Paradise in Progress

22. Chapter Twenty-Two

Chapter twenty-two

Tristan

I hate working late on Fridays.

By the end of the week, I'm tired of being in a suit and tie, of sitting through meetings and being under my father’s microscope. It didn’t bother me as much when we were in the city, but now that paradise is out my window, I’m ready to call it a day.

I’m ready to spend time with her .

Especially now that I’ve had a taste. My fingers twitch in my lap as I listen to Xander drone on about something. I quit listening as soon as the clock struck five and I saw a flash of copper through the window.

“Tristan, are you still with us?” My eyes snap to the video meeting, where my brother’s face fills the screen.

Nodding, I glare at him, which causes him to smirk. The asshole.

“Great.” Xander claps his hands together. “If no one has anything else, we can call this meeting. Have a great weekend, everyone.” No one says anything and I quickly end the meeting. An ice-cold island beer and an evening with Kennedy are calling my name.

I unplug my laptop and gently slide it into my bag before wrapping the charging cord and placing it next to my computer. Flipping my notebook shut with a soft thud , it’s the only sound in the room except for my rapidly beating heart. My body moves with purpose, as if it’s on autopilot, thankfully, since my mind is elsewhere.

My thoughts drift to the penthouse— our penthouse —and I wonder what she’s doing. Is she relaxing with a glass of wine on the oversized couch, catching up on a reality show? Or is she slipping out of her work clothes and dipping into the cool plunge pool, wearing nothing at all? She has no idea how badly I want to demand—no, beg—her to never wear clothes in that pool.

Standing from the chair, I sling the strap of my bag over my shoulder. My fingers drum against my slack-covered thigh as nervous energy bubbles beneath the surface. She’s always pushed my buttons and challenged everything I do to keep me on my toes, but this tension is unlike anything else.

I flick off the light, then move through the quiet hallway as I make my way to the exit. Pushing open the glass door, I’m hit with one last burst of cold air, contrasting sharply with the hot, humid tropical air that greets me. The resort’s white stucco walls glimmer in the sunlight and the palms sway lazily in the breeze. As I walk along the sidewalk, the sound of distant ocean waves mixes with the whir of heavy machinery as crews continue their construction on the villas.

The walk is short, but it doesn’t keep my mind from spinning. In the office, we clash over everything—design elements, timelines, and budgets. Hell, even here on the island, she finds new things to fight me on. We butt heads like it’s part of our job requirement.

But in the penthouse… God, the tension between us is a whole different beast. Or maybe we’re finally accepting the pull that everyone in my life seems to sense. The silent moments hang th ick in the air with something unspoken. Every glance feels charged. Each moment we share a game we’re both playing, but no one gave us the rule book.

Despite how fast everything seems to be moving, I miss having her near. Last night, we both slept in our own beds, but it felt wrong. After one night of having her in my arms, it was like she was always meant to be there.

I know it’s crazy how quickly things are shifting, but it feels real—like I’ve been waiting for her all along. There’s the other side to it, though, the part that keeps me up at night. I’m her boss. This isn’t just some fling. Is it even acceptable in the company? I know what people will think, what they’ll say about her. She’s too good at her job to be reduced to some baseless rumor that she’s sleeping her way to the top. I want to protect her, shield her from the gossip mill that will undoubtedly churn the second we arrive back in New York.

I know she needs time to catch up to these new feelings, time to make sense of all this. And I’ll be patient. I will because she’s worth waiting for. But God, I hope she realizes soon. I don’t want to waste any more time not exploring this. It’s like the universe finally aligned to bring us to this point, and I can’t let that slip through my fingers.

As I’m reaching out to press the button to call the elevator, my phone rings from my pocket, causing my thoughts to evaporate. A deep sigh leaves my lungs as I glance down at the screen.

“Great,” I mutter under my breath as I see Xander’s name flash across the screen. What else could he have to talk about? I’ve just listened to his voice for the last two hours in back-to-back meetings.

Swiping the phone, I move away from the elevator toward a bench as I bring the phone to my ear. “It’s after five on a Friday. I’m off the clock. ”

Xander chuckles, and I roll my eyes. “Aw, little brother, you’re a Nelson. There’s no clocking out.”

“Yeah, well, I’m turning over a new leaf and embracing island time.”

“Speaking of island time, how’re things with your fiery roommate?”

“Things are fine,” I say, hoping my tone doesn’t give anything away. Xander has a gift for reading between the lines.

When he hums, the hair on my neck rises. Has someone from the resort reported to him that Kennedy and I have been going on dates? I mean, yeah, I’m using them as dates, but they are test runs for the resort.

“Interesting.” He pauses as another voice can be heard on the other end of the line. Xander muffles the receiver. Taking the opportunity, I stand from the bench and make my way back over to the elevator. I press the call button while he has a side conversation, and I hope the metal elevator causes the signal to drop.

“ Fine is an interesting word,” he says as I step into the elevator. “You’ve always said how challenging she can be.”

“She is, but we have to spend a lot of time together, so we’re making the best of it.”

“Yeah, I bet you are.”

A surge of warmth rises to my face. Xander always has a way of getting under my skin, but this time, he’s right on the money, and if I’m not careful, he’ll figure it out completely. Then who knows what he would do with that information? He’d no doubt tell my sister, and Victoria would have no problem blabbing, especially to my mother. Mom is ready for grandkids, which are not on my radar .

The elevator dings, and the doors slide open, revealing the penthouse floor. Stepping out, adjusting the strap of my bag, I let my gaze roam over the space that is free of Kennedy. Disappointment flashes through me as I stride to the end of the hall, where our rooms are.

"I’ll catch up with you later, alright? I’ve got to check on some things here."

Xander chuckles on the line again, and it grates my nerves. "Yeah, yeah. Don’t let her run you ragged. Or, you know, maybe do. You need to get laid, little brother. You’re too uptight."

I shake my head, my lips twitching into a grin. I’m the least uptight out of all of my siblings. It’s the reason why I’m always on my father’s shit list. "Later, Xander.”

Ending the call, I tuck my phone back into my pocket. My heart beats a little faster as I approach the doors to our bedroom. The memory of our last conversation replays in my mind. That stubborn fire in her eyes when we disagreed. The way she leaned over the counter late at night, casually eating takeout like we weren’t at each other’s throats just hours before.

Kennedy’s voice filters through her open patio doors. She’s on the phone, and I don’t want to interrupt her. The sound of her laughter causes a smile to spread across my face. I love hearing her laugh. So carefree and happy.

Turning toward my room, I loosen the tie on my neck, which feels like a noose. With it removed, I let out a relieved sigh as the tension from the day melts away. The dress shirt comes next, buttons undone one by one until I shrug it off and toss it onto the bed. I kick off my shoes, then step out of my dress pants, leaving them in a heap with the rest of my workday. My hands automatically reach for the cargo shorts I threw in the closet, paired with a casual tee.

But I can’t forget the finishing touch—my Birkenstocks. She teases me relentlessly about them, but the way she laughs when she sees me in them? It's worth it every time. It’s this little inside joke between us, one that seems to soften whatever tension lingers in the air.

As I pull on the shorts and slip into my sandals, I decide tonight’s the night. We’ve both had a whirlwind of a week, from the building plans finally being approved to everything that’s been brewing. We need to celebrate. Not just the end of a crazy week, but...whatever this is between us. Maybe tonight we’ll figure out where it’s going.

“Hey, you’re home.” Kennedy’s voice is sweet from behind me.

After I changed, I decided to give her more time to herself. So instead of joining her on the balcony, I cracked open a bottle of beer and enjoyed the silence on the couch. Turning my head, I watch her strut her bikini-clad body closer to me, and I fight the reaction in my shorts. Her smile is bright, her cheeks flushed, and my heart races at the sight.

“Want to go out tonight, Firecracker?” My voice is husky, and I clear my throat, shaking off the stupor I find myself in whenever she’s near.

She makes her way around the coffee table until she’s between my spread legs. Her gaze trails over my body, leaving a heated path as they roam. Reaching forward, she plucks the beer bottle from my hand before taking a sip. I shake my head as a grin spreads behind the bottle.

“I’ll never say no to a night out with you.”