Page 88 of One Night in Hawaii

“I want her here, but what can I offer her?” he asked. “I think the world of her, but she’s too good for me. I don’t know what I could ever give her that would make her happy.”

I understood his dilemma, knowing that Penelope deserved the world, and it hurt to see him so unsure of himself. He was a free spirit, a soul that thrived on the ocean’s waves, and while that was admirable, it also seemed like an obstacle to building a stable future. He was just like Shiloh. They followed their hearts, which seemed to be connected to the ocean.

“Love,” I replied firmly, looking into his eyes. “That’s what you can offer her. Your heart and your unwavering love for her. She doesn’t need anything from you except love and respect. Loyalty. She can buy anything she wants. Penelope has her own money. She doesn’t need any more, but as Shiloh has told me on more than one occasion, money can’t buy true love.”

Ryder’s gaze softened, and a hint of hope flickered in his eyes. “You really think that’s enough?” he asked, his vulnerability on full display.

I nodded. “Absolutely. Love is a powerful thing, Ryder. It might not come with material wealth, but it has the ability to change lives and create happiness beyond measure. Penelope can see who you truly are, and she’s still here, isn’t she? That’s because she loves you too, not for what you have, but for who you are. She ran away from home to come back to you. I will tell you it took a lot of courage for her to leave Matthew and home.”

Ryder seemed lost in thought for a moment, contemplating my words. “You’re right,” he finally said with a soft smile. “I don’t need to offer her material possessions or a lavish lifestyle. I just need to be there for her, to love her with all my heart.”

“That’s it,” I affirmed, feeling a swell of pride for my friend. “And I know Penelope well enough to say that she wants you, Ryder, just as you are.”

We continued to paint in companionable silence, both lost in our thoughts. As we worked, I hoped that Ryder would gather the courage to talk to Penelope, to tell her how he felt and ask her to stay. They were clearly meant for each other, and I couldn’t bear the thought of them letting this chance slip away.

“I wish I could find this Matthew guy,” Ryder said after a few minutes.

“Why?” I asked.

“Because I would love to kick his ass,” he muttered. “What man cheats on a woman that beautiful? What man tries to fuck her over?”

“An asshole,” I replied. “Trust me, Ryder, you may not have a house or anything valuable, but you have more integrity in your little finger than Matthew will ever have. I never liked the guy.”

“Why would your parents push him on her?” he asked.

“Because our parents are a little different than what you guys are used to,” I said. “They don’t believe there is real love out there. They believe in money and power. They believe that no one could possibly fall head over heels in love. They believe in protecting their wealth and getting richer for the next generation. They aren’t totally cold and calculating, but they have never been all that concerned for true happiness.”

Ryder shook his head in disbelief. “That’s messed up. I mean, I understand wanting to provide for your family, but to push someone into a loveless marriage just for money? That’s just cruel.”

“I know,” I said, setting my paintbrush down. “But we can’t change the way they think. All we can do is support Penelope and make sure she knows that she deserves real love and happiness.”

Ryder nodded in agreement. “You’re right. And I’m going to be the one to give it to her. I’m going to tell her how I feel and ask her to stay with me.”

I smiled at him, feeling a sense of pride in my friend. “That’s what I like to hear. Just be honest with her, Ryder. Let her know how you feel and that you’ll always be there for her.”

He grinned back at me, his eyes shining with determination. “I will. And I won’t let anyone else come between us.”

I watched as Ryder walked away, feeling a sense of warmth in my chest. It was clear that he cared deeply for Penelope, and I had a feeling that she felt the same way. I couldn’t wait to see what the future held for them. I hoped she did come back to Hawaii and set up home. My sister and I were close. I wanted her nearby.

36

SHILOH

Istepped around the pile of boxes stacked in the corner of the room, trying my best to navigate through the chaos. Our home was in the middle of a major renovation, with a crew replacing all the floors, and it seemed like everything was out of place. Amidst the mess, I found my way to the laundry room, trying to find some semblance of normalcy in the disruption.

I was glad we didn’t have any real furniture. That would have made the situation so much worse. Already, the transformation of the house was impressive. I couldn’t wait until we did get furniture and got to move in. I felt like such a grownup. We had a house and a yard and were making plans for the future. He even mentioned children, which truly surprised me. The last couple of weeks had been good for him. He was doing a lot of the labor around the house. I had to admit I was a little surprised. I thought he would have just hired people to do all the work around the house, but he was determined to do it himself. The only thing he wasn’t doing was the floors and kitchen remodel.

I could hear the steady pounding above me. He was fixing some weak spots in the roof—himself. Of all the jobs he should have hired out for, I thought the roof was one of the things he should have left to the professionals.

As I began folding clothes, my phone rang, and I glanced at the screen to see an unfamiliar number. I would have ignored it but it could be someone with the grant organization. Curiosity got the better of me, and I answered the call.

“Hello?” I said.

“Hello?” a woman said.

“Yes?”

“Is this Shiloh?” she asked, saying my name like it was a slur.

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