Page 60 of Blue Hawaiian
For a moment, Jess was tempted to tell Gabi everything. That Connor was different now. That she was having more fun with him than she’d ever had with Simon. That she was finally regaining some of the spark she’d lost after that horrible spring in Chicago.
But she couldn’t. Because, on edge as Gabi was, there was no guarantee she’d be okay with it. For now, Jess would have to hold her tongue.
Chapter 22
On his way to the tennis courts, Connor stopped by the coffee bar in the lobby and ordered an espresso. Without a little pick-me-up, he wouldn’t have enough energy for tennis. How much sleep had he gotten last night, anyway? Four hours? Five? Not that he had any regrets. Despite Gabi’s threats, he was glad he’d spent the night with Jess. He’d slept amazingly well, sated and happy, with her naked body nestled against his.
Brody came up and gave him a friendly shoulder punch. “You look like shit. Didn’t you get any sleep?”
“I’ll be fine once I get some caffeine in my system.” Connor downed his espresso, wincing at the bitterness.
“Up late?”
“Too late.” He couldn’t repress the shit-eating grin spreading across his face. “Worth it, though.”
“I can’t believe Jess forgave you. She was mad at you for five years.”
He set his empty cup on the bar. “She’s not mad anymore.”
“Don’t look so smug,” Brody said. “Anyone can have great sex while they’re on vacation. Maintaining an actual relationship is hard work.”
“You don’t have to lecture me about relationships. I was in one before, remember? That’s eight months of my life I’ll never get back.”
“That was Natasha. By now, we’ve all agreed she was nothing but a gold-digger. What if you met the right woman? Wouldn’t you want more than a week with her?”
Connor had thought he wanted a future with Natasha until she’d kicked his pride andhis heart to the curb. At this point, letting someone into his life for longer than a week involved more trust than he was willing to give. “Nope. Can’t see it happening.”
Brody wouldn’t be dissuaded. “What about Jess? Ever think about getting serious with her?”
“Not an option. She’s going back to Chicago.” Though he cared about her, he couldn’t see himself making that leap. Long-distance relationships required a lot of patience and a major level of commitment.
“What if she wasn’t?”
“I’m about to take the biggest financial risk of my life. I could end up flat broke. The last thing I need is a ‘serious’ relationship.”
Victoria had texted him fifteen minutes ago. She’d read his new proposal and liked it, but when she tried to approach their father, he shut her down. No surprise there. But it also meant Connor had lost his potential safety net.
They headed out of the lobby, toward the west side of the resort, where eight tennis courts were set on a rise, overlooking the Pacific Ocean. The air was a perfect temperature—warm, with a hint of a sultry breeze.
He and Brody went into the pro shop located outside the courts, where they confirmed Darren’s reservation and rented four rackets and a bucket of balls. In their assigned court, Connor practiced his serve, smacking the ball with more force than necessary.
Brody took his place on the other side of the net. “Serve me up a few. I need to practice my backhand.” He assumed a ready stance. “I know it’s none of my business, but I’m looking out for Jess. She’s one of my closest friends. And maybe she didn’t tell you this, but you broke her heart.”
Connor’s shoulders tightened. Even if Jess had forgiven him, he still regretted waiting five years to apologize. “I know. I’m trying to make it up to her.”
“I’d be a wreck if Taylor did something like that to me.”
“Don’t worry about it. I doubt she’d ever treat you that way.” He served the ball to Brody, who returned it easily.
They got in a few rallies before Darren swaggered onto the courts, with Marc a few paces behind. “Nice try, but getting here early to practice won’t help. You’re going to get your asses kicked.” He set down his bottle of Voss Artesian Water. “We had a tournament at the country club last month, and I came in third.”
Brody laughed. “Only third?”
“Better than you’d do,” Darren said.
“Cut the bullshit,” Connor said. “Let’s play.”
Darren regarded him with a measure of amusement. “What’s the rush? Are you that eager for a dose of humiliation? Think how you’ll feel when you’re forced to come crawling back to Blackwood Cellars, begging for your job.”
