Chapter 18
CHAPTER 18
HAYES
T he flight had been long, but Dixie’s energy seemed boundless as we stepped off the jet and into the warm, salty breeze of the Maldives. She was practically bouncing on her toes as we walked toward the golf cart waiting to take us to the boat. Her wide eyes and giddy laughter were infectious, and I couldn’t help but grin.
“This is incredible!” she exclaimed, spinning in place to take in the view. The water was an unreal shade of turquoise, and the white sand glimmered under the midday sun. Palm trees swayed lazily in the breeze, and the luxury boat waiting at the dock gleamed in the sunlight.
I’d been here before, more times than I could count. To me, it was just another Bancroft family getaway. But seeing it through Dixie’s eyes? It was like I was experiencing it for the first time all over again.
“You haven’t even seen the best part,” I told her as the golf cart rolled to a stop. I handed the driver a tip, grabbed her hand, and led her toward the boat. “Wait until you see the island.”
She squeezed my hand, her excitement palpable. “I don’t know how it could get better than this.”
Oh, she was in for a surprise.
The ride to the island was short, but by the time the boat pulled up to the private dock, Dixie’s mouth was hanging open. The island spread out before us like a postcard come to life: lush greenery framed by white sand beaches, the ocean glittering under the sun. A sprawling main house stood at the center, surrounded by individual villas tucked discreetly among the trees.
“Is this…” She turned to me, wide-eyed. “Is this all for us?”
“All for us,” I confirmed, enjoying the way her disbelief lit up her face. “The main house is for gatherings. Everyone has their own villa. Yours is next to mine.”
She blinked, still processing. “Our own private island?”
I chuckled. “Welcome to the Bancroft family vacation.”
“Wait, we’re not sharing a villa?” she asked.
I grinned. “I was wondering if you were going to pick up on that. Fuck that. We’re sharing a villa.”
She shook her head, muttering something under her breath that I didn’t catch. Probably something about how over the top this all was. But as I watched her take it all in—the grand stone pathway leading to the main house, the staff waiting to greet us, the towering palm trees casting shadows on the ground—I felt a strange sense of pride. I wanted her to be impressed. I wanted her to love this.
A staff member whisked our bags away. We followed Kathy, Dad, and Isaac into the main house. The open-air design was as stunning as ever, the walls a blend of glass and natural stone that let the outside in. Sunlight streamed through the space, bouncing off polished wood floors, while the scent of the ocean mingled with the faint aroma of something delicious cooking. I was picking up on something citrus.
We found Dane and Ginger in the massive gourmet kitchen. Dane was leaning over the island, chatting animatedly with the head chef while their toddler darted around Ginger’s legs, buck naked and squealing with laughter.
Dixie covered her mouth with her hand, trying to stifle her giggles. Isaac stepped up beside me, arms crossed.
“Gross. Kids. Such a buzzkill,” he muttered.
Kathy smacked the back of his head without missing a beat and rushed forward to scoop up the little boy. “Come here, you little rascal,” she cooed, earning another giggle from Dixie.
Technically, Kathy wasn’t his grandmother—Dane was her nephew, not her son—but she loved these kids like they were her own. And honestly? It suited her.
“Hayes!” Dane called, turning away from the chef. He flashed a grin and came over to clap me on the back. “Good to see you, man.”
“Good to see you too,” I said before turning to Dixie. “This is Dane and his wife, Ginger. And that little nudist over there is their son.”
“Nice to meet you,” Dixie said, offering her hand to Ginger first. Then she turned to Dane, smiling brightly. “I just have to say, I had the most amazing dinner at Edge a few weeks ago. The food was phenomenal.”
Dane grinned and gave a mock bow. “Why, thank you. That place is my pride and joy.”
“Besides your wife and son, of course,” Ginger interjected, raising a brow.
Dane laughed and wrapped an arm around her. “Of course. They’re the real pride and joy.”
“Nice save,” I said, chuckling.
Dane shrugged. “What can I say? I’m a chef, not a charmer.”
We stayed in the kitchen for a while, catching up and letting Dixie get to know Dane and Ginger. She fit in seamlessly, laughing at Dane’s jokes and cooing over their son when Kathy managed to wrestle some clothes onto the little maniac.
I watched Dixie, a quiet pride swelling in my chest. She was perfect. She fit . I wasn’t surprised but it was a relief that my optimism had been warranted. She and Ginger were getting along swimmingly.
“Uncle Hayes! Uncle Dane!”
I turned around to see my nephew Luke walk in. Kameron and Zara strolled in behind him.
“Hey, buddy,” I said, putting up my fist for a knuckle bump.
“I’m starving,” Luke said, bopping my fist.
“You ate thirty minutes ago,” Zara said with exasperation.
“Mom, I’m a growing boy,” Luke said.
Zara rolled her eyes and ruffled his hair affectionately. “Alright, growing boy, let’s see if we can scrounge up something for you to munch on before dinner.”
“Guys, I’d like to introduce you to Dixie,” I said.
Everyone’s attention shifted to her. She waved and gave a little shy smile.
“Dixie, this is Zara, and you’ve already met Luke,” I said. “And this is my brother Kameron.”
“Pleasure to meet you,” Dixie said, extending her hand gracefully to each in turn.
Zara greeted her with a warm hug instead of a handshake. “Welcome, Dixie! I can’t wait to get to know you.”
Kameron offered a firm, friendly handshake. “Nice to meet you. Anyone who makes Hayes this happy is a friend of ours.”
Dixie’s cheeks tinged with pink at the comment. “I hope I live up to the reputation,” she replied.
As Zara and Luke headed toward the fridge, Dixie leaned closer to me, her voice a hushed whisper. “I love it here. Everyone’s so friendly.”
I smiled down at her, feeling a surge of happiness. “I’m glad.”
“Hey, Hayes, I heard there’s some amazing diving spots around this part of the island. You think you’ll take Dixie?”
“Absolutely,” I responded, turning to see if Dixie was interested. Her nod was enthusiastic.
“Oh yes, I’d love that.”
We talked a bit about what we would do. Then Mason and Jack walked into the lobby. I felt Dixie’s surprise when she saw them. Mason always did make an entrance. He was wearing a short-sleeved shirt that showed off his tattoos.
“Hey, guys,” I said stepping forward and shaking their hands. “Been a while.”
Mason grinned, his tattoos seeming to ripple. “Too long, man. This place is something else!” His gaze drifted over to Dixie, offering her a nod. “And I guess you’re the girl we’ve all heard so much about.”
“Guilty,” Dixie replied, a playful tone in her voice. She extended her hand, which Mason shook enthusiastically.
“Welcome to the circus,” he said.
Jack stood beside Mason, a little more reserved but with a friendly smile. “Nice to meet you, Dixie. Mom mentioned you would be coming along. I’m Jack by the way. This big lug is Mason.”
We did a quick catch up, learning who was coming and who couldn’t make it. Zayn, Marigold, and their daughter, Marabella would be arriving before the big dinner. Hudson and his wife, Diana, weren’t due to arrive until later with their daughter. So after a quick round of non-alcoholic toasts, we all decided it was time to retreat to our villas for some much-needed rest. Jetlag was no joke.
Our villa was at the far end of the island, perched right on the water’s edge. I held Dixie’s hand as we made our way toward it. The views were spectacular, the ocean stretching out endlessly. Dixie was practically glowing as we stepped inside, taking in the simple yet luxurious furnishings and the glass walls that opened up to a private infinity pool.
“This is unreal,” she said, spinning slowly to take it all in. She wandered over to the sliding glass doors and stepped out onto the deck, her gaze fixed on the horizon. “I can’t believe I’m here.”
I leaned against the doorway, watching her. “Believe it. You deserve it.”
She turned to me, her eyes shining. “Thank you. Seriously, Hayes. This is… it’s more than I ever imagined.”
I pushed off the doorframe and walked over to her, slipping my arms around her waist. “I told you I’d spoil you.”
She smiled up at me, her gratitude clear in her expression. “You have no idea what this means to me. I’m not the kind of person that hops on a private plane to enjoy some tropical destination. You’re turning my world upside down, in the best way.”
I squeezed her tighter. “That’s the plan. There’s a lot I want to show you. Not just here on the island, but everywhere. With you.”
“I like the sound of that,” she said.
Her lips found mine, soft and sweet. I deepened the kiss, pulling her closer. She sighed against me, her fingers sliding up my chest to the buttons of my shirt.
“I want to thank you properly,” she whispered, unfastening the first button.
“Be my guest,” I murmured, guiding her toward the bedroom.
Dixie paused by the edge of the bed, her silhouette framed against the white linens. The sound of waves gently breaking against the shore filled the air.
“This place is like something from a dream.”
I smiled, stepping closer to her. “Then let’s not wake up.”
I pulled her close and kissed her. She melted into me, her tongue tangling with mine. I ran my hands down her back, feeling her soft skin under my fingertips. She made a needy sound in the back of her throat. I reached behind her, already very familiar with this dress and how to get it off her.
“You make everything magical,” she breathed as I leaned down to capture her lips once more.
“We’ve only been here five minutes,” I said. “I have so much more planned for you.”
“I can’t wait. I was nervous about meeting the family, but I am feeling so much better. I can’t wait to hang out with them.”
“Let’s not talk about them right now,” I said. “They are not invited to this moment. Just me and you.”
She responded with a kiss that had us both forgetting about everyone else.