CHAPTER SEVEN Tate

"What do you think?" Alec asked, motioning around the outdoor deck at the country club he was a member of. "There's the exclusive membership, a great golf course, and the club is populated with the people one must know in this town. You definitely should join."

"Impressive," I agreed, smiling. "I've never golfed, though," I confessed.

"Neither did I when I moved to Bend. That's why they have club pros to teach you the game," he explained. "And trust me. The views aren't bad either, and I'm not referring to the fairways."

After dropping my luggage at the country club resort he'd chosen for me to stay in until my loft deal closed, he dragged me to the clubhouse to see if I had any interest in joining. Apparently, he'd assumed I had a quarter-million dollars for membership dues available for such an extravagance.

Thomas, my ex, was also a golfer and claimed he'd made his fortune on the links. I'd never gone along with him because I had an aversion to selling my soul for a buck and kissing ass professionally. Alec was twenty years younger than my ex, but the similarities were alarming at best.

"Have you dated any of the pros?" I asked.

Alec frowned, a look of disgust touching the corners of his mouth. "Why would I do that?" he scoffed, seeming shocked that I'd asked such a question. "There's no future with a club pro who couldn't make it on the professional tour."

"There's the possibility of love," I advised. "Surely that counts for something."

"You can love a wealthy person just as easily," he argued, revealing a shallow attitude.

"I suppose you can."

"You disagree?" Alec asked.

"I've had a relationship where my partner was wealthy. I think I'd prefer true love at this point," I stated, instantly thinking about bakery boy. Could Luke offer true love? Was I crazy to even dream about him when a true catch sat across from me and seemed to be flirting with me?

"That's actually sweet," he agreed. "I just don't think I could do that."

"What part?" I asked, surprised by his honesty. "True love?"

"I don't think true love exists to tell you the truth. Love is transactional on so many levels, so why not make sure your love interest has some coin?"

Alex held his hand up to get a server's attention, then cupped his hand and whispered toward me. "I'm going to have to speak to the club manager about the level of service around here today."

I smiled at the handsome server when he arrived tableside. "Mr. Browning," he acknowledged. "Your usual, sir?"

Alec tapped his wristwatch. "A bit slow on the service today, Todd," he stated, glancing at me. I assumed to make sure I was paying attention to him. "Not the level of service I signed up for," he added.

"I'm very sorry, Mr. Browning. Dave called in today and we are short-staffed," he defended, laying two cocktail napkins on our table.

Alec pointed across the deck to a table of four. "I was here before they were, Todd," he pointed out. "I don't believe they're gold members either, yet they all have drinks. Why is that?"

I literally wanted to melt into the wood decking. What a pompous asshole. "We aren't in a hurry," I added, hoping to diffuse an uncomfortable situation. Alec shot daggers at me.

Our server motioned toward the other table. "That is Councilman Hills, sir. I was told to greet him immediately," Todd defended. "But you have my full attention now."

Alec perked up instantly. "The Councilman Hills?" he asked, suddenly forgiving of the perceived slight. "The newest council member who sits on the Natural Lands Board?" Todd nodded. "Then, by all means, make sure his party's entire check is charged to my account."

"Very well, sir," Todd replied.

"And make sure he knows who covered that check, Todd," Alec added emphatically, with a wink.

We gave Todd our drink order, and he hurried away to fulfill them. "You know the councilman?" I asked.

"Not yet, but I will after today," he replied, studying the group across the deck from us. "He could be a great asset for me to have as a friend." I watched as Alec continued staring at the foursome. I could almost see his mind swirling with the excitement of another person being in his pocket.

Alec struck me as a social climber, which seemed odd considering his father's law firm was worth millions and he owned half of the company. Eventually, I imagined, he'd be getting all of it. Witnessing his singular focus on the councilman spoke volumes about his personality. Like my ex, Alec appeared to be a collector of influential friends and associates, and I was reminded once again that I was not attracted to people like that.

"Thank you for the advice on the suites here," I said, trying to shift the conversation to a more relatable subject. "I can hopefully move into my new loft in two weeks."

"Why didn't you pay cash for the unit so you could've closed quicker?" he asked, turning back to me. I shook my head like he had the wrong rich friend with him. "Any reason why?"

I let out a laugh. "Only one," I began. "I don't have a million in cash."

"The firm could've fronted you the cash, Tate," he stated. "We could've made it part of your compensation package and deduct the mortgage over time."

"I couldn't do that," I insisted. "What if I don't work out, or end up not liking living in Bend?"

"Trust me, you will on both counts. Besides, I have big plans for you, Tate," he said. "Professionally and personally."

"Personally?" I asked.

Alec grinned and reached across the table for my hand. "I've been waiting to meet a man of your caliber," he began. "I see big things for the two of us in this town."

Whereas I was flattered, we'd only just met, and I wasn't sure I could or should date my boss. I knew the perils of such an arrangement and had heard many horror stories related to such relationships.

"You've just met me, Alec," I reminded him. "Of course, I'm flattered, but I'm not looking for anything serious right now," I added. "I'm finally getting to a good place after a year of grieving a failed relationship."

"You just need to get to know me better," he claimed. "And I can be very persuasive."

"How about we work on being friends first?" I responded. "We can get to know one another and see where we stand after we establish a friendship."

"Just a quick heads up, Tate," he began. "You should know that I'm an impatient man. I see something I desire and I go for it." He lifted his cocktail and took a sip, gazing at me over the rim of the glass. "And just so we're reading from the same script, you're on my radar and I usually get what I want."

I knew better than to antagonize my boss or argue my point of caution where he and I were concerned, but the more he spoke, the less inclined I was to the idea of us dating. From what I'd witnessed thus far, a professional relationship would be a struggle, let alone a friendship or something more. I was usually drawn to strong men who went for what they wanted, but Alec had an aggressive, winner-takes-all edge about him that was unsettling to me.

And, of course, there was the boy at the bakery. He was too young, too inexperienced, too hidden, basically too everything, but for some reason, he was constantly on my mind.