The afternoon Hawaiian sun blazes in the sky as I step outside the hotel. Zeke insisted that I go out and have a little fun while he went to his meeting and I wasn’t about to argue with him. I could tag along as an assistant but the last thing I want is to bump into Mason. Especially after what happened the last time we crossed paths. I’m on summer vacation, after all, and I can’t think of a better way to spend it than lounging in the sun.

I slip my flip-flops off and let my toes sink into the golden sand on the beach. The sound of crashing waves echo in my ears, mixing naturally with the screams of children playing down the beach. A young man escorts me down the beach carrying a lounging chair with a matching umbrella, courtesy of hotel management. I tried to turn it down, but the manager insisted.

“Thank you,” I tell him as he sets up the chair.

“No problem, Ms. Ramone. Can I get you anything else? Iced tea?”

“Oh, no thank you,” I say. “I brought some water with me. Thanks again!”

I reach into my bag and withdraw a few dollars and hand them to him. He smiles wide and takes off toward the hotel, no doubt eager to get out of the blaring sunlight.

I grab my tanning lotion and secure my sunglasses to my face as I sit down. I close my eyes and listen to the people around me. The beach is crowded but not enough to put me off being here. The ocean waves breathe and crash around me.

This is heaven.

Every inch of my body relaxes as my muscles turn to butter beneath the shining sun.

“Well, this is a surprise!”

I feel a jolt of familiarity and open my eyes. “Logan?”

“Rocky!” Logan says, looking me up and down. “Nice bikini!”

I smile up at him, thankful for the compliment. I wasn’t sure about wearing it at first but it was a last minute gift from Zeke. “Thanks,” I say.

“May I?” he gestures to the ground next to me but before I can say anything he takes a seat in the sand next to me.

I raise the sunglasses over my eyes and rest them atop my head. Logan wears a pair of men’s swim trunks and nothing else, an outfit no doubt designed around showing off his perfect abs and bulging arms.

“What are you doing here?” he asks me bluntly but keeps his trademark smile attached to his face.

I want to be happy to see him. But I look into his eyes and all I hear is Becky’s voice.

‘Logan told me everything.’

He can’t be trusted.

“I’m on summer vacation,” I say with a shrug.

“And you somehow end up at the Hawaiian Belmont Resort?”

“I came with Zeke,” I admit, glancing at the waves. “He has his meeting and I wanted to get out of the city for a while…” I look over at him. “And what about you? What brings you here?”

“Becky dragged me with her,” he says.

“She’s here?” I ask.

“Yep.”

“And why isn’t she lounging on the beach with you?”

Logan chuckles. “Because she’s at the shareholder’s meeting.”

“Mason let her into the meeting?” I speak with genuine shock.

“Well, she does own shares, after all. And she has a vision for the future of the company.”

“Becky has a vision for the future of the company?”

“Apparently.”

I nod my head in approval. “Well, I wish her luck getting it over Mason’s head.”

“She should be doing her presentation right about now,” he says. His expression changes. “Look, Rocky, I didn’t know Becky was going to attack you like that.”

I turn away and focus on the ocean waves.

“Really, Rocky. If I knew she was going to… I would have kept my mouth shut.”

“Why didn’t you?” I ask. “I mean, hell, Logan, it’s Becky freakin’ Belmont. You gave her a live grenade and pointed at us.”

“I know, I know. Believe me. I’m sorry,” Logan says.

“And it’s not like the information has any relevance because things aren’t like that anymore,” I say, pushing the lie. “Zeke and I happened once… and you saw exactly how far it went. You were there. It’s in the past. Why bother bringing it back up again?”

“Is it?” Logan asks.

“Is it what?”

“Is it all in the past?”

I force a laugh. “Of course it is. We were stupid teenagers. We’re adults now.” I look at him and try to keep from cringing.

Logan reaches out and puts his hand on mine. “Good,” he says.

Goosebumps rise across my skin as his touch glides over me. My body goes tense. My eyes move over him, enjoying the more enticing aspects of his body as they glisten in the sunlight.

He reaches out with his other hand and places it on my bare thigh.

“Please don’t do that,” I say.

“Come on, Rocky,” he whispers into my ear, leaning in. “Let’s have some fun.” His lips graze my earlobe.

“I said don’t do that!” I pull away from him.

He doesn’t move and exhales a sigh. “I don’t get it,” he says.

“Don’t get what?” I ask, feeling a twinge of annoyance.

“What you see in him but not in me.”

I sit back. “What do you mean?”

“Come on, Rocky…” He leans back in the sand. His hands drop from my body. “I’ve always been nice to you. I went above and beyond to make you feel welcome when you first showed up…”

“Okay…”

“The least you could do is show me a little gratitude.”

“Gratitude?” I ask. “What the hell are you talking about?”

“Open your damn eyes, Rocky. Jesus…”

I sigh and jump out of my chair. “I don’t have time for this,” I say. “If you want to speak to me like an adult, you know where to find me.”

I grab my bag and toss it over my shoulder. He watches me stand up, his eye once again dropping to look at my body.

“Rocky, wait…”

I pause and give him a sideways glance.

“I’ve always had a thing for you…”

He looks so pathetic. For a moment, I feel sorry for him. “And what about Becky?” I ask. “What happened to always and forever? Isn’t that what you said at the party?”

“Becky…” he sighs. “Becky has just always been there. You know?”

“Logan… ” I step closer to him so I don’t have to shout. I don’t want the ocean waves to drown out what I’m about to say. “I’m sorry. But I don’t owe you anything. You were nice to me. You’ve always been nice to me. And that alone makes you a nice guy. But for you to claim that as a reason that I should sleep with you… that doesn’t make you a nice guy. It makes you a douchebag.”

Anger fills Logan’s eyes.

“Goodbye, Logan,” I say before he has a chance to argue. I turn around and stomp off the beach, kicking sand behind me as I walk. My cheeks are flaming hot, adrenaline pulsing blood through my veins. Strands of hair cling to my sweaty cheeks, tickling my skin as I move.

When I reach the hotel lobby, I pause to slip my flip-flops back on. I glance around the room, spotting suit after suit in the crowded room. All of them look important, their smiles dripping with money. I scan their faces, searching for Zeke, hoping to get a bit of comfort after my encounter with Logan but he’s nowhere to be found.

I exhale a sigh on my way to the elevator, being careful not to touch any of the very important looking men on my way there.

The elevator doors open just as I arrive and I step inside the golden — even in Hawaii, always gold — box after the other passengers climb off. I take a deep breath, feeling the cold air conditioning on my warm skin as I press the button for the thirty-third floor.

Something catches the door before it closes and a pair of hands force the doors open again. Logan steps on board the elevator with tight lips. My heart jumps inside of my chest and for the first time ever around Logan, I feel fear creeping into my conscious mind.

Logan hits the door close button and stands beside me frozen solid until the doors close.

“What do you want now?” I ask.

He closes the short gap between us and grabs my face. I recoil, stepping backwards, but quickly find myself against the wall. Logan plants a kiss on my lips and his tongue probes my mouth.

I push against his muscular chest with all of my strength. “Stop!” I shout.

He refuses and takes another step toward me to pin me against the wall.

“What does he do to you?” he growls, leaning in close. “How does he touch you?”

“Please let me go!” I say, overcome by his strength.

“Tell me and I’ll do it. I’ll do it for you.”

“Stop—”

“Does he do this?” His hands fill themselves with my breasts and he gives them a tight squeeze.

I try to push him away. “Stop it, Logan!”

“This is how you like it, isn’t it?!” he shouts at my face. His warm breath covers my skin. He sticks out his tongue and licks up my cheek. “You taste so good, Rocky!”

“Get off me!”

The elevator dings and the doors slid open.

I reach out, hoping that whoever opened the doors will help me.

“Get away from her. Now.”

My heart jumps for joy as Zeke’s voice fills my ears.

Logan loosens his grip but keeps me pinned. “Zeke…” he says, his voice full of amusement. “We were just talking about you.”

“Get away from her,” Zeke repeats. I catch sight of his eyes as his gray irises turn black.

“Oh, so now you act like the protective brother, huh?” I try to shove him away again but he stays firm. “What do you say? Want to take turns on Rocky? But I want to go first.”

Zeke steps inside the elevator and grabs Logan’s shoulders. He pulls Logan away from me and maneuvers his own body between us. With quick precision, he grabs my arm, pulls me toward him, and pushes me off the elevator just in time to hear the loud ding of closing doors.

I slam into the wall of the hallway and try to pick myself up before the doors close. But it’s too late. The doors close in front of me just as I see the two of them lunge at each other.

I push my ear against the doors and listen to the sounds of fists trading blows and bodies slamming against the inner walls. My eyes sting with tears as I imagine the violence occurring behind them. It’s impossible to know which of them is taking the most of the beating.

I lose all track of time, listening to the bouncing grunts until the noises finally stop. Faint sounds of breathing fight to be heard behind the doors. I hold my own breath as I try and place the voice behind it.

Ding!

I pull away from the doors and lean against the wall for support, hoping and praying that Zeke stood on the other side.

I breathe a sigh of relief as Zeke steps off the elevator but a feeling a dread quickly consumes me. His knuckles are scratched to bits. Blood pours from his nose. His nice suit was torn apart, exposing the fresh bruises and scratches along his chest.

“Zeke!” I cry, throwing my arms around his body. I look around him and spot Logan in a crumpled heap on the elevator’s floor.

“Is he…”

Zeke grabs my cheeks and pulls my face up to his. His eyes lock on mine. “Are you okay?” he asks.

I nod. My eyes bounce from his face toward the unconscious mass just a few feet away.

“He’ll live,” Zeke assures me. “Get to the room. Now.”

I turn my body, keeping one arm wrapped around Zeke as we stumble down the hallway toward our room.