“The other night, Ryan sent me his business plan for this bar he’s planning to open. Captain’s.”
My stomach tightens with excitement.
“Jonas and I were looking at the plan together last night and we were both impressed at how good it is. We both feel confident it’s something we want to invest in and be a part of—and, if Ryan’s on board with the idea, maybe even grow it beyond Ryan’s initial vision to something really big.”
My skin is buzzing. My heart is racing. “Mmm hmm,” I say, trying very hardnotto let my body language betray any of the following facts: one, I’ve already devoured Ryan’s business plan and was thoroughly impressed; two, I’mdyingto be a part of Ryan’s dream, in any teeny way he might let me be (and, in fact, I’ve already got a thousand ideas of ways I might contribute); and, three, I’ve been fucking Ryan Ulysses Morgan to within an inch of his life all week long.
“Don’t say anything to Ryan yet, please,” Josh continues. “Jonas and I need to talk to him when I get home from my honeymoon, so this is purely hypothetical at this point, but what would you say if Jonas and I were to partner with Ryan and bring you on as a member of the team to help us launch? I mean, surely, helping launch a new business venture would be a better utilization of your time and talents than ensuring my Lamborghini is shiny and my suits ordered from the latest Anthony Franco show.” He grins at Jonas.
I feel like my head’s exploding. “I think that sounds awesome,” I say evenly.
“Perfect,” Josh says. “Jonas and I won’t be able to commit a whole lot of time to Captain’s—we’re gonna be crazy-busy with our plans for Climb & Conquer, so having you be my eyes and ears on the project will be a win-win. Plus, to be honest, now that I’m getting married and having a baby, I think there’s a good chance I won’t need the same kind of personal attention you’ve always given me anymore. I could be wrong—I’ve never been married with a kid before—but I figure, whatever I might need from a personal assistant going forward, you could hire someone to do it, teach him or her exactly what I like, and then manage them for me so I never need to talk to them.”
I laugh. “Absolutely.”
“Cool. So, yeah, all in all, I think it’s a natural progression for you—and me—and this new, amazing life I’m embarking on—if you become my proxy in some new, expanded ways. And I can’t think of a better project to sic you on than Captain’s. It’s like the stars were aligned.” He takes a deep breath. “So, in concept, that all sounds good to you?”
I feel like I just won the lottery, but I try to keep my cool. “It sounds great,” I say. “I’m actually thrilled about the idea.”
We share a smile.
“So, cool, Jonas and I will talk to Ryan when I get back, and let you know if he’s equally thrilled with the idea, too.”
“I think he will be.” I swallow hard, stuffing down my impulse to tell Jonas and Josh everything about Ryan and me. “I, uh, I’ve actually had a chance to spend a little time with Ryan this week, and we get along very well,” I say lamely.
Josh and Jonas exchange another look, this one even more loaded than the last.
“Look, T, as long as we’re talking about Ryan and thinking about you possibly working closely with him as my proxy,” Josh says, “I feel the need to say something I wouldn’t otherwise say.”
My stomach clenches. Something tells me I’m not gonna like whatever words are about to come out of Josh’s mouth. “Okay.”
“There’s one source of trepidation I have about this whole idea, to be honest.” Josh exhales. “I’ve noticed sparks between you and Ryan. I don’t know if it’s a two-way street, but it seems pretty clear to me he’s interested in starting something with you. I don’t know if you’re open to that or not, or even if I’m right about that—and, frankly, it’s none of my business; but just, you know, in case I’m right, I’d kick myself later if I didn’t give you a heads-up about something I’ve observed.”
I wait, my pulse pounding in my ears.
“Just do yourself a favor and proceed with caution if you’re gonna get involved romantically with Ryan, okay? Ryan’s a great guy—I already love him like a brother. I genuinely think he’s loyal and honest and funny and smart as hell, and Kat sure thinks the world of him. I have no doubt he’s gonna make a spectacular business partner or I wouldn’t even think of doing a deal with him, brother-in-law or not. But when it comes to the way I’ve seen him interact with women, I think he might be a diehard ‘something shiny’ kind of guy, if you know what I mean.”
My chest is tight. “Why... do you say that?”
Josh and Jonas exchange yet another look.
“For a couple months now,” Josh says, “Ryan’s been losing his shit over this one particular woman he met a while back. I’d even go so far as to say he’s been totally obsessed with her. And I know for a fact he was still feeling that way about her the day everyone arrived at the resort because, at the opening party, he was talking about how he’d been trying to contact her that very day.”
I feel like I’ve just been punched in the stomach.That’swhat Ryan was talking about with Jonas and Josh and Henn and that group at the opening night party while I stood there giggling about Keane’s and Zander’s imaginary dick-tattoos— some woman he’s “obsessed with”? And he was doing itafterhe’d already fucked my brains out? Well, shit, if he’s so obsessed with her, why the hell didn’t he bring her to Maui? Did he decide not to bring her precisely because he was anticipating having a vacation-fling behind her back?
What happens in Maui stays in Maui.
Oh my God. I feel physically ill.
“Maybe you... misunderstood him?” I offer, clinging to hope maybe some of the amazing things Ryan said to me this week—and the feelings he’s made me feel—have been real. “Maybe Ryan isn’t as into this other woman as you thought?”
“Oh, he’s not,” Jonas says. “That’s the part that’s confusing. Right before the party, he was totally into her, no doubt about it, and then, all of a sudden, at the party, he was saying he was ready to turn the page and move on. It was so weird—and it pissed me off, to be honest. He was really, really into this woman for quite some time, Theresa—I won’t go into detail about how I know that to be true, but just trust me: a while back, he was talking about them having a ‘soul connection.’ And then, for some reason, the minute he got here, that other woman was yesterday’s news and he was ready to drop her like a hot potato. I mean, sure, a dude can move on.Of course. Sometimes, that’s the healthiest choice. But the way he was able to do it so fuckingfastafter being obsessed with her right before he got here is what was so weird to me.”
“Well, let’s not be disingenuous, Jonas,” Josh says. “We both have a strong hunch the reason Ryan was so willing to drop the other woman like a hot potato is that he met you. I saw the way Ryan looked at you in the lobby the first day—everyone did. And, hey, that’s great. I mean, if Ryan’s attracted to you and has a sincere desire to start something serious with you, then more power to you both. Who the fuck are Jonas and I to say a damned thing about it? All we’re saying is this: keep your eyes wide open, okay? If and when Ryan makes a move on you, which I personally predict is inevitable, take it slow and feel things out before you get in too deep with the guy because, as great as he is, it seems like he’s got a shockingly short attention span with women. Especially if you’re gonna be working with him on Captain’s, it’s gonna be important you don’t rush into something with the guy and then have things go to shit on you. I’d hate for you to get hurt. Plus, I’m not gonna lie, I’d also hate for our business dynamic to get fucked up.”
There’s a long pause, during which I’m smashing my lips together so damned hard, they hurt. Oh, fuck. This is a nightmare. I was so damned excited to work on Captain’s a moment ago, and now I feel like it’s an absolute impossibility.
Ryan swore to me he’d jumped from Psycho Barbie to “Samantha” in lightning speed as some sort of aberration—because he simply couldn’t resist our incredible connection. But now I see he jumps from woman to woman pathologically. He’s ping-ponged from Psycho Barbie to Samantha to this Mystery Woman to me. Jesus, how many “soul connections” can one guy claim to have in three fucking months?Samantha,he called me while screwing me on our first day here—and now it makes perfect sense. The man is addicted to fantasies and role-plays—nothing is ever fucking real for him.
