Flirting with Boys by Abbott, Hailey (freda ebook reader TXT) 📗

“Don’t you have to keep mowing?” she asked.

Travis shook his head. “The gearshift’s busted on that mower. I have to go tell Dave anyway.”

They strolled together over the flat green desert grass.

Celeste rested her head on Travis’s arm. He took her hand and laced his fingers through hers. “Hey, let’s take a lunch break and go get some food,” he said.

Celeste hesitated. “Well, I’m not really supposed to take lunch until one… .” She stopped when she saw the laugh lines around Travis’s mouth.

“Oh, you’re having lunch with me,” he said, his face splitting into a grin. “Right now. I’m kidnapping you for turkey sandwiches.” In one movement, he scooped

Celeste up in a fireman’s carry and started trotting down the path. She shrieked, laughing hysterically, and beat on his back with her fists.

“Okay, okay, I surrender! I’ll let you feed me,” she yelled. She felt her foot hit something soft at the side of the path.

“Ooof!” someone said. Travis twirled around with Celeste still over his shoulder.

“Hey, sorry,” Celeste heard him saying.

“Travis!” she whispered. “Put me down!”

He set her on her feet. Dave was standing in the middle of the path. Celeste hastily tried to tuck some of the hair back into her braids.

“Travis, I was just coming to find all of you guys,”

Dave said, wiping his hands on a rag. “Mr. Tippen’s called an all-staff meeting for tonight. He wants to see everyone in the staff lounge after hours, nine o’clock.

And, Celeste, there’s a room service request that asked for you specifically.”

Celeste felt the smile drop slowly off her face. She sighed and nodded. “Okay, Dave. I’ll get right on it.” So much for the brief escape. Back to Pinyon life.

Chapter Six

Celeste!”

Celeste heard her name over the murmur of the

packed staff room and whipped her head around.

Through the rows of Pinyon employees, she could see Nick’s arm waving from the first row. Celeste halted.

Was he insane? Travis was standing right next to her!

What was he doing at a staff meeting anyway? She glanced up at Travis. His eyebrows were raised but he wasn’t saying anything … at least, not yet.

“Uh, here, Travis, you want to sit here?” Celeste pointed randomly at two chairs. If they sat down, they wouldn’t be able to see Nick smirking at them.

“Everyone, everyone! Your attention, please.” Dad was standing at the front. Celeste felt her phone buzz in her pocket and slid it out. Devon was texting her. Celeste kept one eye on her father and pressed read. CAN’T MAKE

STAFF MTG—HANGING OUT W/ STEFAN. TAKE NOTES 4 ME!

Celeste stuffed her phone into her pocket. Great.

Now she didn’t even have Devon for moral support. At the front of the room, Dad had started talking.

“I’ve called this all-staff meeting to discuss an important and exciting event that is going to take place at the resort this summer, and which will require the help and cooperation of everyone here.”

Celeste wondered what the heck her father could be talking about. Maybe they were finally going to install that infinity pool he’d always wanted. Except why would they do that in the middle of the high season? Maybe someone famous was coming to stay, like George Clooney or something.

“Many of you may know Larry Saunders and his wife, Kathy. They are not only longtime guests and dear friends of Pinyon, they are also movie producers with Blue Swan Productions in Los Angeles. Larry believes that Pinyon has a lot to offer his most recent venture—a new film festival held”—he paused dramatically—“right here at Pinyon Ranch!”

Everyone gasped, and whispers and murmurs ran

through staff. Then Rick started applauding, followed by the rest of the staff. Mr. Saunders took the floor, giving details about when the festival would be, how many days it would last, and what kinds of parties were planned for the different films, but Celeste barely heard him.

Holding a festival would mean that every guesthouse would be packed, and not just with average rich folks from L.A. Instead, they’d get all the Hollywood types: producers, directors, stars, and all of their guests. This was the kind of event that could move Pinyon from a minor player on the A-list to the very top. Basically, this festival was going to be the best thing to happen to the resort in its entire existence. And, she realized, a ton of work.

Celeste’s dad stood up at the front again. “Thank you, everyone, for your patience. Enjoy your evening.”

There was a general scraping of chairs and chattering as everyone got up and started collecting their things.

Celeste turned to her boyfriend, but before she could say anything she noticed with dismay that Nick was making his way through the crowd over to them.

“Uh, Travis!” she said suddenly. “Hey, look, Rick’s waving at us. Let’s go see what he’s up to tonight.” She grabbed Travis’s muscular forearm and tried to pull him toward the door.

“Isn’t this awesome news, Celeste?” Solomon, the cook, bobbed up in front of them, a grin stretching his broad face.

Celeste tried to do a feint around him. “Yeah! Yes! It’s totally cool, Solomon. Very exciting.” She could see Nick’s blond head getting closer.

“Hold on, Cel. I dropped my keys,” Travis said. He bent over to retrieve them as Nick bounded up. Trapped, Celeste stood helpless.

“Hey, beautiful,” Nick said. He was wearing a slim gray T-shirt that clung to his wiry shoulders, and his blond hair was falling into his eyes as usual. Travis froze, his back to them. Slowly, he turned around. Celeste winced. She could already see the warning vein starting to throb in the middle of his forehead. Celeste stepped in front of him.

“Hi,” she said in what she hope was a friendly but politely distant voice. “This is my, uh, boyfriend. Travis.”

Nick didn’t even glance at Travis. Instead, he fixed his eyes on Celeste’s face. “I’m really glad you’re going to be here to help with the festival, Celeste,” he said, dropping his voice a little and putting his hand on her shoulder.

She could feel his