would be a fun and interesting addition, and unlike anything most apartment complexes have.

And if you're going to have kids as residents, maybe a play yard over there," she said, pointing to a weed-filled area.

"Or you could have an organic garden and let the tenants plant what they want. That could be beautiful."

He loved the way her creative mind worked, seeing the potential of something old and run-down and not thinking it should be demolished, but restored and turned into something incredible.

"But you probably have your own ideas," she said as she ran out of breath. "Sorry to ramble on like that."

"I asked you what you thought, and your ideas are good. You have a way of looking at the world that's rather unique."

"Would you mind if I took a few photos? I think this place could provide some intriguing shots. But I need to get my camera out of the car."

He tossed her the keys. "Go for it."

While Lexie went back to the car to grab her camera, Paula rejoined him.

"Sorry about that," she said. "Do you want to take a look at the other side of the property? I do have a key to inside the building, but there's not much to see."

"Let's take a peek anyway." For the next twenty minutes, he checked out every inch of the property, his own imagination firing up with ideas.

He caught glimpses of Lexie shooting pictures of the front of the building, the broken-down sign, and the old, rusted fountain that probably hadn't worked in fifty years.

Paula talked about price per square foot and what else was happening on the adjoining properties and then launched into a sales pitch. He'd heard most of it before and appreciated her enthusiasm, but he would still need to run the numbers himself.

"I think I'm good," he said finally. "Thanks for meeting me."

"Happy to do it," Paula replied. "And I hope to hear from you soon."

"I'll be in touch." He caught up with Lexie at the car. She looked hot and flushed in her sleeveless top and jeans, but her eyes were bright with energy and enthusiasm.

"We can go," he said, opening the car door. "I don't know about you, but I'm ready for some air-conditioning."

"More than ready."

As they got into the car, he lowered the temperature and cranked up the fan, then pulled out of the parking spot. "Next stop, Joshua Tree."