Molly
Jules, you won’t believe this!!
I stop wiping down a table in the hotel’s empty restaurant…
Then look over at Molly, my fellow waitress.
Jules
What won’t I believe?
Molly
Callan Montgomery is here!!
I don’t think my ears are working correctly.
Did she just say that Callan Montgomery is in the hotel?
The notorious — and very rich — bad boy??
The mysterious young heir who somehow avoids being photographed…
Even as he parties his way around the globe?
Jules
Hah. You almost had me fooled, Molly!
Jules
But here’s why I don’t believe you.
Jules
Callan Montgomery is probably out on some yacht…
Jules
Hanging with a bunch of supermodels.
Jules
He would never come to a boring, unfashionable hotel like this.
Molly
Maybe he’s just here for some rest and relaxation.
Jules
Right. Because being rich is really exhausting.
Molly
Aren’t you even just a little bit excited?
Molly
He’s going to inherit billions — and he’s probably hot, too!
Jules
So what if he’s rich and hot?
Jules
A guy like him would never give us the time of day.
I gesture to our drab waitress uniforms.
Jules
We live in one world…
Jules
And he lives in a totally different one.
Molly is about to argue again…
But then two female employees burst into the restaurant.
Housekeeper
Is he in here?
Gift Shop Girl
We heard he was headed this way!
Oh, please tell me they heard wrong.
I don’t want to play servant to a rich jerk.
But then a tall guy saunters in.
He’s wearing a fancy suit…
And he looks like a total boss.
It’s got to be Callan Montgomery.
As he sits at a table, Molly gapes.
Housekeeper
I call dibs on getting his food order.
Gift Shop Girl
If you’re going over there, I am, too!
Molly
Wait — neither of you even work in the restaurant.
Molly
That means I’ve got dibs!
The three girls narrow their eyes at one another.
Then they all make a beeline for the billionaire.
I sigh and clean my table again.
They can fawn over him all they want.
Then someone clears his throat from the table behind me.
And look over to see an absolutely gorgeous guy…
Dressed in blue jeans and a casual button-down.
His hair is thick and golden-brown…
And he’s got a pair of blue eyes that a girl could drown in.
He sends me a killer smile…
Guy
Are you one of Mr. Fancy Pants’ servers, too?
Jules
Nope. I’m available to take your order.
Meanwhile, the girls are giggling at something the billionaire just said.
My customer watches the other table.
Guy
He sure is attracting a lot of attention.
Jules
That’s because he’s sort of a celebrity.
Jules
Yeah. His family is filthy rich.
Jules
And that means everyone wants to meet him.
Guy
You’re still here with me.
Jules
I don’t want to meet that guy.
Jules
Billionaires just aren’t my thing.
The guy’s eyes widen in surprise.
Guy
Are you telling me that he doesn’t impress you at all?
Jules
Money isn’t everything.
Guy
Wow, that’s refreshing to hear.
He glances over at Callan Montgomery.
And the billionaire glances back at him…
They grin at each other and then look away.
Jules
Wait, do you know him or something?
Guy
As a matter of fact, I do.
I just insulted his buddy.
But my customer doesn’t seem to mind.
Guy
We have a business relationship.
I check out his casual clothes again.
Jules
You don’t look like a businessman.
He quirks an eyebrow, then crooks his finger at me.
Close enough so I can see just how blue his eyes are.
Turns out, they’re as blue as the center of a flame.
Guy
I might not look like I’m Callan Montgomery’s equal…
Guy
But here’s something people don’t know about him:
Guy
He actually appreciates people who wear blue jeans.
I shiver from the yummy smell of him…
Jules
I hear Callan appreciates a lot of things—
Jules
And most of them are female.
As if on cue, the girls giggle again.
I glance over at the billionaire in the suit.
He’s loving the attention from his fan club.
Jules
He’s such a playboy.
My customer’s gaze clouds up.
Guy
I guess his reputation precedes him everywhere, huh?
Jules
Yup. Even out here in the middle of nowhere.
Guy
Like I said, your honesty is a breath of fresh air…
Guy
And a rude awakening.
I want to reach out to him…
Touch one of his broad shoulders…
And give him some comfort.
But then the hotel manager walks in.
Manager
Mr. Montgomery, here you are!
Manager
I’d like to personally welcome you to the Grand Hotel!
My blue-eyed guy looks up at me.
And that’s when I realize…
The manager isn’t talking to the guy in the suit.
He’s talking to the guy sitting at my table.
Jules
Did the manager just call you “Mr. Montgomery?”
Jules
*You’re* Callan Montgomery?!
Jules
But…why would you pretend to be someone else?
Jules
No, wait — don’t tell me.
Jules
It’s some kind of sick game you and your friend play.
Jules
It’s how you bad boys like you get your kicks.
Jules
Well, tell me this, “Callan”—
Jules
Did you enjoy messing with the heads of us dumb, poor peasants??
He starts to say something…
So I get out of there as fast as I can.
But just as I reach the hallway, Callan catches up with me.
His blue gaze is intense.
Callan
I was about to tell you who I was.
He stuffs his hands into his jeans pockets.
Callan
No matter what you think, I wasn’t playing a game.
Callan
The guy in the suit is David, my security guy.
Callan
He happens to be a sharper dresser than I am—
Callan
But it’s not because we’re trying to trade places or play games.
Callan
At least…not anymore.
My heart feels like it’s being squeezed.
Callan
I came to this out-of-the-way hotel for a reason:
Callan
To do some soul-searching.
Callan
I was trying to think of ways to be a better man…
Callan
And then you pretty much put things into perspective.
Callan
I meant it when I said your honesty is refreshing.
Callan
I haven’t gotten much of that in my life.
My skin is warm against his.
Callan
Can you forgive me?
I can’t say no to the sincerity in his eyes.
Jules
Yes, I forgive you.
Jules
But only if you can forget all the bad things I said, too.
Callan
Well, it’s not like you were wrong.
Callan
I am a notorious bad boy.
Jules
Wrong, Callan — you *were* a bad boy.
I link my fingers with his.
Jules
But I have a feeling that everything is about to get really good.
As he rubs his thumb over mine, I heat up.
Yeah…things are definitely gonna get really good.
