Everett needed to make sure his team was tight before he left. His company had bought the perfect property, but it was up to him to create the luxurious experience every tourist craved when they visited Hawaii. Purity was known for elegance, service, and accessibility. They were competing with the best hotel brands in the world—Hilton, Four Seasons, and Marriott. But already, Everett knew he could pull it off. He only had eight weeks left to make sure the opening was flawless.Then, he’d be able to return to New York victorious and step into the top role alongside the partners.
His phone pinged, interrupting his thoughts.
Can I take a surf lesson this afternoon? 3pm?
He blinked at the message, momentarily thrown off. Surfing? Since when did his daughter care about surfing? Immediately, he thought of Rowan and her makeshift beach crew. Of course. It had been a few days and Kelsey seemed to have moved on, but he guessed surfing had stuck in her brain. She’d mentioned trying it at one of the local resorts.
He texted back.
Thought you took one and didn’t like it?
I want to try again.
His fingers moved automatically, amused at the thought of his daughter out on a board. Kelsey loved books and quiet. She despised gym class or any type of team sports and wasn’t a risk taker.
What about tennis?
Her reply came instantly.
No!
An emoji with a thumbs-down flashed next to a tennis racket.
I really want to learn surfing. Please, Dad.
He should’ve said no. He was halfway through typing??It’s not a good idea??when something inside him stilled—the weary voice thatremembered her downcast eyes lately, the constant scrolling, and the way she’d been retreating inch by inch. Maybe letting her try something new was good. How risky could an intro surfing lesson be? She’d already had one, and this would confirm she didn’t want to continue. Plus, he was going to run late again, and this would ward off some of his guilt.
Fine. Text me when you’re done. Tom will drive you.
He hit send, pocketed the phone, and went back to work. The early afternoon whizzed by while he put out fires from the linen suppliers and had a Zoom call with his boss in New York to deliver updates. When everyone was satisfied, he called for a break. Smoothing down his tie, he walked to the window.
The sun bounced off the polished glass with a seductive shimmer. The views were amazing—a tantalizing mix of cerulean-blue ocean, powdery golden sand, and swaying palm trees. Diamond Head beckoned in the distance and offered mountainous terrain perfect for hiking and exploration. A few blocks away, guests could immerse themselves in the bustling restaurants, shops, and art studios to feed the city vibe within. He rubbed the tension from his neck, grateful for the temporary quiet—until his phone buzzed again.
He expected an update from his assistant. Instead, he saw Kelsey’s location ping open on the screen. Must’ve left her tracking screen on in error. Everett went to close it, then noticed where the dot was located.
The map showed the same cursed name that had been haunting him since that sunset party: Hale Nalu Surf Shop.
Hell no.
His fingers tightened around the phone as he called her back. No answer. The second time went straight to voicemail.
He didn’t want his daughter hanging around Rowan. A woman who called him an asshole didn’t exactly scream safe role model. Andwhat type of lessons was she getting from a ramshackle surf shop on a beach that didn’t cater to tourists?
Everett’s blood pressure rose.Dammit. He had a full afternoon schedule, but no way could he concentrate if he was worried about her. He thought about sending Tom down there, but it wasn’t fair to drag the man into his personal business.
He’d take care of this now.
Muttering a curse, he told Jessica he’d be back in an hour and was out the door before anyone could stop him with questions. By the time he pulled up to the beach, his temper had cooled into something sharper and more complicated. The sky was cloudless and the surf glittered like sprinkling diamonds. A few colorful boards bobbed in the distance. And there, halfway down the beach, was his daughter.
Kelsey stood on a wide blue board in shallow water, arms out, knees bent, face lit with an expression he hadn’t seen in years.
Rowan was beside her, tanned legs braced in the surf, thick hair yanked into a messy knot. She held the board steady as Kelsey practiced a pop-up move, laughing when she wobbled and fell back into the water. The low, easy sound rolled across the beach and sang in his ears.
Something inside him cracked.
He’d told himself Kelsey needed routine and stability. After losing her mother to the flighty impulse of an unstructured life, Everett stepped in to guarantee his daughter would never be hurt like that again. He’d filled in the empty gaps and built a solid foundation that made sense. And yet, watching her here—so alive, connected, fearless—he wondered if he was failing both of them. Because he couldn’t remember the last time his daughter looked so ...
Happy.
