Chapter 3
“I was talking to myself,” I tell this ridiculously hot guy standing in front of me.
My eyes float over his body, all tanned and toned. Water droplets glisten on his skin, moving slowly down his torso and between the lines of every cut muscle of his abs.
He’s the epitome of a surf god, his board tucked under his arm now as he steps closer to me, so close that I can feel the heat of his body.
Trying not to look at him, trying not to make it obvious that he’s stunning, I crane my neck to look out at the ocean over him, but I fail to distract myself. While the ocean is gorgeous, the view of this shirtless man wins out, and my eyes dart back to him.
“Do you make it a habit of talking to yourself?” he asks, his tone playful and flirtatious.
I laugh a little, and it feels good. It’s the first time I remember laughing since this disaster with Sean.
Not only does it feel good to laugh, but it also feels good to be standing here in the sunshine instead of the frigid cold winter of New York.
The snow is probably piling up, the wind whipping through the streets, sending chills over all the commuters on the sidewalks.
But here, even though the water is cooler than I expected, it feels like I’m on vacation. Like this isn’t where I’m choosing to start my life over.
“I don’t, but I need a reminder,” I say, feeling my lips pull up into a smile, a smile that feels genuine. This interaction has me feeling all sorts of things I shouldn’t be feeling.
That’s why I’m here. I’m taking a break from dating and from men and relationships.
Leaving is giving me an opportunity to focus on myself, away from all the noise of Sean and his shit.
Getting away from my sister and friends and their opinions on the situation and leaving all those people who said Sean and I would never make it.
I hate that they were right, and I really don’t need to hear about it.
That’s why I left like I did. Turned my phone off, packed my clothes and boarded a plane to Maui. I haven’t turned it back on since I got here.
It was either Alaska or Hawaii, and I’m not a fan of snow, so here I am, standing on the most beautiful beach I’ve ever seen with a man who should be completely off-limits.
“You need a reminder of what?” he questions, cutting through my thoughts. I’ve been a scattered mess ever since walking in on Sean fucking that woman.
“That I’m taking a break from men,” I tell him, sounding far more assertive than I ever have. I was so used to just going along with whatever Sean wanted, letting him call my career a hobby, letting him run our life because he was the one with the money.
Almost like I never felt good enough for him, like I was always trying to prove I was worthy of his time and his love.
Well, fuck that. No more.
I’m starting fresh, and in this new life, I’m going to do everything that I want. No more people-pleasing because look where it got me.
The guy standing in front of me lets out a deep, throaty laugh, one that oddly sends a jolt of lust through my stomach and down between my legs.
Get your shit together, Quinn!
I need to have a chat with my cat and let her know she’s not in charge. Even if this guy is gorgeous and tan and toned and probably incredible in bed.
“Yes, no men,” I repeat, and he eyes me with suspicion, a drive flaring in his eyes to win me over.
“Friends?”
And now it’s me laughing. He’s pretty persistent, and I guess I do need friends, given I’ve just moved here knowing no one.
“Something tells me you don’t do friends, or at least not well,” I counter, sending him chuckling again. The smile has not left my face, so the mixed messages I’m sending this guy are off the charts.
“That might be true, but I’m willing to give it a try for you,” he says playfully as he extends a hand, introducing himself. “I’m Kai Olsen, and you are?”
I take a pause, looking at his outstretched hand, wondering what I’m about to get myself into.
He’s way too young for me, and he’s full of shit if he thinks we’re ever going to be friends.
I caught his attention because I’m standing in the water dressed in a bikini.
It’s the same reason he caught my attention.
He looks damn good shirtless, with a body that was clearly made to make a woman happy.
Maybe I should just take the risk.
But I shake my head, telling myself to take a step back, to take things slow.
Taking his hand in mine, I shake it. But as soon as we touch, I feel it. This spark of electricity shooting through me, and by the way his eyes widen slightly, he feels it too. Our hands stay touching for a few long breaths before I’m the one to pull away.
“I’m Quinn…” I stop before adding my last name. I’m starting over, and that means dropping Sean’s stupid last name and going back to my own. “Quinn Bateman.”
“Took you a second there,” he says, winking at me. “You aren’t giving me a fake name, are you?”
“No, no fake name, just…” Again, I find myself pausing. “Never mind.”
“So friends then, Quinn?” His words are filled with far more seduction than they should be when asking this question.
“Friends, I guess,” I respond, and his laugh fills the small space between us, sending a shiver down my spine and goosebumps dotting my skin. He’s going to be more than friends if I keep standing here because a part of me feels like I deserve a trashy one-night stand after what Sean did.
Although after a five-minute conversation, I quickly learned it was far from a one-night stand, and she was not the only girl. He’d pretty much never stopped “dating,” even after we got married.
How the fuck was I so stupid and blind to all of this? I feel like a complete fool, which is part of the reason I left New York. Hawaii couldn’t be any farther from my old life.
“Want to meet me for lunch today?” Kai asks. “How long are you here for? Where are you staying? I can pick you up.”
He feels a little too overzealous with these questions, and I’m not ready to tell him where I live, but I guess meeting him for lunch wouldn’t be such a bad thing.
I’ve only been here for a couple of weeks, and most of those first few days were me trying to find a place to live. Which oddly happened rather quickly. While it might not be what I’m used to, it’s exactly what I hoped it would be.
A quiet little one-bedroom cottage, secluded with a beautiful mountain view, although it is painted lime green and neon pink and sits on a massive two-acre plot of land. The owners would like to sell it but have been struggling to get interest, so it’s being used as a rental for the time being.
It’s actually a great location, not far from the ocean and this cute little town area with a coffee shop, a bakery, a couple of bars and the most quintessential Hawaiian surf shop.
“How about I meet you somewhere?” I suggest, and he gives a little nod in response.
“I gotta know where you are staying so I don’t pick somewhere too far for you,” he says, and he’s really fishing for information now.
“I walked to this beach,” I clarify, hoping that it gives him a better idea.
“Really?” His question comes out quickly, and his narrowed eyes tell me he thinks I’m lying.
“Yes, really. Why?”
“There are no hotels on this side of the island. Not within walking distance, anyway.”
“I’m not staying in a hotel.” I don’t bother with much more information, not needing him to know I’m not a tourist, which is exactly what he thinks I am.
“Ah, decided to go full Hawaiian getaway and stay where the locals stay. I like it. I can’t wait to show you around, friend,” he says, this perfect smile on his face, all straight white teeth against his tanned skin.
“Sure, something like that,” I reply, and as I begin to walk to the shore, leaving the water, he follows me.
“So, how about we meet around one? Does that work for you?”
I look down at my watch, noticing it’s still early, but I’ve been waking before the sun rises, still struggling with the six-hour time difference.
I haven’t really gotten out much to explore the island, spending the first few days holed up in a hotel room on the tourist side, and then moving into my rental and trying to get settled.
If I’m being honest, I’ve been wallowing, but it’s time to get out and enjoy the beauty of my new home, and the perfect way to do that is with a local.
“That works. Where am I meeting you?”
“I can pick you up. Friends do that,” he says, and I swear he’s as persistent as they come, but holy shit, he’s hot, and saying no is going to be hard.
“I’ll just meet you.”
“Okay, but the offer stands if you need it. Do you have your phone with you? I’ll give you my number.” He waits a second, but I shake my head.
“Not with me, so you’ll just have to trust that I’ll meet you there.”
“What’s a girl who looks like you doing out here without a phone, wandering the island?” His words come out a little possessive, but in a way that makes me feel comforted, protective and caring rather than dominating and controlling.
“I think we both know it’s pretty safe,” I say, winking at him now. “So where am I meeting you?”
We agree to meet at a local place that Kai said is his favorite, letting me know it’s not far from the beach we were just at.
He offered to walk me home, but I declined, worried that if he ended up at my house, I would end up in bed with him. My self-control and my self-esteem are in the shitter right now.
Heading back, I make a quick stop at the little bakery not far from my house. It has the cutest name ever, “Daisy’s Flour Shop,” and the branding is simply adorable with shades of pink and glittery gold.
I haven’t been in here since I moved into my house, only stopping at the coffee shop down the street to grab a cup. I’ve been too focused on finding a place to live, and tomorrow I have an interview for a job at one of the hotels as a massage therapist at the spa.
As soon as I walk into the bakery, I’m welcomed by the most delicious smell, and a woman behind the counter with long dark hair and a pink apron greets me with an enthusiastic hello. She looks to be a little younger than me, but certainly friendly.
“Welcome in! Our flavor of the week is papaya coconut, and our signature cupcake is pink vanilla. Take a look around and let me know if you want to sample anything.”
“Thanks so much. Everything looks so good,” I say, bending down to look at the cupcakes lining the glass case in front of me.
“This is your first time in,” she says, and it’s not asked as if it’s a question but more as a statement. She seems to know her customers, and I’m not one of her regulars.
“It is,” I share, enjoying all the friendly conversation I’ve had this morning.
“Where are you visiting from? Guessing you’re off doing a little tour of the island,” the woman says.
“I’m from New York, but I just moved here, so I guess I’m touring, but more because I’m trying to get the lay of the land.”
“Oh my god, seriously? You’re going to love it here. So much to do and see. Let me get you a cupcake on the house. A little welcome gift. Which one would you like?”
As she asks me this, a guy walks out from the back of the shop, pulling off a pair of gloves. He tosses them into a garbage can before pressing a kiss to the side of her head.
“Babe, this is…” the woman trails off, looking over at me. “I didn’t get your name. I’m Daisy,” she stops, shrugging her shoulders in the cutest way as she looks up at the sign bearing her name. “And this is my fiancé, Miles.”
“I’m Quinn,” I reply, and as I look at Daisy’s fiancé, he looks familiar, but I brush it off. There’s no way he’s anyone I know. I just got here and have literally only made one friend, if you can even call him that.
“It’s great to meet you. How long have you been here?” Daisy asks as Miles stands beside her, his arm around her shoulders.
“Just two weeks. I haven’t had much of a chance to get out, but I’m living just up the road. My house is kinda set far back…” I stop when both of them look at each other and let out a laugh.
“Let me guess, you’re living in the bright green house, right? They’ve been trying to sell it for years, and I saw it had a rental sign out front.”
“That’s the place.”
“Not many people move to this side of the island, but we’re glad to have you,” Daisy says sweetly. “So what cupcake will it be?”
“How about half a dozen? It’ll hold me over till I can get to the store to get some shopping done,” I joke.
I pick out a few, and Daisy insists on not charging me for one of them, which is super sweet of her. I’ll definitely be stopping in to appease my sweet tooth often.
We chat a little, with Daisy and Miles sharing some of their favorite places and the beaches they love, telling me to check out the surf shop down the road if I want surf lessons or to pick up a new swimsuit.
I wish I had brought my phone with me so I could jot down all these places, but I’ll just have to attempt to commit them to memory.
As she’s ringing me up, Miles whispers something in her ear, quiet enough that I don’t hear it, but Daisy’s face lights up at whatever he just said.
“Hey, would you want to come hang out later today? Friends of ours are having a barbecue tonight, and it would be a great chance for you to meet some of your neighbors,” Daisy suggests, and it feels really good to get invited.
“I’d love to.”