Irritation skittered over her skin, tightening every nerve. Amanda forced a fake smile, refusing to make a scene at this event. “I’m working,” she said through gritted teeth.
Tori glared at her, her gray eyes turning into angry slits. “Not if I have anything to say about it.”
“You have nothing to say about it,” Amanda replied. “You did your work, you wrecked enough things for me, now get out of my way.”
One eyebrow tipped up. “Wrecked things for you? We lost the outsourcing, and Jared dumped me.”
Smart man. “Sorry to hear that.”
“Are you? No doubt you’ll be after him next.”
“Actually...” Amanda had to bite back a laugh. “There’s plenty of doubt. I’m not interested.”
Tori leaned in close enough that Amanda caught a whiff of beer on her breath. “Does Lacey know? Does anyone else at Casa Blanca know? It wasn’t hard to find out you’re still married to Mr. Wanted By The Law.”
“Mandy Mitchell!” They both turned at the exclamation, Tori inching back and Amanda almost dancing for the reprieve. A beautiful young woman with long black hair stepped forward, her dark eyes focused on Amanda. “You don’t remember me, do you?”
“I’m afraid...wait.” Amanda took in every detail of the woman’s striking, unforgettable and exotic looks, but couldn’t remember her name.
“Frankie.” The woman put her hand out. “Frankie Cardinale. I was a freshman when you were a senior, so you probably don’t remember me.”
The name was familiar, but she really couldn’t place a memory. “I’m sorry, I don’t.”
“Well, I remember you,” she said, nodding.
For a moment, Amanda froze, waiting to hear of some horrible mistreatment she’d done back in her glory days.
“Don’t tell me, she kicked you off the cheerleading squad for being too pretty.”
The woman looked at Tori like she had an extra head. “Not by a long shot. My locker was by yours, Mandy. Because of some mistake, I was the only freshman in that hall.” She gave Amanda a slow smile. “You were the only senior who gave me the time of day during what was a really challenging year for me.”
Tori let out a little snort of disbelief.
“Oh! I do remember you,” Amanda said, returning the smile, seeing a scared, dark-haired little girl in her memory. She reached out a hand to Frankie. “And I’m glad you’re here.”
“Mandy’s glad because it gives her more work to do,” Tori said. “She’s on staff at the resort. A maid.”
Frankie nodded, her interest piqued. “Cool. I’m trying to meet people who work here because...” She let her voice fade as a low thumping filled the air and all around, people started looking up to the sky, a crowd-wide cheer of excitement rising.
Amanda turned to the sunset, which often elicited applause, but this was different. The sound walloped through the air, drawing her gaze to the helicopter that hovered directly overhead.
For one long moment, Amanda stared slack-jawed and suddenly filled with so much hope she could taste it. Was it possible that—
“Well, someone wants to make a grand entrance,” Tori said wryly.
Yes, someone did. Amanda’s traitorous heart leapt into her throat as she closed her eyes and let the thudding blades match her pulse. He was coming back for her!
She fought the urge to run out and wave him down, watching the chopper dip left and right, zooming over the crowed and getting a huge hoot of pleasure from everyone around. Lots of glasses were raised, and people clapped and hollered, the sound deadened by the blood rushing in Amanda’s head.
Once again, the bird tipped to either side, turned and flew over the crowd as if...he was looking for someone. Looking for...her?
Stop it. Stop it, she ordered herself. She hated the slow heat that crawled over her, hated the expectation and thrill that clutched her heart and wouldn’t let go.
Suddenly, the helicopter popped higher into the air and flew to the north.
“Is he leaving?” someone called out.
No, Zeke! Don’t leave! Amanda squeezed the tray so tightly it could have cracked in her hands. It had to be him. Who else? He was—
“Looking for a place to land!” another voice announced.
“Who is it?” a couple others called out.
Amanda squinted into the setting sun to see Lacey and her group, but they all seemed as surprised as anyone. Lacey even covered the ears of her crying baby.
Even this far away, Amanda could feel the pulse of the wind as the chopper dropped down on a deserted section of the beach. As though drawn magnetically, the crowd turned, and many started walking toward the new arrival.
“Let’s go see,” Frankie said, putting her hand on Amanda’s arm. “Don’t you want to know who from Mimosa High can afford to take a helicopter to the party?”
She ignored Tori’s gaze locked on her. Only one man could...
No. She refused to let this hope steal her very breath. But how could she not? How could she not wish and dream that he rode in for her?
Still carrying her tray, Amanda let Frankie lead her with the crowd, closer to the thumping drum of helicopter blades, the rhythm matching the voice in her head.
He’d come back for her. He’d come back to help her. He’d come back...
It was crazy, it was wrong, it was stupid. And it was impossible not to fantasize.
“Hey, you’re shaking,” Frankie said.
“Hey, you’re dreaming,” Tori added, on her other side.
Amanda refused to look at either one of them. The crowd gathered closer to the helicopter, fifteen rows thick, with Amanda at the back as the noise finally abated.
And then the door popped open, and Amanda lifted the tray, pressing it to her heart as if she could stop the insane pulse that shook her. It had to be him. It had to be—
A man in a cowboy hat.
She had to bite her lip to keep from letting the cry of disappointment escape her. Stupid, stupid girl.
“Would you look at that?” Frankie whispered under her breath. “Take me to your rodeo, cowboy.”
Tori elbowed her. “Not who you were expecting, was it, Cinderella?”
She fought the overwhelming urge to smack the tray right over Tori’s head.
“’Scuse me?” The cowboy stepped closer to the crowd, his long, lanky body moving with purpose. He took the hat off and shook out some dark hair, peering into the crowd.
Holy cow, she knew that guy. It was Elliott Becker, one of the Niners she’d met in Miami.