“Text?” Gaby shook her head. “I didn’t send you a text, sweetie.”
The text had been specific. It had come from the resort’s main number and explained that she needed to fill out some paperwork for her leave of absence.
“Could it have been Chris?”
Gaby shrugged. “Maybe. I think he’s out at the delivery dock. We’re getting a new Vichy Shower today, and he’s overseeing the delivery and installation. He might know about the text, but this is all I need. I can have payroll do your final paperwork from this resignation letter. As far as I’m concerned, you can go and enjoy those men, sweetie. You might want to clear out your locker and say good-bye to the staff, but you’re always welcome back. I hope you’ll come and see us from time to time.”
She couldn’t see herself staying away. She had friends here. Chris and Gaby and Cal and Gretchen. God, she had to explain this to Gretchen. “I promise. Is Gretch working today?”
She wanted to get it out of the way. Talking to Gretchen would be a downer most likely. Even though Gretchen had encouraged her to play around with the Dawsons, she had a way of seeing the absolute worst in any given situation.
“Yes. But I think the spa was light on appointments today, so you should be able to find her.”
Nat gave Gaby one last hug. She would miss this place.
Logan sat out in the lobby, his mouth turned down. He hadn’t been thrilled when she’d asked him to come along. He’d been deeply engaged in an Xbox match against Sam Fleetwood. Some football game. When Nat had announced she needed an escort, he’d told her flat out to go and wake the men who got a little something something from her and leave him be.
It was only after she’d taken the keys to his SUV that he’d decided to come along.
“You done?” Logan sat outside in the lobby, a grim look on his face. Kitten and Georgia sat talking in the sitting area.
She really would miss this place.
“I have to go and clean out my locker. It won’t take long. You can stay here. I’ll be back in ten minutes.” She strode out of the office and out into the sunshine. How had she not noticed how beautiful it was here? Now she felt the warmth of the morning sun on her face and her mind started planning ways to capture the feeling on a canvas.
“I’ll go with you, damn it.” Logan and the whole entourage started to follow her into the courtyard. She decided to go through the front door of the spa. It was her last time here. She didn’t want to go through the employee entrance. Besides, it was the middle of the week and early in the morning after what she’d heard was a hell of a fun night in the dungeon. Most of the employees and guests would likely be sleeping in. She would be surprised if anyone was in there besides Gretchen and the receptionist.
Logan started to fall in beside her, Kitten at his side.
“Okay, but can you wait in the lobby? I kind of need to talk to Gretchen alone,” Nat said. Gretchen was a little bit of a drama queen, and the last thing she needed was for Gretchen to cry and accuse Natalie of leaving her behind because then Kitten would cry and her afternoon would look very different from the sex fest she had planned.
She would quietly give Gretchen a hug and pray that if she didn’t have an audience, she wouldn’t throw too much of a fit.
It was kind of sad, but she realized not dealing with Gretchen every day might actually help their friendship. Or kill it, and then she would know if they had really been friends or if it was just that they’d survived together. She knew that she and Kitten were solid. She wasn’t so sure about Gretchen. But it would be better to know.
Logan stopped her. “I don’t know about that, Nat. I think I should just stick close.”
“You can’t go in the women’s locker room with me.” Did he expect to accompany her to the bathroom, too?
Logan sighed. “I’m calling your men. If they tell me it’s fine, then I’ll wait, but I suspect they’ll feel differently about it.”
He reached into his pants pocket, his hand searching. His face came up and lit right on Georgia, who suddenly found the surroundings utterly fascinating. Yep. Guilt was written on her face.
“Where is my phone, Georgia?” Logan had the Dom voice thing down. It could freeze water. Although it merely perked up Kitten, Natalie noticed.
Georgia held the phone out, shaking it tauntingly. “You mean this phone? How do you like having your phone stolen, jackass?”
God. They should just get a room.
Logan stared at her, and for the first time, Nat could believe the big guy was really some sort of law enforcement. “Give me my phone now, Georgia.”
Georgia’s blue eyes went wide and innocent. “I’ll give it to you. The same way you gave it to me.”
Her arm flew back, and the phone went sailing toward the multitudinous rosebushes that marked the gardens outside the spa.
“I am going to slap that ass red, Georgia Dawson. You won’t be able to sit for a fucking week when I’m done with you.” His face was a furious red as he turned. “You have until I find my phone, Nat. Get this done because we’re going back to the ranch after this, and I’m done playing the brat’s escort.” His big body twisted as he looked back at Georgia. “Red, Georgia. I swear I’m going to make up for all those times that your daddy should have taken a switch to you.”
“Promises, promises,” Georgia taunted back.
Kitten winked. “See, the Master is having so much fun. I’m going to go help him.” She frowned a little. “Say good-bye to Gretchen for me.”
She hurried off after Logan.
Georgia smiled brightly. “Come on. We have a little time. I’ll go in with you. Maybe you can work on my shoulders. It’s been a stressful couple of days. Who knew detective work could be so rough? They make it look glamorous on TV, but it’s really a whole lot of watching Chase play with his computer. He frowns so much it makes me sad.”
She liked Georgia, but she was really going to have to talk to Chase and Ben. She wasn’t sure they would survive working with their sister. “I don’t know about how much time we’ll have. I think Kitten will probably just call his phone and they’ll find it.”
Georgia’s boobs began to ring. She grinned and pulled the phone out. “See. I’m so much smarter than him. You needed a little time. I needed a phone because I desperately need to text. I’m a little addicted, and Logan deserves whatever revenge I choose. Someone named James has just received a text from Logan declaring his mad gay love for him complete with emoticon hearts and that little caterpillar that looks like an erection.” She winked, turned the ringer to vibrate, and shoved it back into her bra. “We know he won’t look there. Hey, his boss’s number is in there. Later on maybe we could take pictures of things that look like penises and send them to this sheriff person.”
This was her future sister-in-law. Apparently there were no boring Dawsons. “You’re going to have to give that back to him eventually.”
They walked through the pretty glass doors, and Nat stopped. The reception desk was empty. That must have been some party the night before if Melissa hadn’t shown up for work.
“Hello?”
“Is it supposed to be this quiet?” Georgia asked.
Nat looked down at the appointment book. There were three scheduled massages in the spa, and another four for either in-room or poolside for the whole day. “It’s supposed to be peaceful, but maybe not this peaceful.”
The computer was on. Maybe Melissa was just in the break room. She wondered what Chase would do. He liked to attack computers. This one was a beauty, top of the line with full scheduling and payroll software, and a spreadsheet that looked like it tracked when the therapists came in and out of the building.
That was interesting. Apparently Melissa liked to keep notes. Nat sat down at the reception desk. Her curiosity was aroused. “Keep watch for me.”