Meet Me in Myrtle Beach (Hunt Family Book 1) (7 page)

I took a deep breath and stared into her eyes. It was hard not to think about the whole conversation I overheard about Evan. "I brought some money," I said. "I don't want you have to pay my way after everything else you're doing. I haven't even done anything to earn it. I wish I knew what my job was."

"Your job is to have fun," she said with a smile. "Get a haircut, or a manicure, whatever else you want. Think of this as a gift. It's not part of the job." She paused and let out a sigh. "I like you, Paige and I'm glad you're here with our family. That's all there is to it."

In my heart, I was thinking there was a little more to it than that, but I just smiled. "I like you too," I said.

Chapter 10

I tried again to talk Diane out of giving me that cash, but she insisted, and I walked upstairs with five hundred dollars. It felt a bit wrong to take it—like she was paying me to seduce her grandson or something. I had to remind myself that I should have never heard that conversation, thus I should feel no guilt or pressure at all. I slid the money into my wallet, thinking about what it would be like to have a spa day.

I never got haircuts as a child, my dad just always did as best he could with a makeshift ponytail and called it a day. By the time I got old enough to want a real haircut, I already wanted to experiment with cutting it myself. I had long wavy hair that didn’t really show imperfections in cutting, so it didn't matter if I messed up a little. I'd literally never set foot in a salon, and was giddy with anticipation at the thought of it. I hoped the spa was the type of place that had salon services because I had no interest in spending my newly acquired financial blessing on having someone rub my back for an hour.

Charlotte, and her parents, Denise and Robert, arrived just before noon that day. Apparently, Logan had a few things to wrap up in LA before he could make it, but they said he'd be there later that evening.

I had been at the beach building sandcastles with Ryan and Cody when they arrived. We were in the middle of some serious construction when Christy yelled at us from one of the balconies. I thought I was about to meet Logan Ritchie for the first time, and my nerves went crazy as we walked up there. I'd already been on edge with Cody, but the idea of meeting someone I idolized as a child was unnerving to say the least. I was actually relieved when we got to the house and found out he wasn't there yet.

Denise's husband, Robert, was blond, and while Logan took more after his mom's side with dark eyes and hair, Charlotte favored her dad. She had blonde hair and light eyes, which made her stand out among her cousins.

I stood back while everyone hugged and got reacquainted. Of course, they went on and on about how big Ryan was, and showered her with kisses and tickles. Denise gave Evan a hard time about his hair and tattoos, calling him a hoodlum, and a menace to society, and other things like that, but all in a joking manner that had everyone laughing.

I could tell they were a really close family, and I smiled internally at my childhood visions of eating a big turkey dinner. After a minute, Cody introduced me as a friend of Dee-dee's, and I was subjected to a round of hugs from the California crew. Diane apologized for not making the introduction sooner, saying she'd been caught up in the moment and forgotten they didn't know me.

Denise, Robert, and Charlotte were as easy to get along with as the rest of the family. We stood there and caught up for several minutes before they took their bags upstairs to get settled in.

"Where am I sleeping?" Charlotte asked as she stood at the foot of the stairs.

"We're in the blue bedroom," Mia said.

Charlotte nodded as if she knew exactly what Mia was talking about.

"We're leaving at two!" Mia called as Charlotte turned to walk up the stairs.

Charlotte stopped in her tracks. "I'm hungry," she said. "Let's go early and get something to eat."

"I'm up for that," Mia said. "I'll go get dressed."

"Are you coming with us?" Charlotte asked, shooting me a sweet smile. I nodded, and she smiled before continuing up the stairs.

"What are you wearing?" I asked, looking at Mia since she said she was going to
get dressed
. To me, it looked like she was already dressed.

"I'm changing into something easier to get in and out of for the massage."

"I was just going to wear something casual," I said. "Is that okay?"

"Of course. You can come dig in my closet if you want. I always bring way too much, and I probably have something you'd like."

"That's really sweet," I said. "I might have to take you up on that if I run out of clean clothes."

"There's a washer and dryer in the mudroom, sweetheart" Christy said. "Just throw your dirty clothes down there and I'll make sure they get done."

"Yep," Evan said, coming to stand behind his mom with his arms wrapped around her. "Just throw your dirty clothes in there and they magically end up folded at the foot of your bed. It's amazing." He paused, and narrowed his eyes. "But somehow it only happens when Mom's around. Unfortunately, there's no magical clothes pile when I'm out with the EOC."

"That's why you come home smelling like medieval times." Christy said.

He laughed and shrugged. "Gotta do what you gotta do to save the world."

"A little body spray never hurt anybody," Mia said, laughing.

Evan picked up his arm, and put his nose to his armpit to take a whiff. "I smell good, don't I, Mom?"

She leaned in cautiously to put her nose a little closer to him. "Pretty good," she said.

"Pretty good?" he asked defensively, taking another sniff. "Get a good whiff. It smells like Dee-dee's shower gel in there."

He held his arm up and she leaned in a little closer. "Yep, it smells good," she confirmed.

"I can't believe you stuck your nose in there," Cody said, looking in the fridge.

"Can I smell?" Ryan asked.

"Of course!" Evan said.

But at the same time, Cody said, "No!"

Everyone laughed at their contradicting answers, but Evan picked her up anyway, and she put her tiny little nose to his chest and took a big sniff. "You smell good, Uncle Evan," she said.

"See?" he said smiling. "I told y'all." Cody peeked his head out of the fridge. "What do you want for lunch, Ry, a sandwich or some mac-and-cheese and fish sticks?"

She stared at Evan and put her hands on each side of his face. "A sandwich or fish sticks?" she asked, as if it was all up to him.

"A sandwich," he said.

She looked at her dad. "A sandwich."

"Are you gonna eat it, or are you just saying that because that's what Uncle Evan wants?"

"I'll eat it," she said.

"You might as well just get the stuff out, and we'll all make one," Diane said.

Cody started pulling things out of the fridge as everyone began bustling around the kitchen.

"We'll get something to eat with Charlotte," Mia said to me.

I nodded. "I'll go get ready and meet you guys down here in a little bit."

She and I took off to get dressed while the others ate lunch.

The three of us went to a café that was close to the spa. We sat down at an outdoor table with a huge umbrella providing shade. Two guys were sitting at a table next to us, and they kept looking over like they were on the verge of coming to start a conversation.

"Did I hear you ladies say you live on the golden mile?" one of them asked, finally leaning over to speak to us.

"We're there for the week," Mia said.

"We're practically neighbors, then," he said. They both turned their chairs so they could carry on a conversation with us. "I have the white house with lions at the iron gate," he said.

"You mean your
parents
have that house," Mia said.

He smiled at her tenacity. "I mean
I
have that house," he corrected.

"You're renting it for the week?"

He smiled. "I bought it, if you must know."

She laughed. "What, are you Bill Gates or something?"

"Something like that," his friend said. We all looked at his friend, who said, "Internet," as a way of explaining.

"Anyway," the guy said. "I thought since we're basically neighbors, you ladies might want to come to a party I'm having this Friday."

"You should come," his friend said confidently. "It's gonna be boss."

"We don't even know your names," Mia said.

"I'm Travis and this is Jackson. We have some friends staying with us from Australia, and we'd like to show them what the fuss is all about with American women."

"Oh, and we make the cut?" Mia asked. Charlotte giggled at that, but I just stared at them, wondering what they'd say.

"You most certainly make the cut," Travis said, letting his eyes fall on all three of us. "In fact, you three will be the standard to which all the others are compared."

"I'm sure you say that to all the ladies," Charlotte said, finally speaking up.

"Actually, he doesn’t," Jackson said. He shot us an expression that seemed to be sincere.

"I'm sure all three of these ladies know how compelling they are," Travis said. "They don't need us to sit here and tell them."

"Flattery will get you everywhere," Mia said.

He smiled. "Good. I hope it will get the three of you to my house this Friday."

"We might just have to walk down and see what these Australians are all about," Mia said.

Travis put his fist to his chest and made a face like he had been stabbed in the heart. "Ouch!" he said, making her laugh. "Are you close enough to walk, or would you like me to send a driver to pick you up?"

"We'll manage," she said.

"Where are you staying?" he pressed, since she didn't offer any details.

"Close enough to walk," she said, challengingly.

His smile broadened as he took her in. I could tell by the way they were looking at each other that they both enjoyed the banter. "I guess we'll see you Friday, then," he said confidently.

"I guess it's a possibility," Mia returned. "Can I bring my brothers?"

"As long as it means you'll be there."

"How about her?" Mia asked, gesturing at Charlotte. "Can she bring her brother?"

It was obviously an inside joke because everyone in America would kill to have Logan Ritchie show up at their party.

"You ladies can bring your brothers, or your uncles, or your dogs for all I care, as long as you get to my house." He slid a napkin onto our table. "Write down your names, and I'll make sure you're on the list."

"How about music?" Mia asked. "What sort of music will you have?"

He smiled at her and shook his head. "Why don't you let me worry about the party planning? All you need to do is show up."

We talked for a few more minutes before our new friends, Travis and Jackson, paid their check and left.

"They were cute," Mia said, once they were gone.

"Yeah, but I'm waiting for the Australians," Charlotte said. "I love accents."

"What if they're lying?" I asked, unable to believe that someone as young as Travis was able to afford one of the houses near Diane's.

"He's not," Mia said. "I heard Dee-dee talking to Dad about that house last night. I was just giving him a hard time when I asked if he was renting it. Dee-dee said it had sold to this young guy who had invented some game for your phone. I think Microsoft bought it or something." She stared at them as they walked to his car, which was a convertible Audi. "He's legit," she said.

"I don't care about an Audi, as long as I get one with an accent," Charlotte said. "Besides, his friend was totally checking you out," she added, looking at me.

"Me?" I asked with a hand to my chest. I shook my head.

"Yes he was," Mia agreed. "He was staring at you the whole time."

I smiled and shook my head, but I knew they were right. I had noticed that he was staring at me, too. "How'd I get stuck with the money-less, accent-less sidekick?" I asked with a silly, disgruntled expression.

They both thought that was hilarious.

We had a great time together. I would've never imagined that Logan Ritchie's sister and cousin would be so down to earth, but they were. We talked about everything under the sun as we finished our lunch, and I realized we actually had a lot in common.

I told them I hadn't had a haircut in a long time and was anxious to get that done while they got a massage. They got all excited about the possibility of me getting a makeover and gave specific instructions to the stylist about my hair and makeup.

I never dreamed an official haircut would feel so good. I leaned back into a luxurious shampoo bowl and got my head scrubbed by someone who really knew what they were doing—I had to stop myself from saying, "Ahhh, ahhh, ahhh," the whole time, it felt so good.

I almost fell asleep during the haircut too. I loved the feeling of someone combing my hair into meticulous sections and taking their time to make sure everything was even and perfect. I decided right then and there that I would definitely budget for real haircuts once I got a grown-up job.

My stylist turned me away from the mirror so I would be surprised by the final outcome. I was curious about her process and almost asked her to let me watch, but I went along with the surprise instead. I had a beauty school textbook that I bought at a garage sale when I was younger. I had gone through it a few times, and everything she was doing (from what I could feel) made sense with proper hair cutting techniques. It felt amazing to have someone put so much care into my haircut, and I was delighted to see the outcome.