The Billionaire Next Door (Billionaire Bad Boys #2)(48)

Rachel had personally witnessed worse behavior in a rush of this size. She doubted the staff was an issue. Tag was nothing if not a people person, and watching the way he’d engaged with Greg told her he was both respected and admired.

Tag greeted each of the bartenders by name, informed them that Greg was taking a look at the swim-up bar today, and then ordered two drinks.

“Want me to bring them out?” the woman he’d called Karina asked. She was the one who had eyed their joined hands with interest. Her almond-shaped eyes darted to Rachel briefly before zooming back to Tag.

“No. You’re too busy,” he said. “We’ll wait.”

“I’ll get it,” another bartender offered.

Karina appeared taken aback but let it go.

Rachel was getting some vibes from the other woman where Tag was concerned. Once the male bartender handed over the drinks, Tag accepted them and they navigated through the crowd again. He didn’t explain to guests why he’d cut the line and helped himself to drinks, and didn’t seem to care.

“People are looking at us.” She flinched when a few dirty looks skated her way.

“It’s because you look hot in your dress,” he said, his long legs taking them to an unoccupied cabana off to the side of the pool. On it rested a gold-plated RESERVED sign. “You can toss that underneath,” he instructed with a smile. “It’s for us.”

“Membership has its privileges.” She dropped the sign in the sand. Her eyes went to the closed swim-up bar. “Don’t you want to handle that first?”

With genuine confusion, he tilted his head. “I did. You saw me talk to Greg.”

“You don’t want to question any other bartenders? Maybe talk to the hotel staff?”

“You have to give people a chance to prove themselves, Dimples. Greg’s a big boy. If he screwed up, he can fix it. If he doesn’t fix it, I’ll take the next step.”

She wasn’t able to argue his simple yet impressive logic.

Simple yet impressive. Just like him.

Hands full, he nodded. “Climb in.”

She did, kicking off her shoes and propping her legs on what was basically an outdoor bed. White privacy panels were draped on all four sides but tied back to give them a view of the ocean and the mountains beyond.

“It’s incredible here.” She pulled in her first deep breath of warm air and accepted her cocktail: pink with a chunk of pineapple, a cherry, and a slice of mango floating in it. “This is pretty.”

“If I said ‘so are you,’ would you think it was a line?” Tag’s drink was a mojito, mint leaves and lime floating on the surface. He sat next to her, propping himself on the wide pillows arranged at the head of the cabana.

“Probably.”

“Well, far be it from me not to live up to your expectations.” His eyes dashed to her lips before he took a gulp of his drink. She watched as his bottom lip swiped a few droplets from his upper lip. He had the best mouth she’d ever felt.

“Wait. What’d that mean?” She frowned.

“You think this is my game?” He gestured with the cup. “Get you here, get you out of your clothes.”

She let out a slightly uncomfortable laugh, then challenged him with “What if that’s my game? Come here and get you out of your clothes?”

“Is it?” He smiled full-on, white teeth and arched eyebrows, the whole huge, hunky package glistening in the tropical sunshine.

She muttered a noncommittal “I’m not answering that” and they enjoyed their drinks in silence. Comfortable, companionable silence, the likes she’d never experienced with a guy she was dating. If what they were doing could be called dating.

“These drinks are huge,” she said, shifting the subject to the other reason she was here. She fully intended on working, not only flirting with Crane Makai’s head honcho.

“Cranes don’t skimp.” He bottomed out his drink, having no problem finishing it in record time.

“Maybe you should consider sizing them down. It would help for repeat business, and in this heat, keep everyone with a cold beverage.” Her iced drink had already warmed in her palm.

He canted his head to take her in. “You don’t waste any time.”

“This is why I’m here.” She turned to look at the ocean before she accidentally added that she was also here for him.

“What else did you notice?” He rested a cool hand on her knee. When she looked at his palm, he slipped it higher up her thigh, stopping short of inappropriate-in-public.

“Um.” Words. She spoke English. Where were her words? “The layout of the bar isn’t conducive to this many guests. Even with the swim-up bar open, patrons will probably choose not to drink or they’ll sneak in their own liquor rather than wait in the line.” She told him her earlier observations, building on them as she described the way the crowd was hot and sweaty and smashed together. How there was no room to maneuver and no way any of the bartenders were making good tips since they would be blamed for the delays. “Clearly, you don’t have a staff problem. They’re efficient, friendly.”

“They are. Karina’s been here from the start. Hired her myself.” He smirked, proud.

“She watches you.” Rachel sneaked a peek over her shoulder and spotted the back of Karina’s sleek hair. “Did you two…? Never mind.”