Chapter 21
CHAPTER 21
DIXIE
I felt like royalty, soaking up the sun with some fruity drink in hand and surrounded by some of the richest people in the world. And they were nice. Normal.
The laughter echoed across the pool deck. I loved watching the kids play with their attentive mamas watching closely. I leaned back in my chair, utterly content as I watched Diana splash with her daughter in the shallow end of the pool. Ginger was nearby, reclining in a lounger with a large sunhat shading her face, while Winslet and Kathy sat at a table under a massive umbrella, chatting over colorful cocktails.
I was in paradise, not just because of the setting—though the white sand beaches, turquoise water, and endless sunshine were hard to beat—but because of these people. This family. No one made me feel like I was an outsider. I didn’t feel like the poor relation.
Hayes had been reluctant to leave me, but I insisted he go with his dad, cousins, and brothers. They were all taking a trip to Villingili Golf Course. I was not usually the needy type, and I didn’t plan on starting now. Plus, the women in the family had been very welcoming.
It was hard to believe families like this actually existed. I’d always thought of big families as dramatic, chaotic, and full of tension. But the Bancrofts? They were nothing but warmth, love, and laughter.
Ginger sat up, adjusting her sunhat, and grinned at me. “So, Dixie, spill. How did you and Hayes meet?”
I looked at Kathy, who gave a silent nod, encouraging me to share my story.
All eyes turned to me, and I felt a flush rise to my cheeks at being the center of attention. I was perfectly happy watching from the sidelines. “Oh, it’s not that interesting,” I said with a laugh, but they all looked at me expectantly.
“Don’t hold out on us,” Ginger teased. “I bet it’s good.”
“Well, it all started at a party hosted at a friend’s house. She set me up on a blind date, and I wasn’t exactly thrilled about it. So when Hayes walked in—looking every bit as smug as he always does—I used him as my scapegoat.”
Ginger raised an eyebrow. “Your scapegoat?”
I nodded. “I pretended he was the guy I was supposed to meet. I didn’t want to sit through an awkward dinner with someone I didn’t know, so… I dragged Hayes into it instead.”
Diana burst out laughing, her shoulders shaking as she wiped a stray drop of water off her cheek. “Oh, I love that. And he went along with it?”
“To my surprise, yes,” I said, grinning at the memory. “I think he found the whole thing amusing. We ended up spending the entire night talking and laughing, and I guess we just couldn’t get enough of each other.”
Winslet leaned forward, resting her chin on her hand. “And now here you are, on a private island with all of us.”
“Living the dream,” I said with a laugh. “Honestly, I’m still losing my mind over how blessed I am to be here.”
Ginger raised her glass in a mock toast. “Here’s to impromptu blind dates and tropical getaways.”
I laughed and clinked my glass against hers. “My sister is going to be so jealous when she sees pictures,” I added gleefully.
Diana chuckled, glancing over at Hudson, who was now trying to coax their daughter into wearing her water wings. “I know the feeling. When Hudson and I first started dating, his lifestyle was… a lot to process. It was so foreign to me. Sometimes it still feels weird, even now.”
Ginger nodded in agreement. “It never really feels normal, does it?”
Diana shook her head. “No. You get used to it, but it’s always a little surreal. I remember when I first found out who Hudson was.”
“How did you meet him?” I asked.
She smiled and got a bit of a faraway look in her eyes. “He saved my life.”
My eyes widened. “What?”
She burst into laughter. “Okay, maybe not quite that dramatic, but I picked him up as a hitchhiker, dropped him off, and promptly crashed my car. It was Hudson that pulled me out. And I guess you could say the rest is history.”
I glanced over at Hudson. Hayes had given me a little backstory about Hudson and his issues and why they were all so dedicated to the nonprofit they’d started.
Ginger quickly told me about meeting Dane, the obnoxious chef. As I listened to them talk about their first moments with their husbands, it made me wonder if I might one day be telling our story.
The sound of excited chatter had everyone turning to see who it was. “That’s Reese,” Kathy told me. “He’s Armand’s oldest son.”
I nodded and watched the man walk toward the pool area. He was tall, composed, and carried himself with an air of effortless confidence that immediately reminded me of his father.
“Where’s Thea?” Kathy asked, rising from her seat to greet him.
Reese smiled, setting his bag down near a chair. “She went to the villa to rest. She’s six months pregnant now, and the trip wore her out a bit. But she’ll rally and join us later this afternoon.”
Congratulations and well-wishes erupted around the group as Reese settled into the conversation, his calm demeanor making him instantly likable. He was polite and attentive, and it was clear why he seemed to be a grounding presence for the Bancroft clan.
As everyone chatted, Kathy turned to me with a smile. “I should mention that my other boys will be joining us in a couple days. They had work commitments, but they’ll be here soon enough.”
I laughed, shaking my head. “I’m never going to remember who’s who. You’re all going to need to wear name tags.”
“Don’t worry,” Hudson said. “You’ll want to forget all our names eventually. We might make a good first impression, but we’re all trouble.”
I blinked at him, unsure how to respond.
“Kidding,” he said, flashing a lopsided smile that was almost charming. Almost.
The conversation continued. The guys asked Reese about his business back in Vancouver. I found myself relaxing more and more. The tropical drinks helped, of course.
By the time the kids were put down for their naps, we were all a bit buzzed, laughing over stories and jokes that ranged from wholesome to borderline scandalous. It was impossible not to feel at home here.
The men returned with big smiles and sunburned noses. Hayes strode over, his hair tousled from the wind and his face glowing with a mix of sun and excitement. He wrapped his arms around me from behind, planting a kiss on my cheek that sent a warm flush through me. “Miss me?” he whispered, his voice teasing.
“Maybe just a little,” I replied, leaning back into his embrace. The genuine happiness in his eyes made my heart swell.
The men talked animatedly, sharing bits and pieces of their day on the course. Isaac was boasting about a particularly long drive, while one of the cousins playfully accused him of embellishing the story.
Diana caught my eye and winked. “Looks like they had fun without us.”
Mason chuckled, taking a swig from his beer. “Fun is an understatement. Grayson here almost beat Armand’s record.”
Armand smiled proudly. “ Almost being the operative word.”
Grayson shrugged with a hint of a smile. “A gentleman doesn’t brag.”
“Since when are you a gentleman?” Isaac quipped, earning laughs from around the group.
Dane, who had been relatively quiet, suddenly perked up. “Speaking of gentlemen, who wants to hear about the new menu I’m developing for Edge?”
Ginger groaned. “Honey, we’re on vacation. Can we not talk about work?”
“This isn’t work,” Dane insisted. “This is passion.”
“Passion that pays the bills,” Jett muttered under his breath.
Kathy, ever the peacemaker, redirected the conversation. “Will any of you be joining us for dinner tonight?”
Everyone looked at each other like they were afraid to turn down the offer. It was Grayson who spoke up and took the hit for the rest of us.
“I think we were going to stay in with the kids tonight,” he said. “Maybe we can get together for breakfast in the morning.”
Kathy smiled. “That sounds like a perfect plan. I think after all the sun today, we might all need to go to bed early. I was thinking about a boat tour tomorrow. What do you guys think about that?”
The proposal was met with enthusiastic nods and murmurs of agreement. “That sounds amazing,” Reese piped up, the first to vocalize what seemed to be the consensus. “Thea will love that, especially if we spot some dolphins or something.”
Hayes leaned down and whispered in my ear. “You up for a day on the water? Could be fun.”
“Absolutely.” I smiled back at him, the excitement bubbling up inside me. I had never been on a boat tour before, and the idea of doing it with this group of people only added to the excitement.
Diana was already pulling up information on her phone. “There are a couple of guided tours available. One includes snorkeling at a coral reef, and another focuses more on scenic views and wildlife spotting.”
“I vote for snorkeling,” Mason said. “I’ve heard the reefs around here are incredible. Best to see them before they’re all dead in a few years.”
Ginger nodded in agreement. “On that depressing note, it’s settled then. Snorkeling it is!”
The rest of the afternoon faded into early evening, and one by one, people began to drift back to their accommodations to refresh themselves for dinner.
As I walked back to the villa with Hayes, we talked about our days.
“I had a good time,” I said. “I think I’m a little buzzed.”
He chuckled. “Me too. The drinks went down easily.”
“Want to take a nap before dinner?” I asked.
“I don’t know if I’m going to have a choice.” He chuckled. “I’m ready to pass out.”
When we reached our villa, Hayes held the door open for me. His hand brushed lightly against my back as I passed through. We decided on a quick swim in our private pool before we took our nap.
The water in the pool felt refreshing, almost rejuvenating, as we slid into it. It was a small pool, just enough to cool down and float in. Hayes lounged at the edge, his feet dangling into the water.
“Feels good to just relax, doesn’t it?” Hayes asked, watching me with a soft smile.
“It really does,” I replied, floating on my back and staring up at the sky which had started to turn a soft shade of orange.
Hayes slid into the water, swimming over to me. He pulled me close, and for a moment we just floated together in silence. It was one of those perfect moments where nothing needed to be said—the comfort of being together was more than enough.
Eventually, we climbed out of the pool and wrapped ourselves in fluffy towels. As we walked back into our villa, the air-conditioning hit us with a blast of cool air that made me shiver. We dried off and climbed into bed. I snuggled close to him. I couldn’t remember the last time I took a nap in the middle of the day. It felt good.
Then again, everything with Hayes was good.