by Claire Adams
I felt a little spasm of guilt. “I shouldn’t have included you in this,” I said. “It was unfair.”
“I offered to be a part of it,” he reminded me.
“But still…you’re Tristan’s business partner, not to mention his friend,” I pointed out. “It was wrong of me to put you in the middle.”
“You might not have discovered how he really felt if I hadn’t have gotten involved.”
I raised my eyebrows. “Um…did I discover how he really felt?”
“Of course,” Gregory nodded. “Tristan definitely has feelings for you.”
“He denies it.”
“Of course, he denies it,” Gregory nodded. “Because he’s very clearly in denial. The man’s a fool. He insists that he has no feelings for you, he insisted as much this morning, too, and yet he can’t contain his rage when he sees you with another man.”
“What happened this morning?” I asked, jumping on that.
“Tristan visited me in my suite,” Gregory said, flashing me a smile. “Basically he wanted me to stay away from you.”
“Did he give you a reason as to why?”
“He said it was because he felt a brotherly obligation to protect you from the likes of me,” he said. “He feels that I’m not good enough for you.”
“He said that?” I asked, horrified.
“He most definitely did,” Gregory nodded. He seemed amused rather than offended. “He was in quite the mood, too.”
I shook my head. “I don’t get him.”
“He’s a complicated man,” Gregory agreed. “But he’s also a man who’s never committed to a woman his entire life. I think the thought terrifies him. I think that deep down he knows that he can’t just get away with a fling if he gets involved with you. He knows it will lead to something—and he’s terrified.”
“That can’t be the reason.”
“I think it absolutely is,” Gregory nodded. “But one thing is certain, and that is that he has feelings for you. He probably has for some time, based on his reaction.”
“Could it possibly be that he says what he means?” I suggested. “Maybe this really is just brotherly concern. I mean, it’s not like he reacted like that to any of the other men I dated.”
“That was different.”
“How?”
“He didn’t know any of those men,” Gregory explained. “He couldn’t vouch for them one way or the other. And the fact that you never dated the same man twice might have made him complacent. It shows that you were never serious about anyone. But I think he sees you differently now.”
I frowned. “I don’t know about that.”
“Trust me,” Gregory assured me. “He realizes… He’s just stubborn. He doesn’t want to give in to his feelings for you because he’s convinced himself that it would only lead to disaster.”
I sighed. “I don’t know why I’m continuing with this plan of Alani’s,” I said. “What does it serve? I’ve been thinking about the possibility of Tristan and me for a while now and…”
“And?”
“It’s very possible that it would end badly,” I admitted. “We’re so different.”
“Maybe that’s why it’ll work out between you,” he said. “My wife and I were polar opposites, too.”
I looked at him in surprise. “You’re married?”
“Was,” he corrected quickly. “I was married. We’re divorced now.”
“Oh.”
“We got married really young,” he explained. “We were both still in college, and we eloped in Vegas one day on a whim. It was the most spontaneous thing I’ve ever done in my entire life. We were as different as night and day, but that was made the relationship interesting. All the differences between us is what created the passion and the fire that made our lives fun.”
I raised my eyebrows. “But you got divorced,” I pointed out gently.
He smiled. “Because we let the little things get to us,” he said. “Because we were too young. And too immature to realize what it took to make a marriage work. We started to get on each other’s nerves. We decided to quit instead of fight, and in the end… We ended things prematurely. I was only twenty-two when the divorce was finalized.”
“It sounds like you regret the decision,” I pointed out.
“I do sometimes,” he nodded. “In a way, my way of escaping the pain of the divorce was to bury myself in work. Which is probably the reason I became so successful. But sometimes I can’t keep thinking that if I’d chosen differently, I’d be living a quiet life in the suburbs with my wife, a couple of kids, and a minivan parked in the drive.”
“Where is she now?” I asked.
“My ex-wife?”
“Yes.”
“She moved to Switzerland shortly after we got divorced,” Gregory replied. “She married some Swiss guy a couple of years later, and she’s got a son now.”
I looked at his face and could see the regret there. “Do you still keep in touch with her?”
“I did for a while,” he nodded. “But it was too hard to see her in her new life. It’s been a few years since we last spoke.”
I nodded. “Is that why you’re helping me?”
“I like you, Molly,” he said. “You’re a great girl, but up until last night, I didn’t know you. I know Tristan, though, and he reminds me a lot of myself. Why should he repeat the same mistakes I made?”
“That’s very noble of you.”
Gregory smiled. “I’m getting soft in my old age.”
I laughed. “I wasn’t aware that thirties were considered old.”
“Working this hard ages you,” he said. “You forget to live; you forget to enjoy your life. This vacation is the first one I’ve been on in four years.”
“Wow.”
“Everyone seems to have forgotten that we work to support and enjoy the families we’ve built,” he reflected. “What’s the point in working this hard if we have no one to go home to?”
“I don’t know if everyone thinks that way, though,” I said, thinking of Tristan. “Some men just aren’t cut out for family life.”
“Maybe not,” Gregory agreed. “But I don’t think Tristan’s one of them.”
“Based on?”
“Instinct,” he said vaguely. “Can I ask you a question?”
“Of course.”
“What do you want?” he asked. “In regards to Tristan?”
I sighed—that really was the million-dollar question. “Would you judge me if I said I didn’t know?”
Gregory smiled. “Take the time to figure it out,” he said. “Don’t waste your whole life living on memories.”
There was sadness in his tone when he said it, and I couldn’t help but reach out and take his hand. “You’re a nicer guy than I had you pegged for.”
He laughed. “I’ll take that as a high compliment.”
“It was meant as one,” I said. “I wish… I wish that if I were in a different place emotionally…”
“I know,” he nodded. “I wish that date last night had been real.”
I could sense the possibility between us, but in the same breath, I knew it was a hollow feeling. It was hollow because of how I felt about Tristan. With that realization staring me in the face, I finally knew exactly what I wanted.
And I also knew that Lizzie had probably been right. I would probably get hurt.
Chapter 15
Tristan
“Have all the preparations been made?” I asked, turning to Ben.
He nodded. “Everything’s taken care of.”
“The decorations?”
“They were un-crated this morning and strung up in the ballroom.”
“I don’t want it looking like some mediocre Christmas party at home,” I said.
“It’s looking good,” he assured me. “Very classy. We had Terrence Staten fly in from New York just to organize the look for this party.”
I groaned. “How much is that costing me?”
“Three nigh
ts in one of the deluxe suites.”
“Huh… I suppose that’s a fair price to pay,” I shrugged. “What about the food?”
“The menus were finalized four days ago,” Ben reminded me.
“I remember the meeting,” I said. “I don’t remember the menus.”
“Chef Pierre and Chef Arnaud are going to be the main chefs for the evening. We have two sections cordoned off for the buffet and the bar, and we’re going to have three live cooking stations.”
“Who were the three chefs we chose to manage the live stations?”
“Iokua, Kaleo, and Damien.”
I frowned. “Was I a part of that decision?”
“You told me to handle it,” Ben reminded me.
“Ah…right.”
He rolled his eyes. “What’s wrong?”
“Is Kaleo the best person to be in charge of a live station?” I questioned. “He’s not the most personable chef we have.”
“No, but he cooks seafood to perfection.”
“Yes but—”
“You handed the decision over to me,” Ben cut in. “And now you’re micromanaging.”
“Okay, fine,” I conceded. “Kaleo can stay, but for God’s sake, tell the man to smile a little bit more—this is a fucking Christmas party.”
“I’ll pass on the message.”
“The band?”
“They arrived this morning,” Ben informed me. “They’ve been rehearsing in the rec room since they got here, and they sound great.”
I nodded. “Okay… Everything seems to be on track,” I said. “The construction’s finished, and the resort is finally at five-star status.”
“Are you nervous?”
“About what?”
“Opening to the public,” he said.
“I’m always nervous right before opening day,” I admitted. “But they’re good nerves. It keeps the adrenaline pumping.”
“Good to know.”
“And, you’ve informed all the guests that all the restaurants will be closed for the night?”
“I have.”
“That includes room service.”
“I’ve notified everyone.”
“Good,” I nodded.
I was about to get out when I turned to Ben. “Try and relax tonight,” I told him. “This party is as much for the senior staff as it is for the guests.”
His smirk was dubious. “I don’t know that I relax so well.”
“Try,” I said. “You’ve been working around the clock this past week. I just want you to know that I’ve noticed.”
Ben looked slightly embarrassed as he nodded. “Thank you.”
Smiling, I left my office and headed to my room to change for the party. I walked through the western hall that boasted floor-to-ceiling glass windows that overlooked one of the resort’s two outdoor pools. I had spotted Molly swimming there a number of times, but today there was no one around. She was probably getting ready for the party, just like everyone else in the resort.
I had done a good job of avoiding her for the past week. We hadn’t crossed paths at all, and the one time I had glimpsed her had been fleeting, and she hadn’t even noticed me. After our little confrontation in the hallway, I had stopped going to Albero’s for dinner. I just jumped between the other three restaurants, knowing I wasn’t likely to run into Molly there.
I wasn’t exactly sure why I was avoiding her so studiously. Was I embarrassed about my behavior, or did I simply wish to avoid temptation? I had thrown myself into work in the hopes that it would keep my mind off her, but unfortunately, there was nothing pressing enough that distracted me for long. Each night, at dinner, I would sit alone at my table and wonder what Molly was wearing that night and who she was sitting with. I had even stopped inquiring after her from my wait staff because a part of me was scared of hearing who she was with and flying into another rage.
I had a quick shower and then put on my navy-blue tux with the silver cufflinks. I ran my fingers through my hair and stared at my reflection in the mirror for a moment. I looked sharp, and on any other night, I would have felt confident and calm.
But tonight, I was anything but composed. I knew Molly would be at the party, and I knew she would look stunning. I would need to play host, but at the same time, I would need to stay far away from her.
I left my suite and headed into the ballroom where the party was being held. The ballroom was a large circular room with a domed ceiling painted in styles reminiscent of the ancient Italian painters. The roof alone contributed to the hall’s grand and luxurious feel.
When I stepped inside, I felt a surge of approval. The massive natural Christmas tree that I’d had flown in especially for the party was standing in the center of the hall. It was decked out in grand fashion and looked exceptionally beautiful. The decorations were classy and had been artfully placed around the space to create the feel of Christmas, without going overboard. There were Christmas wreaths everywhere, and mistletoe hung from the natural creepers that had been draped over and around pillars, lights, and chandeliers.
The hall was already half full when I entered. I started mingling with the crowd, welcoming guests and stopping to talk to a few of my investors. The buffet had been set up in the back of the hall, and the Christmas feast on display looked positively regal. The choice was elaborate, but if there was one holiday that demanded extravagance, it was this one.
I was walking over to the bar when Gregory blocked my path. “Hey, stranger,” he said. “Haven’t seen you around much.”
I felt more than a little ashamed of my behavior towards Gregory, but it had never been easy for me to say I was sorry. “I’ve been busy,” I said, employing an apologetic tone.
“Planning this shindig couldn’t have been easy,” he said, looking around. “I must say, this is spectacular.”
“Then mission accomplished.”
“I had dinner at Albero a few times over the last week,” he continued. “I noticed you weren’t at your usual table.”
I paused slightly. “Uh… Yeah. Well… I guess I was avoiding the restaurant.”
“I thought you might be…”
“Listen, Gregory,” I said, deciding that I needed to be a man and cop to my mistake. “About what happened last week…”
“It’s okay, Tristan,” Gregory said graciously. “I know. You don’t have to apologize. If I were that in love with a woman, I might have done way worse.”
I frowned. “I’m not in love with her, Gregory.”
“You’re sticking with that story?” he seemed surprised. “Still?”
“Because it’s the truth.”
He sighed. “If you say so. Now if you’ll excuse me, I think I’m going to work my way down that buffet line.”
I stared after him, caught up in the conflict raging in my mind. Frustrated, I headed straight for the bar and helped myself to a large glass of eggnog that was heavy on the rum. I continued to circulate through the hall, refilling my eggnog each time I emptied another glass. I had well past my sixth drink when I caught sight of her.
She was standing near the Christmas tree, bathed in the light that twinkled down from its branches. She looked like some ethereal creature from another world. She was wearing a sparkling beaded red gown that hugged her chest, stomach, and hips before billowing out at the bottom half of the skirt. The beads glittered magnificently underneath the light, and I could see the faint outline of her legs through the thin fabric.
Her golden hair hung loosely around her shoulders, and her makeup was flawless elegance. Unable to turn away from her, I stood there like some hopeless idiot and stared until desire won over common sense, and I started walking towards her, through the gathering of people.
She didn’t see me until I was standing right beside her. When she glanced my way, she looked startled and slightly nervous.
“Tristan,” she said.
“You look beautiful,” I told her.
I could feel the alcohol buzz through my system. It w
as giving me the courage I needed to see this through. I wondered if I would consider it courage tomorrow morning, but decided not to think too hard about that. Instead, I focused on Molly and her dazzling blue eyes.
“Thank you,” she replied. I noticed her tone was slightly wary.
I knew Molly was waiting for me to say something as we stared at each other. When the silence drew on and on, her body seemed to tense suddenly. I saw a flash of something in her blue eyes, and then she had turned her back on me, and she was walking away.
I was about to call out after her, but I thought better of it. Instead, I followed the path she took until I arrived at one of the hall’s five large, semicircular balconies that overlooked part of the resort and a fantastic section of the ocean just beyond. The sea was bathed in moonlight, and I could see dark purples and dancing grays in the blue of the waves that bowed at the shore.
Molly stood at the very edge of the balcony. Her perfect hourglass silhouette put the view to shame. I approached her cautiously, aware that the alcohol was making me do things I would have considered risky. If I had been sober and in full command of my faculties, I would have realized that the night was too romantic, the mood was too calming, and Molly was too beautiful for me to approach.
I walked up to her on the balcony and put my hand on her shoulder. She shook me off violently and took a step back.
“What do you want, Tristan?” she demanded.
Taken back by her fierceness, I tried to figure out what was causing her anger. “Molly,” I started weakly. “I’m sorry about last week… I… I should never have interrupted your date.”
She shook her head in frustration. “That’s what you’re apologizing for?”
“I…yes.”
“Great,” she replied, but her tone sounded sarcastic more than sincere. “Thanks for that. Excuse me.”
She walked around me and headed back to the party. Completely taken off guard, I followed her back through the gathering and straight out of the hall. She was walking down one of the deserted corridors in the direction of her suite when I caught up with her.
“Molly…wait,” I said, grabbing her hand and forcing her to turn around to face me.
