Chapter Seven #2
Matthew’s smile returned, faint and polished. “And liability? Security? It all adds up. I’m not saying no. I’m saying we don’t turn this into a charity project at the expense of our actual business.”
Everett didn’t miss the way Kai’s shoulders hunched a little. Or the way Lani rolled her eyes and looked at the ceiling.
“Understood,” Everett said. “We’ll start small. One school, fully escorted, thoroughly briefed on safety. If it’s a mess, we never do it again. If it’s a win, we build it into the calendar. We won’t know unless we try.”
Matthew considered. “Pilot program,” he said slowly. “Limited scope. Measure outcomes.”
“Exactly,” Everett said.
Matthew nodded once. “Fine. But let’s make sure we’re not confusing our priorities. We’re running a luxury hotel, not a community center.”
The words slithered with pretension, but Everett didn’t argue. Not yet. Instead, he filed it away. He’d circle back later, but this was going to be Matthew’s hotel. Everett needed to make sure his GM garnered not only the staff’s respect, but also their loyalty. If not, it’d be a disaster.
He shifted the agenda to staffing, then to training days, then to the mock opening.
The energy in the room built back up. They were good at what they did; he trusted them.
He made sure they knew it, checking in with each person, asking questions that showed he’d read their reports, seen their efforts.
When the meeting finally broke, chairs scraped back and the room buzzed with side conversations. Malia and Jessica huddled over a set of revised checklists. Lani cornered David about bar staff uniforms. Kai headed for the door, then paused and came back.
“Thanks, boss,” he said quietly. “For backing us up on the refill thing.”
“Wasn’t backing you up,” Everett said, gathering his notes. “Was backing up the plan we all made together.”
Kai’s grin flashed, quick and boyish, before he slipped out.
Matthew shut his portfolio with a soft click. “You’ve built loyalty here,” he said. It was hard to tell if it was a compliment or an observation. Maybe both.
“I’ve built a team,” Everett said. “They make this place work.”
Matthew studied him for a moment, that polite smile back in place. “Well. You’ve certainly set a high bar. We’ll see if I can keep up once you’re back in New York.”
Everett just nodded. “You’ll do fine as long as you remember the bar isn’t just thread counts and room rates.”
Matthew’s eyes narrowed a fraction, as if he heard the warning under the words, then smoothed again. “I’ll keep that in mind,” he said.
Everett walked out into the lobby, the light pouring in from the open doors, the sea breeze pushing the scent of plumeria through the air. Staff moved through the space—laughing, working, greeting guests testing out the café. This was the hotel they’d built. The one Matthew would inherit.
Everett needed to make sure his team was tight before he left.
His company had bought the perfect property, but it was up to him to create the luxurious experience every tourist craved when they visited Hawaii.
Purity was known for elegance, service, and accessibility.
They were competing with the best hotel brands in the world—Hilton, Four Seasons, and Marriott.
But already, Everett knew he could pull it off.
He only had eight weeks left to make sure the opening was flawless.
Then, he’d be able to return to New York victorious and step into the top role alongside the partners.
His phone pinged, interrupting his thoughts.
Can I take a surf lesson this afternoon? 3pm?
He blinked at the message, momentarily thrown off.
Surfing? Since when did his daughter care about surfing?
Immediately, he thought of Rowan and her makeshift beach crew.
Of course. It had been a few days and Kelsey seemed to have moved on, but he guessed surfing had stuck in her brain.
She’d mentioned trying it at one of the local resorts.
He texted back.
Thought you took one and didn’t like it?
I want to try again.
His fingers moved automatically, amused at the thought of his daughter out on a board. Kelsey loved books and quiet. She despised gym class or any type of team sports and wasn’t a risk taker.
What about tennis?
Her reply came instantly.
No!
An emoji with a thumbs-down flashed next to a tennis racket.
I really want to learn surfing. Please, Dad.
He should’ve said no. He was halfway through typing It’s not a good idea when something inside him stilled—the weary voice that remembered her downcast eyes lately, the constant scrolling, and the way she’d been retreating inch by inch.
Maybe letting her try something new was good.
How risky could an intro surfing lesson be?
She’d already had one, and this would confirm she didn’t want to continue.
Plus, he was going to run late again, and this would ward off some of his guilt.
Fine. Text me when you’re done. Tom will drive you.
He hit send, pocketed the phone, and went back to work.
The early afternoon whizzed by while he put out fires from the linen suppliers and had a Zoom call with his boss in New York to deliver updates.
When everyone was satisfied, he called for a break.
Smoothing down his tie, he walked to the window.
The sun bounced off the polished glass with a seductive shimmer.
The views were amazing—a tantalizing mix of cerulean-blue ocean, powdery golden sand, and swaying palm trees.
Diamond Head beckoned in the distance and offered mountainous terrain perfect for hiking and exploration.
A few blocks away, guests could immerse themselves in the bustling restaurants, shops, and art studios to feed the city vibe within.
He rubbed the tension from his neck, grateful for the temporary quiet—until his phone buzzed again.
He expected an update from his assistant. Instead, he saw Kelsey’s location ping open on the screen. Must’ve left her tracking screen on in error. Everett went to close it, then noticed where the dot was located.
The map showed the same cursed name that had been haunting him since that sunset party: Hale Nalu Surf Shop.
Hell no.
His fingers tightened around the phone as he called her back. No answer. The second time went straight to voicemail.
He didn’t want his daughter hanging around Rowan. A woman who called him an asshole didn’t exactly scream safe role model. And what type of lessons was she getting from a ramshackle surf shop on a beach that didn’t cater to tourists?
Everett’s blood pressure rose. Dammit. He had a full afternoon schedule, but no way could he concentrate if he was worried about her. He thought about sending Tom down there, but it wasn’t fair to drag the man into his personal business.
He’d take care of this now.
Muttering a curse, he told Jessica he’d be back in an hour and was out the door before anyone could stop him with questions.
By the time he pulled up to the beach, his temper had cooled into something sharper and more complicated.
The sky was cloudless and the surf glittered like sprinkling diamonds.
A few colorful boards bobbed in the distance.
And there, halfway down the beach, was his daughter.
Kelsey stood on a wide blue board in shallow water, arms out, knees bent, face lit with an expression he hadn’t seen in years.
Rowan was beside her, tanned legs braced in the surf, thick hair yanked into a messy knot. She held the board steady as Kelsey practiced a pop-up move, laughing when she wobbled and fell back into the water. The low, easy sound rolled across the beach and sang in his ears.
Something inside him cracked.
He’d told himself Kelsey needed routine and stability.
After losing her mother to the flighty impulse of an unstructured life, Everett stepped in to guarantee his daughter would never be hurt like that again.
He’d filled in the empty gaps and built a solid foundation that made sense.
And yet, watching her here—so alive, connected, fearless—he wondered if he was failing both of them.
Because he couldn’t remember the last time his daughter looked so . . .
Happy.
Rowan reached out, brushing wet hair from Kelsey’s eyes, saying something he couldn’t hear, but whatever it was made his daughter laugh again.
The sight hit him hard, making his chest ache.
Everett was careful not to bring women home or into his daily life.
He was clear from the beginning he wasn’t interested in a relationship.
His needs were met by women who wanted the same arrangement, and he’d never thought twice about it.
But watching Rowan and Kelsey together, their natural ease, landed heavy in his chest.
Rowan’s generous mouth curved into a genuine smile.
Water glistened on her bare shoulders. Sand encrusted her calves.
She was the complete opposite of everything that attracted him to a woman.
There was no polish in her appearance; no ambition in her speech.
The woman seemed content just to live on a beach watching surfers, with no care to how her life would unfold.
Yet.
She stepped back and grabbed her water bottle, unaware of his presence.
Tilting her head back, she took a long swallow, the column of her throat exposed, escaped strands of dark hair clinging to her cheek.
Her small breasts arched up like a gift, hard nipples pressed against her bathing suit top.
The image burned into his brain and other parts of his body before he could smother it like ash on a fire.
In that one moment, Everett wondered what she’d taste like if he bent his head to lick the salt from her skin.
Wondered if her eyes would darken and fog if his mouth took hers in a deep kiss.
His body tightened as if embracing that very action, throwing him off.
Everett tore his gaze away, furious with himself.