Music drifted from the mezzanine. He’d gone with a slack-key guitar and a popular local singer whose husky voice was entertaining the guests at the bar. Conversation sparkled everywhere he turned. Executives in suits mingled with community leaders in tailored aloha shirts; luxury guests in silk sipped champagne and rum punch while local restaurateurs debated poke preparation somewhere near the bar. Even a few members of the environmental coalition he’d partnered with had shown up, wearing bright prints and bead necklaces instead of the corporate black he was used to.
It didn’t feel like New York. Not even close.
It felt better. Like a place he belonged. Like a place he’d built with his hands and his choices and his stubborn insistence that luxury and responsibility could live in the same breath.
And then Matthew appeared at his shoulder. His perfect tie, perfectly pressed suit, and perfectly polite smile reminded Everett in a single blink that none of this was actually his.
“Great turnout,” Matthew said lightly, surveying the crowd as if it were already his kingdom. “I wanted to meet with you tomorrow when you get in. I’ll be making a few changes.”
“What changes?” he demanded, caught off guard.
The man waved his hand in the air. “Nothing to worry about. Please, enjoy the party and your success. You worked hard and we all appreciate it.” He literally patted Everett on the shoulder like a mentor, then drifted off to charm a trio of executives, shaking hands like a man accepting congratulations for work he hadn’t done.
That cold, quiet truth slid under Everett’s ribs again:
He was leaving.Matthew was staying.
Purity—this living, breathing thing he’d poured himself into—would no longer be his.
It shouldn’t have mattered. He’d built what he came to build. He’d earned the job waiting back in New York. He’d done everything right.
So why did it suddenly feel like someone else was picking up his life while he stood here smiling?
He forced himself to keep moving through the room. He shook hands and made introductions. He directed executives toward the sustainability exhibit near the living wall, pride tugging at him as they admired the team’s work. He smiled when the head of housekeeping told him the new linen program was working beautifully. He listened as guests praised the architecture, the warmth, the sense of identity the space carried.
“Mr. Hale, congratulations—what a stunning space.”
“You listened to our recommendations about cultural integration. Thank you.”
“The hotel feels respectful. We notice that. We appreciate it.”
Every comment should’ve felt like victory. Instead, they only emphasized he was handing over something precious before he’d even had a chance to keep it.
Amid working the rooms, he kept glancing over at the two most important people in his life with fierce pride.
Kelsey was luminous. Her white sundress floated around her knees as she moved through the room with cautious excitement, her hair loose and styled into soft waves that Rowan had helped her with. He’d introduced her to everyone and watched her cheeks flush with every compliment, glancing shyly at him as though looking for approval. He had a sudden flash of the future, the amazing woman she’d become, and damned if his eyes didn’t sting.
Since her opening up about school, he’d been focused on finding an alternative. Her happiness meant more than future opportunities. Though his father’s voice seared like a whiplash in his memory, Everett wanted to be the parent he never had, someone who listened. He knew it was a journey and not a destination, but they’d grown closer the past few days. With Rowan joining them in New York, he’d have an opportunity to build a better foundation for the three of them.
On cue, the sound of her laughter drifted to his ears. He spotted her near the living wall, speaking with a local cultural director, Ku‘upa?a, a respected educator known for protecting Hawaiian land and shoreline history. God, she was perfection.
She’d stolen the night.
Rowan’s emerald wrap dress turned her eyes to a jeweled hue. The fabric hugged her body perfectly, showing off long, muscled legs, golden skin, and the sweet curve of her ass. The knot at her hip was a sexy dare he had to tuck away for later or they’d be making a detour to his office. Her hair, loose and wild, caught the lantern light in rich waves. She looked like the island itself—beauty wrapped around strength wrapped around secrets.
He made his way toward her, only to be intercepted by three more employees, all eager to talk. Their gratitude for the way he ran the teams hit him hard. He’d miss them all. They were good people who believed in the Purity mission, and they’d bonded like a family.
When the group finally drifted away, he looked across the room and found Rowan watching him with a softness that tightened his chest.Locking her down with his gaze, he crossed the room and stood before her. The air turned sultry even in full air-conditioning.
“You clean up nice, Suit,” she murmured, eyes roving over his outfit with a sting of heat. He’d gone for a custom suit in white, with classic lines and slim cut. The shoes were Italian and soft leather. The shirt was a crisp pale pink. He’d paired it with a skinny light gray tie.
His lip quirked. “Figured I’d make a bold statement for tonight.”
Her smile stole his heart, the way her face brightened with obvious love and tenderness. Everett realized no one else had looked at him that way before except for Kelsey. His ex-wife had been with him for the ride to money and success, dumping it all for a more exciting life when she’d gotten her 50 percent.
“I love you bold.”
Everett leaned in. “And I love you in that dress,” he practically growled.
