Page 34 of Blue Hawaiian
He took a bite, relishing the moist flavor, which tasted slightly of coconut. “You’re right. It’s delicious.”
After wiping her hands on her shorts, she took out her phone. “Time to catch up on Gabi’s Instagram. What has our favorite bride-to-be been up to? First up is kitesurfing, which looks low-key terrifying.”
“Really? You were always the daredevil, not Gabi.”
“True. But it’s like a combination of surfing and flying a kite, and those waves look fierce. Knowing my luck, I’d lose control of the kite, plummet into the ocean, and get pulled under. Then someone would catch the whole thing on their phone, and the video would go viral.” She snickered. “Do you remember the summer we tried to create those viral videos?”
“How could I forget? We wasted an entire day.”
They’d spent hours setting up stunts on the Aqua Trampoline, only to fail, over and over again. After a while, Marc, Gabi, and Victoria had walked away in frustration. But he and Jess kept at it, until they created a hilarious video worthy of YouTube.
“Do you still have any of the videos?” he asked. “We could show a few at the rehearsal dinner.”
She snorted. “I’m sure Gabi would love that. But I don’t think I have them anymore. When my last laptop died, I lost a bunch of files.”
“Hopefully not your copy ofQueen of the Forgotten Lands?”
She gave him a playful shove. “Will you stop? You’re never going to read the final version. Especially since…”
He glanced over at her, curious at the flush on her cheeks. “What?”
“Let’s just say…I may have based the roguish Prince Alaric on a certain someone.”
“Me? You based your hero on me?”
She whapped him with the edge of the map. “Stop. You know I had a big crush on you.”
“But still. To make me the hero of your book? That’s next-level.” He didn’t know why the news filled him with such a swell of happiness. He’d never considered himself anyone’s hero. “Now you have to finish it.”
“Not an option unless I could get it down to a manageable length. Anywayyyy.” She dragged out the word. “Next up is Victoria’s feed. Apparently, she hit a hole in one. There’s, like, four braggy posts about it.”
More than ever, Connor was grateful he’d abandoned the family’s golf outing. Tonight, he could play the part of the respectable son. He’d need to if he wanted to get his father on board with his winery plan. But enduring a golf game with the old man would have been hell.
Jess passed the banana bread his way. “Want another piece?”
“I’m good, thanks. Do you want to stop anywhere else?” If it hadn’t been for the family dinner, he would have suggested they keep driving. Where they’d end up, he couldn’t say. But they’d have fun.
“I’d love to, but I’d like to get back before the others return from golf.”
They didn’t reach the resort until ten minutes to five. Jess made a face when she saw her reflection in the rearview mirror, but Connor liked her curls wild and untamed. Though she’d looked gorgeous on the cruise, he’d take the natural Jess any day. Any place. A swimming hole. A hotel room. A rental car.Thisrental car, as a matter of fact.
Not that he’d act on his cravings. Once he was back in his hotel room, he could take a long, cold shower.
They headed toward the hotel lobby. “I have some serious work to do if I’m going to make myself presentable for dinner,” Jess said.
“You look cute. The natural look suits you.”
“It won’t fly with Gabi. Or my mom.” She groaned. “Everyone’s going to be there.”
“Don’t worry,” he said. “They won’t see you until—”
The words died on his lips. As they entered the spacious lobby, they came face-to-face with the golf party. Not just Connor’s family, but Marc and Gabi, as well as Marc’s parents. And all of them stared at Jess and Connor like they couldn’t believe their eyes.
Chapter 13
Jess was hit with a rush of guilt. Her hair was a disaster, she’d lost all traces of makeup, and her clothes were still damp. Worse yet, she couldn’t pretend she’d spent the day in Lahaina. Though she hadn’t broken her promise to Gabi, she’d flat-out lied about her plans.
Connor’s father, Brian Blackwood, nailed his son with a poisonous scowl. “Where were you? I expected to see you at golf.”
