The Touch of a Villain: An Enemies to Lovers High School Romance (The Boys of Clermont Bay Book 1) by Holly Renee (best book recommendations TXT) 📕

“Hello, Sam.” Mr. Clermont reached out and shook his hand before smiling at me.

“I didn’t realize you’d be here today, sir.” Sam seemed so nervous around him, and I realized that maybe I should be too. But I couldn’t bring myself to. He had been nothing but kind to me since I started and that provided me with a sense of comfort even if it was fake. “Let me just get Josie set up, then I’ll get you ready to go.”

“We were actually hoping that Josie could be our caddie today.”

My heart stopped as I heard Beck’s voice. He was leaning against the desk behind his father, and he had the largest smirk on his face when his eyes met mine.

Sam looked between him and his father. “I have several experienced caddies for you, sir. Josie hasn’t been trained yet.”

“That’s okay.” Beck pushed off the desk, and I couldn’t help but look him over. He wore a pair of black shorts and a bright white polo with a single Nike logo on his chest.

He shouldn’t have looked that good. It was what I was used to seeing men in after a round of golf, but it was different with him.

I feared that everything was.

“Who better to give her some on-the-job training?” He was talking to Sam, but he was still looking at me. I knew he was the boss’s son, but I still worried about how Sam would react. There was no way in hell he was going to give me a position over here if I was off frolicking with the boss on day one.

“Sam has already asked me to run the reception desk.” I avoided looking at Beck, and instead, smiled at his father. “I don’t want to leave him stranded.”

His father smirked, and it reminded me so much of his son. I wondered if he had been just like him once upon a time. I wondered if that was where Beck’s pride came from.

Mr. Clermont was handsome for an older man, and I could imagine him in high school. I imagined him to be exactly like his son.

“Josie, my dad owns this place. You probably shouldn’t tell him no.”

My gaze jumped to Beck, and I wanted to kill him. “I didn’t tell him no. I was telling you no.”

I crossed my arms, and his dad chuckled. The sound was warm and kind and made me think maybe he was nothing like his son at all.

“Josie, why don’t you join us? It’d be good for Beck to see someone actually working for once.”

Beck scoffed, and I couldn’t help but smile at that.

I opened my mouth to answer but quickly looked back to Sam. Mr. Clermont may have owned this place, but I had still volunteered to work for Sam, and I wouldn’t leave him stranded.

“Go ahead.” Sam smiled, but it was tight. “I’ll pull one of the other caddies in to cover the desk.”

I could feel my cheeks redden and my stomach tighten with anticipation. I had no idea what Beck was doing.

He was here with his father, and I didn’t want to be anywhere near him.

I didn’t care about what he owned or what kind of power he thought he had.

I didn’t want to give him any kind of power over me.

But I didn’t have a choice.

Sam handed me a key to a golf cart that I had no idea what to do with, and I followed Mr. Clermont and Beck outside into the crisp morning.

“You ever been golfing, Josie?” Mr. Clermont asked as Beck quickly grabbed his bag of golf clubs before he could.

“I haven’t.” I wasn’t sure what to think of him being so chivalrous, even if it was for his dad. It seemed out of character for him.

“Have you ever driven a golf cart?” He climbed into the passenger seat, and my heart rate spiked. Surely, he didn’t actually expect me to drive.

“Never.” I held the key out in his direction. “Maybe you should drive.”

“No.” He shook his head and patted the seat. “It’s time you learned. Especially with you working here.”

Beck climbed into the back seat that faced backward, but he turned with his arm over the seat and watched me. He was grinning, and the look on his face was enough to make my body remember every single one of his movements from when he had touched me.

From when I had begged him for more.

I climbed into the driver’s seat, Beck’s arm pressing against my back, and I pushed the key into the ignition. The cart was so quiet I barely even knew it was on, and I had no idea what the hell I was supposed to do next.

Mr. Clermont reached forward and clicked a switch that said Forward, then I did the only thing I could think of and hit the gas. All three of us jolted forward, and Mr. Clermont shot his hand out to catch himself.

“Shit.” I heard Beck swear, and a small laugh bubbled out of my mouth.

“Oh my God. I’m sorry.” I was still laughing.

“Do you even have a driver’s license?”

“Yes. I have a driver’s license,” I snapped at Beck’s smart-ass question. “I told you I had never driven a golf cart before.”

“Help us, Lord.” His voice was cut off by his father’s.

“Just ease into it.” He pointed down at my feet. “The gas pedal is sensitive.”

I pressed the pedal again, this time much gentler, and the cart eased forward on the concrete path. There were several other men scattered around claiming a cart, and even a few women. They all waved at Mr. Clermont, who waved at them all with a smile.

I drove past them all, heading toward the course, and I barely even shot us forward when Mr. Clermont pointed to the first hole.

Beck climbed out of the cart and did a move as if he was thanking God. I couldn’t help but roll my eyes at him and his dramatics. My driving hadn’t been that bad.

He smirked