The plane began its descent toward Honolulu, where they’d catch the boat to Everflame Isle.
“I tried to find Everflame Isle online,” Isla said, voicing the question that had been nagging at her since last night. “It doesn’t appear on any maps.”
“Oh, it’s very small and remote,” Gerri replied with the kind of casual dismissal that somehow made Isla more curious rather than less. “The kind of place that prefers to stay hidden from the world. You won’t find it on any tourist sites.”
Hidden from the world?The phrase sent another flutter of unease through Isla’s chest.
An hour later, as they stood on the dock in Honolulu waiting for the private boat that would take them to the mysterious island, Gerri placed a gentle hand on Isla’s shoulder.
“Listen to me, dear. You don’t need to worry about anything once we get there. Trust your instincts—they’ve served you well so far, haven’t they? Evelina will help you get acclimated to the island and its... unique community. You’ll be staying with her during your visit.”
The breeze lifted Isla’s long auburn hair as she took a deep breath of the ocean air that somehow tasted different here—more primal than the familiar Atlantic waters of home.
Trust yourself,she thought as a boat approached the dock.It’s gotten you this far in life. No need to start doubting yourself now.
But as the boat pulled away from the dock and headed toward an island that didn’t exist on any map, toward a man she’d never met who was supposedly her destined match, Isla couldn’t shake the feeling that she was sailing into somethingfar more extraordinary—and dangerous—than a simple business trip.
The boat cut through crystalline waters toward what could only be described as paradise incarnate. Isla gripped the railing, her breath catching as Everflame Isle revealed itself like something torn from the pages of a fairy tale—pristine white sand beaches curved around emerald lagoons, while towering palm trees swayed in the tropical breeze. The late afternoon sun painted everything in gold, and the ocean surrounding the island shimmered like liquid sapphires.
I could get used to this,she thought, inhaling the warm, salt-tinged air that carried hints of exotic flowers and something indefinably wild.
As their boat approached the dock, a man emerged from the shade of a cluster of palm trees. He was tall and lean with auburn hair that caught the sunlight, his easy grin immediately putting Isla at ease as he caught the rope Gerri tossed to him.
“Welcome to Everflame Isle,” he said, extending a hand to help Isla onto the dock. His grip was warm and steady, his bright blue eyes sparkling with genuine friendliness. “I’m Kaelith—Evelina’s security detail and Damon’s best friend. I’ll be your friendly face around here while you’re visiting.”
Security detail?Isla filed that interesting detail away, though Kaelith’s easy manner didn’t scream bodyguard. More like the kind of guy who’d be fun at parties.
“It’s wonderful to meet you,” she replied, accepting his help gracefully. “I’m Isla. This place is absolutely breathtaking—like something out of a dream.”
“Wait until you see the sunset from the cliffs,” Kaelith said with obvious pride. “Nothing quite like it anywhere else in the world.”
SIX
ISLA
As Gerri joined them on the dock, Isla found her stomach fluttering with nervous anticipation. She was eager to meet Evelina and see the bookstore space, but what she didn’t voice aloud was how desperately curious she was about Damon—the man Gerri claimed was her perfect match. Would he be as kind as Kaelith? Would there be that instant spark of recognition she’d read about in countless romance novels?
This could be it,she told herself, smoothing her flowing white skirt.This could be where my love story finally begins.
The three of them walked along a winding path that led away from the beach toward what appeared to be the island’s main settlement. Unlike the bustling streets of Cape Cod, this felt intimate and peaceful—a small cluster of buildings arranged around a central square with a park at its heart. There was a general store with flower boxes beneath its windows, what looked like a café with outdoor seating, and several other structures that gave the whole area a charming, village-like atmosphere.
Quaint doesn’t even begin to cover it,Isla mused, taking in the details. Everything felt carefully tended, as if this little community took genuine pride in their home.
Kaelith led them to a building that was clearly in the midst of renovation—scaffolding lined one wall, and the scent of fresh paint hung in the air. Before Isla could examine the space more closely, the front door opened and a woman emerged who made Isla’s heart clench with unexpected emotion.
The woman was elegant and poised, with dark hair streaked with silver and kind eyes that reminded Isla powerfully of her own mother. There was something about her presence that radiated warmth and wisdom, the sort of person who made you feel instantly welcomed.
“You must be Isla,” the woman said brightly. “I’m Evelina. Thank you so much for agreeing to come all this way to help us.”
The genuine gratitude in Evelina’s voice made Isla’s chest warm. “It’s truly my pleasure. I love helping fellow dreamers bring their visions to life. Harper and I know how challenging it can be to start from scratch.”
“The island has been wanting a proper bookstore for years,” Evelina explained, gesturing toward the building behind her. “Somewhere people can gather, discover new stories, and build community around shared love of literature. Someone with your expertise and experience is exactly what we need to make this dream a reality.”
Just like back home,Isla thought with a surge of excitement.
This was exactly the kind of project that made her heart sing—creating spaces where stories could live and breathe and bring people together.
“I promise I’ll give you every insight I can to make this bookstore as special as the one Harper and I built in Cape Cod,” Isla said earnestly.
