Page 6 of The Seascape Between Us (The Men of Saltwater Cove #4)

Chapter Four

Grey

F or the rest of the afternoon, I sat at the small, flimsy round table next to the window with my laptop open, determined to focus on work and put the weird exchange between Daniel and me out of my head.

So far, I hadn’t had much luck. Instead of reviewing the reports Finn sent for the property he’d inspected yesterday, I found myself peering out the window, watching slate-colored waves churn against the wet sand and the handful of people willing to brave the cool, damp weather on the boardwalk.

And, of course, replaying the argument I’d had with Daniel over and over again in my head.

Admittedly, I’d instigated the argument.

When I’d decided to stay here overnight to get a feel for the place, it had been in good faith.

I’d wanted to see if I’d been too rash, choosing to sell, or if there was maybe something here to be salvaged.

And if I could poke a little at Daniel, all the better. As usual, I’d clearly taken it too far.

Though, the sight of him wounded and angry, like he was the one who was lied to and cheated on, had only fueled the anger spreading through me fast and hot like wildfire.

If you grind me under your heel, will that finally make you happy? What did I ever do to you to make you hate me this much?

On one hand, his words brought a strange twist of shame, and on the other, I don’t know how I didn’t take a swing at him right then. What did he ever do ? He’d lied about his friend, who he’d been fucking around with the whole time we were together.

Did he not know I had found out about him and Ryan? Maybe not. I’d never told him, after all. I just left Saltwater Cove feeling like the world’s biggest fool, something inside me broken and lost forever.

Or maybe he’d just meant it had been seventeen years; we’d both barely been more than kids when we were together, and we needed to move on. I needed to move on.

I sighed and rubbed my eyes with the palms of my hands.

What was I really doing here? No matter how good or bad my stay was, I had no intention of keeping this hotel, so why put myself through this?

I already knew the answer. I hadn’t been able to stop thinking about Daniel, and those last moments before he had all but fled from my room weren’t exactly making it easy to stop.

I just couldn’t get the image of him standing so close, our bodies were practically touching, out my head.

Instead, every time I closed my eyes, I could see the lines of his face drawn tight and angry while he glared down at me.

Then his gaze had dipped to my mouth, his lips parted, and for just a second, I thought he’d kiss me.

A warm shiver slithered through me at the thought, but I ignored it.

After all, I didn’t want Daniel to kiss me.

Not really. It was one thing to jerk off to the image of me fucking him bent over on the desk in his office, and something very different to feeling his lips pressed to mine for real. My dick twitched in agreement.

I had to stop thinking about him like that, especially knowing we were essentially under the same roof. Forget seventeen years and water under the bridge. It was safer for me to hate him.

My stomach let out an angry growl. A welcome distraction from my dangerous thoughts. I hadn’t eaten since breakfast this morning. Though I didn’t hold out much hope that the dining room would be any better than the rooms, I should probably check it out while I was here.

After putting my laptop away, I changed into a dark blue suit. I didn’t bother with a tie. The hotel’s restaurant was fairly casual, and I was probably overdressed for it, anyway.

When I made my way to the dining room, there were only two tables with diners, both elderly couples. That didn’t bode especially well for the restaurant or my dinner.

“Grey?”

At the sound of my name, I looked up. Alistair, Finn’s boyfriend, was making his way over.

Shit. Just my luck. I hadn’t considered the possibility that he might be working when I’d decided to pack up and stay the night here.

No doubt, he’d tell Finn I’d been here tonight, and Finn was already suspicious that Daniel and I shared a past. I should probably expect a call from him first thing tomorrow.

Hell, maybe even tonight, depending on what time Alistair got off.

“I didn’t make a reservation,” I said once Alistair stood next to me. “I hope you can fit me in.”

He grinned. “I think we can accommodate you.”

After grabbing a menu, he led me to a table next to the rounded windows and a view of the sea—still visible even in the rapidly darkening twilight.

“I’m surprised to see you here,” Alistair said, handing me the menu.

“Aren’t you surprised to see anyone in here?” I deflected.

He shot me a pointed smirk. “The restaurant’s not that dead, and the food’s pretty good.”

“I guess I’ll find out.”

“So, why are you here?” He asked, refusing to be derailed.

I grinned. Alistair was pretty cool. I’d given Finn endless shit about the guy when they’d first started dating.

With over a ten-year age gap, I honestly didn’t think they’d have anything in common or would last more than a few months, but they were good together.

They genuinely loved each other, and Alistair was fantastic with Finn’s six-year-old son, Will.

I’d been wrong. Rare, but not entirely unheard of.

“Why is anyone here? This is a restaurant. I’m hungry. It makes sense.”

Clearly not buying it, Alistair’s gaze narrowed, and he cocked his head to one side. “Does Finn know you’re here?”

“You do realize Finn works for me, not the other way around.”

“So, he doesn’ t know.”

I leaned back in my chair, folding my arms over my chest. “He’s not my parent. He doesn’t say what I can or can’t do. Besides, I’m staying here because of you.”

His eyes widened. “Me?”

“Weren’t you the one talking about the hotel’s impact on the community?” Well, he and Daniel both, but no point in getting into all that.

“I’m not sure dinner is the best way to make that determination. You may want to check out the things Daniel does for the community as a start—”

“So listen,” I said, cutting him off before he could really get going with tales of Saint Daniel. “I like you well enough, but having my friend’s boyfriend wait on me is awkward.”

“I’m a waiter. That’s literally my job to wait on people.”

“Still… awkward, and I’m not sure I can be objective. Can you get someone else?”

He shook his head. “I’m the only server in tonight.”

“Just ask Daniel to do it?”

What are you doing? A voice in my head all but screamed.

I didn’t have an answer. Maybe I was secretly a masochist. But it wasn’t just me I’d be torturing.

Daniel played a big part in this fiasco too.

After the exchange in my room, I wanted to keep pushing, prodding, gauging Daniel’s reactions while I tried to guess what was happening in his head.

“You’re serious about this. You want me to ask Daniel to serve you?” He sounded skeptical, like he wasn’t sure if I was telling him the truth or not.

“Like I said, objectivity,”

He shook his head and shrugged. “If that’s really what you want, I’ll find Daniel.”

“Perfect.” I clapped my hands together. “Oh, and if you could bring me a whiskey neat while you’re tracking Daniel down, that would be great.”

“Sure.” Alistair chuckled and left my table, presumably in search of Daniel.

While I waited, I read through the menu, which shockingly didn’t look too bad. It was varied without being too much, and the dishes were a decent mix of modern and classic favorites. I glanced up at the other diners, who were all eating. Their food didn’t look too bad.

“Your drink, sir ,” Daniel said, setting the glass of amber liquid on the table before me. “Have you decided what you’d like?”

He had that pinched annoyed look tightening his features again, and he stood well back from me as if he were trying to keep his distance. Had he almost kissed me before? Did he still want to?

The possibility shouldn’t have pleased me the way it did, but I couldn’t help myself.

I lifted my drink and took a long swallow. The whiskey, better than I’d been expecting, burned down my throat and warmed my stomach. After setting my glass down, I looked at Daniel. “What do you recommend?”

He glared. “I don’t know what you like.”

There’d been a time when that wasn’t true, when I would have said that no one knew me better than Daniel—even if it had only been for a few months. A wave of sadness rolled through me. The last seventeen years felt strangely wasted, though I couldn’t have said why, exactly.

I cleared my inexplicably tight throat. “I like everything. What are your favorites?”

His gaze narrowed as if he expected a trap, but he took a step closer and pointed to some dishes on the menu. “The salmon is good. The lobster mac and cheese or the ribeye if you don’t want seafood.”

“I think I’ll have the salmon then, and the calamari to start.” I ordered wine as well, not bothering to ask him for a recommendation. He’d probably think I was setting him up to fail. Though why I should care what he thought, I couldn’t say.

Without another word, he left my table, leaving me alone in the dining room. While I’d been giving Daniel my order, one of the other couples in the restaurant had left, and Alistair was clearing away their table. The other couple was lingering over coffee.

I turned to the window next to me and drained the rest of my drink. On an empty stomach, the whiskey was hitting me fast, leaving me warm and a little fuzzy. I’d have to be more careful with my wine, at least until I got some food in me.

Outside, it was completely dark now. Only the soft glow from the lampposts at the edge of the boardwalk lit the inky black along with the silver half-moon high overhead, reflecting off the rippling, oily waves.