by Claire Adams
“Uh… Alani—”
“I think I have a plan to get him to pay some real attention to you.”
“Alani, that’s really not necessary,” I said quickly. “I think it’s just better that I come to terms with reality and accept that Tristan and I will never be together.”
“But—”
“He’d probably make a terrible boyfriend, in any case,” I said. “Womanizing is not a vice that’s easily fixed. And as far as I know, Tristan’s never really committed to any woman for longer than a few days.”
“It only takes one woman to change that,” Alani said optimistically. “It only takes the right woman to come along.”
“That’s a little more pressure than I’m comfortable with.”
She laughed. “Okay then,” she said. “Forget that. Don’t you want him to eat his heart out? Think of it as revenge for not remembering that kiss.”
I couldn’t help but laugh. “And how do you plan to get him to eat his heart out?”
“If you haven’t already noticed, I’m very popular with the guests here,” she said proudly. “Particularly the male guests.”
I smiled. “I’ve noticed.”
“Have you eaten at Pepe Albero yet?”
“Not yet,” I answered. “I’ve been trying out the other restaurants.”
“Well, Tristan eats dinner every night at Albero,” Alani informed me. “He has a standing table that’s reserved for him. I suggest you start eating dinner there, too.”
“He might feel obligated to ask me to join him,” I said. “But I doubt I would want that.”
“He won’t get a chance to ask you to join him,” Alani said slyly. “Because you’re going to be having dinner with someone.”
I raised my eyebrows. “Who?”
“A different guy…every night.”
I stared at her for a second before I burst out laughing. “This is Hawaii,” I reminded her. “I don’t know anyone here; how am I supposed to get a different date every night?”
“You may not know anyone here, but I do,” she pointed out. “Leave the men up to me. Your only job is to turn up at Albero every night looking stunning.”
“Who are these men you plan to rustle up for me?” I asked curiously.
“I’m in the hospitality industry,” she said. “All my friends manage fancy resorts, hotels, and restaurants in and around the island. I know lots of wealthy men who vacation here every year. They’ll be happy to do me a favor, especially if it includes dinner with a beautiful woman.”
“I… This plan is…”
“Diabolical? Brilliant?”
“Crazy,” I corrected. “The word I was going to use was crazy.”
She laughed. “Men want what other men have,” she said confidently. “You need to shove that little truth in Tristan’s face. He has to learn that he can’t just brush you off like you’re his plaything. We’re going to make him regret the day he ever turned you down.”
I bit my lip and considered Alani’s proposal. It sounded insane, but at the same time, I could feel the adrenaline pumping through my body. It would be nice to show Tristan what he was missing. It would be nice to see him eat his heart out.
“Well?” she pressed. “Are we doing this or not?”
“Uh… I don’t know,” I said.
“Come on, Molly,” she encouraged. “Why should you sit here feeling forlorn, when you could be enjoying yourself?”
Slowly, I felt a smile slip onto my face. I pushed away my doubts and nodded once. “Okay,” I agreed. “Let’s do this.”
“Excellent,” Alani said emphatically. “Operation Eat Your Heart Out is underway.”
Chapter 7
Tristan
Ben was standing in front of my desk with his clipboard in hand. “We still haven’t gone over the overheads,” he reminded me.
I groaned. “We’ll do that after dinner. I need a break before I can tackle overheads.”
“Fine,” Ben nodded. “What about staff disputes; can you handle that now?”
“I expect you to.”
He sighed. “Save the fun jobs for me, huh?”
“Always,” I nodded. “Perks of being the boss.”
“You don’t pay me well enough.”
I laughed. “Easy, boy; didn’t you receive a raise a few months ago?”
“That was before we opened the resort.”
I laughed. “And, I’m getting my money’s worth,” I told him. “Anything else I need to handle before dinner?”
“I’ve been getting a call from the same reporter for a week now; she’s adamant she wants to talk to you about running a piece in the local paper.”
“She wants to promote the resort?”
“She does.”
“Tell her that this resort runs on a reputation of exclusivity,” I said. “And, doing a splashy newspaper spread is not exclusive. I want people to wonder what’s inside, instead of seeing it laid out for them during breakfast.”
“I’ll let her know.”
“Good,” I nodded. “Are we done then?”
“Are we ever?” he asked wryly. “We’re finished for the moment.”
“Excellent,” I nodded. “Meet back here in an hour?”
He took the elevator down to the staff rooms while I continued on to Pepe Albero. Of all the restaurants at the resort, the Italian fine dining atmosphere was the one I liked best. There was always good classical music in the background, a bar that specialized in edgy new cocktails, and the food was excellent. I had sampled almost every item on the menu, and I was more than ready to repeat the process.
I had a standing table reserved for me every night. It was in one corner of the restaurant, where I was cocooned away in a little alcove but could still see all the comings and goings from my vantage point. I had just stepped into the restaurant, and I was heading to my table when I spotted Molly at the bar.
I stalled a little, momentarily floored by how breathtaking she looked. I hadn’t seen her since she had arrived days ago. In fact, I had taken pains to avoid her—mostly because I realized how weak I was. The fact that she had brought up our kiss six years ago told me that it had been an important moment for her. Which meant, if I showed any interest, there was a strong possibility she wouldn’t resist. I could not afford to go down that road. She was Jason’s sister, and I didn’t have the best track record with women.
Molly was wearing a slinky one-shouldered cocktail dress in a brilliant midnight blue that made the gold tones of her blonde hair pop. She looked like a model of the runway, and I found myself unable to turn away.
“Mr. Dubois?”
I turned to Kani, the waiter who served me each night. “Sorry… What did you say?”
“I asked if you’d like your usual drink, sir.”
“Uh…yes,” I nodded. “Yes, you can send it to my table.”
Kani nodded and walked over to the bar. I turned my attention back to Molly and realized with a pang of shock that she was with someone. The gentleman sitting next to her was well dressed, in a tailored suit and silver cufflinks. He looked to be in his early thirties but was obviously a part of the well-to-do business crowd that came to Hawaii each year on vacation. I was fairly sure the man wasn’t a guest at my resort, however.
“Kani,” I said, as he passed by.
“Yes, sir?”
“Who’s that man over there…with Ms. Sinclair?” I asked. “He’s not a guest here, is he?”
“Not that I know of, sir,” he replied.
“Do you know his name?”
“No, sir.”
I gritted my teeth together and tried to push away my curiosity, but it just wouldn’t slink away. I reluctantly went to my table and sat down. I had mixed feelings about the fact that Molly and her partner were directly in my line of sight. I tapped my fingers against the table and tried to look away.
Molly and her partner left the bar and were shown to a table in the center of the restaurant. The man held her chair out for her.
I could hear the faint chime of her laughter, and a wave of jealousy rushed through me. Who was this guy, I wondered, and why had Molly never mentioned him? Was he staying with her in her suite or was he just a random man she’d happened to meet while she was here?
“Sir?” Kani appeared before me. “I brought you a menu, just in case.”
“I’ll get the fettuccine with lobster and shrimp,” I said because I was too preoccupied to give much thought to what I was going to eat tonight.
“Right away, sir,” he nodded, before disappearing once again.
I sat there, battling with jealousy as I admired how beautiful Molly looked tonight in that stunning dress and her loose blonde hair arranged in waves carelessly over her right shoulder.
I was staring directly at them when Molly happened to turn in my direction. She caught my eye and gave me a small smile and a wave of acknowledgment. I probably should have just waved back and allowed them some privacy, but my curiosity got the better of me, and I stood up to walk to their table.
“Good evening,” I said, glancing only momentarily at Molly’s partner.
“Hello, Tristan,” Molly replied with a bright smile. Her eyes were sparkling, and she looked like she was having a wonderful time. Again, jealousy reared its ugly head, and I had to fight to keep my face straight.
She turned to her partner and made casual introductions. “This is Tristan; he’s the owner of the resort,” Molly said, before turning to me. “This is David. David Conrad.”
The name was vaguely familiar, and I guessed that he was the son of some business mogul. David reached out to shake my hand, and I was forced to accept the gesture. “This is a fantastic resort you have here,” he complimented me.
“I’m glad you like it,” I said, with a tight smile. “How have you been enjoying your stay with us?” I asked, fishing for some information.
“Oh, unfortunately, I’m not staying here,” he replied. “I’m staying at the Sheridan.”
“Ah,” I nodded. “And, how did you two meet?”
Molly gave David a dazzling smile and placed her hand on his arm. “We were both enjoying the beach when we ran into each other,” she said. “We started talking, and…one thing led to another—”
“And, I couldn’t resist asking this beauty out,” David finished her sentence, as though they were old lovers. I had to resist the urge to punch the bastard in the face and tell him to stay far away from Molly.
“Are you okay, Tristan?” Molly asked unexpectedly.
“Excuse me?”
“You just seem…a little out of sorts,” she said, wrinkling her brows at me as though she were trying to figure out why I was acting so weird.
“Uh… I… It’s just been a long day,” I said, stumbling over my words slightly. “That’s all.”
“It must be hard work, running a resort,” David said. “I couldn’t do it.”
“I wouldn’t recommend it,” I said stiffly, wishing he’d just stay quiet and let Molly and I talk.
“This restaurant is beautiful,” she said, pivoting the conversation. “And the menu’s huge. It’s the first time I’m trying it out.”
“What would you recommend?” David asked me.
I bristled at the fact that he was treating me like a waiter, but I kept my expression neutral. “Everything on the menu is fantastic,” I replied. “The pastas are especially good. But I’d go with the chef’s special; it changes every two weeks. I think this special is rabbit cacciatore.”
“Sounds wonderful,” Molly smiled.
I noticed how David leaned into her a little and put his arm around her. I could have sworn he looked at me challengingly, as though to mark his territory, but I wasn’t sure if I was just being paranoid.
“When are you leaving?” I blurted out.
Both Molly and David looked at me in surprise, and I was forced to explain my question and change my tone. “I mean, how long are you planning on staying in Hawaii for?”
“I’m only here for two more nights,” David admitted, much to my delight. “Sadly, I’m heading back to boring LA.”
“I wasn’t aware LA was boring,” Molly laughed.
“Compared to Hawaii, it can be,” he replied. “Especially if you’ve lived there your entire life.”
“Well,” I said, satisfied that he wouldn’t be a fixture around my resort. “Enjoy your meal; I won’t keep you from it.”
As I walked away, I could have sworn the smile on Molly’s face changed slightly. She looked almost as though she were smirking at me. But when I glanced back over at the couple, she wasn’t even looking at me. She looked completely engrossed in her dull partner.
A few minutes after I sat down, my meal arrived, steaming hot and smelling delicious. On any other night I would have devoured the plate in ten minutes flat, but tonight, I found that I had no appetite. The hunger I had felt when I’d walked into Albero had disappeared in the face of Molly and her unexpected guest.
Suddenly, another thought popped into my head. What if they spent the night together? What if they finished their meal and then went up to the suite to have sex? I hated the thought of Molly having dinner with a man—the idea of her having sex with someone else was just too much for me to process.
I picked at my fettuccine, but every few seconds my eyes traveled to Molly and David. He was touching her far more than was appropriate, and I was starting to get dissatisfied with my drink.
“Kani,” I said, flagging him down. “Get me something stronger.”
“Uh…we have many options, sir.”
“Black Russian,” I said, pushing aside my reservations. “Get me a Black Russian.”
“Right away, sir.”
I was still staring at Molly and David when I spied Gregory entering the restaurant alone. Deciding that I needed a good distraction to keep my attention off Molly and her date, I spoke to Kani when he arrived with my drink.
“Kani, can you see that gentleman by the bar?”
“Mr. Winchester?”
“Good, you know him,” I nodded. “Tell him that I’ve invited him to join me at my table.”
“Right away, sir,” Kani nodded.
A few moments later, Gregory approached and sat down opposite me. “Well, well… I seriously thought you’d flake out on your promise to catch up.”
“What gave you that idea,” I said, resisting the urge to glance around Gregory’s head to sneak a peek at Molly. “Have you eaten here before?”
“Twice,” Gregory admitted. “For lunch. The food here is fantastic.”
“The chef is Italian.”
“It shows,” he nodded. Then he frowned and looked behind me. “Who are you staring at?” he asked.
Cursing myself for being so indiscreet, I tried to play it off. “No one,” I said calmly.
“Ah,” he nodded, as his eyes fell on Molly. “The blonde in the blue dress… I think she’s taken. But I don’t blame you for staring. She’s a beauty.”
“She’s my best friend’s little sister,” I said. “I’m just trying to make sure she’s okay.”
Gregory laughed. “You’re trying to pass this off as brotherly concern?”
“It is brotherly concern,” I said, hoping I sounded convincing.
He shrugged, but he seemed to believe me. “Okay, if you insist. I misread the situation.”
I might have been able to convince Gregory, but I had no choice but to face the undeniable truth. There was nothing remotely brotherly about my feelings for Molly.
Chapter 8
Molly
The gym was a sprawling room with twos types of every exercise machine you could imagine. Glass windows substituted walls so that you could see the brilliant blue ocean no matter where in the room you had your workout. There were small TVs set up, too, and a few people were even watching them, but for me, nothing compared to that view.
I had spent forty minutes on the treadmill, before doing steps for twenty minutes. Now I was rounding out my workout with some ellip
tical training. I noticed from my peripheral vision that Alani had just entered the gym. She was wearing a nice white shirt, tucked into a black pencil skirt. Her thick black hair hung loosely around her shoulders, and I thought she looked like a modern-day Pocahontas.
I noticed how almost every guest in the gym turned to her like magnets. She greeted them all with friendly smiles and warm words. One of the guests actually stopped his weight training to walk over to her. She spoke to him for a few minutes and then politely excused herself to walk over to me.
“Exercising on vacation?” she asked accusingly. “I wouldn’t have pegged you as the type.”
I laughed. “Exercising helps me feel strong,” I admitted. “And with all the rich food I’ve been indulging in, I think a little exercise is necessary.”
“Fair enough,” she nodded. “Now…on to the more pressing matter—”
“How was dinner last night?” I guessed.
She laughed. “How was dinner last night?” she nodded.
“The restaurant was lovely, the food was exquisite, and David was…sweet,” I admitted. “But not my type. The conversation was a little boring in parts… He was constantly talking about his businesses. I don’t think we had very much chemistry.”
“Who cares if you did or not,” Alani said bluntly. “What matters is that Tristan saw chemistry between you and another man, whether it was there or not.”
I stopped the elliptical and got off the machine. I toweled myself off and took a big gulp of water. “I did everything you advised me to do,” I told her. “I dressed to kill, I laughed a lot, and I touched him more times than I can count. I pretended like I was enjoying myself, even if that wasn’t always true. I thought I did a pretty convincing job, actually… But I don’t know if Tristan even cared.”
“What makes you think he didn’t?” Alani asked.
“He came over to say hello, and he was extremely polite to both of us,” I said. “It didn’t seem like he was very jealous.”
“He came over?” she asked.
“Uh… yeah.”
“That’s a good sign.”
“It is?” I asked, wrinkling my brows. “Wouldn’t he have done that for anyone he knew eating at his restaurant?”