“Then what is it?” And yeah, he realized how frustrated he sounded. “Because from where I’m sitting, you sound like you have zero interest.”
Now she sighed. “Connor, we’ve been over this. I don’t have the budget to travel. Now you managed to get me time off, but…I need the paycheck. Desperately. I can’t keep living in Kelsey and Jayce’s cabin. I know the time off would be great, but I didn’t think you were going to pick places that were just so…much.” She groaned. “Please try to see this from my point of view.”
“I am, but no one’s asking you to pay for the trip. You know I’m going to take care of everything. Hell, I want to take care of you and Jonah forever, but you won’t let me!” Pausing, he raked a hand through his hair as he blew out a long breath. “We’ve been so damn busy that we haven’t had any time to just sit and talk about us.”
“I know, but we have jobs and responsibilities. It can’t only be about you and what you want,” she gently reminded him. “And considering you are one of the owners of the resort, I would think you’d be laser-focused on getting everything set for the grand opening.”
“I am, but I’m also only human, Lexi. I need a break. I need a few days away from this resort and work and the guys and all the responsibilities. I need to spend time with my daughter.”
“Then maybe Jonah and I…”
“No. Don’t finish that sentence. I need to spend time with the two of you as well. I want the four of us to spend time together without all the distractions around here.”
She was quiet for several long moments before she finally replied.
“Alright. I don’t want to fly anywhere. That’s too much, and I don’t care that you’re paying. I’m not saying we have to stay close to Harbortown, but…maybe the indoor water park would be fun. I used to see commercials for them all the time, and they did look fun.”
He nearly sagged with relief. “I think it’s going to be a lot of fun for all of us. Maybe tomorrow we can skip the group dinner and the four of us can eat together here and we’ll go online and check it out?”
“Um…please don’t take this the wrong way, but…you can’t tell a four-year-old about this super fun trip that he won’t be taking for another week,” she said with a small laugh. “I think we can eat dinner together—which would be a pleasant change from the whole group thing—but maybe while the kids are playing, you and I can look at the website and plan everything. What do you think?”
“I think I can’t wait.”
“Here we are!”
Lexi stepped into the villa Connor had reserved for the four of them. It was spacious and beautifully decorated, and she was both nervous and giddy about them having four days here as a family.
“Okay,” Connor called out because the kids were already running from room to room checking everything out. “Annabeth? Jonah? Can you come here, please?”
They immediately obeyed, but she knew they were beyond excited.
“Good job,” he told them. “Okay, so we have this entire place to ourselves. The room with the bunk beds is for Jonah, and the other bedroom with the two beds in it is for you, Annabeth.”
She sat on the sofa and pouted.
“What’s the matter?”
“Why does Jonah get the bunk beds?”
“Um…”
“Can Annabeth sleep in the other bunk?” Jonah asked.
Connor and Lexi exchanged glances before they agreed.
“I just thought you’d each want your own room,” he explained. “But if you want to share, that’s fine.”
“Yay!” they cheered before running back to the room with the bunk beds.
“You had to know that was going to happen,” Lexi teased as she casually strolled around checking everything out, trying not to appear too eager to check out their sleeping accommodations.
The kitchen was huge, there was a big living room area with a fireplace, and then a dining room. The kids had their own bathroom across from their bedroom, and then in the back corner of the villa was the primary bedroom.
It wasn’t overly posh—after all, this was a family resort—but there was a king-size bed and a private bathroom, so she was extremely excited.
Connor stepped in close behind her, wrapping his arms around her waist. “What do you think?”
“I think this is all wonderful.”
