Before Aunt Merideth can fuss, Molly gets up to greet us. She gives each of the boys a kiss and hug then comes over to me. “Thank you,” I whisper to her, and she giggles.
“That woman is a hoot, but whoa, she’s a lot. Tell the boys to keep their backs to the wall. Our poor security and Cole have been molested and are a little shell shocked.”
Chuckling, I introduce them all to Aunt Merideth, and thankfully, she stays where she is. They all give Hope and Harlow a kiss on the cheek before sitting down. I try to join them down on their end, but Aunt Merideth stops me, pointing to the free seat next to her. “Come and tell me about everything, or everyone, you’ve been doing,” she says, and I know that it’s not actually a request. So I smile and take a seat and brace myself for an interrogation worthy of an army general.
ChapterTwenty-Four
Jacinta
The opening party the following night was a huge success, and Jaxon’s new hotel made a splash on all the right websites and news channels. There was even a feature writer fromIndulgencemagazine practically gushing about the resort. We nearly reached capacity for advance booking for two years, so he can step back and concentrate on becoming a dad and building a family and home with Harlow. He might even have time to check out some of our inheritance together when he’s not trying to sneakily micromanage Cruise Lines.
I waved goodbye to them at the end of the night, all of their belongings having been moved into the penthouse. I’m pretty sure I do not want to go anywhere near their room for a few days.
My date with Shane is the evening after the gala. I’m giddy with excitement as I get ready. I have this pretty strapless body-con dress that goes down to just above my knees. It’s covered in red hibiscus flowers. I’ve put my hair up in a sleek ponytail, and I’ve got a simple gold chain around my neck. My makeup is only a touch of mascara and eyeliner and some tinted lip gloss. I’m all ready to go with about ten minutes until he comes to get me.
Pacing across the room, I’m wearing a path in the carpet, my hands opening and closing as the anxiety and nerves creep back in. Damn it. I was fine last night, but I was surrounded by family and friends. I managed to keep the quiet, insidious voice under control, but now it’s whispering to me once more, telling me I’m useless and worthless, and I don’t deserve to be happy. I stop as I suddenly realize it sounds very much like my mother on a meth binge. Fuck, I really need to stop rescheduling me therapist appointments. Putting it off isn’t doing me any favors.
Shaking it off, I hurry to my bag and get out my drugs. A hit of coke is what I need, so I prepare and snort it before Shane can arrive. I clean everything up, and it’s just kicking in when he knocks on my door.
“Perfect timing. I just finished getting ready.” I beam at him when he pulls a bouquet of orchids and baby’s breath out from behind his back.
“Wow. You look amazing.” His eyes heat as he scans my body, and my heart races. He looks incredible in a pair of dress pants, with a black shirt and brocade-patterned waistcoat over the top. I am so glad this luau is semi-formal. Smiling, I take the flowers from him and go back into my room, placing them on the bed.
“They’re gorgeous. Thank you so much. I can’t remember the last time someone brought me flowers. On the way out, I’ll ask housekeeping to come up and put them in a vase.”
I step out of the room and close the door, but before I can walk away, he stops us. “Hi,” he says before leaning in to kiss me. The slow, sensual slide of his lips against mine makes my breath hitch and my body melt into his.
He pulls back, and my eyelids flutter open. I hadn’t even realized I closed them. He’s got a slight smirk, but I’ll forgive him because that was one hell of a kiss.
“Hi,” I murmur back, getting lost in his deep ocean blue eyes.
A chuckle behind me has me stiffening and turning around. Standing there in a sexy ass suit that fits his incredible body perfectly is Riku. “Come on, love birds. If we don’t get moving, you’re going to be late.”
Shane takes my hand, and Riku leads us to the elevator and down into the foyer. I stop at the front desk to make my request about the flowers, but we make it out of the hotel without running into anyone we know. Specifically Aunt Merideth. I love that woman, but she is a dreadful cougar, and I want to claw her eyes out every time she looks at any of my men, including Riku.
The cool evening breeze feels amazing on my coke-heated skin, and I turn my head up to feel it. The limo pulls up, and Riku opens the door, but before I can get in, Shane stops me. In his hand, I see a big beautiful red hibiscus bloom. He tucks it into my hair behind my ear. We stare at each other again until Riku clears his throat. Both of us laugh a little sheepishly before we climb in, with Riku following after us.
The luau is fun, and Shane introduces me to lots of his colleagues. Riku hangs in the background, a comforting presence at my back. We’re there for a few hours before I start to feel a little restless, or maybe it’s just the coke wearing off. In any case, I start to fidget. I don’t want to make Shane leave early, but if we’re going to stay longer, I need another hit. Before I can ask him, he smiles at someone over my shoulder, his eyes lighting up with joy.
“Hey, gorgeous. How are you?” Shane hugs and kisses a beautiful sun-kissed blonde who approaches from behind me. When she turns, giving me a good look, I do a double take.
“Maddy? Wow, it’s been a long time.” Madeline Owens is the sister of my brother’s friend Justin. He’s a Red Bull sponsored surfer, and he’s dating Kai’s distant cousin Erica.
“Holy shit! Jacinta Summers. You were not a face I was expecting to see here at all.” She gives me a quick hug. “Erica told me she and Justin attended the opening last night. Kai hooked her up with a couple of nights in the hotel. She was over the moon, bragging about it to anyone who would listen. Are you two here together? Where’s Alex?”
She looks around the crowd, but Shane shakes his head and slides his arm around my waist, dragging me closer to him. “We left Alex at home and came out for a night alone.” The way he makes it clear that I’m important to him makes me feel all warm and tingly inside.
Her eyes widen a little, but she smiles. “Oh cool, that’s awesome. You’re a lucky bitch to have two men at your beck and call!”
“Actually, it’s three. We have another boyfriend who works with Jacinta at Neighpalm Couture. He’s a designer and is just about to launch his first line.” Shane is so super cute talking up his—our?—boyfriend.
“Oh hey, yeah, I’m shooting that down in New Orleans next week for Harpers. Then I’ve got an invite to your showing, and I’m so excited to see some of your new work before I jet off to Africa for Nat Geo.” Like Shane, Maddy is an amazing photographer, but where his focus is mainly fashion and some dabbling in scenic photography, she’s the opposite. She works a lot forNational Geographicand a variety of sports magazines, specializing in action shots.
“Holy crap, woman, do you ever stop?” I ask, shaking my head.
“No way! I’ll sleep when I’m dead.”
We shoot the breeze a little longer, but I start to shiver. Although there are lit torches all around, the temperature has really dropped since the sun went down, and the breeze has steadily picked up.
