I wake up with a moan, my eyes fluttering open as I hear bells going off from somewhere in the house. My back feels like iron rods have been shoved up my ass from the physical activity yesterday. My muscles cry out at even the thought of having to do more work. Dancing is one thing, but the Hawaiian dancing used muscles I didn’t know I had, never mind the hundreds of pulls on the bow string.

“Someone kill me now,” I groan, not wanting to get up. It doesn’t help that I didn’t get a good night’s sleep. I spent all night tossing and turning, my dreams of Tony interrupting me every time I started to drift off.

He seemed like a presumptive ass at the wedding, but maybe I had him wrong. Yesterday, he was the perfect blend of cocky flirting and seemingly honest intensity to pierce past all my defenses. And the way I opened up to him and he kissed me . . .

Ugh.

It’s exactly what I said I wasn’t going to do, get drawn into another guy. Especially one like Tony, whom I have both history with and am competing against. If we lose this and by some miracle the division doesn’t shut down, Myra will fire me in a hot minute if she finds out my mind may have been on Tony’s affections and not the task at hand.

I have to keep my eye on the prize. Besides, who knows if his intentions are genuine? He could be playing me like I did him at first.

“Morning, sleepyhead,” Cassie says cheerfully from her bed. Hair crazy and sticking out in all directions, she sits up, stretching before she lets loose with a jaw-cracking yawn. “Have some good dreams? I heard you over there grunting in your sleep . . . I think your exact words were ‘ooh, fuck me, Tony, fuck me! Make me your big booty ho!’”

I snort, my worry immediately disappearing at those last words. She’s just fucking with me. “Never gonna happen,” I lie. “I’m just sore.”

“Tell me about it. I never thought shaking my ass could make me this sore,” Cassie grumbles. She lets loose another yawn and rolls out of bed, bending over to touch her toes and unleashing another series of firecracker pops. “But you know what? I’m kinda glad Wesley wants to hold us hostage. Everyone here is growing on me.”

She said as much last night. I feel the same way. “I’m beginning to think—”

There’s a gentle knock at our door, and Alani comes in with our laundry from last night. “Good morning, ladies. I thought you could put these away. I also have things that—” Alani starts forward but trips over Cassie’s bags, which she left near the door. The bags tumble to the floor, and a large object thunks as it rolls across the floor.

“I don’t know her!” I deadpan to Alani immediately when I see a big vibrator roll across the floor. “I swear, I was practically forced to bring her along!”

“Oh, please!” Cassie half yells, rushing over to pick it up. “This is Hannah’s. She forced me to put it in my bags because she gets embarrassed. Why didn’t you just leave it at home then, hmm?”

“Stop lying!” I hiss, “before that damn bird hears you!”

Alani laughs, not paying us any mind. “Breakfast is ready and waiting, then Wesley wants you to meet up for the next challenge.”

I get dressed quickly, something comfortable, just shorts and a tank top with a pair of those water shoe things that Alani gave us. I grab my camera, just in case, and I’m ready. Looking up, I see Cassie’s dressed the same, except that her top is slightly tighter and she has her red bandana around her wrist this time. “Let’s go kick ass.”

After a quick breakfast, Alani leads us across the main road and through the jungle to the base of the large hill that dominates the terrain behind Wesley’s estate. As we do, I hear falling water, and we emerge from our trail to an absolute paradise. The water plunges down the side of the mountain, breaking up on outcropping rocks along the way to fall into a pool that’s so deep it looks black as I stare into the depths, even though it’s crystal clear. Broadleaf trees and bushes surround the oasis, and with my thoughts so obsessed with Tony, all I can think of is a romantic moonlight interlude with him here. Especially on the edge of the pool, where there’s a natural shelf that would be just right for him to fuck me . . .

Dammit, get your head right!

I grunt at my own advice. I need to start coming up with a game plan to win. They’re ahead and there’s no prize for second here.

Wesley, Caleb, and Tony are waiting for us at the foot of the waterfall, and as we approach, it feels amazing, a light shower of mist cooling the air. As usual, Mo Mo is perched on Wes’s shoulders, earning a glare from me.

I hope Tony’s not trying to tease me. It’s working even if he isn’t. He’s shirtless and wearing the shorts that he had on last night, the ones that do little to hide what’s underneath. I can’t help it—I start to stare at him unconsciously.

He gives me a smile and my skin flushes, realizing I’m looking at him like he’s a juicy piece of meat. To throw him off, I raise my camera and snap a trio of pictures of him against the backdrop of the waterfall, the whole time promising myself they’re just for gamesmanship and not personal gratification.

“Good morning,” Wesley says. “To be ready to take over my estate, you will need to challenge your strength, but most importantly, your spirit. Your next challenge is a hike up the mountain, to the top of the falls. At the top, there’s a type of blue rose that grows nowhere else in Hawaii. I planted it there myself when Alani and I married. You will retrieve a single flower each.”

“Ugh, okay. Just let me stretch my legs for the ass kicking I’m about to give you boys,” Cassie says.

Tony smirks, and I feel another flutter in my chest. “When you’re ready.”

Cassie grumbles but gives Wesley a nod, who drops his hand. “Go.”

The path is clear and well-marked, and we start marching up the mountainside. As we do, I’m enveloped in the wonderful beauty of the forest, listening as small creatures move from tree to tree. It’s not scary, but enchanting, and I love the feeling of the dappled sun on my shoulders. There’s a small stream that mirrors the path, and part of me wants to just sit down on a nearby rock and relish the peace and quiet all around me.

I can’t though. We need a win here, no matter what. Looking ahead, I see Tony, his muscles in his back, ass, and legs rippling as he strides ahead, slowly gaining distance on me. I want to ignore what the sight of his clenching glutes does to me as I think of how he could drive his huge cock deep inside me, but it’s difficult when he’s right in front of me.

“Shit, this is rough,” Cassie says, wiping at her sweaty forehead. She’s trying her best, but already, the guys are way ahead of us. It’s not her fault she’s short and their strides are making more of a difference. “I don’t know how we can possibly win this damn thing, not unless they are too color blind to figure out what a blue rose looks like.”

“I’m already thinking out a plan,” I rasp. “You gotta be ready.”

“What? What kind of plan?”

I whisper quickly to Cassie. “I’m thinking about pretending to be hurt—”

“OW!” Cassie cries, her ankle twisting as she falls to the ground. “It hurts! Fuck my ass, it hurts!”

I kneel down next to her, trying to move her ankle, and she screams louder. “Damn it, Cassie, I wanted a fake fall, not a real one!”

“It was an accident!” Cassie says, but even as she does, I hear movement on the trail. The guys are coming back, and below us, I hear Wesley hurrying up to our position.

“Hurts!” Mo Mo repeats, squeaking and beating its wings when Wesley arrives. “Fuck my ass, it hurts!”

“Are you all right?” I say, ignoring the squawking bird. I feel bad for Cassie, and I feel even worse knowing this was just what I’d planned to pretend had happened. That would have been fucking low.

“What happened?” Tony asks as the guys come back, both of them sweating. Tony looks at the whimpering Cassie with concern.

“She fell and twisted her ankle,” I say, feeling guilty that I’m just a tiny bit jealous of the worry in his face. Seriously, why the hell should I feel that way?

“Let me see.” Wesley says with concern. Cassie whimpers as he checks her ankle. “You’ve got a sprain. It doesn’t look so bad, but you should probably stay off it.”

Tony and Caleb reach down, helping Cassie to her feet. “I think I can make it,” she says bravely, attempting to walk, but with every step, she winces a little bit. Finally, she looks up, tears in her eyes. “I’m sorry, but I don’t think I can make the hike.”

Wesley looks disappointed, but he nods. “Don’t worry, it happens.”

“What do we do? Do we all go back down?” Tony asks, looking at me and Wesley.

“Just go on without me,” Cassie tells him. “I’ll go down slowly. I’ll be fine.”

“No, I’ll take you down,” Caleb says. “But don’t get too used to it.” With little effort, Caleb picks Cassie up and tosses her onto his back like a backpack.

Cassie grins, running her hands over Caleb’s arms and shoulders. “Ooh, I need this for the rest of our stay! Let’s go, horsey!” she says, kicking him lightly in the ass with her good foot. “Giddyup!”

“Don’t make me drop you,” Caleb threatens. “And for your information, I’m no horse, even if I am built like one from the waist down.”

“I will join you for the rest of the way up the mountain,” Wes says, cutting in as we watch Caleb and Cassie make their way back. “Let’s resume, shall we?”

We start up the trail again, and I find myself focusing on the scenery. I have to. Tony starts striding ahead more and more, and even as I push harder, my legs and my lungs burn. Still, even as it hurts, I’m swept away by the beauty as we climb higher and higher, emerging at the top to find a clear plateau that is windswept and clear. Tony’s ahead of me, but I still stop, what little breath I have left taken away. “It’s like I’m on top of the world,” I whisper, looking up at the clear sky, the green grass all around me, and the ocean off in the distance. “It’s the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen.”

Wesley clears his throat, and I hurry, reaching the rose bush just as Tony clips a single flower off and hands it to Wesley.

Wesley turns to me, and I bite my lip before shaking my head. “No offense, but we’re all here. I might as well leave the flower on the bush. They’re beautiful and I don’t want to clip them.”

Wesley nods. “I’m going to head back down and check on Cassie. You two stay if you want. If you’re not back by lunch, I’ll come and find you. I’ll announce the winner then.”

He leaves, and Tony and I look at each other, not sure what to say. The land is beautiful, and eventually, we just walk together into the shaded forest that borders the clearing. Following the sound of more water, we find another mountain pool, where we sit down, soaking our bare feet. “I wonder if Caleb is still alive?” I say, breaking the silence, “Or has Cassie killed him by now?”

“Oh, she’s not that bad, is she? She’s got spirit. How did you find her, anyway?”

“I don’t know,” I reply, laughing. “My boss hired her, and until this, I’ve never really known her outside work. What about Caleb?”

“We were friends when we were kids, and my brother hired him,” Tony confides. “I’ve been having some bad luck, and Oliver thought Caleb could . . . well, he could help me turn things around.”

The more I see, the more I like Tony. He’s not perfect, even if his body is, and it makes him even more attractive. He’s trying to be a good man, which is so sexy to me. Gulping, looking to change the subject, I look around the little pool we’ve found. “Have you noticed, it seems like every time you find what you swear is the most beautiful sight you’ve ever seen, you turn the corner and there’s something that tops it? This place takes my breath away.”

Tony nods, looking around the clearing. “The waterfall’s smaller than down below, but I like the way it bubbles as it hits the pool. It kind of looks like someone pouring champagne.”

I giggle, laughing. “Please don’t say like one of those cheesy ass champagne fountains of glasses like you see at parties.”

Tony laughs, shaking his head. “No. It just looks like someone is pouring champagne into a glass.”

I look over, amazed at the poetry in his thoughts. “Wow, you really surprise me.”

“Well, be prepared for another surprise,” Tony says before he suddenly pushes me back. I go tumbling into the pool, which is a lot cooler at the bottom that at the top. Thankfully, it’s not that deep, and I come up sputtering.

“You son of a bitch!” I yell at him, even as I start laughing. “Why the hell did you do that?”

He laughs, jumping into the water near me, disappearing. The bubbling water makes it hard to see, and when he doesn’t resurface, I spin around, looking. “Tony?”

With a splash, Tony pops up behind me, grabbing me around the waist. I push away, laughing. “Asshole!”

“What?”

“You know what!” I laugh, splashing him with water. He splashes me back, and within seconds, we’re having a pretty epic water fight, both of us soaked to the skin as we tread water. Eventually, we tire and drift to the shallow end of the pool. I see a dark space behind the waterfall and look. “Hey, what’s that?”

“Looks like a cave,” Tony says, sliding up next to me. “Wanna look?”

“Why not?” I reply, smirking. We walk through the waterfall to find the entrance to a small cave. Leading the way, I crawl through, amazed at what I see. “Wow . . .”

“What?” Tony says as he comes in behind me, his voice failing as he looks around. The cave looks like it’s encrusted in diamonds, and through small holes in the roof, we can see each one gleaming with every color of the rainbow.

“Are those?” I whisper, reaching out to touch one.

“Probably quartz,” Tony says, then chuckles. “Well hello, One-Eyed Willy.”

“What?” I ask, thinking he’s making a dick joke, but the look on his face tells me he’s not. “What do you mean?”

“This cave . . . it’s like a miniature of that one in the old movie, The Goonies. It’s a treasure cave.”

“You’re a Goonie,” I tease, and Tony laughs. He reaches out, taking me by the wrist and pulling me close.

“And you’re a treasure,” he says softly, looking in my eyes.

Tony gives me a look that has my body burning again despite the chill in the cave, and I swallow. “Tony . . . why’d you start working for your brother?”

Tony blinks, then shrugs. “After Mom and Dad broke up, Dad took Oli with him, and I went with Mom. Oli was groomed to take over the family company while I was just a back-up plan. They had their falling out, and Oli came home. I was glad, but at the same time, I sorta resented him for that.”

“Resented your brother?” I ask, surprised. “Why?”

“He was always the superstar,” Tony says with a touch of bitterness. “To try to stand out, I basically turned into a party boy. I wanted Dad’s attention, but then when Oli left, for so long, I couldn’t understand why, even after he told me. Then when he came to me for help, needing me to watch over Mom while he went on a trip with his future wife, we kind of patched things up. He’s not the asshole I thought he was. So when he offered me a spot, I took it, mainly to learn what made him tick. He’s my brother, and for a long while, I felt like I didn’t even know him. And, I mean, he makes money like I eat sandwiches. He’s always been there and I haven’t. I swear, Mom started smoking because of me and my fucking up.”

“It seems like you turned things around though,” I say, and Tony laughs.

“Like I said, I’ve had some bad luck on the last few gigs we’ve gotten into. This job? I wanted to prove that it was just that, bad luck, and not me slipping back into old habits of being careless. I’m sorry that you’re the one here competing against me.”

“Why?” I ask, and Tony pulls me closer, wrapping an arm around my waist. “Tony . . .”

“Because ever since I saw you at that wedding, you’ve been at the back of my mind. I’ve had a chain of failed relationships, and sure, my carelessness may have played a part in that. But I want to believe that it was because they weren’t you. You’re the woman I really want.”

He lowers his lips, and as his lips touch mine, nothing else matters. Who’s going to win or lose doesn’t matter.

Instead, I kiss him back, enchanted in the glow of the crystals that surround us.