Page 26 of #Resort Love (Lakeview Harbor #1)

“I keep in touch with my foster parents, but they moved to Montana to be near their grandkids, so…” He shrugged. “It’s just me.”

Harlow could totally relate, but she didn’t mention it. She hated talking about her family because they were awful and it usually led to some uncomfortable conversations.

“Where’s everyone else coming in from?” Harlow asked.

Beside her, Walker didn’t answer, so she looked over at Axel.

“Connor’s coming from Boston, Milo’s coming from Seattle, and Slater’s coming in from either Alaska, Colorado, or Wyoming.”

“He lives in three different places?” she asked with amusement.

“No, he works for one of those adventure travel companies and he runs guided tours in like a dozen different places. He’s going to come here and create some amazing activities and tours for guests of the resort.

You know, something beyond sitting around a firepit or doing catch and release fishing. ”

“I always enjoyed the catch and release fishing,” she murmured.

“You’ve made your point, Harlow,” Walker said stiffly, and without looking at her. “You don’t approve of anything we’re doing. Got it. Message received.” And without another word, he got up and walked away.

She looked over at Axel, but he didn’t seem in any rush to get up and go after him, which she thought was odd.

“Don’t you think you should go after him?” she finally asked.

“Nope. But if you ask me, you should.”

Her eyes went wide. “Me? Why?”

Resting his arms on the table, Axel explained, “You’ve got him tied up in knots, Harlow. I don’t know all the specifics about what went down between the two of you, but whatever it was, it’s weighing heavily on him.”

She snorted with disbelief. “I don’t see why. We both agreed that we have nothing in common. I don’t like what he’s doing with the resort, and he clearly doesn’t like it when people disagree with him.” She shrugged. “I thought we parted amicably.”

“I’ve known Walker for over twenty years and I’m telling you, you need to talk to him. And that’s all I’m gonna say.”

Harlow turned and looked around, but she couldn’t find him. “Did he leave?”

“I hope not,” Axel said with a laugh. “He’s my ride!”

Groaning, she slid out of the booth. “Fine. I’ll go find him. The big baby.” When she stood, she said to Gwen, “Watch my purse. I’ll be right back.”

Once she stepped outside, she spotted him right away. He was pacing along the side of the pub near the parking lot. When he saw her coming, he shook his head, and she swore she heard him groan, so she decided to go for a little humor.

“Couldn’t you come up with your own move?”

He frowned. “Excuse me?”

“Getting up and storming out of a restaurant is my thing,” she said simply. “You don’t get to just steal it.”

She thought for sure that he would have at least smiled a little bit, but he didn’t.

“What is your deal?” she demanded. “That was pretty childish to get up and walk out on your friend.”

“My friend?” he asked sarcastically. “In case you haven’t noticed, he’s been doing everything possible to annoy the shit out of me!”

“Isn’t that what friends do sometimes? I mean, come on, Walker. You can’t be that uptight.” She paused. “Are you mad because he asked us to come and join you?”

“Yes!” he shouted, totally surprising her with his honesty. “Why would you even agree to it? I thought we were both okay with not seeing each other again.”

He had her there, but did she really want to admit that she accepted Axel’s invitation just to spite him?

“It would have been a crazy long wait for a table,” she lied. “And he seemed super friendly, and I didn’t think it would be a big deal. We’re both adults, and this is a small town. Chances are we’re going to run into each other from time to time.”

“Not if I don’t leave the resort,” he mumbled.

“Oh my God, you did not just say that!”

His gaze was hard and steady and if he thought he was going to intimidate her, he was sadly mistaken.

“I’m not going to apologize for how I feel about what you’re doing.

I’m allowed to feel however I want. Does it suck because it means there obviously can’t be anything between you and me?

Yes! As much as I probably shouldn’t say this, I wouldn’t have minded seeing if what…

you know…we had could have been a little more than just a one-night stand. ”

“Two nights.”

A smile tugged at her lip. “Yes. Two nights.” Sighing, she moved closer to him.

“Between my feelings about what you’re doing to the resort and the fact that your grandparents warned you about me—which I still can’t believe—we never stood a chance.

So…can’t we just call a truce and get through the meal? ”

Rather than answer, he raked a hand through his hair and paced away a few feet before turning and facing her again. “This wasn’t supposed to happen,” he said stiffly. “Meeting you…finding out you’re the agent who’s been calling my grandparents…it complicated everything.”

She moved in close again. “Okay, I get that, but I can’t change it. I can’t change who I am or what I do. Or did. I’m not going to bother your grandparents and I know the property isn’t for sale. What more do you want from me?”

The look in his eyes was tortured. “I wish there wasn’t this…this… thing between us, Harlow. You have no idea how much it bothers me.”

“Which part? That I disagree with your plans or the fact that there’s this sexual attraction?”

For a moment, he didn’t say anything. Then, before she knew it, he reached out, cupped her face in his magnificent hands, and kissed her. Harlow pressed up against him, wrapping her arms around him. It was wild and needy, untamed and exciting. It was wrong, and yet right.

It was everything.

She wanted to wrap herself completely around him, wanted to feel him stretched out on top of her as he touched her in all the delicious ways she knew he could.

Just as she was getting lost in the fantasy, Walker tore his mouth from hers and stepped away, muttering a curse.

So much for the fantasy…

“I’m sorry,” he muttered. “That totally didn’t help the situation.”

“It would have if you didn’t stop,” she said flippantly, and was surprised when he actually laughed. She was even more surprised when he pulled her into his embrace and simply held her.

Damn.

She could handle the snob.

She could handle the arrogant jerk.

And she could definitely handle the sexy lover.

But the nice guy? Yeah. She wasn’t sure what to do with that.

So, for a few moments, she just held on and savored the moment. It was going to be gone way too soon. With her head against his chest, she could hear his heartbeat and it was racing just as much as her own.

“This sucks, Walker,” she whispered.

“I know.”

Not that it mattered. There wasn’t a solution. She wasn’t going to just get over her feelings about everything, and he certainly wasn’t going to change all his plans just to appease her.

That left them right back where they were that day in the parking lot.

But for tonight, they could enjoy some dinner with friends. And when it was time to leave, she could walk away knowing that all this emotion wasn’t one-sided.

Slowly, she maneuvered out of his arms and took his hand.

“Come on. Our friends are waiting and our food is probably already on the table. And I don’t know about you, but I hate a cold burger.” All she could do was force a smile she didn’t really feel, and she could tell he was doing the same.

Back inside, she let go of his hand and smiled at Gwen and Axel as she approached the table.

“Sorry about that,” she said as she sat back down.

“Everything okay?” Gwen asked.

Harlow nodded. “We’re good. Thanks.”

Walker came and sat back down beside her just as Beth came over with their appetizers. She was about to reach for some of the dip when he gently grasped her hand under the table and gave it a small squeeze.

It was such a small and simple gesture and yet…it felt like so much more.

Unfortunately, she couldn’t focus on that right now. Axel was asking about some of the local businesses, and Gwen was busy explaining where the most popular places were in town. Harlow chimed in because pretty much all the businesses were small, but they definitely had some that people flocked to.

And she avoided mentioning how many more businesses used to be here before the resort closed down.

No need to go down that road again and start a whole new argument.

“There’s a great ice cream place that’s been here for years,” Harlow told him. “I believe they’re on their third generation. The ice cream is homemade and so damn good!”

“Oh, and they serve sandwiches and stuff too,” Gwen added. “And right next door is a bookstore—The Lit Loft. I know most people either read on their tablets or order their books online, but there’s something to be said for walking around a bookstore and holding the book in your hands.”

“Yeah, uh…I’m not much of a recreational reader,” Axel commented.

“It’s still a fun little shop to browse around,” Harlow said with a smile before looking at Walker. “What about you? Recreational reader?”

He didn’t look nearly as grumpy. “Depends on my mood. I don’t mind a good mystery or thriller once in a while, but it’s not my go-to hobby.”

And just like that, the lingering tension seemed to fade away. They talked about the town, the shops, all the places they would find helpful during the renovations. It wasn’t the kind of night she would have preferred with Walker, but if this was all she could get, she’d take it.