Christmas Virgin (A Christmas Vacation Romance Novel) by Claire Adams (1)

CHRISTMAS VIRGIN

By Claire Adams

 

This book is a work of fiction. The names, characters, places and incidents are products of the writer's imagination or have been used fictitiously and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, actual events, locales or organizations is entirely coincidental.

 

Copyright © 2017 Claire Adams

 

 

 

 

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Chapter One

Tristan

 

“Fuck, sorry man,” I said for the second time in ten minutes. “I’m going to have to put you on hold again.”

Jason laughed. “Geez, ever since you opened this latest resort, your old friends have become second class citizens, huh?”

“All except you,” I assured him. “You’ll always be a VIP in my books. It’s just I told my assistant to patch through only the really important calls and…”

“I get it,” he replied, with an amused laugh. “Go ahead, I’ll hold.”

“Good man,” I nodded before putting him on hold. I pressed a button on the intercom and switched lines. “Ben?” I asked. “What is it?”

“I just got a call from a Ms. Renata Mendez requesting a suite and two rooms for four nights from the twenty-fifth to the twenty-ninth,” he replied.

“We’re not opening to the public till after Christmas,” I reminded him, slightly annoyed that he would interrupt my call for this. “It’s only invited VIP guests till then. You know that.”

“Renata Mendez is personal coordinator to Joseph Everett,” Ben replied dryly.

I frowned. “That name sounds familiar… Wait… Senator Joseph Everett?”

 “The very same,” Ben replied, sounding smug. “Should I tell him to fuck off?”

“Very funny,” I replied sarcastically. “Contact Alani and tell her to get the rooms ready. This will bode really well for the resort’s reputation.”

“Should I put the senator in the deluxe suite or the superior suite?”

“The grand suite,” I said promptly. “It’s the best.”

“They’re all occupied.”

“What do you mean?” I asked. “We have five grand suites. They can’t all be occupied.”

“Three of them are, and the remaining two are still under construction. They won’t be ready for guests until the second week of December…at least.”

“Fuck,” I groaned. “Fine, move my belongings to one of the vacant superior suites and give the senator my grand.”

“I’ll get it done,” he replied.

Once Ben had hung up, I switched back to Jason’s line. “Sorry, bro,” I said. “Duty calls.”

“So how have things been going?” Jason asked.

“Smoother than my last two openings,” I admitted. “I think I’m finally getting the hang of this. The trick is to hire a few competent coordinators and then delegate effectively.”

“Is that all?” he teased.

“Trust me, it’s harder than it seems,” I said. “By the way, I can’t thank you enough for introducing me to Jordan and Manning. I don’t think I would have been able to get this resort opened had it not been for their investments.”

“They were looking to invest,” he said, blowing off my thank you. “I just pointed them in your direction. You’re the one who managed to win them over.”

I smiled. “I guess you didn’t do much then, huh?”

“Not really.”

“And to think, I was going to offer to fly you down to Oahu to spend a couple of weeks in one of our luxury suites.”

“You know… Now that I think about it, those contacts were pretty significant.”

I laughed, and Jason joined in. “I’m serious about that offer though,” I told him. “Just say the word, and I’ll have a plane ticket and a suite ready for you.”

“I appreciate that, man,” he replied. “But I’m swamped with work at the moment. There’s this new acquisition deal in the works, and I need to be there to oversee it.”

“You’re buying another company?”

“Stoles,” he replied. “Heard of it?”

“Of course I’ve heard of it, fuck,” I said. “I actually own a pair of Stoles. Their shoes are great.”

“I agree,” Jason agreed. “Hence the acquisition.”

“Damn,” I said. “And, I thought I was doing well for myself.”

Jason laughed. “I think it’s safe to say we’re both doing pretty well for ourselves,” he said. “Personally, I feel it has less to do with our talents, and more do to with our superior good looks.”

“Oh, I couldn’t agree more,” I laughed. “Everyone has talent in some form or the other, but not everyone can look like us.”

“Too true,” he laughed. Then his tone softened into seriousness. “Sometimes I can’t quite believe it. Did you ever think we would get this far, this fast?”

“Fuck, no,” I replied. “I wasn’t even sure I wanted to follow in my father’s footsteps.”

“I remember,” Jason agreed. “You were dead set on being a rebel. What was your life’s goal again? Musician?”

I snorted. “DJ,” I admitted. “I was fairly decent at mixing tracks.”

Jason laughed. “I remember that New Year’s party during our junior year. You bulldozed the DJ, what was his name… Z-crack?”

“It was Z-track,” I corrected. “And, I didn’t bulldoze anyone. The dipshit was stoned off his ass and passed out after the third cover. I had to take over.”

“You weren’t half bad,” Jason laughed. “Is it possible you missed your calling?”

“Nope,” I said confidently. “I’m doing exactly what I’m supposed to be doing.”

“Your dad would be so proud of everything you’ve been able to achieve.”

I fell silent for a moment. Thinking of Dad was always hard for me. We had clashed a lot when I was a teenager. I had thought he was too hard on me, and he was worried I didn’t have what it took to run the business he had built from scratch. It was only after he had been diagnosed with Hodgkin’s that our relationship had started to shift.

The knowledge that we didn’t have very much time left with each other lifted the strain between us. I became more involved with Dad’s projects and started to understand why he had been so hard on me growing up. He was trying to prepare me, he was trying to groom me to take over, and that required a staunch work ethic and a lot of sacrifices.

“I think he would have been,” I replied. “I just wish he could have seen it all happen. He died just before my first hotel opening in LA, so he never got to see the hotel’s success.”

“I remember,” Jason said. “But you still managed to get it done.”

“I promised him I would,” I recalled.

I turned around on my swivel chair to look at the spectacular view before me. The ocean was rippled with competing hues of peacock green and aquamarine blue. Its surface seemed to be encrusted with millions and millions of diamonds cascading down from the sun’s gentle rays. The soft, powdery white sand of the beach had a glowing look about it, and the leaves of the ironwood and coconut trees that lined the coast blew gently in the breeze. It was an idyllic setting and by far the most beautiful location of all my hotels and resorts.

Dad had always dreamed of opening a resort in Hawaii, and I was finally seeing that dream come to fruition. It was a bittersweet sense of accomplishment to know that he would never see it.

“So, anyway,” I said, trying to focus on the conversation at hand. “How are you? How are things with Brittany? Or was it Cassandra?”

Jason laughed. “Brittany and Cassandra were both three years ago, man.”

“Seriously?”

“Yup. The current lady in my life is work, and to be honest, she can be a bit of a bitch sometimes.”

“Hey, I feel you,” I nodded. “There’s no time for relationships anymore.”

“That was why Simone and I broke up in the first place,” Jason told me.

“Simone!” I exclaimed. “That was her name. Sorry… Continue.”

He laughed. “I was just working all the time. I kept bailing on dinner dates, disappearing right after sex, taking phone calls during our time together.”

“She broke it off?”

“Yeah,” he said. “And honestly… I was relieved.”

“Sounds like the story of my life,” I shared. “The same thing happened with Megan last year. She kept getting frustrated with the hours I worked. She actually threw a hissy fit at a business dinner I threw. I broke up with her that night after the dinner.”

“Cold.”

“I think that’s when I realized that I was attempting too much,” I said. “Juggling a new relationship and a fully-fledged empire is not easy. I had to choose—and my empire won.”

“I hope you didn’t say that to her.”

I laughed. “She’s the type of woman who throws things when she’s angry, so no, I didn’t say that to her. In any case, casual flings are just more convenient.”

“Amen for casual sex,” he agreed.

I laughed. “Anyway… How’s the family?”

“They’re doing great,” he replied. “I’m with them at the moment actually, down at the parents’ house for the weekend. Mom’s busy with her book club and her charities, and Dad… Well, you know Dad. He’s still working like he’s in his twenties. Molly’s here, too.”

Molly. It had been years since I’d seen her. She was Jason’s younger sister and one of those timelessly classical beauties. She had sultry blue eyes, soft features, and the simple elegance of a 1960s movie star. In fact, she looked very similar to a young Grace Kelly.

“How is Molly?” I asked, trying to keep my tone light and innocent.

“She’s…okay,” he replied.

“You don’t sound sure.”

“She’s a little upset, to be honest,” Jason replied, with a sigh. “She just got laid off.”

“What?” I said, in surprise. “She’s amazing at her job.”

“The company went through a major downsizing…bad management, apparently. They let go of over two thousand employees and only the senior members of staff got priority. Since Molly’s only been working there two years, she got the boot.”

“Fuck, that’s terrible,” I said.

“She got a decent severance package,” he told me. “It should hold her for a few months, but she really loved the job and the people she worked with. So, she’s disappointed.”

“Of course,” I nodded sympathetically.

I wondered what Molly looked like now. The last time I had seen her, we had both been closer to kids than adults. Had she changed very much or was she the same shy young girl I remembered? I wondered. I realized that I had frozen her in time and created one brilliantly clear image of her in my head that never wavered. It was the image of her in a white dress, standing under streams of holly.

“I have an idea,” I blurted out before I could stop myself.

“Uh… What?”

“Why don’t you send Molly down here?” I suggested. “Since you’re not going to be able to use that plane ticket and suite on offer, Molly may as well make use of it. It might help cheer her up. And who knows? There could even be a job in it for her.”

“You’re offering my sister a job?”

I hesitated a moment, wondering if there was a hint of suspicion in Jason’s tone. I decided I was simply over-thinking. “Well… I still have a few staff positions I need to fill. I need a head of human resources, and I know Molly’s great at her job.

“But, of course, there’s no pressure. It would be up to Molly to decide if she wanted to take the job or not. She can spend a few weeks in Oahu, relax and unwind, and see if she likes the atmosphere. If not, she’s got a free vacation in Hawaii. It’s a win-win, right?”

I wondered momentarily if I was overselling a bit.

“Fuck,” Jason breathed. “That’s a great offer, man. But…you know you don’t have to do this for me.”

Of course, Jason would assume I was making the offer because of our friendship. It was obvious that Molly had kept silent about what had happened between us all those years ago.

“Hey, what are friends for?” I said. “Besides, what’s the point of owning a luxury resort if you can’t help out a friend every now and again.”

“Geez, you’re a fucking star, dude,” he said. “I’ll pass the offer along.”

“Great,” I said. “Anyway… I’d better get going. I have a meeting with my Japanese investor in seven minutes.”

“Man on the go, huh?”

“Always.”

“More power to you, bro,” he laughed. “Talk soon.”

After I hung up, I turned back to my perfect view. I tried to suppress my feelings, but it was impossible to deny how much I was hoping Molly would accept my offer to stay at the resort. I wondered if I was being a complete fool, opening up a can of worms best left in the past.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chapter Two

Molly

 

I scrolled down to find a grainy picture of Martin Lithgow getting into his car, besieged by a storm of reporters. He was wearing dark sunglasses, and the collar of his coat had been turned up so I couldn’t really see his face, but I hoped he was feeling the burn of his latest mistake.

All the papers basically printed different versions of the same story. None of them gave me any sense of satisfaction. I couldn’t help feeling depressed when I thought about my next move. Starting all over again in a new company was never easy, and all I had was a stock recommendation letter that was probably handed out to every single other employee who was given the boot.

I sighed and looked around my childhood room. Three of the walls were white, and the fourth was a soft ocean blue. The white walls had been covered over with a plethora of posters. Over my bed, there were two framed posters, one depicted Thirty Seconds to Mars, and the other was a poster of Clockwork Orange.

Mom had kept my room like a shrine, and while it was always comforting to be back in the room where I had done my most profound maturing, today it made me a little sad. For the first time since I’d graduated, I was unemployed and floundering. It made me feel like a complete failure, especially compared to my brother’s meteoric rise to the top.

That was only part of the reason for my deflated mood, however. I kept thinking of all the people I had worked with who had been laid off, too. I knew their families and their problems, and I couldn’t help but feel for them.

I was interrupted from my haze of self-pity by a knock on the door. “Come in,” I called. A second later the door opened, and Jason walked in. “Think of the devil,” I smiled.

“You were thinking about me?” he asked with a raised eyebrow.

“I was brooding, to be honest,” I admitted. “And feeling very inadequate.”

“Come on now,” he said, ruffling my hair with his hand. “You’re far from inadequate.”

I pushed his hand away and ducked out of his reach. “Maybe not in comparison to the average twenty-something-year-old. But in this family, I am decidedly inadequate.”

“You want to explain that to me?” Jason asked, humoring me as he sat on the edge of my bed.

“Mom is the president of several charities that make a ton of cash for foundations all over the world. Dad was running, like, a dozen companies before he hit fifty, and then you came along and surpassed his track record in next to no time. Oh yeah…and you’re not even thirty yet. Which was something Forbes mentioned about thirty fucking times in five paragraphs.”

Jason let me vent. The moment I finished, his face broke out into a huge smile.

“Mom showed you the article, huh?”

I rolled my eyes. “It was a bit heavy-handed if you ask me.”

“The interviewer was fantastic,” he laughed. “Did you check out Tristan? He was number thirty-four.”

“I saw,” I nodded.

Tristan had been Jason’s best friend since college, and for the ten years that I’d known him, I had been head over heels in love with him. Not that he’d ever really noticed. My mind flew back to the family Christmas party six years ago, but I forced the memory away.

“Fucker beat me,” Jason was saying. “I was number thirty-eight.”

“You made the list,” I reminded him.

“Still,” he replied, as though that were a valid answer.

I couldn’t help but smile. “Did I ever tell you how proud I was when I saw the article?”

“You didn’t actually,” he said.

“Sorry… I guess I was busy being a petty bitch.”

He laughed. “You are not petty,” he insisted. “And, you’re certainly not a bitch. Trust me; I’ve known you your whole life. I would know.”

“You’re sweet,” I smiled. “You really are perfect. The perfect businessman, the perfect son, and the perfect brother.”

“Please…”

“No really,” I said jokingly. “I’m glad you’re so perfect. It makes up for all my failures. Mom and Dad have one child they can be proud of.”

Jason narrowed his eyes at me. “Are you done feeling sorry for yourself?”

“Umm no,” I said. “The whole reason I came down to spend the week with Mom and Dad was so that I could really dig my heels in and feel sorry for myself. You know, get a really good pity party going.”

Jason guffawed. “You’re funny; you know that?”

“I try,” I replied seriously.

He shook his head at me in amusement. Then I saw his eyes slip to the computer screen behind me. “Been doing some trolling, have you?”

“Please,” I said. “Trolling is not my style. Though if anyone deserved to be trolled, it would be Martin Lithgow.”

“What’s the internet saying about him?”

“Apparently, there’s talk of an SEC investigation being opened up,” I replied. “I’m not sure if it was really bad management or money laundering, but either way, he’s not going to be able to get away that easy.”

“That’s something.”

“I guess,” I nodded. “I just… I really liked working there. The atmosphere was great, the people were great, and even the money was decent.”

“Were any of your friends laid off?”

“Seven.” Jason let out a low whistle. “I was closest to Anita. She’s a single mom who really needed this job. I keep thinking of all the other people who depended on this company to keep them employed so that they could support their families and pay their mortgages.”

“I know it’s hard, Molls,” Jason said. “But the sad truth is that layoffs come with the corporate territory.”

“Apparently, so does scandal.”

Jason laughed darkly. “How are you doing…financially?”

“I got a severance package,” I reminded him.

“I know, but that won’t last you too long,” he pointed out.

“If you’re about to offer me money, Mom and Dad already beat you to the punch, and I already turned them down.”

Jason sighed. “Where did all this pride come from?” he demanded. “Because it certainly doesn’t run in the family.”

I laughed. “Are you saying you would accept money from me if the roles were reversed?”

“In a heartbeat,” he nodded. “You’re my sister; who better to borrow money from?”

“You’re a good liar.”

“I happen to be telling the truth.”

“Please,” I said, rolling my eyes. “You know that you’d never be in a position to accept money from anyone, which is why you can afford to say you would.”

“Come on, Molls,” Jason persisted. “What’s the point in making so much money if I can’t help out my baby sister. I’m just talking about giving you a couple of grand.”

“A couple of grand?” I repeated. “Are you nuts?”

“Uh…my therapist seems to think I’m neurotic,” he replied sheepishly. “But not nuts…no.”

I gave him a half smile. “I appreciate the offer, big brother, I really do,” I assured him. “But I want to do this on my own. But I promise that if I’m ever that hard up, I’ll come to you.”

He smirked. “Funny…”

“What is?” I asked.

“I used to love hearing that line from women in college.”

“Eww.”

He laughed. “Sorry,” he said. “TMI.”

“Sometimes I forget what a slut you were in college.”

Jason laughed louder this time. “I take that as a high compliment,” he said. “Speaking of sluts… I spoke to Tristan this morning.”

I smiled. “Okay?”

“He made me a really nice offer,” he continued. “One that I, unfortunately, was forced to turn down.”

“What was the offer?”

“He’s opened up a new resort—”

“Another one?” I interrupted.

“Yup,” he nodded. “The boy is going places fast.”

“Apparently,” I said, impressed despite myself.

“This new hotel is a luxury resort in Hawaii, and it’s opening on Christmas Day. In the meantime, Tristan’s been hosting a few VIP guests from all over the world who’ve come at his invitation.”

“And, you’re on the VIP list?”

“Of course,” Jason replied smugly. “He offered to take care of my plane ticket and the cost of the stay. And since I’m too busy to take him up on his offer, we thought you might as well make use of it.”

I raised my eyebrows. “Whose suggestion was it?” I asked. “Yours or Tristan’s?”

“Uh…does it matter?” Jason asked, in confusion.

I hadn’t seen Tristan in six years, and the last time I had seen him, we had left things on awkward terms. Again, the family Christmas party sprang to mind, and I remembered Tristan standing by the punch bowl in a crisp white shirt that made him look like a Versace model.

“I’m curious,” I said, with a shrug.

“It was Tristan’s suggestion,” Jason admitted.

“And why would he make that suggestion in the first place?” I questioned.

“You’re not an easy girl to do favors for, are you?”

I gave him a mocking smile. “Did you tell him I was just laid off?”

“Uh…was that a secret?”

“Jason!”

“What?” he asked defensively. “Is it that big a deal?”

“It is to me,” I said. “It’s humiliating.”

“Why should it be?” Jason asked. “It’s not like you were fired for misconduct or incompetence. The CEO of the company you worked for is a douche. That’s the reason you lost your job.”

“I know… But still—”

“Are we back to talking about your feelings of inadequacy?”

I suppressed a laugh. “I don’t need anyone feeling sorry for me,” I said firmly.

“Trust me, no one feels sorry for you,” he insisted. “Tristan was only offering because he’s my best friend and you’re my baby sister, and it’s an easy favor for him to do. Plus…”

“Plus?”

“Well…he did mention that he needed to hire someone for his human resources department.”

“He’s offering me a job?” I exclaimed. “Great, just great. He definitely feels sorry for me.”

Jason shook his head. “He’s heard how amazing you are at your job,” he insisted. “In any case, there’s no pressure. You go down, relax for a few weeks, and get the lay of the land. If you feel like it would be a good fit for you…”

“Tristan will hire me?”

“Only if you’re interested,” Jason said quickly. “And if you’re not, then pack your bags and come back home, having enjoyed a luxurious vacation.”

I bit my lip. “I don’t know how I feel about staying at his resort for free.”

“Tristan and I have been friends for a long time,” Jason reminded me. “I’ve helped him out, and he’s done the same for me. You’d just insult him by offering to pay, trust me.”

I sighed. “It does sound nice,” I admitted.

“See?”

I bit my lip and seriously considered the offer. I wondered if my interest had anything to do with seeing Tristan again.

“Okay,” I blurted out spontaneously.

“Okay?”

I nodded. “What the hell?” I said. “I accept.”

Jason smiled and gave me an approving nod. “Atta girl; it’s time you lived a little. I’ll call Tristan tonight and let him know you’ll be flying down.”

“Has he changed much since the last time I met him?” I asked tentatively, remembering the smooth and savvy playboy from my memories.

“Not at all,” Jason replied. “He’s the same guy he’s always been.”

“Still a player, then?” I asked casually.

“Always.”

I smiled and waved Jason out of my room. The moment the door was closed, I turned back to my computer, but my thoughts had traveled back six years ago.

I had relived that memory so many times that it was clear and well preserved. I may have still been underage, but since it was Christmas, I had indulged in a couple of glasses of champagne and a glass of wine. I had been watching Tristan all night. He and Jason were fresh off their graduation, and both were high on ambition.

I, on the other hand, felt like I was high on Tristan.

For the past four years, Tristan had been the star in all my daydreams. He was everything you could want in a man. He was the epitome of tall, dark, and handsome. But I had always been his best friend’s little sister, and I feared he would never see me as anything more.

But that night at the family Christmas party, it seemed as though something had changed. Tristan looked at me differently, and when he smiled at me, I felt as though he were seeing me as a woman and not just Jason’s kid sister. I remembered that intoxicatingly elicit moment when Tristan had grabbed me suddenly and pulled me into a quiet little nook of the house. Before I could catch my breath, his lips had come down over mine, and he was kissing me, hard and passionate, as though he had wanted to kiss me for years.

I had been walking on sunshine the whole night and the next the morning. That is, until it became clear that Tristan didn’t even remember what had happened between us.

I was forced to face the fact that perhaps I had idealized the moment and that maybe, I had projected my feelings onto Tristan. I had created a connection between us that was far from mutual, and in the process, I had become just another forgotten name on his famously long list.

Again, I questioned why I had agreed to go to Tristan’s resort in Hawaii. Was this some desperate attempt to rewrite our narrative and win him over? Or was this just a way to find some much-needed closure? Personally, I hoped for the latter but feared that the truth was an altogether different story.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chapter Three

Tristan

 

“Senator Everett asked me to personally thank you for the suite and your acquiescence to the late booking,” Ben said as we walked around the grand suite Everett and his wife had just vacated.

“He can thank me by lauding our hospitality all over New York,” I replied. “Did you tell him that?”

“Uh…no I didn’t,” Ben replied. “I thought it would be in poor taste.”

I laughed and rolled my eyes at him. “I was kidding, Ben,” I said. “Can’t you recognize a joke?”

“I don’t joke on the job,” he replied seriously.

I laughed, used to Ben’s rigid manner and unflinching professionalism. It was hard to believe that there was a time when I didn’t like him, but slowly and surely, he had started to grow on me.

I walked out to the large balcony to admire the view for a moment, and Ben was forced to follow me, with his clipboard in hand.

 “This is heaven,” I said, admiring the breathtaking view.

“If it was, you certainly wouldn’t be allowed in,” he replied dryly.

“See? I knew you could crack a joke.”

“What makes you think I was joking?” he asked with a serious face.

I frowned. “Why do I let you get away with so much cheek?”

“Because you could never find anyone good enough to replace me,” he replied in a self-satisfied way.

“Fair enough,” I admitted. I saw the corner of Ben’s mouth turn up. “So, how are we doing so far? Any complaints?”

“None worth mentioning,” he replied. “A few construction issues on the west wing of the resort, but I managed to sort them out.”

“Don’t I have a meeting with the head of construction today?”

“Tomorrow,” Ben replied, referring his clipboard. “At five.”

“Five seems a bit late—”

“Five a.m.,” he clarified.

“Fuck,” I groaned. “That seems a bit early.”

“The team’s working around the clock to make sure we’re ready for our opening day on Christmas.”

“How many rooms are still under construction?”

“Seven rooms, two suites,” he replied promptly.

“What about the amenities shipment?” I asked. “Has it arrived yet?”

“It’ll arrive tomorrow,” he replied. “Or so I’ve been told.”

“It was supposed to have arrived three days ago,” I said in annoyance.

“There was a little trouble at customs.”

“Call Hans and get him to pull some strings,” I said. “He knows a few people in customs.”

Ben nodded and made a small note. “There’s also the entertainment act to confirm,” he reminded me.

“Ah right,” I nodded distractedly. “Didn’t we already do that?”

“We have a classical pianist for the formal lounge, a jazz band for the outdoor lounge, and three singers for three of the restaurants. Our fourth restaurant doesn’t have an entertainment act yet. I’ve narrowed it down to two contenders; you just have to make the final decision.”

I nodded. “Pencil in an hour sometime tomorrow,” I said. “I’ll audition both of them and get it out of the way.”

“Your schedule is booked solid tomorrow,” Ben said, looking down at my schedule. “Unless you want to audition them at eleven p.m.?”

“Eleven is fine,” I nodded. “Pencil it in and send me a reminder half an hour before.”

“Got it,” he nodded.

“Anything else?”

“Our seafood restaurant is doing well, but it seems to be understaffed,” Ben informed me. “Which is fine now, but after Christmas, we’ll be at capacity, and we’ll need more wait staff in all four restaurants.”

“Put the word out that we’re hiring,” I said. “Give preference to the locals.”

Ben nodded. “One last thing… Should I have someone move your stuff back up here?”

I left the balcony and walked back into the grand suite. It was an impressive layout, sprawling and incredibly luxurious, but I had other plans in mind.

“No.”

“No?” 

“I have another guest coming down in a few days,” I informed him. “She’ll be staying in this suite.”

Ben raised his eyebrows. “I’ll leave instructions at the reception,” he said. “What’s her name?”

“Molly,” I said. “Molly Sinclair.”

Ben looked incredulously amused.

“What?” I demanded, noticing his expression.

“Nothing.”

“Spit it out,” I insisted.

“I just never pegged you as the type of guy who’d give up his digs for an old flame,” he said. “She must have been something special.”

“Whoa, it’s not like that at all,” I corrected him immediately. “She’s not an ex-girlfriend.”

“Oh.”

“She’s my best friend’s little sister,” I said. “I’m just doing him a solid, that’s all. It’s strictly innocent.”

Ben frowned. “Okay.”

“What?” I demanded.

“Nothing,” he said, shrugging.

“I’m serious; we’re just friends.”

He smiled. “You don’t have to protest so hard,” he told me calmly. “I believe you.”

I could tell from his tone and his expression that he didn’t, but I knew if I kept trying to convince him, it would only work against me. So I shut my mouth and turned my attention to the suite.

“Have some fresh fruit and chocolates sent up,” I informed Ben.

“Champagne?”

“Uh…no,” I said. “Fruit and chocolates are fine.”

“And, when I inform the front desk of her arrival, should I tell them to expect two people or just Ms. Sinclair?”

I paused for a moment. Jason hadn’t mentioned anything about Molly coming with someone. I wondered how I would feel if she did. “Uh… I don’t know, to be honest,” I replied. “Tell them to be prepared just in case. As far as I know, however, it might be just Molly.”

“Understood,” Ben nodded.

“Who’s manning the reception this week?”

“Alani,” he replied after checking the roster. “She’s popular with the guests.”

“I’ve noticed,” I nodded. “She’s native, isn’t she?”

“She was born on Kauai,” Ben replied.

“Kauai,” I repeated. “Interesting.”

“You don’t know which island that is, do you?” Ben asked, with a raised eyebrow.

“Give me a break, okay,” I said defensively. “I’ve been working.”

“When are we expecting Ms. Sinclair?”

“In two days’ time,” I replied. “On the first. Have a car sent to the airport to pick her up and have the helicopter on standby.”

He nodded. “Anything else you’d like me to see to in preparation for her arrival?”

“I think we’ve got all our bases covered,” I said. “Just make sure she’s well taken care of.”

“Of course.”

“What’s my schedule look like this afternoon?”

“Lunch with Jordan Helms,” Ben read. “Three back-to-back meetings after lunch with the heads of your managerial staff, and the eleven o’clock appointment to make the final decision on the act for the last restaurant.”

“Right,” I nodded. “Okay, got it.”

“I’ll send you reminders anyway.”

“Good man,” I nodded. “I better head over to lunch. Jordan hates waiting.”

I was passing through the fountain garden when I heard a voice shout my name. I turned to find Gregory Winchester walking towards me.

“Tristan!” he said enthusiastically. “I’ve been here now three days, and I haven’t seen you anywhere.”

Gregory was wearing swimming shorts and a Hawaiian shirt that made him look like some creepy lothario out of your average rom-com. Considering he was one of my biggest investors, I kept that opinion to myself.

“Gregory,” I said, shaking his hand. “My staff informed me that you’d arrived; I should have made the time to meet with you earlier. Sorry about that.”

“Hey, I understand. Running a hotel takes work. And, I wouldn’t want you to drop the ball, considering I would suffer for it.”

I smiled. “How are you liking your stay so far?”

“I must say, Tristan, you’ve done a fantastic job,” he replied without any reservations. “The resort is stunning, the food is amazing, and your staff has been well trained.”

“I’m glad to hear it,” I replied, satisfied and proud all at the same time. “Am I to assume you have no complaints?”

“I do hear a little construction during the day,” Gregory mentioned.

“The west wing is still being renovated,” I said. “Just minor finishing touches, but it should be finished soon.”

“This place is massive,” he said, looking around at large towers of the resort. “I didn’t expect it to be so big. How many rooms do you have again?”

“A hundred rooms,” I replied. “And three different suite types. Five grand suites, seven superior suites, and ten deluxe suites.”

“Hmm…should I be offended that I only received a superior suite and not a grand?”

I laughed. “I wouldn’t,” I said. “I gave you the best view.”

“This is Hawaii, you con artist,” he accused. “Every view here is the best view.”

“Caught that, did you?”

Gregory laughed good-naturedly and patted me on the back. “You’ve done well,” he said. “If I weren’t making a killing on this investment, I’d be jealous.”

“Jealous?” I laughed. “What have you got to be jealous about? You’re the CEO of a successful company, you own real estate in ten different states, and you, according to some newspapers, are dating Minka Kelly.”

“First of all, that was just a rumor,” Gregory insisted. “Second of all, I own property in nine states, not ten. And third of all, my success is appropriate to my age. Unlike some overachieving pretty boys who make CEO at twenty-seven?”

“I was twenty-four, actually,” I replied with a smug smile.

“Asshole,” he said, with skipping a beat. “But you see, being a CEO at thirty-nine like myself is much less impressive than being a CEO at twenty…”

“Eight,” I offered.

“Twenty-eight,” he nodded.

“Well, a little healthy competition is good for the soul,” I said.

“That’s a good way of spinning it,” he joked.

“Let’s talk soon,” I said. “Unfortunately, I have to get to a lunch meeting.”

“Busy man,” he nodded. “I understand. We’ll meet soon.”

I said goodbye to Gregory and headed for my meeting with Jordan. I tried to make a mental list of all the things I needed to bring up at the meeting, but I only managed to get to point number three before my mind wandered to thoughts of Molly and her impending arrival.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chapter Four

Molly

 

The air was different in Hawaii. It seemed crisper and cleaner, somehow. I could smell salt and coconut in the wind and felt my body relax instantly. It had been a long flight, and I was severely jet-lagged. My eyes were tired, but I didn’t want to miss any of the sights.

Tristan had had a car ready for me when I’d arrived at the airport. It had been a short drive to an expansive meadow-like area where a helicopter, of all things, had been waiting for me. The resort’s name was emblazoned on the side in an understated font, and I couldn’t help marveling at how far Tristan had come.

The helicopter ride to the resort was nothing short of spectacular. I only wished that I had been more alert to enjoy the experience. Hawaii was hands down the most beautiful place I had ever seen. The pictures and travel shows didn’t do it justice. Even the colors were brighter and bolder; the greens were greener, the blues were bluer, and the reds were redder. Everything jumped out at me in living HD.

Making sure my earphones were firmly fastened, I leaned out a little and looked down at the ocean below me. It was the most impressive collection of blues I had ever seen. It almost seemed like the ocean was graded with color. I could see soft blue-greens merging into cobalt that flowed into sapphire that rolled into aquamarine that dazzled the eye.

Ten minutes later, we approached the resort’s helipad, and I braced myself for landing. The blades of the chopper were powerful, and the wind it manufactured threatened to throw me off the roof. Luckily, there was a tall man at the door, ready to guide me into the resort. He had intense hazel eyes that bordered on frightening, but his dark hair and tall build softened the effect of his slightly stern features.

We entered the building through a large elevator perfumed with a floral scent and decorated with mirrors. The moment the elevator doors shut, the sound of the helicopter was cut off completely, and I could hear the light classical music that was playing in the background.

“Welcome, Ms. Sinclair,” the hazel-eyed man greeted. “I’m Ben Brown, Mr. Dubois’ hotel manager and personal assistant.”

I shook his head. “It’s nice to meet you, Ben,” I replied. “And please, feel free to call me Molly. Being referred to as Ms. Sinclair makes me cringe just a little.”

One corner of Ben’s mouth turned up in what I assumed was a smile. “Whatever you’re comfortable with, Molly,” he said easily.

Just then, the doors of the elevator sprung open, and we stepped out into a massive marbled foyer with a glass-domed ceiling from which the sky was visible.

“Wow,” I breathed.

There were a few different reception counters, and Ben led me to the largest one, situated across the marbled foyer, directly in front of the elevator we had just stepped out of.

“Uh…my suitcase is on the helicopter,” I told Ben.

“Don’t worry about your things, Molly,” he assured me. “They’ll be transferred to your suite.”

“My suite?” I repeated.

“Yes,” he nodded. “You’ll be staying at the grand suite for the duration of your stay. It’s the finest room we have here at the resort.”

“Uh, I’m sure it is,” I said politely. “It’s just that… I don’t need a fancy suite. Any old room will work for me.”

“We don’t have ‘any old room’ at this resort,” he said. “Plus, Mr. Dubois left strict instructions with me.”

“Did he?” I asked, slightly flattered that he had gone to so much trouble for me.

I wondered momentarily how much a single night in the grand suite would cost. Looking around at my luxurious surroundings, I suspected I wouldn’t have even been able to consider a night here if I was paying for the room myself.

There were two women standing behind the reception counter that Ben and I stepped up to. One was small and caramel-skinned. She was staring fixated at her screen. The other woman was slightly taller and extremely beautiful. She had gorgeous thick black hair, large exotic eyes, and delicate native features.

“Welcome, Ms. Sinclair,” she greeted in a friendly, welcoming tone.

“It’s Molly, please,” I said quickly.

“Of course, Molly it is,” she nodded. “I’m Alani, assistant manager at the resort. Feel free to let me know if you need anything at all during your stay. I’m more than happy to help.”

“Thank you,” I said.

“Iolana, is the grand suite ready for our guest?” Ben asked, addressing the small young woman next to Alani.

“It is, Mr. Brown,” Iolana nodded.

She walked towards a huge framed picture behind the reception desk, hooked her fingers around the side, and pulled. The frame opened out like a door to reveal a collection of brass keys hanging neatly in rows. She reached up and grabbed one of the top-most keys, then closed the frame and walked back, offering Ben the key.

At the same moment, a sharply-dressed waiter materialized on my right, pushing a cart with a wide selection of refreshments. First, he handed me a cold towel for my face, which I accepted gratefully, hoping it would wake me up a little. Then he offered me a choice from the vast array of options on the cart.

“We have coconut water, ma’am,” he told me, in slightly-accented English. “But we also have a range of fresh juices—mango, papaya, orange, lime, watermelon, kiwi and mint, and mixed fruit. If you prefer something more complicated, I can also get you a mocktail of your choice.”

“Or a cocktail,” Ben interrupted. “Whatever you prefer.”

“Wow… I think I’m a little too jet lagged to process too many choices just now,” I said, self-consciously.

“Then might I recommend the kiwi and mint, ma’am,” the waiter suggested. “It’s wonderful.”

I smiled and nodded. “Kiwi and mint it is.”

He handed me a tall glass and the moment I brought it to my lips, the intoxicating scent of mint rose up to meet me. I intended to take one dainty sip, but the taste of the drink was so good that I kept going till I had emptied the glass.

“Sorry,” I said. “That probably wasn’t very ladylike.”

Ben said nothing, but Alani smiled. “I did the same thing when I tasted it the first time. I don’t blame you one bit.”

“Can I offer you another glass, ma’am?” the waiter asked.

“No, no thank you,” I said. “That was a generous glass.”

The waiter bowed courteously and headed off towards the elevators. I noticed that the resort wasn’t as crowded as I had expected it to be. But before I could ask, a young man in a pressed vest emerged from a hidden door to the side of the reception desk and went straight to Ben.

“Mr. Brown,” he said, sounding close to frantic. “There’s been a small mix up…”

“What now?” Ben asked, keeping his voice low for my benefit.

“The food delivery we were expecting for tonight’s dinner has been waylaid.”

Ben’s expression remained calm, but I saw a vein in his forehead pop. He turned to me and gave me a small, stiff smile. “I’m very sorry, Molly,” he said. “I was supposed to take you through to Mr. Dubois’ office, but I think I’ll need to handle this situation first.”

I tensed immediately at the mention of Tristan. Apparently, he had asked his assistant to bring me to him. I bristled slightly at the man’s presumption, but I reminded myself that it was just like Tristan to do something like that. It would never have occurred to him to meet me at the helipad or even here in the foyer.

“Of course,” I nodded. “You go ahead. I’ll just head to my room.”

Ben paused for a moment. “Uh… Mr. Dubois was very intent on meeting you the moment you arrived,” he said. “Alani will show you to his office.”

Cornered, I had no choice but to nod. Ideally, I would have liked to rest a little before I saw Tristan, but apparently, that wasn’t going to happen. I became aware of my rather shoddy appearance. Considering I was traveling, I had chosen to dress for comfort. I was wearing my favorite worn-in boyfriend jeans with a soft white t-shirt and my go-to black and white striped sneakers.

“Follow me, Molly,” Alani said, as she walked around the desk and led me to a different elevator on the right. I said goodbye to Ben, and we headed off to Tristan’s office.

“I must admit, the whole staff has been very curious about your arrival,” Alani said unexpectedly.

“Have they?” I asked, in surprise. “Why is that?”

“All Mr. Dubois’ guests so far have been important business contacts and investors,” Alani replied. “You’re the first personal friend he’s invited. It’s very mysterious.”

I laughed. “I assure you, there’s nothing mysterious going on here,” I said, with some confidence. “Tristan and my brother are close friends, and because Jason couldn’t come up here himself, he sent me along in his place.”             

“Oh,” Alani said.

I smiled. “I’m sorry there’s not a more interesting reason I’m here,” I said. “The staff will just have to get their daily dose of intrigue and mystery somewhere else.”

“How disappointing,” she sighed, and I couldn’t help warm to her. I liked that she treated me more like a friend than a guest. It made me feel more comfortable.

We got off the elevator on the fifteenth floor and walked out into a massive hallway that faced floor-to-ceiling glass that boasted a spectacular view of the ocean and the beach.

“Wow,” I said again, walking up to the windows and gazing down at the inviting blue water. “Do you ever get used to this view?”

Alani smiled. “Eventually,” she nodded. “Takes a while, though.”

“I’m so tempted to hit the beach right away,” I said. “But I’m just so jet-lagged.”

“Get some rest,” she advised. “You can explore the island tomorrow with fresh eyes. Would you like me to make you a booking at one of our restaurants for tonight?”

“How many restaurants do you have?”

“Four,” she replied. “There’s the Lagoon, which specializes in seafood; we have Spices, which specializes in Asian fusion. Then there’s Mosaic, which is our international restaurant that produces dishes inspired by many cultures and countries across the world. And finally, we have Pepe Albero, which is our Italian restaurant.”

“Geez,” I said. “That’s quite a choice.”

“We also have the Cove,” she continued. “Which is our bar lounge where you can order a range of different snack and pub foods, not to mention cocktails.”

I whistled. “I think maybe I’ll just stay in my room tonight,” I said. “Maybe order in.”

“Of course,” she nodded. “You’ll find our in-room menu on your bedside table.”

“This place is fantastic,” I said as Alani started moving down the hall.

“Mr. Dubois is a visionary,” Alani said, and it was obvious by her tone that she was as impressed with her boss as I was. “He was instrumental in the architecture of the resort, and he was involved every step of the way.”

I nodded, looking around at the casual blend of modern and classical elegance. “I can see his influence,” I said. “He always did like mixing periods.”

Alani led me to huge double doors and knocked once. I heard a faint “come in,” and then she pushed open the door and gestured me inside. I took a deep breath and entered.

Tristan was sitting behind a desk, with his back to yet another stunning ocean view. But somehow, the scenery seemed to pale in comparison to the man who stood to greet me.

It had been six years since I’d last seen him, and yet in the three seconds that it took him to cross the room towards me, I regressed back to that shy eighteen-year-old girl whose only goal in life was to impress Tristan Dubois.

He was still as handsome as ever, except now there was maturity to his features that only served to enhance his looks. I remembered daydreaming about that strong, confident jaw, the slant of his cheekbones, the way his dark eyes could look passionate and dangerous in the same breath.

“Molly!” he smiled.

I pushed back my nerves and reminded myself that I was no longer the shy and insecure eighteen-year-old I used to be.

“Hello, Tristan,” I replied calmly.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chapter Five

Tristan

 

It was strange seeing Molly in the flesh after six years of absence. I could recognize the young girl that she had once been, but I could also see the woman she was now.

She had that tousled, fresh-off-the-plane look, but it did nothing to detract from her appearance. She had the kind of old-world beauty that couldn’t be hidden. Her blonde hair had been tied into an untidy topknot, from which loose strands trailed around her face and down her neck. Her blue eyes were lighter than I remembered, and it put me in mind of the ocean just after sunrise.

I calculated in my head and realized that she was around twenty-four now. It didn’t matter, I told myself firmly. She was still Jason’s sister.

“It’s been a long time,” Molly said.

I smiled and leaned in for a hug. I thought she returned the hug stiffly, but that might have just been my imagination. When I pulled back, I tried not to get sidetracked by the intensity of her blue eyes.

“It has been a long time,” I nodded. “Too long.”

Alani cleared her throat, and I realized she was still in the room. “I’ll just wait outside,” she said, with a knowing smile. She shut the door behind her, leaving Molly and me alone together.

I gestured towards one of the chairs opposite my desk. “Come, sit down,” I said. “You must be exhausted after the flight.”

Molly followed me to the desk, and I noticed that she was preoccupied with the view as she sat down. “I am,” she replied. “I had been hoping to head straight to my room and get in a couple of hours of sleep first.”

“I’m sorry, I should have thought of that,” I said. “But I just…had to welcome you to Hawaii.”

Molly smiled, and I was struck again by how much she had changed. There was a new confidence about her that hadn’t existed before. There was more maturity in her features, which lent itself to her beauty. She really did look like a modern-day Grace Kelly.

“Have you had anything to drink?” I asked. “I can get some refreshments up here.”

“No need,” she said quickly. “Your staff already saw to it. I met Ben downstairs.”

“Ben,” I nodded. “I expected him to bring you up to meet me.”

“There was an emergency he needed to sort out,” I told him.

“Thank God for Ben,” I said. “I don’t know what I’d do without him.”

We fell quiet for a moment, and in that silence, Molly’s eyes met mine. She was looking at me with a curious expression, and I couldn’t help searching her face. It felt as though there was an unspoken conversation that needed to be had, sitting between us and distracting us both.

“Thank you for the plane ticket, Tristan,” Molly said at last, breaking the silence. “I haven’t traveled first class in quite some time.”

“You’re most welcome,” I replied. “How was the helicopter ride here?”

“Fabulous,” she said, and her eyes lit up. “It was amazing experiencing Hawaii from that vantage point. This island is breathtaking.”

“I couldn’t agree more,” I nodded.

“Tristan…” She looked at me awkwardly.

“Yes?”

“Are you sure I can’t pay for this trip?” she asked. “I feel bad staying here for free.”

“Nonsense,” I said immediately. “I want to do this.”

“You wanted to do this for Jason,” she pointed out. “I’m not Jason.”

I was surprised to find that I was annoyed at the mention of Jason. He was just another reminder that Molly was off limits to me. Then again, I reasoned that I needed reminders to keep me in check, especially if Molly was going to be around for the next few weeks.

“You’re a lot prettier than he is,” I joked, brushing off my initial annoyance. “Which means you’re more deserving.”             

She smirked at me. “This was very generous of you,” she said. “And, I want you to know how much I appreciate it. So does Jason.”

“Of course,” I nodded. “Don’t even mention it.”

She nodded. She seemed to be working through something in her head, and I wondered for a moment if she was remembering the last time we had spoken.

“How have you been, Molly?” I asked.

“I’ve been better, to be honest,” she replied. “I’m sure Jason has already told you that I was laid off.”

“I am sorry,” I said. “It’s always hard when companies choose to scale back.”

“It wasn’t a corporate decision; it was a legal one,”

“I heard,” I nodded sympathetically. “I don’t know if Jason mentioned to you the possibility of a position here.”

“He did mention it,” she replied. “And, I’m flattered and grateful but…”

“Too weird?” I offered.

She smiled. “I don’t know yet,” she clarified. “Maybe we can just…see how it goes.”

“Sounds like a plan,” I nodded. “Like I told Jason, there’s absolutely no pressure. If you decide you enjoy the atmosphere here, the job’s yours.”

“Thank you.”

“You don’t have to keep thanking me, Molly,” I smiled. “I’m more than happy to make the offer, especially because I know how good you are at your job.”

She raised her eyebrows. “How do you know that?”

“Your parents,” I admitted. “And Jason.”

She smiled. “They might not be the most unbiased sources.”

“I trust them,” I said. “Speaking of your parents, how are they?”

“They’re both doing really well,” she replied. “Neither one shows any signs of slowing down.”

“It’s the work ethic all three of us learned from,” I said. “My father was the same way.”

Molly’s eyes turned soft for a moment. “I was sorry to hear about your father, Tristan,” she said. “I wish I could have been there for the funeral.”             

“It was…a difficult day,” I nodded. “But it didn’t come as a shock, and that helped. A part of me was relieved, you know. At least he wasn’t suffering anymore. The chemo was very hard on him.”

“I imagine it was hard for you, as well.”

I cleared my throat and changed the subject abruptly, unwilling to appear vulnerable in front of Molly. “It was a while ago now. Anyway… Have you had a chance to explore the resort?”

She seemed to understand my reluctance to talk about my father. “Not yet,” she replied. “I’m going to start exploring tomorrow. Once I’ve caught up on some sleep.”

“You’ll need to have dinner once you’ve rested a bit,” I pointed out. “I can hold a table for you at one of our four restaurants?”

“Alani already offered,” Molly answered. “But I think I’m just going to order in room service tonight.”

“No problem,” I nodded. “The food here is amazing. We’ve got the best chefs from around the world.”

“You always did strive for excellence.”

“Anything less is unacceptable,” I nodded.

“I’m proud of you,” Molly said unexpectedly. “You achieved everything you set out to achieve—in record time no less.”

“I didn’t start from scratch,” I pointed out. “My father built up the empire halfway; I just took over from there.”

“And took it to greater heights,” she said. “Starting a resort in Hawaii was always a dream of yours, wasn’t it?”

“I… Yeah,” I nodded. “How did you know that?”

“You mentioned it to me once,” she said. “The last time we saw each other…at the family Christmas party six years ago.”

The Christmas party… I kept my expression calm, even as the memory came rushing back to me. I could almost smell the scent of holly and mistletoe.

“We kissed that night,” she said unexpectedly. “Do you remember?”

I sat there for a moment, blinking at her like an idiot. I had not expected her to bring up the kiss like that. There was no inflection in her tone, but her expression was studying, and I felt suddenly self-conscious. I remembered the day after the Christmas party. I had been staying at her parent’s house in the guest room, next to Jason’s.

When I had gone down for breakfast, Molly had been there, looking like sunshine. She had turned to me with expectation, and I had watched the joy fade from her face at my indifferent and uninterested attitude. I made a point of announcing to the whole table that I drank too much last night and couldn’t remember a thing that had happened.

A couple of hours later, I packed my bags, said goodbye to Jason’s family and drove off, while Molly stood on the porch steps next to her brother and parents, looking hurt and disappointed.

No matter how hard I’d tried over the years, I’d never been able to get that last image of her out of my head. It haunted me to this day. Perhaps that was the reason I wanted to give her this trip; it was my way of apologizing. It was my way of making up for what could never be.

I forced myself to meet Molly’s eyes, knowing that I had to be convincing. “What kiss?” I asked with my eyebrows raised.

“You kissed me in the library of my parents’ house,” Molly said. “The Christmas party was raging in the other room, but you pulled me away so that we could be alone.”

I wrinkled my brow, as though I were struggling to remember the moment. Then I laughed. “Are you positive this happened?”

Molly didn’t laugh; she didn’t even crack a smile. “A hundred percent.”

“Well, then… I must have been really drunk that night,” I said casually. “Because I can’t remember a thing.”

Her eyes were cold, and I could sense the same hurt that had engulfed her six years ago. While a selfish part of me was happy she still cared, another part of me knew I needed to hurt her a little now in order to spare her more hurt somewhere down the road. My lifestyle wasn’t suited for long-term relationships. I wasn’t suited for long-term relationships. And, Molly was not some random girl in a club.

She was my best friend’s sister. If I got involved with her only to neglect her later in the relationship, it would effectively end my friendship with Jason, and I just couldn’t take that risk. Denying the memory seemed like the easiest way to spare Molly from unnecessary entanglements—and to spare myself from unnecessary temptation.

“You weren’t drinking that much,” she said.

I shrugged. “I’ve kissed a lot of different women in my life, Molly,” I said, hating myself for appearing so flippant and uncaring. “I don’t remember half their names. Sometimes even their faces blur together.”

I saw her cringe a little, and I didn’t blame her. “In any case, you’re Jason’s sister,” I continued. “If we did actually kiss… I think it’s better that kiss stay in the past where it belongs.”

She looked intense for a moment and then in the next breath, she seemed to relax. “You’re right,” she nodded. “It was obviously a meaningless kiss, anyway.”

I pushed back my disappointment and nodded. “Right…”

“I’m sorry for bringing it up,” she said.

“No, not at all.”

“I should get to my room; I’m exhausted.”

“Of course,” I nodded, standing up to walk her to the door. “I’ll be a little busy the next few days, but if you need anything at all, please feel free to ask my staff.”

“Thank you, Tristan.”

Alani turned towards both of us when I opened the door, ready to escort Molly to her suite. Molly turned to me for a brief second. Her light blue eyes looked a little conflicted, but then she gave me a small smile and turned away from me.

I watched her leave with Alani, remembering the perfect kiss we had shared and all the little pearls of hope that had come with it. That hope was gone now; all I had left was the memory.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chapter Six

Molly

 

I was in one of the resort’s four luxury pools, thrilled at the idea of being able to swim in December. The water of the heated pool was refreshingly comforting. I completed my twentieth lap and got out of the pool to relax on one of the lounge chairs with a drink and a good book.

There was an older couple on the opposite side of the pool, sleeping under their sun umbrellas, and a middle-aged gentleman floating around in the deep end. Other than a few resort employees walking around, there was no one there. It was calm, quiet, and relaxing. But as peaceful as it was, I felt a little forlorn. It was slightly depressing to be at such a romantic resort all by myself.

I adjusted my black-and-white polka-dotted bikini, wiped myself off roughly, and lay down on the lounge chair, which had been set up with soft fluffy cushions for added comfort. The margarita I had ordered was only half empty, so I took a sip and picked up the book I was reading. I was so immersed in Fiona Barton’s world of mystery and intrigue that I didn’t even notice Alani approach until she was standing over me, casting her shadow over my page.

“Alani,” I said, marking my spot and setting the book down. “Sorry, didn’t see you there.”

“How are you doing?” she asked. “Can I get you anything?”

“Nothing at all,” I assured her. “I’m just enjoying the sun and the water.”

I had been at the resort for three nights now, and I had seen Alani every day. We had actually developed a friendship of sorts, sneaking in conversations between her shifts and between my trips to the beach. Alani was an easy person to talk to. She was friendly, open, and endearingly inquisitive. It helped that she didn’t seem to consider me a guest, and she often regaled me with funny stories about the other guests and their little idiosyncrasies.

“Have you finished exploring the resort?”

“Just about,” I nodded. “It’s massive.”

“It is.”

“The game room is crazy big,” I said. “Unfortunately, I can’t really play many games by myself. So I’m limited to swimming, reading, and exploring.”

Her expression turned sly. “You could always ask Mr. Dubois to accompany you,” she suggested coyly.

I snorted. “He’s way too busy to give me the time of day,” I said. “I haven’t seen him since the day I arrived.”

“Molly,” Alani said, leaning in towards me slightly.

“Yes?”

“You and I… We’re friends, aren’t we?”

“I think so, yes,” I smiled.

“Good, then can I ask you a personal question?”

I laughed. “I should have known that question was a trap. Okay, go ahead and ask me anything.”

She smiled. “Is there something between you and Mr. Dubois?”

I had been expecting the question, but I still paused to consider the possibility. “No,” I said, after a moment. “There definitely isn’t anything between Tristan and me.”

“Oh,” she said, sounding disappointed. “But…you like him, don’t you?”

“Well…”

“It’s okay,” she said. “Half the female staff here is in love with Mr. Dubois. He’s a very handsome man…and so young to be so successful.”

“Yup, that’s Tristan,” I said flatly. “Mr. Perfect.”

She laughed. “You do like him.”

“Or maybe I’m just annoyed with how perfect he is,” I pointed out.

“Love and hate aren’t too far apart, Molly,” Alani told me.

I groaned. “Fine, yes,” I admitted. “I do like him… I’ve liked him for a long, long time now.”

“Oh?” Alani asked, with interest. “Do tell.”

“He and my brother met during their college orientation,” I said. “They hit it off right away and became instant friends. They’re very similar, my brother and Tristan. I suppose they bonded over all the things they had in common. I had just turned fourteen the first time I met Tristan. Jason brought him home for Thanksgiving to spend the weekend with us.”

“You had a crush on him,” Alani smiled, as though she lived for stories like this.

“I fell in love with him,” I said, laughing at myself. “I took one look at him as he walked through those double doors and I thought, ‘that is the man I’m going to marry one day.’”

Alani laughed. “Aw, that’s a strong reaction.”

“It was,” I sighed. “I spent the whole weekend finding any excuse to be near him. By the end of the weekend, I was convinced that Tristan was the only man I would ever love.”

“And was he?”

I laughed. “I’ve still got the rest of my life to get through before I can answer that question. I don’t know if it was love or infatuation,” I admitted. “But I do know that I’ve never felt that way about anyone since then, except for Tristan.”

“And, you never said anything to him?” Alani wanted to know.

“I never had the guts,” I admitted. “I knew it wouldn’t have mattered even if I had told him. He only ever saw me as a child, his best friend’s kid sister.”

“So, nothing’s ever happened between the two of you?”

“Well…”

“I knew it!” she cried triumphantly. “What happened?”

“We kissed,” I said. “It only happened the one time, and… I thought it meant something.”

“But?”

“Apparently, it only meant something to me,” I admitted. “Tristan claimed not to have remembered the kiss at all.”

“Seriously?”

“It’s believable, coming from Tristan,” I said. “He was always a player. Every time he and Jason came home during the holidays, they would regale us with stories about their conquests.”

“He’s had a lot of girlfriends?”

I smirked. “Tristan’s never had girlfriends…he has flings. And apparently, the list is so long that he can’t even remember all their names. Apparently, even their faces blur together.”

“Wow.”

“Yup.”

“Considering what I know about his romantic track record, you would think I’d be completely disinterested,” I sighed. “But… I can’t seem to squash my feelings for him. It’s been six years since I saw him, and it hasn’t made one iota of difference.”

“He’s the one that got away, huh?”

“I never had him in the first place,” I said. “He’s only ever been a daydream for me.”

“He did kiss you, though,” Alani pointed out.

“Because he was drunk,” I said. “Or so he claims. I didn’t really think he was that drunk, but what the hell do I know? The ugly truth is that he probably would have kissed any girl in that situation.”

“I don’t know about that,” she said confidently.

I laughed. “How can you know that?”

“Because I saw the way he looked at you when you entered his office the day you arrived. He’s definitely noticed you the way a man notices a woman.”

“Uh… I think you may have read a little too much into his reaction.”

“No, trust me, I can tell,” she promised. “The trick is you need to force him to see the woman you’ve become. He’s got you trapped in his head as his best friend’s little sister, and that’s the barrier between the two of you.”

“Uh… Alani—”

“I think I have a plan to get him to pay some real attention to you.”

“Alani, that’s really not necessary,” I said quickly. “I think it’s just better that I come to terms with reality and accept that Tristan and I will never be together.”

“But—”

“He’d probably make a terrible boyfriend, in any case,” I said. “Womanizing is not a vice that’s easily fixed. And as far as I know, Tristan’s never really committed to any woman for longer than a few days.”

“It only takes one woman to change that,” Alani said optimistically. “It only takes the right woman to come along.”

“That’s a little more pressure than I’m comfortable with.”

She laughed. “Okay then,” she said. “Forget that. Don’t you want him to eat his heart out? Think of it as revenge for not remembering that kiss.”

I couldn’t help but laugh. “And how do you plan to get him to eat his heart out?”

“If you haven’t already noticed, I’m very popular with the guests here,” she said proudly. “Particularly the male guests.”

I smiled. “I’ve noticed.”

“Have you eaten at Pepe Albero yet?”

“Not yet,” I answered. “I’ve been trying out the other restaurants.”

“Well, Tristan eats dinner every night at Albero,” Alani informed me. “He has a standing table that’s reserved for him. I suggest you start eating dinner there, too.”

“He might feel obligated to ask me to join him,” I said. “But I doubt I would want that.”

“He won’t get a chance to ask you to join him,” Alani said slyly. “Because you’re going to be having dinner with someone.”

I raised my eyebrows. “Who?”

“A different guy…every night.”

I stared at her for a second before I burst out laughing. “This is Hawaii,” I reminded her. “I don’t know anyone here; how am I supposed to get a different date every night?”

“You may not know anyone here, but I do,” she pointed out. “Leave the men up to me. Your only job is to turn up at Albero every night looking stunning.”

“Who are these men you plan to rustle up for me?” I asked curiously.

“I’m in the hospitality industry,” she said. “All my friends manage fancy resorts, hotels, and restaurants in and around the island. I know lots of wealthy men who vacation here every year. They’ll be happy to do me a favor, especially if it includes dinner with a beautiful woman.”

“I… This plan is…”

“Diabolical? Brilliant?”

“Crazy,” I corrected. “The word I was going to use was crazy.”

She laughed. “Men want what other men have,” she said confidently. “You need to shove that little truth in Tristan’s face. He has to learn that he can’t just brush you off like you’re his plaything. We’re going to make him regret the day he ever turned you down.”

I bit my lip and considered Alani’s proposal. It sounded insane, but at the same time, I could feel the adrenaline pumping through my body. It would be nice to show Tristan what he was missing. It would be nice to see him eat his heart out.

“Well?” she pressed. “Are we doing this or not?”

“Uh… I don’t know,” I said.

“Come on, Molly,” she encouraged. “Why should you sit here feeling forlorn, when you could be enjoying yourself?”

Slowly, I felt a smile slip onto my face. I pushed away my doubts and nodded once. “Okay,” I agreed. “Let’s do this.”

“Excellent,” Alani said emphatically. “Operation Eat Your Heart Out is underway.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chapter Seven

Tristan

 

Ben was standing in front of my desk with his clipboard in hand. “We still haven’t gone over the overheads,” he reminded me.

I groaned. “We’ll do that after dinner. I need a break before I can tackle overheads.”

“Fine,” Ben nodded. “What about staff disputes; can you handle that now?”

“I expect you to.”

He sighed. “Save the fun jobs for me, huh?”

“Always,” I nodded. “Perks of being the boss.”

“You don’t pay me well enough.”

I laughed. “Easy, boy; didn’t you receive a raise a few months ago?”

“That was before we opened the resort.”

I laughed. “And, I’m getting my money’s worth,” I told him. “Anything else I need to handle before dinner?”

“I’ve been getting a call from the same reporter for a week now; she’s adamant she wants to talk to you about running a piece in the local paper.”

“She wants to promote the resort?”

“She does.”

“Tell her that this resort runs on a reputation of exclusivity,” I said. “And, doing a splashy newspaper spread is not exclusive. I want people to wonder what’s inside, instead of seeing it laid out for them during breakfast.”

“I’ll let her know.”

“Good,” I nodded. “Are we done then?”

“Are we ever?” he asked wryly. “We’re finished for the moment.”

“Excellent,” I nodded. “Meet back here in an hour?”

He took the elevator down to the staff rooms while I continued on to Pepe Albero. Of all the restaurants at the resort, the Italian fine dining atmosphere was the one I liked best. There was always good classical music in the background, a bar that specialized in edgy new cocktails, and the food was excellent. I had sampled almost every item on the menu, and I was more than ready to repeat the process.

I had a standing table reserved for me every night. It was in one corner of the restaurant, where I was cocooned away in a little alcove but could still see all the comings and goings from my vantage point. I had just stepped into the restaurant, and I was heading to my table when I spotted Molly at the bar.

I stalled a little, momentarily floored by how breathtaking she looked. I hadn’t seen her since she had arrived days ago. In fact, I had taken pains to avoid her—mostly because I realized how weak I was. The fact that she had brought up our kiss six years ago told me that it had been an important moment for her. Which meant, if I showed any interest, there was a strong possibility she wouldn’t resist. I could not afford to go down that road. She was Jason’s sister, and I didn’t have the best track record with women.

Molly was wearing a slinky one-shouldered cocktail dress in a brilliant midnight blue that made the gold tones of her blonde hair pop. She looked like a model of the runway, and I found myself unable to turn away.

“Mr. Dubois?”

I turned to Kani, the waiter who served me each night. “Sorry… What did you say?”

“I asked if you’d like your usual drink, sir.”

“Uh…yes,” I nodded. “Yes, you can send it to my table.”

Kani nodded and walked over to the bar. I turned my attention back to Molly and realized with a pang of shock that she was with someone. The gentleman sitting next to her was well dressed, in a tailored suit and silver cufflinks. He looked to be in his early thirties but was obviously a part of the well-to-do business crowd that came to Hawaii each year on vacation. I was fairly sure the man wasn’t a guest at my resort, however.

“Kani,” I said, as he passed by.

“Yes, sir?”

“Who’s that man over there…with Ms. Sinclair?” I asked. “He’s not a guest here, is he?”             

“Not that I know of, sir,” he replied.

“Do you know his name?”

“No, sir.”

I gritted my teeth together and tried to push away my curiosity, but it just wouldn’t slink away. I reluctantly went to my table and sat down. I had mixed feelings about the fact that Molly and her partner were directly in my line of sight. I tapped my fingers against the table and tried to look away.

Molly and her partner left the bar and were shown to a table in the center of the restaurant. The man held her chair out for her. I could hear the faint chime of her laughter, and a wave of jealousy rushed through me. Who was this guy, I wondered, and why had Molly never mentioned him? Was he staying with her in her suite or was he just a random man she’d happened to meet while she was here?

“Sir?” Kani appeared before me. “I brought you a menu, just in case.”

“I’ll get the fettuccine with lobster and shrimp,” I said because I was too preoccupied to give much thought to what I was going to eat tonight.

“Right away, sir,” he nodded, before disappearing once again.

I sat there, battling with jealousy as I admired how beautiful Molly looked tonight in that stunning dress and her loose blonde hair arranged in waves carelessly over her right shoulder.

I was staring directly at them when Molly happened to turn in my direction. She caught my eye and gave me a small smile and a wave of acknowledgment. I probably should have just waved back and allowed them some privacy, but my curiosity got the better of me, and I stood up to walk to their table.

“Good evening,” I said, glancing only momentarily at Molly’s partner.

“Hello, Tristan,” Molly replied with a bright smile. Her eyes were sparkling, and she looked like she was having a wonderful time. Again, jealousy reared its ugly head, and I had to fight to keep my face straight.

She turned to her partner and made casual introductions. “This is Tristan; he’s the owner of the resort,” Molly said, before turning to me. “This is David. David Conrad.”

The name was vaguely familiar, and I guessed that he was the son of some business mogul. David reached out to shake my hand, and I was forced to accept the gesture. “This is a fantastic resort you have here,” he complimented me.

“I’m glad you like it,” I said, with a tight smile. “How have you been enjoying your stay with us?” I asked, fishing for some information.

“Oh, unfortunately, I’m not staying here,” he replied. “I’m staying at the Sheridan.”

“Ah,” I nodded. “And, how did you two meet?”

Molly gave David a dazzling smile and placed her hand on his arm. “We were both enjoying the beach when we ran into each other,” she said. “We started talking, and…one thing led to another—”

“And, I couldn’t resist asking this beauty out,” David finished her sentence, as though they were old lovers. I had to resist the urge to punch the bastard in the face and tell him to stay far away from Molly.

“Are you okay, Tristan?” Molly asked unexpectedly.

“Excuse me?”

“You just seem…a little out of sorts,” she said, wrinkling her brows at me as though she were trying to figure out why I was acting so weird.

“Uh… I… It’s just been a long day,” I said, stumbling over my words slightly. “That’s all.”

“It must be hard work, running a resort,” David said. “I couldn’t do it.”

“I wouldn’t recommend it,” I said stiffly, wishing he’d just stay quiet and let Molly and I talk.

“This restaurant is beautiful,” she said, pivoting the conversation. “And the menu’s huge. It’s the first time I’m trying it out.”

“What would you recommend?” David asked me.

I bristled at the fact that he was treating me like a waiter, but I kept my expression neutral. “Everything on the menu is fantastic,” I replied. “The pastas are especially good. But I’d go with the chef’s special; it changes every two weeks. I think this special is rabbit cacciatore.”

“Sounds wonderful,” Molly smiled.

I noticed how David leaned into her a little and put his arm around her. I could have sworn he looked at me challengingly, as though to mark his territory, but I wasn’t sure if I was just being paranoid.

“When are you leaving?” I blurted out.

Both Molly and David looked at me in surprise, and I was forced to explain my question and change my tone. “I mean, how long are you planning on staying in Hawaii for?”

“I’m only here for two more nights,” David admitted, much to my delight. “Sadly, I’m heading back to boring LA.”

“I wasn’t aware LA was boring,” Molly laughed.

“Compared to Hawaii, it can be,” he replied. “Especially if you’ve lived there your entire life.”

“Well,” I said, satisfied that he wouldn’t be a fixture around my resort. “Enjoy your meal; I won’t keep you from it.”

As I walked away, I could have sworn the smile on Molly’s face changed slightly. She looked almost as though she were smirking at me. But when I glanced back over at the couple, she wasn’t even looking at me. She looked completely engrossed in her dull partner.

A few minutes after I sat down, my meal arrived, steaming hot and smelling delicious. On any other night I would have devoured the plate in ten minutes flat, but tonight, I found that I had no appetite. The hunger I had felt when I’d walked into Albero had disappeared in the face of Molly and her unexpected guest.

Suddenly, another thought popped into my head. What if they spent the night together? What if they finished their meal and then went up to the suite to have sex? I hated the thought of Molly having dinner with a man—the idea of her having sex with someone else was just too much for me to process.

I picked at my fettuccine, but every few seconds my eyes traveled to Molly and David. He was touching her far more than was appropriate, and I was starting to get dissatisfied with my drink.

“Kani,” I said, flagging him down. “Get me something stronger.”

“Uh…we have many options, sir.”

“Black Russian,” I said, pushing aside my reservations. “Get me a Black Russian.”

“Right away, sir.”

I was still staring at Molly and David when I spied Gregory entering the restaurant alone. Deciding that I needed a good distraction to keep my attention off Molly and her date, I spoke to Kani when he arrived with my drink.

“Kani, can you see that gentleman by the bar?”

“Mr. Winchester?”

“Good, you know him,” I nodded. “Tell him that I’ve invited him to join me at my table.”

“Right away, sir,” Kani nodded.

A few moments later, Gregory approached and sat down opposite me. “Well, well… I seriously thought you’d flake out on your promise to catch up.”

“What gave you that idea,” I said, resisting the urge to glance around Gregory’s head to sneak a peek at Molly. “Have you eaten here before?”

“Twice,” Gregory admitted. “For lunch. The food here is fantastic.”

“The chef is Italian.”

“It shows,” he nodded. Then he frowned and looked behind me. “Who are you staring at?” he asked.

Cursing myself for being so indiscreet, I tried to play it off. “No one,” I said calmly.

“Ah,” he nodded, as his eyes fell on Molly. “The blonde in the blue dress… I think she’s taken. But I don’t blame you for staring. She’s a beauty.”

“She’s my best friend’s little sister,” I said. “I’m just trying to make sure she’s okay.”             

Gregory laughed. “You’re trying to pass this off as brotherly concern?”

“It is brotherly concern,” I said, hoping I sounded convincing.

He shrugged, but he seemed to believe me. “Okay, if you insist. I misread the situation.”

I might have been able to convince Gregory, but I had no choice but to face the undeniable truth. There was nothing remotely brotherly about my feelings for Molly.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chapter Eight

Molly

 

The gym was a sprawling room with twos types of every exercise machine you could imagine. Glass windows substituted walls so that you could see the brilliant blue ocean no matter where in the room you had your workout. There were small TVs set up, too, and a few people were even watching them, but for me, nothing compared to that view.

I had spent forty minutes on the treadmill, before doing steps for twenty minutes. Now I was rounding out my workout with some elliptical training. I noticed from my peripheral vision that Alani had just entered the gym. She was wearing a nice white shirt, tucked into a black pencil skirt. Her thick black hair hung loosely around her shoulders, and I thought she looked like a modern-day Pocahontas.

I noticed how almost every guest in the gym turned to her like magnets. She greeted them all with friendly smiles and warm words. One of the guests actually stopped his weight training to walk over to her. She spoke to him for a few minutes and then politely excused herself to walk over to me.

“Exercising on vacation?” she asked accusingly. “I wouldn’t have pegged you as the type.”

I laughed. “Exercising helps me feel strong,” I admitted. “And with all the rich food I’ve been indulging in, I think a little exercise is necessary.”

“Fair enough,” she nodded. “Now…on to the more pressing matter—”

“How was dinner last night?” I guessed.

She laughed. “How was dinner last night?” she nodded.

“The restaurant was lovely, the food was exquisite, and David was…sweet,” I admitted. “But not my type. The conversation was a little boring in parts… He was constantly talking about his businesses. I don’t think we had very much chemistry.”

“Who cares if you did or not,” Alani said bluntly. “What matters is that Tristan saw chemistry between you and another man, whether it was there or not.”

I stopped the elliptical and got off the machine. I toweled myself off and took a big gulp of water. “I did everything you advised me to do,” I told her. “I dressed to kill, I laughed a lot, and I touched him more times than I can count. I pretended like I was enjoying myself, even if that wasn’t always true. I thought I did a pretty convincing job, actually… But I don’t know if Tristan even cared.”

“What makes you think he didn’t?” Alani asked.

“He came over to say hello, and he was extremely polite to both of us,” I said. “It didn’t seem like he was very jealous.”

“He came over?” she asked.

“Uh… yeah.”

“That’s a good sign.”

“It is?” I asked, wrinkling my brows. “Wouldn’t he have done that for anyone he knew eating at his restaurant?”

“Not necessarily,” she said vaguely. “What did you speak about when he came to your table?”

“Mundane things, nothing important,” I reported. “I introduced the two of them, David complimented Tristan on the resort, Tristan wanted to know where David was staying, then we asked him to recommend some dishes, and then he excused himself and headed off.”

“Kani mentioned that Tristan was curious about David,” Alani revealed.

“Who?”

“He’s one of the waiters at Pepe Albero,” she told me. “He waits on Tristan every night. When I checked in with him this morning, he told me that Tristan was very keen to know about your guest. He also told me that Tristan ordered a two black Russians last night for dinner.”

“Is that important?” I asked, slightly amused.

“Only because Tristan never drinks anything remotely that strong. He has one drink before his meal, and that’s it. He almost always has meetings after dinner, so he has to be alert. Something tells me that the sight of seeing you with another man might have thrown him a little.”

“You think?” I asked, not daring to hope.

“I do,” she nodded. “I think our plan is definitely working.”

I couldn’t help but smile. “I’ve gotta hand it to you, Alani, I thought this was a long shot.”

“Oh, ye of little faith,” she winked at me.

“By the way, you never really told me what you told David,” I said. “He just showed up at the restaurant bar waiting for me.”

“I kept it simple,” she replied. “I told him that there was a beautiful single woman staying at the resort I worked at and if he was interested in a casual date, then I could set it up for him. I also told him that there was an ex-boyfriend you wanted to get revenge on.”

“I still can’t believe he agreed,” I laughed incredulously.

“Of course, he agreed,” Alani said. “He’s a rich bachelor who’s on vacation, meeting beautiful women is expected. Plus, he kind of liked the idea of making some other guy jealous.”

“He mentioned that,” I smiled. “It was really nice of him to play along.”

“Please,” she said, rolling her eyes. “He wasn’t being nice; there was nothing charitable about what he did. He was hoping to sleep with you.”

“He told you that?” I exclaimed as my eyes went wide.

“Of course not,” Alani clarified. “But when you tell a guy that a friend of yours is trying to make another guy jealous, they assume revenge sex is a given.”

I laughed. “Oh God, so that’s why he looked so disappointed when I said goodbye to him at the elevators.”

She burst out laughing. “You didn’t?”

“I assumed you had also told him that I didn’t really consider last night to be a serious date. Sex was definitely off the table.”

“I didn’t know if that was really the case,” she said.

“You thought I might actually sleep with the guy?” I asked.

“Well… he’s rich and attractive.” Alani shrugged. “It was possible you might hit it off with him. You’re both consenting adults; would sex have been totally out of the question?”

“For me, it is,” I said, without thinking.

“What does that mean?”

“Nothing,” I said quickly.

I liked Alani, but there were some things I just wasn’t comfortable sharing with anyone. Instead, I took another gulp of water to avoid elaborating.

“Are you ready for your next date?” Alani asked instead, wagging her eyebrows at me.

“You’ve already got someone in mind?” I asked.

“Oh, I have several men in mind,” she said. “Don’t worry about running out.”

“Tristan’s going to wonder what’s going on,” I said.

“Let him wonder,” she said. “Make sure to be vague with him if he starts asking questions.”

“I doubt he will.”

“Please,” Alani said, rolling her eyes. “You’re a beautiful woman, Molly. He’s definitely noticed. Just because he covers it well doesn’t mean he hasn’t.”

“You seem very confident.”

“I know men,” she replied. “I know what they want, and I know how to push their buttons. I’ve worked under Tristan long enough to have made a few observations.”

“Such as?”

“He’s driven, ambitious, and hard working. All necessary traits to have in life. But the fact that he also happens to be charming, charismatic, and handsome has catapulted him ahead of men twice his age. He inherited his father’s legacy, and he made it twice as successful in a short period of time.

“In short, he’s a man who’s used to getting his way. He’s a man who always gets the girl. And if he starts seeing you as something he can’t have… Well then, you’ll have him.”

I’d have him. The thought terrified me as much as it thrilled me. One thing was certain: I didn’t want to be just another name on Tristan’s list. I didn’t want to be yet another girl that he had used only to cast aside later. My feelings for Tristan were real, which meant I was the one in danger of getting hurt.

“Are you okay?” Alani asked. “You look upset.”

“Not upset,” I clarified. “Just…contemplative.”

“What are you contemplating?”

“What I’m trying to achieve out of this whole plan,” I said. “Do you I just want revenge for that forgotten kiss or am I hoping for something more?”

Alani gave me a sympathetic smile. “It sounds like you might still be in love with him.”

“Is that even possible?” I asked. “Is it possible to be in love with someone you’ve never actually been with?”

“Of course it is,” she assured me. “It happens all the time.”

“How depressing.”

She smiled. “The point is you need to see this thing through—either for closure or else for…”

“For what?”

“A chance at a relationship with Tristan?”

I took a deep breath. “Is it just me or do the words ‘relationship’ and ‘Tristan’ not go together?”

Alani smiled. “I think that’s all you.”

I sighed. “You know what I wish? I wish I didn’t have feelings for Tristan. That would make everything so much easier. Then I could actually enjoy this vacation instead of constantly obsess about him.”

“Is that what you’ve been doing this whole time?”

“It was just…something about seeing him the day I arrived. It was like all the old feelings came rushing back and somehow, they managed to magnify. I feel like I’ve become the hopeless fourteen-year-old girl I used to be.”

“You’re not fourteen anymore,” Alani pointed out as we made our way out of the gym.

“And yet, what has really changed since I was fourteen?” I asked. “I’m still single, unemployed, and hung up on my brother’s best friend.”

“Wow, you really know how to paint a dismal picture, don’t you?”

I laughed. “Who’s the next guy on your list?”

“His name is Raymond Burke,” Alani told me. “His father owns a chain of golf courses around the country, and he’s in Hawaii on a bachelor trip with his friends.”

“I’m assuming it’s not his bachelor party?”

“Of course not,” Alani said. “I think he’s going to get more of a rise out of Tristan than David did.”

“How do you figure that out?” I asked.

“David’s part of the older, white collar, predictable, and sensible kind of group,” Alani clarified. “Whereas Raymond Burke is...”

“Not?”

She laughed. “Most definitely not. He’s twenty-six and over six feet tall, sandy blond hair, great smile, and a fantastic body. Trust me; I’ve seen him without his shirt off.”

“And you explained the situation to him?”

“He knows you’re trying to make someone jealous,” she nodded. “But again, he’s probably hoping for some hot revenge sex as a thank you.”

“Well, he’s going to be disappointed then.”

“You might actually want to sleep with this one.”

I shook my head. “I doubt it.”

Alani wrinkled her brows at me, but I gave her a smile and withheld the explanation. When we arrived at the elevators, she wished me luck for the next date and headed off towards the staff quarters. I rode up the elevator to my suite.

When I had first stepped into the grand suite, I had been speechless. It was a huge space that looked more like a luxury apartment rather than a room in a resort.

You entered into the living room area, which opened out into the massive balcony. To the right was the dining area and to the left was the bedroom. The bedroom was situated in a completely separate alcove that extended out from the main structure of the building. I had only one wall against which the massive super king bed had been pushed. The other three walls were thick, floor-to-ceiling windows that gave me a spectacular view of the ocean below.

If you sat on the bed and looked straight ahead, all you could see was miles of ocean and sky. The blinds were operated through a special remote control, and the floors were covered over with a luxurious faux fur carpet that felt like you were walking on pillows. The room was connected to a separate walk-in closet and a massive bathroom complete with a Jacuzzi and its own view of the ocean.

I headed to the bathroom, stripped down, and slipped into the Jacuzzi for a nice long soak. I closed my eyes and started to daydream. Inevitably, my dreams turned to Tristan.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chapter Nine

Tristan

 

I was walking through the resort’s south wing with Ben, going over the construction delays that had been plaguing us for days now.

“What does Larry have to say?” I demanded. “He promised me he’d be out of here before December.”

Ben looked at me calmly. “We’re talking major construction here,” he said. “Mistakes are part and parcel of the work.”

“Not when I’m in charge.”

“You weren’t in charge,” he reminded me.

“I think that’s the problem.”

“Would you like me to set up a meeting with Larry?”

“Yes, first thing tomorrow morning,” I said. “And, casually drops in a few threats. If he doesn’t finish soon, I’m not above going to another construction company.”

Ben smiled wryly. “I’ll let him know.”

“Leave a rundown of all the breakages on my desk,” I said. “I need to factor in how many replacement sets to purchase. All the china we have is imported, and we need to leave room for the import.”

He made a note on his clipboard. “You realize that there are people to handle all these issues. You have fifteen managers under your employ, not including me.”

“I realize that.”

“Do you?” Ben asked, with one raised eyebrow. “Then why do you insist on micro-managing everything?”

“Because it takes a micro-manager to get a resort like this running under quality standards.”

“Fair enough,” he nodded. “But now the resort is up and running…for the most part. Don’t you think it’s time to start delegating? That’s one skill you don’t seem to have.”

I narrowed my eyes at him. “Are you trying to tell me that you want less time with me?”

One corner of Ben’s mouth turned up in amusement. “I wasn’t trying to say that, but now that you’ve mentioned it, it does sound like my ideal situation.”

I rolled my eyes at him. “If you weren’t so good at your job, I’d fire you immediately.”

He snorted at the backhanded compliment as we walked down the large pillared corridors towards the construction site. It was late evening, and Larry’s construction crew had already cleared out, but I still wanted to see how much more work needed to be done.

As I looked out over the scenic view of the gardens and the large pool that lay in the center of it all, I noticed a woman getting out of the water. She was small made, but she had the appearance of height. She had a stunning body that I couldn’t help taking a second glance towards. With a little shock, I realized a second later that the woman I was admiring was Molly.

She was wearing a tiny, color-blocked bikini in crimson red and a flashy green. Her hair was pasted against her face, and water drops glistened off her milky skin. She walked over to a lounge chair, took a sip of her drink, and then headed back to one corner of the pool. Then she dove in, displaying fantastic form.

“Tristan!” Gregory’s voice reached me from the opposite end of the corridor.

I turned away, realizing Ben had probably seen me ogle at Molly. Grateful for the distraction, I greeted Gregory warmly.

“Dinner was fantastic last night,” he said. “We must do it again soon.”

“Definitely,” I nodded.

“Ben,” Gregory nodded at Ben.

“Mr. Winchester,” he replied, without enthusiasm.

“Where are you two headed?”

“Just looking through the construction site,” I said.

“Shouldn’t that be finished by now?”

I shot Ben a glare, despite the fact that he had nothing to do with the delay. “It should, but as usual, all I’m getting are excuses.”

“Minor concern,” Gregory said, waving away my worry. “You’ll have this resort in ship shape by Christmas. How has the feedback been so far, Ben?”

“We have zero guest complaints so far,” he said, referencing his magic clipboard.

“And rightly so,” Gregory nodded. “As a guest here myself, I can attest to the quality of the service here. The staff is helpful, the food is amazing, and the resort itself is perfect.”

“Almost perfect,” I said darkly.

Gregory laughed and clapped me on the back. “Chasing perfection is going to leave you seriously dissatisfied,” he told me.

“I’ve been trying to tell him the same thing,” Ben said, just as a beep came in on his phone. I saw his expression turn sour as he checked the message.

“What’s wrong?”

“Apparently, a warning has been issued in the area,” Ben said. “They’re expecting a major thunderstorm in the next couple of days.”

“What?” I said, unable to keep the annoyance from my tone. “Thunderstorms rarely hit this side of the island.”

“Apparently, this is unusual,” Ben said. “Thank you, global warming.”

“Fuck,” I cursed. “Just my luck. We have to make sure the construction is completed by that time. I don’t want ongoing work while we’re trapped inside all day.”

“Don’t worry,” Ben assured me. “I’ll handle it.”

“Come on, how badly can a little thunderstorm affect you?” Gregory asked. “And, I’m not just asking for selfish reasons.”

“It shouldn’t be that bad,” I said. “As long as it passes quickly. But guests will be confined to the resort, and all their expeditions will have to be canceled. I know a few people who aren’t going to be happy about that.”

“That’s not the resort’s fault,” Gregory pointed out. “They’ll have to blame Mother Nature.”

“They’ll blame whoever they please.”

“Just as long as my return remains the same,” he said, giving me a cheeky smile.

I rolled my eyes. “Self-interest rears its ugly head, huh?”

He laughed. “Hey, I gotta look out for myself.”

“You’ve got investments in every major company in New York,” I pointed out. “I think you’ll be fine.”

Ben looked bored by our talk of money, and when his phone rang, he answered enthusiastically. After a few moments, he hung up and turned to me. “There’s an issue with one of the suppliers. I’m going to have to see to this myself.”

“Go ahead,” I said. “I can survey the construction site myself.”

Ben nodded and headed off in the direction of the elevators. The moment he was gone, Gregory looked at me with a teasing expression on his face.

“What?” I asked.

“Are the rumors true?”

“What rumors?” I asked, frowning at him.

“That there’s a beautiful woman at this resort…and you hold a candle for her?”

I hid my surprise underneath disdain and rolled my eyes. “Where did you hear that?”

“People talk.”

“My staff?”

“Not just your staff.”

“The guests?” I asked incredulously.

“Maybe.”

I rolled my eyes. “I don’t have the time to devote to a woman just now,” I said. “And, I don’t hold a candle for anyone.”

“No?” he asked suspiciously.

“No.”

“What about the beautiful blonde you were staring at in the restaurant last night?”

“I told you—”

“Brotherly concern,” he nodded. “Whose sister is she, anyway?”

“You’ve met him once or twice at one of our annual business mixers,” I said. “Jason Sinclair.”

“Ah, of course,” Gregory nodded. “He’s got the same coloring.”

“Hmm,” I nodded, trying to appear disinterested.

I desperately wanted to take a peek at the pool to see if Molly was still swimming or if she had emerged again. I was aware of the irony of denying my interest in her only to be completely desperate to get another glimpse of her in that bikini, but it seemed I was incapable of controlling my impulses around her.

“I remember Jason mentioning his sister, actually,” Gregory nodded. “I believe she was still in university at the time, senior year.”

“Quite possibly,” I said. “I hadn’t seen her since my own graduation.”

“Oh, you didn’t keep in contact with her?”

“Molly and I were never friends,” I said, hoping that Gregory would drop his line of questioning. “I mean, she was my best friend’s little sister. She was a child when we first met.”

“She’s certainly not a child anymore,” he observed, as his eyes fell towards the pool. I realized he was staring directly at Molly.

I resisted the urge to ball my hands into fists. I pushed back the impulse and glanced over at the pool indifferently. Molly had emerged again. She was lying back on her lounge chair and enjoying the evening sun. My eyes lingered on her slim thighs, her flat stomach, and the fullness of her breasts. I hated the fact that Gregory was staring at her with obvious lust in his eyes, so I tried to distract him so that his attention would be focused on me.

“I think you need to find yourself a girlfriend, Gregory,” I said, forcing my voice into a teasing tone. “It sounds like you’re hard up.”

He laughed. “Maybe I am,” he said. “It’s been a few months since I last had sex.”

“Really?”

“Well, it’s been a few months since I had really, really good sex,” he clarified.

“I’m sure you’ll find some really good brothels in the city,” I teased.

Gregory shot me a look. “Please, I don’t need to pay for it. Women are more than willing to sleep with me for free.”

“Are these women blind or just desperate?”

“You can be an evil little shit; you know that?”

I laughed, satisfied that he was looking at me now, rather than Molly. “I’ve been told.”

“Was she always this beautiful?”

“Who?” I asked, pretending as though I wasn’t still thinking of Molly.

“Molly.”

“Oh…uh… I’ve never noticed.”

“Oh?” he asked, with a mocking smile that called my bluff.

“She was fourteen when I first met her,” I said. “I was eighteen. That may not be much of an age difference now, but when you’re in your teens, it’s huge. She was just a child to me. She was sweet, polite, and helpful, but she was only ever a child to me.”

Even as I said the words, I remembered that kiss we had shared too long ago. I was only half lying to Gregory. The truth was that at the beginning, I had really seen Molly as nothing more than a little girl. But over the years that had changed.

I remember the moment our dynamic had shifted. Jason and I had just completed our sophomore year, and we were taking a road trip with a few friends. Since Jason’s parents’ house was on the way, we stopped over for a night to catch up with them.

After a chat with his parents, Jason had gone upstairs to his room to shower, and I decided to take a walk in the Sinclairs’ massive garden that overlooked a cornfield. I was staring out at the cornfield, when I noticed a silhouette in the distance, in the perfect shape of a woman. As the woman approached, I saw the subtle yet gorgeous curves, the windfall of golden hair, the seductive blue eyes, and the ghost of a smile on her lips.

“Hello, Tristan,” Molly greeted me as she approached.

“Molly?” I had balked at how different she looked. In the past year alone, she had transformed from a skinny and awkward young girl into a classic beauty with all the grace of a woman.

“It’s nice to see you again,” she said, without any trace of the shyness that I remembered about her. I had felt my body respond to hers when she came forward to hug me.

Horrified at my reaction to her touch, I had excused myself quickly and headed to the guest bedroom. In the end, I was forced to take a cold shower in order to calm myself down. The whole time, I repeated the same refrain in my head. “She’s Jason’s sister. She’s Jason’s sister. She’s Jason’s sister.”

After that one moment, however, I had never looked at Molly Sinclair in the same way again. She had become something different to me—the forbidden fruit that was forever out of my reach.