Chapter 11
eleven
WEST
The hum of the heavy machinery fills the air as I walk through the resort later that afternoon. Checking progress, feeling satisfied because we’re making headway in the impossible task of building something from nothing.
And I’m really trying not to think about the way Eden looked so upset earlier. Or how lonely she said she was. And how it’s my fault she’s feeling that way.
Shoving my hands into my pockets, I take a long breath, trying to focus on the view instead of the woman currently messing with my equilibrium. From the top of the hill, the resort site fans out in a horseshoe curve around the bay at the northern most point of the island.
The framing’s already done on most of the family cottages.
Clean white timber, pitched roofs, wide porches made for sticky ice-cream fingers and tired toddlers.
There's a splash pad going in by the café. Themed gardens that’ll bloom to life by the time we open.
And a treehouse climbing zone tucked into the oaks.
It’s small. Intimate. Miles from the Vegas monstrosities Vin usually bankrolls.
But I can’t help but feel the rush of accomplishment heating my veins.
“Nice view.” Hudson’s voice cuts through the noise.
I turn to see him and Parker walking up the slope from the south entrance, hard hats in hand, boots coated with the same red island dust that clings to everything up here.
“Just don’t look behind you,” I mutter, jerking my chin toward the pile of shipping pallets stacked like a game of Jenga someone gave up on.
Hudson gives a dry chuckle. “You’ve seen my backyard. Mess doesn’t scare me.”
His yard’s a riot of plastic slides, muddy footprints, and fairy lights tangled in the trees.
I grew up with manicured lawns and silent hallways. If something was out of place, it got locked away or thrown out.
I prefer his landscaping to that of my parents’.
Parker slaps his palm against my shoulder. “You’re looking cranky. Is everything okay?”
“Everything’s fine.” I nod toward the field office. “Shall we go inside? The next stage plans are there.”
As they follow me in, I force my shoulders down and my jaw to loosen. Act normal. Professional. Do not, under any circumstances, picture the expression on Hudson’s face if he knew I almost kissed his little sister. Again.
The office is barely cooler than the outside air. The portable A/C unit hums in the corner, rattling against the thin metal walls. I motion for them to sit at the table, grabbing the freshly printed layout from the corkboard behind me.
Hudson leans back in one of the plastic chairs, his forearm resting casually on the edge.
“Before we get into numbers,” he says. “I just want to say thanks again for looking out for Eden.”
I pause for a breath too long. The blueprint in my hands suddenly feels heavy.
But Hudson doesn’t notice my hesitation, thank god.
“You offering her a place to stay?” he continues. “That was above and beyond. Especially with the timeline you’re under here.”
Parker snorts. “You might be the only man on the planet who could survive sharing a roof with Eden Fitzgerald and a project like this. Both at the same time.”
I force a tight smile. “I was happy to help.”
Hudson stretches out his legs. “I can’t imagine it’s easy having someone that young crashing at your place. I love my sister. I’m so glad to have her home. But it must be like babysitting a hyperactive golden retriever. Plus I assume it’ll put a bit of a cramp in your… extracurriculars.”
I lift an eyebrow. “Extracurriculars?” I don’t like the sound of that word. Not at all.
“You know.” Hudson gives me a pointed look. “Your revolving door policy. Or has being on Liberty forced a temporary abstinence?”
Parker coughs back a laugh.
For God’s sake. Yes, I have a healthy appetite for sex. Or I did, until I promised Eden I’d be celibate. But listening to them, anybody would think I was an addict, unable to control myself. Which I’m not.
Red teddy. Smooth silk. Eden, all long legs and doe eyes.
I blink that image out of my brain and shake my head.
“I’m too busy with this,” I mutter, pointing at the plans. “And anyway, this is Liberty. It’s not exactly teeming with eligible women.”
Hudson shrugs. “And yet that’s never stopped you before.”
I open my mouth to respond when Hudson’s phone buzzes.
He glances at it and sighs. “Skyler.” Then shoots an apologetic look at Parker and me before answering. “Hey, babe. Wait, she what? Seriously?”
He pauses, brow furrowed.
“She did what?” He rakes a hand through his hair. “Okay. Yeah. I’ll talk to her. No, I won’t laugh. I swear.”
He ends the call and shakes his head. “Sorry, gotta go. Dad duty. I’ll catch up with you guys later.”
“It’s fine,” I say. “I just wanted to take you both through the plans before we move to the next stage.”
Hudson claps a hand on my shoulder. “Go for it. I trust you.”
He slides his phone back into his pocket and heads out of the field office, the door squeaking closed behind him. Parker lets out a little laugh before I turn to look at him.
I’ve never seen him look so calm. So happy. Being a dad-to-be suits him.
“Can I ask you something?” I say, my chest still feeling tight.
He raises a brow. “You? Asking for advice? This must be serious.”
I give him a look. “When Autumn first came back to Liberty, was she lonely?” She’d moved here from New York to oversee the interior designs of the original hotel. Parker was the only one of us on the island at the time. Hudson was fighting a custody battle in England, and I was in L.A..
His expression softens like the memory warms him. “Yeah. I think she was.” He leans forward, resting his forearms on his thighs. “She only came back because Hudson asked her for help. But it wasn’t easy for her. Especially not in that hotel alone.”
“And how’d you help her feel less lonely?” I ask him.
He grins. “I married her.”
I grimace, because that’s not what I need to hear right now.
“You asked.” He pauses, eyes narrowing just slightly. “Why the sudden concern?”
I hesitate, then go for the easy answer. “Eden said she’s lonely. If she’s not happy, she might leave. And Hudson’ll lose it.” I bite the last part out, like I’m not choking on my own lies.
Luckily Parker doesn’t notice my discomfort. Or maybe he does, because a second later he tilts his head and gives me that slow, knowing look.
“Is there something going on with you two?”
I raise an eyebrow. “Me and Eden? Are you being serious?”
He shrugs. “Just checking. You don’t seem like yourself. And Eden’s beautiful, opinionated, chaotic as hell…”
“And my best friend’s little sister,” I cut in. “So that’s a hard no. And there’s nothing going on. I just don’t like her being unhappy, that’s all.”
Parker leans back, resting an ankle on his knee. “Autumn is also our best friend’s little sister,” he reminds me. “And it didn’t stop me.”
I say nothing, because what is there to say?
He sighs. “Look, if Eden’s lonely, it’s because she’s used to being surrounded by people. Or goats. Just maybe try spending time with her. Talk to her. Take her out for dinner or something. She’s your guest, not your prisoner.”
“She’s definitely not a prisoner,” I say, a little too vehemently.
Parker smirks. “Really? Because right now you sound exactly like the Beast during that part of the movie where Belle’s moping around and he’s destroying the castle because he doesn’t know how to deal with feelings.”
I narrow my eyes at him. “You know the plot to Beauty and the Beast?”
He shrugs. “We babysit Ayda whenever Hudson and Skyler need a night off. I’ve seen it twenty-three times and cried during the ballroom scene at least twelve.”
I shake my head. “What happened to the guy who used to break hearts and play football for a living?”
He grins. “He grew up, married a woman way out of his league, and learned all the words to ‘Be Our Guest’.” His expression softens, settling into something more sincere.
“Look, I don’t know everything about women, but I do know they don’t like to be ignored.
You don’t have to be Prince Charming. But you also don’t have to be an asshole.
Spend some time with her. Make her feel welcome.
Or at the very least, like she’s not a burden. ”
Parker claps my shoulder as he stands. “You’ve got this. You’re doing a good thing helping her, man.”
My stomach twists with something that isn’t nerves. “Aren’t you going to look at the plans either?” I ask, because that was the point of this whole damn meeting.
He shrugs. “Autumn wants me home early. We’ve hit the second trimester, you know?” There’s a smirk on his face which leads me to believe it has something to do with sex, but I don’t ask because really, I don’t want to know.
He heads for the door and I pick up my phone, taking a deep breath.
What would the Beast do? Maybe that should become my new motto.
Buy her a new talking wardrobe, give the staff the night off, and bend Beauty over the gilded banisters and show her exactly how un-alone she is.
I let out a breath. No. We need the PG version. The one where he’s nice.
I pull out my phone and call the kitchen at the Grand Liberty Hotel.
“Hey, it’s West Abbott. Can you ask Martin to cook some pad thai for me to pick up on my way home?” I ask, then pause. “And make one portion meat free.”
EDEN
I spend the rest of the afternoon catching up on Below Deck, splayed out on West’s sofa, feeling miserable. And when the last episode is over, I walk back up to my bedroom. And when I walk in, there’s that stupid vibrator, in its special velvet pouch, lying on my bed like it belongs there.
I pull it out again, running my fingers along it, thinking about a scene in the reality show where the couple hook up, behind closed doors, all breathy and steamy.
Combined with the almost-kiss with West earlier, it makes me feel overheated.
I turn the toy on, feeling it vibrate in my hands.
My breath catches as I imagine sliding it between my thighs.
I run it over my chest, my nipples pebbling at the rolling pressure, my eyelids fluttering because it has been way, way too long since anybody made me feel good.
And the bedroom door flings open.
“Eden, I—”
I open my eyes, my mouth gaping. West is standing in the doorway, an insulated bag embossed with ‘Grand Liberty Hotel’ dangling from one hand, his gaze frozen on me.
Oh. My. God.
I yelp and scramble to shut the vibrator off, dropping it before I can, and the thing starts writhing on the floor like an oversexed snake. Just kill me now.
West looks at it, then me. He calmly walks over and picks it up, shutting it off, then hands it back to me.
“I brought dinner home,” he says tightly, like his whole body is coiled. “I’m going to plate it up. It’ll be ready in five minutes.”
I’m absolutely mortified. “I wasn’t using it. I was just…”
He looks down, at my chest, rising with each breath. At my pebbled nipples. He blinks slowly, dragging his eyes away.
“I mean, it wouldn’t matter if I was, right? That’s not breaking our agreement, is it?” Why don’t I ever shut up?
He swallows. Hard. “Pad thai,” he says. “Martin made it.”
“Great.” I look at the vibrator still clutched in my hand. “I love his pad thai.”
“I know.” He runs his thumb over his jaw, like he’s trying to work out what just happened. “I’ll see you in five.” He turns on his heels and strides out of the door.
I stare after him, my cheeks flushing. Then I throw the vibrator on my bed.
Could this day get any worse? I guess I’m about to find out.