CHAPTER 6
CHAPTER 6
Carter
The thing about being stuck in a luxury bungalow during a tropical storm with a beautiful woman I barely know? It messes with my head.
She’s curled up on the couch now, wrapped in a blanket with a candle flickering on the nearby table. The electricity’s still holding, but barely. Thunder rumbles in the distance, and the wind is starting to throw palm leaves against the windows. The air smells like rain and sea salt… and something vaguely sweet. Coconut, maybe?
I grab a bottle of water from the fridge and lean against the counter. “You’re quiet.”
She doesn’t look up right away. “Just checking the news. They’re saying the storm might hover over the island longer than expected.”
Of course it is. I nod. “Figures. Bad weather, bad timing… seems to be the theme lately.”
Her eyes lift to mine, narrowing with that usual sharpness. “Trouble in billionaire paradise?”
I grin. “You know, you’ve really got to stop assuming I’m a walking Rolex ad.”
“You’re not?” she says, cocking a brow. “Because you’ve definitely got big ‘private jet on standby’ energy.”
I laugh, shaking my head as I move toward the couch and sit on the armrest beside her. “You know, you really are something special, Ivy. My jet is medium-sized, thank you very much.”
She snorts, but I catch the edge of amusement in her eyes. And… something softer. Tired, maybe. Or guarded.
“Well,” I say after a beat, “if you’re wondering why I’m really here… you’re not wrong. I needed a break. My company’s in the middle of a complicated merger, the board’s panicking, and there’s this looming threat of a hostile takeover. Every minute I’m back home, I’m either in damage control or prepping for battle.”
She blinks at me. “Sounds… exhausting.”
“It is.” I rub the back of my neck. “My assistant booked this place without asking. Said if I didn’t take a break, I’d have a heart attack at thirty-eight.”
She softens just a bit. “So you came. That’s good. I know how easy it is to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of life, so it’s always nice to take a breather.”
“Yeah.” I pause. “And then a storm showed up. And then a little tornado followed suit… You showed up.”
She hums, then glances away. “You make it sound like I’m part of the disaster.”
“No,” I say. “More like… the unexpected plot twist.”
Her cheeks flush, but she quickly covers it by pulling the blanket tighter around herself.
“What about you?” I ask. “Why here? Why now?”
She hesitates.
Then she sighs. “I caught my ex cheating. With his co-worker. In our apartment. A couple months ago.”
My eyebrows rise. “Shit.”
“Yeah. I tried to keep it together—keep writing, keep working—but I couldn’t focus. So I cashed in my credit card points, booked this trip, and told myself I was coming here to recharge.” She shrugs. “But really, I just needed to disappear for a while. From him. From everything.”
There’s so much vulnerability in her voice. I don’t say anything right away. I know the sting of betrayal. Maybe not romantic, but professional. Personal. Every time someone you trusted turns out to be something else—it hits the same.
“You ever been in love?” she asks, and her tone is casual, but her eyes are serious.
I nod slowly. “Once. A long time ago.”
Her name slips past my lips, “Savannah. She was the only woman I’ve ever really loved. But we weren’t built to last.”
I pause, searching for the right words. “It didn’t end in flames or betrayal—just… wore down. She needed someone who could put her first. Someone who didn’t treat dinners and weekends like optional extras on a packed schedule.”
A dry laugh escapes me. “Truth is, we had our own mess—resentments, missed moments. Eventually, we both knew it was time. Since then... love’s taken a back seat.”
“She was right,” Ivy says quietly.
“Yeah,” I admit. “She was.”
The room falls quiet for a beat, just the wind and the flicker of candlelight dancing between us.
Then my phone buzzes.
I glance down at the screen. Liam.
I sigh and answer it. “Hey, man. Everything okay?”
“Yeah, just checking in. You alive? I saw the news—storm’s hitting your resort.”
I shoot Ivy a glance and mouth, “My brother.” She nods, mouthing back, “It’s okay.”
“I’m good,” I say into the phone. “Storm’s wild, but the place is solid. Power’s still on. For now.”
“You’re not alone, are you?” Liam says, his voice full of mischief. “Tell me you finally took my advice and let an assistant book you into one of those couples retreats.”
I groan. “Liam—”
“Is she hot?” he presses. “Because if you’re trapped with a random yoga instructor named Destiny, you’d better FaceTime me.”
“Goodbye, Liam,” I say, trying not to laugh.
I hang up and look at Ivy, who’s now openly grinning.
“Little brother, huh?” she asks.
“Unfortunately,” I say. “He’s twenty-six. Still thinks I need him to help me ‘loosen up.’”
She chuckles. “You two close?”
“Yeah. It’s just the two of us, and we’ve always been close. When my father decided to pass the company down to me, there was a lot of talk about how he would react, but he’s been right beside me. The only issue is that he’s a lazy bum, so he hired a CFO, which is the job he was supposed to be doing,” I say, rolling my eyes.
“Awww, your parents must be proud.” She smiles.
“Yeah, I suppose they are,” I begin to say as my phone begins to ring again. “I’m sorry, but she will never stop calling if I don’t get this.” I stand up and walk toward the little kitchen. “No, Mother, I am not here to elope, I’m just as single as when I left New York and plan to stay that way,” I say, getting straight to the point.
I knew the moment my mother called that Liam told her I was staying with someone.
I listen to her ramble for a few minutes, occasionally interjecting with assurances that no, I’m not hiding a secret girlfriend on a tropical island, and no, I don’t want her to set me up with anyone.
Finally, I manage to end the call with a promise to visit soon and return to Ivy, who’s watching me with an amused expression.
“Family drama?” she asks.
I nod, sitting back down beside her. “You could say that. My mother thinks every woman I talk to is The One.”
She chuckles. “Well, if it makes you feel any better, my mom’s convinced I’m going to die alone with my cats.”
I raise an eyebrow. “Cats?”
She nods. “Three of them. They’re all rescues, so they’re basically my children.”
I can’t help but smile at the image of Ivy surrounded by feline companions. “Sounds like a full house.”
“Yeah,” she says wistfully. “I mean, it’s not like I don’t want love, you know? But sometimes, love feels like this elusive thing that keeps slipping through your fingers.” Her gaze is distant. “I guess I just haven’t found the right person yet.”
I feel a pang of empathy for her as she speaks. Love is a tricky thing, a puzzle with missing pieces that may never fit together perfectly.
“Well, who needs love when you’ve got three furry companions to keep you company?” I tease, trying to lighten the mood.
She chuckles softly. “True. They’re my fluffy little therapists.”
As we sit there, surrounded by the soft glow of candlelight and the howling wind outside, I can’t help but feel a sense of calm settle over me. Despite the chaos of the storm raging on beyond our walls, there’s a quiet intimacy between us that feels oddly comforting.
“Sounds like you’ve given up on finding the one then, huh?” she asks.
I raise an eyebrow at her question, considering my response carefully. “I wouldn’t say I’ve given up on love completely. I’ve just come to terms with the fact that the right person might not be out there for me. And that’s okay. I have my work, my family, and occasionally, a tropical island escape to keep me company.”
She smiles. “Well, your mom seems nice. Is your father still…?”
“My parents are still together, still ridiculously in love. Grew up watching my dad surprise my mom with flowers on Wednesdays and dance with her in the kitchen for no reason. It kind of ruined my standards.”
Her smile falters slightly, but not in a bad way. “That’s… really sweet. I hardly know anyone who’s still married anymore. Where is this land of happily married people you come from? I should visit,” she says, intrigued.
“Well, I wouldn’t call it the land of happily married people. Plenty miserable people there, married or not, but I was born and raised in Edenton. Although my mother says I’m a nomad. I spend most of my time in New York these days dealing with some issues with my company.”
“A small-town guy, of course! I should have guessed. Nothing about you is normal. Just too darn perfect to come from a normal place like New York City huh? Freaking Edenton… figures.”
I watch her as she goes on her mini-rant.
“Well, where are you from if you don’t mind me asking?”
“Guess!” she challenges me.
“You want to me to guess where you’re from?” I confirm.
“Yep.”
“Okay, so what prize do I get if I guess correctly?”
She sighs and presses her palm to her forehead. “God, you’re such a golden boy. You don’t need a prize—just guess for the fun of it.”
I give her a disapproving look, and she caves.
“Fine. If you guess it right, you get to sleep on the bed tonight.”
I blink. “Wait, seriously?”
She shrugs, casual as ever. “Don’t get too excited. It’s just the bed.”
My lips twitch. “Am I sleeping in it… with you, or…?”
She rolls her eyes so hard I’m amazed they don’t get stuck. “You wish.”
Well, that’s no fun. I grin. “You’re from New York.”
Her jaw drops. “No way. You cheated. No bed for you.”
I lean back, smug. “Didn’t have to.”
Her expression shifts. “Okay, how?”
I study her. “Your edge. The sarcasm. The trauma hiding under ten layers of coffee and pride. Plus… I saw the tag on your suitcase.”
She laughs. “Damn. You’re dangerous.”
I tilt my head. “And what about your family?”
She nods, the smile dimming slightly. “Yeah. Split. Messy.” She sighs. “My parents got divorced when my big brother and I were young. I love them, but I can’t have them in the same room unless I’m prepared for a full-blown war. We do holidays in shifts.”
I wince. “It happens.”
“It does.” She looks down, absently picking at the edge of the blanket. “But aside from that, we’re one big happy family. I mean, they love us and have always shown that, just not each other. I guess that’s why it’s been hard for me to find a decent guy, and my brother Jeremy bounces from one chick to the next. It’s a miracle he’s still disease-free. You’d think having one leg would slow the guy down,” she says, laughing.
Another beat of silence. Not awkward. Just honest.
“What about your love life? I don’t see a ring and no one’s called to check on you. I know if my girl were in Hawaii alone, I’d make sure she was safe. Heck, my girl wouldn’t be in Hawaii alone, so I take that back,” I say as I watch her full lips curve into a smile.
Damn, I could kiss the fuck out of those lips.
She looks up at me. “Maybe. But I’m still hopeful that at least one guy out there isn’t a complete asshole and I can finally be in a real relationship,”
I can’t help but smirk at her comment. “Well, I hate to break it to you, but finding a guy who’s not a complete asshole is like searching for a unicorn in a sea of donkeys.”
She laughs, shaking her head. “Wow, you’re a real romantic, aren’t you?”
“Hey, just speaking from experience,” I retort playfully.
Ivy rolls her eyes, but there’s a glint of amusement in them. “Well, if all else fails, maybe I’ll just join a convent. At least then I’ll have some peace and quiet.”
We share a chuckle at the absurd image of Ivy in a convent surrounded by nuns.
“But who knows,” she continues thoughtfully. “Maybe one day, we’ll both stumble upon someone who’s not only tolerable but actually… nice.”
I nod in agreement. “Sure, stranger things have happened. But hey, don’t worry tornado, you’re what, forty-five? There’s still plenty of time to find love.”
She bursts out laughing, “I’m twenty-eight, but thank you for that. It’s every woman’s dream to look twice her age.”
I’m taken aback, actually thinking she was younger, perhaps twenty-three. But twenty-eight is the ideal age. She’s becoming increasingly irresistible.
Her laughter is infectious, filling the room with a warmth that matches the flickering candlelight. I can’t help but find myself drawn to her, not just because of her quick wit and easy smile, but also because of the genuine vulnerability she shares in these moments of honesty.
“Well, twenty-eight is the new twenty-one, right?” I quip, a playful smirk tugging at the corners of my lips. “Plenty of time left to find that ‘nice’ guy you’re holding out for.”
She rolls her eyes, nudging my shoulder with hers. “Thanks for the reminder. I was starting to feel ancient there for a second.”
We fall into an easy silence, the crackling of the storm outside providing a soothing backdrop to our conversation. It’s moments like this, where we can simply be ourselves without any pretense or expectations, that make me appreciate Ivy’s company even more.
As we sit there, lost in our thoughts, a crash of thunder startles us both, jolting us out of our reverie. Ivy lets out a surprised squeak, and I chuckle at her reaction.
“Looks like the storm isn’t quite done with us yet,” I remark, glancing out the window at the dark clouds swirling ominously overhead.
Ivy shakes her head. “I swear, this island must have some sort of vendetta against me.”
I laugh at her dramatic flair. “Maybe the island just wants to keep things interesting for us.”
She smirks. “Well, it’s definitely succeeding in that department. Look at how bad it’s getting out there. If they shut everything down at the resort, what are we supposed to do in this bungalow for an entire week?” She pouts her lips, and I try and fail not to get distracted at how tempting they look.
“I guess we’ll just have to find creative ways to pass the time,” I suggest with a mischievous grin.
She rolls her eyes—but slower this time, like even she knows it’s just for show.
The air shifts. Charged. Thicker.
Her lips part, and for a second, neither of us says anything. I watch the rise and fall of her chest, the way her fingers toy with the hem of the blanket like she’s grounding herself. Like she feels it too.
I lean in, just a little.
“We could play more cards,” I murmur, voice low. “Or…”
“Or?” she whispers, not meeting my eyes.
“Or I could show you what else I’m good at when I’m bored.”
Her gaze snaps to mine, wide and dark and so fucking tempting. Her cheeks flush, and her breath hitches just enough.
She narrows her eyes. “You’re impossible.”
I grin. “And yet… you haven’t told me to stop.”
She opens her mouth but another gust of wind rattles the bungalow, breaking the moment. She pulls the blanket tighter around her shoulders and stands, muttering something about getting more candles.
But not before I catch that smile—sharp, unguarded, trouble.
She thinks she’s playing the game. She doesn’t know I never lose.
And Ivy? She’s the kind of challenge I don’t walk away from.
I take. I win. I ruin.