She exploded, body shaking from the brutal pleasure. Still, he refused to allow her only one—forcing her into a longer release with the swipe and press of his thumb on her clit and his teeth around her hard nipple. Rowan broke apart. Was stitched back together. And when they lay entangled, skin damp with sweat, his hand in her hair, her head to his chest, Rowan knew a peace she hadn’t felt since before herfather; before her injury; before Everett Hale stole her heart and soul without apology.
He carried her to the bedroom. They didn’t talk. Just slept together for the next few hours, then allowed their bodies to speak.
When she woke up, he was gone.
Chapter Thirty-Two
Everett woke before the sun. His body felt heavy in places where grief had dug in to settle. He lay there staring at the ceiling, replaying her words.
I’m choosing myself.
I won’t be the reason you hate your life.
You still don’t hear me.
He flinched and dragged a hand over his face. He’d been unable to stay. Seeing her sleepy face and tousled hair; touching her warm, smooth skin and swollen mouth, it would’ve killed him.
He would’ve begged. But Everett realized she’d made her decision.
They’d be going back to New York alone.
He got up with a groan and headed to the kitchen, stepping around Kelsey’s shoes from last night. The Keurig spit out his first cup of coffee and he grabbed the mug with shaky hands. Had a breakup ever spun him out like this?
Hell, he’d never been broken up with. Even when Kelsey’s mom left, there had been nothing to grieve. He’d never loved a woman like Rowan.
Now he knew what all those chick flicks were about.
He walked onto the balcony. A pale ribbon of sunrise pulled itself along the horizon. He thought about last night, sifting through each piece like it was a puzzle he could still solve. That he couldfix.
But Rowan had simply told the truth, and he realized he’d never considered what she’d have to give up for them. Everett figured with enough money, she’d be happy. She could rebuild her life around them. Now that his anger had settled, the full picture was clearer.
He was asking her to leave everything behind. A life she loved and needed. A place she’d lived with her father. The surfing community that had built her career and caught her when she’d fallen.
He felt his throat tighten, and set the coffee aside before he dropped it. He braced both hands on the balcony railing and bowed his head.
He’d come to Hawaii to build a hotel. He hadn’t expected to build a version of himself he actually liked. One that wasn’t constantly chasing the next benchmark, the next title, or the next impossible standard.
“What the hell am I doing?” he whispered to the wind. He sipped his coffee and let the morning creep in. Eventually he straightened and heard Kelsey’s door open.
“Dad?”
She rubbed her eyes, dressed in an oversize T-shirt, hair messy. A kid. His kid. His responsibility. His heart.
He swallowed the ache. “Hey.”
She stepped closer. “You’re up early.”
“So are you.”
“I had weird dreams.” She hesitated. “Did you and Rowan ... Did something happen?”
He didn’t lie. He couldn’t. Not to her. “Yeah. We talked. And things are ... complicated.”
Her mouth wobbled. “Are you guys breaking up?”
“We’re figuring things out,” he said gently, and hated how vague it sounded.
She looked at him, really looked at him, and her expression softened. “Dad ... you look sad.”
