Free Tidal Patterns (Golden Shores Book 1) by Rachelle Paige

reason to their placement. After a long day, getting over to the resort by eight and staying until six, he was ready to leave.
    Walking to the door, he put his hand on the knob to turn it and stopped. After his talk with Lizzie, he couldn’t shake the guilt over not saying something to her earlier. He’d dodged Frank all day didn’t want to get dragged into another conversation about the job, worried about what he might be told.
    I should have been honest with her when I had a chance. Why didn’t I say something when Scooter and I ran into her on the beach?
    When he was assured of the silence, he turned the knob slowly and snuck out of the copy room. Careful not to let the door slam in the frame behind him, he walked quickly down the hall. When I applied, I didn’t know anyone else wanted that job. But after his talk with Lizzie, he knew someone who would be very upset to lose it.
    Before he even understood his purpose, he jogged down the stairs, out the door, and stood on the verandah. He continued on across the lawn towards her cottage and then stopped in his tracks. He couldn’t go over there. What would he say?
    I’m sorry. I came over here yesterday to ask you out and I ended up insulting you. I’d like another shot. Maybe we can both forget about yesterday?
    He stood still in the twilight, on full display of any guest or employee. His position wasn’t the best for trying to hide out and figure out his point. He needed more cover. He changed course and walked to the shade of the moss draped, live oaks near the water. The massive trees had branches the size of trunks that swept up and out in all directions. He leaned his back against one of the trees and stared out across the water.
    I could stay here all day , he thought.
    His phone rang in his pocket. He pulled it out and saw Frank’s number.
    Leaving after a ten-hour day isn’t a crime. Apprehension twisted his gut, like he’d been back in high school and got caught skipping class. Cutting out had never given him pause, it had been one of his few chances to get his parents’ attention. Letting down the teachers who cared about him, however, had ripped him to shreds.
    “Hello?”
    “Mark. It’s Frank. I just stopped by your office.”
    “I needed some air. I’m down by the water but I’m coming back in now,” he rushed to add, reassuring both his boss and himself of his purpose.
    “No, no, no. No need. It’s late and I’m in my car heading out for dinner with my wife and her family. Did you get a chance to look over the new contracts before we send them over to events?”
    Mark cleared his throat. He’d spent an entire day going over the contracts, analyzing the wording of each phrase. Trying to gauge every interpretation of each line wasn’t his strong suit, but he struggled through it all the same.
    “I was just finishing up.”
    “Good, good. Leave me your notes before you head out tonight and I’ll look at them first thing in the morning. But I wanted to catch you and tell you that it’s official. You’ve got the job and I need you to get started as soon as possible.”
    “Oh, wow. Okay. Sure, that’s great,” Mark replied, his words tumbling out as he struggled to process the news.
    Damn it .
    “Great. I’m going to move you down to the cottage in events. I want you to be in the thick of things over there, so you can really keep an eye on it all.”
    He gulped. He’d be moving in to her office? He couldn’t imagine that would be a smooth transition.
    “Sure, sure, I get it,” he reluctantly agreed.
    “Start packing up. I want you there by the end of the week. And congratulations. I think you’ll do big things in this role.”
    “Yeah, thanks.”
    “Have a good night.”
    Hanging up, he stuffed the phone back in his pocket. Frank needed to move quickly to fill the position, but Mark hadn’t imagined he’d have such short notice to pack. He exhaled loudly. He had no time to think about making things right with Lizzie. And