Rowan reached out, brushing wet hair from Kelsey’s eyes, saying something he couldn’t hear, but whatever it was made his daughter laugh again. The sight hit him hard, making his chest ache. Everett was careful not to bring women home or into his daily life. He was clear from the beginninghe wasn’t interested in a relationship. His needs were met by women who wanted the same arrangement, and he’d never thought twice about it.
But watching Rowan and Kelsey together, their natural ease, landed heavy in his chest.
Rowan’s generous mouth curved into a genuine smile. Water glistened on her bare shoulders. Sand encrusted her calves. She was the complete opposite of everything that attracted him to a woman. There was no polish in her appearance; no ambition in her speech. The woman seemed content just to live on a beach watching surfers, with no care to how her life would unfold.
Yet.
She stepped back and grabbed her water bottle, unaware of his presence. Tilting her head back, she took a long swallow, the column of her throat exposed, escaped strands of dark hair clinging to her cheek. Her small breasts arched up like a gift, hard nipples pressed against her bathing suit top. The image burned into his brain and other parts of his body before he could smother it like ash on a fire.
In that one moment, Everett wondered what she’d taste like if he bent his head to lick the salt from her skin. Wondered if her eyes would darken and fog if his mouth took hers in a deep kiss. His body tightened as if embracing that very action, throwing him off. Everett tore his gaze away, furious with himself.
This wasn’t about her. It was about his daughter.
He trudged forward. His designer shoes sank into sand, and the ocean wind whipped his tie from its clip. Great, once again he was looking ridiculous chasing after both of them. They seemed like a team. Damned if he didn’t feel like an invader in their world, which only pissed him off more.
Rowan saw him first and straightened. The glow on her face dimmed. Those green eyes flipped to cool and distant. She raked a slow, assessing gaze over him that clearly showed she found him lacking. Ignoring the sting, he focused on Kelsey.
“Dad! What are you doing here?”
“You didn’t tell me you were cominghere. I thought your lesson was at our beach or one of the hotels.”
Kelsey bit her lip. “I tried that with the first lesson, but the guy made me feel stupid.”
His brows snapped down. “Who? I’ll go talk to him and make it right.”
Her sigh was all teenage suffering. “No, Dad. I didn’t want to take lessons with anyone but Rowan.” Her chin jutted out in stubbornness. “Rowan used to surf in competitions and she’s really good!”
He waited for Rowan to jump in, either to defend or boast, but she just kept staring at him impassively.
“Wanna see what I can already do?”
“No, I think we should—”
Kelsey ignored him and turned back to the ocean. Rowan followed. His daughter paddled out a few feet while Rowan steadied the board, chattering instructions with easy confidence.
Everett opened his mouth to regain control over this shit show, but the words died in his throat as Kelsey caught a small wave and actually stood, wobbly but radiant, riding it almost all the way to shore.
Rowan grinned. “Nice balance.”
The pride in her voice twisted something in his chest. Kelsey ran back with excitement. “See? I like it! And you said once I find something I like, no matter what it is, I have a responsibility to commit one hundred percent to learning the ins and outs.”
He smothered a chuckle. “I was talking about school, not surfing.”
“Dad, Rowan said she could give me daily lessons and I really want to do it. I like it here.”
“You should’ve told me exactly where you were going. We discussed this.”
Her face upturned in that innocent, pleading look she’d perfected too young. “I told you I was going to surf lessons and Tom drove me. You didn’t ask where! I wasn’t hiding it, I swear.”
Rowan’s lips pressed together as she stifled a laugh. Yeah, amusing when it wasn’t your daughter who knew how to play you like a violin. It would be better to shut this down now. He didn’t want Kelsey taking lessons on a far-out beach with a woman he didn’t trust. They’d already formed a bond. What if Kelsey started rebelling or adopting philosophies he didn’t approve of? What if she got the ridiculous idea to be a surfer or live in a shack on an island?
This summer was supposed to be simple. Enjoy Hawaii, finish the hotel, and get back to their real life.
But . . .
Kelsey was happy. She’d been struggling since they arrived, and if an hour a day in the ocean was going to put the smile back in her eyes? How could he say no?
“Okay, I want to talk to Rowan alone for a few. If you’re going to continue, there will be rules.”
