Lush lashes closed. She wanted to hide from him. It hurt, but he let her go.
Then, the smile touched her lips. “You’re so demanding.”
He grinned, sensing victory.
“You’ll be bad at first,” she said finally. “That’s the point.”
“I’m familiar. I’ve been bad at several things in my life. I even let people see it once.”
She laughed. “Okay, Suit. We’ll do a lesson. I think Tino should take the first one and then I’ll step in.”
He grinned then, and it spread, the real kind, not the PR version. Her mouth tugged like she didn’t want to but couldn’t stop it, either. The knot in his chest loosened. It didn’t erase what she’d said. It didn’t fix the part of him that wanted to believe he could belong everywhere he went if he just tried hard enough.
But it was a start.
“I’d like you to come to the hotel this week.” She blinked in surprise and he stroked back her hair. “See what Purity is and what we built. I can give you the full tour.”
Everett didn’t know why his casual tone contradicted the nerves in his gut. Ridiculous, really. It was no big deal for her to see his workplace, yet he sensed it was another level for them and she might pull back. It was his world, and the invite felt bigger than what they should be doing.
Her brows pulled into a concerned frown. His heart stopped.
“Is there a dress code?”
He relaxed and laughed. “Not for you. But seeing you in a tight pencil skirt and heels may do me in.”
That made her giggle, reminding him of Kelsey when happiness beamed from her pores. “Maybe I have fantasies of my own, Suit,” she whispered sexily, causing his brain to explode and his cock to harden immediately.
“I can’t wait.” Then he rolled over and pressed her into the mattress. Hands parting her legs, he touched her, curling his fingers, enjoying her ramped-up breath and the way she whispered his name. Not Suit, though he now loved it; a sexy tease only for him.
“Now, slow,” he whispered against her stomach, feeling her shudder and melt underneath him.
And then there was only the soft whisper of sheets and mattress creaks and the night waves crashing over the surf.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Rowan stepped through the lobby of the Purity Waikiki and forgot how to breathe.
Light poured through the glass like honey and the scent of plumeria mixed with the ocean salt. The space was open and airy, with a gorgeous sculptural front desk, wood floors, and a living floral wall as the main draw. “Ms. Delaney?”
The woman behind the front desk smiled with practiced warmth. Her badge readNia—Guest Relations. “Mr. Hale said to let you know he’s on the mezzanine. Elevators to your right.”
“Thanks.”
Rowan smoothed her white sundress. The elevator whispered her up to the next floor. When the doors opened, Everett was standing near the glass railing, phone in one hand, designer suit buttoned up and perfect. Today, it was a sharp navy-blue pinstripe with a red tie. Quiet authority radiated from him like a heat signature. He smelled of cedar and smoke. He reminded her of money, arrogance, and pure sex.
Holy crap, she was so turned on.
He spotted her and something shifted. Those broad shoulders eased; that hard mouth softened. “You found it.”
“Hard to miss. It’s a small country.”
He grinned, pocketing his phone. “Welcome to Purity Waikiki. Come on, I’ll give you the tour.”
She followed him through a maze of open spaces and glass. Every inch of the hotel was designed to feel effortless—hidden wealth disguised as simplicity. The kind of world where nothing ever looked out of place, and people like Everett made sure it stayed that way.
“This is the main terrace,” he said, pushing open a set of double doors. A salt breeze rolled through, carrying the crash of distant surf. “We’ll host our first soft opening event here next month. Sunset cocktails. Live music. No one remembers what went wrong if you give them champagne with an ocean view.”
“You’re a cynic.”
