Page 61 of Blue Hawaiian
Typical Darren, trying to break him down, like he did when they worked together. He’d berate him for failing to bring new ideas to the table, and then, when Connor finally offered a few suggestions, he’d shoot him down in front of the entire team.
“That’s not going to happen,” Connor said. “With or without Dad’s help, I’m going to make this winery work.”
“Big talk for someone with the emotional maturity of a twelve-year-old,” Darren said.
Brody glared at him. “What’s your problem? If you hate working with Connor, then why do you care if he quits Blackwood Cellars?”
“Aren’t you mad he’s jumping ship and betraying our parents?” Darren said. “Grandpa Dominic would be rolling over in his grave.”
“No, he wouldn’t,” Marc said. “Grandpa was a huge risk-taker. Didn’t he sink half the family fortune into the first winery? He’d be impressed the next generation was trying something new.”
“Connor’s never had a responsible bone in his body,” Darren said. “He’s going to crash and burn.”
Connor advanced a step closer. Darren might be able to beat him in tennis, but he was stronger and more muscular than his older brother. He could take him in a fight. “You’d like that, wouldn’t you?”
Brody pinched the bridge of his nose. “Can we play? We only have the court until noon.”
For the next two hours, Connor played his heart out. Unlike the rest of the Blackwood clan, he wasn’t a big fan of tennis or golf. He preferred solo sports like running, biking, and swimming, where he could set his own pace and push himself to the limit. But if he had to play his dickhead brother, he wasn’t going down without a fight.
In the end, Marc and Darren won both sets, though Connor made sure the last few games weren’t easy victories. They had just finished when Jess approached them, looking far too sexy in a white cotton sundress and sandals.
“Hey, Jess,” Marc said. “Is Gabi looking for me?” He grabbed his phone from the bench. “I haven’t checked my messages.”
“We’re done with the spa treatment, so Gabi sent me to fetch you,” she said. “You’re supposed to meet with the wedding coordinator at lunch to go over the final details for the rehearsal dinner.”
“Right. I forgot about that,” Marc said.
“She said you’re meeting at the Banyan Tree—the restaurant on the east side of the resort,” Jess said.
“Thanks for the reminder.” Marc turned to Connor. “After lunch, Brody and I are going to the airport to pick up Grandma Blackwood. Want to come with?”
Connor hated letting Marc down, but he’d been hoping to squeeze in a few hours with Jess. “I’m kind of busy. Sorry.”
Darren pinned him in his gaze. “How could youpossiblybe busy?” He snorted in disgust. “You met someone at the luau, didn’t you? Good thing Dad didn’t fall for your bullshit the other night. You haven’t changed one bit.”
Of course Darren would assume the worst of him. But he couldn’t tell him the truth, not if he wanted to keep his fling under wraps.
Jess crossed her arms and glared at Darren. “For your information, Gabi asked me to run errands for her, and Connor offered to help.”
Darren gave her a skeptical look. “Since when does my brother know the first thing about weddings?”
“He knows nada, but he has a vehicle. And Gabi wants me traipsing all over West Maui, looking for just the right shells to decorate the place settings at the rehearsal dinner. They have to say ‘tropical’ without being too obvious. Not too big, not too small, not too generic. I’ll know them when I see them.”
Marc beamed at her. “Thanks, Jess. You too, Connor.” He took off, half walking, half jogging, toward the hotel.
“What is it with women and all this DIY shit?” Darren said. “Melanie and her friends hand-painted twelve dozen wineglasses to give to everyone as wedding favors. What a pain in the ass.”
“You’re a real romantic, aren’t you?” Jess muttered. “Anyway, Connor, you coming with? The clock’s ticking.”
“Yeah, but you’re buying me lunch.” He handed his racket to Darren. “Here. You can turn our stuff in. I’ve got places to go.”
As they walked away, he whispered to Jess, “Nice save. But we don’tactuallyhave to look for shells, do we?”
“We do. Sorry.” She grinned at him. “But the sooner we get it done, the sooner we can sneak back to your room.”
As she led the way, putting a little strut in her walk, he watched her ass sway, his groin tightening in anticipation.
He could notwaitto get her alone.
