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Alani smiled. “Eventually,” she nodded. “Takes a while, though.”
“I’m so tempted to hit the beach right away,” I said. “But I’m just so jet-lagged.”
“Get some rest,” she advised. “You can explore the island tomorrow with fresh eyes. Would you like me to make you a booking at one of our restaurants for tonight?”
“How many restaurants do you have?”
“Four,” she replied. “There’s the Lagoon, which specializes in seafood; we have Spices, which specializes in Asian fusion. Then there’s Mosaic, which is our international restaurant that produces dishes inspired by many cultures and countries across the world. And finally, we have Pepe Albero, which is our Italian restaurant.”
“Geez,” I said. “That’s quite a choice.”
“We also have the Cove,” she continued. “Which is our bar lounge where you can order a range of different snack and pub foods, not to mention cocktails.”
I whistled. “I think maybe I’ll just stay in my room tonight,” I said. “Maybe order in.”
“Of course,” she nodded. “You’ll find our in-room menu on your bedside table.”
“This place is fantastic,” I said as Alani started moving down the hall.
“Mr. Dubois is a visionary,” Alani said, and it was obvious by her tone that she was as impressed with her boss as I was. “He was instrumental in the architecture of the resort, and he was involved every step of the way.”
I nodded, looking around at the casual blend of modern and classical elegance. “I can see his influence,” I said. “He always did like mixing periods.”
Alani led me to huge double doors and knocked once. I heard a faint “come in,” and then she pushed open the door and gestured me inside. I took a deep breath and entered.
Tristan was sitting behind a desk, with his back to yet another stunning ocean view. But somehow, the scenery seemed to pale in comparison to the man who stood to greet me.
It had been six years since I’d last seen him, and yet in the three seconds that it took him to cross the room towards me, I regressed back to that shy eighteen-year-old girl whose only goal in life was to impress Tristan Dubois.
He was still as handsome as ever, except now there was maturity to his features that only served to enhance his looks. I remembered daydreaming about that strong, confident jaw, the slant of his cheekbones, the way his dark eyes could look passionate and dangerous in the same breath.
“Molly!” he smiled.
I pushed back my nerves and reminded myself that I was no longer the shy and insecure eighteen-year-old I used to be.
“Hello, Tristan,” I replied calmly.
Chapter Five
Tristan
It was strange seeing Molly in the flesh after six years of absence. I could recognize the young girl that she had once been, but I could also see the woman she was now.
She had that tousled, fresh-off-the-plane look, but it did nothing to detract from her appearance. She had the kind of old-world beauty that couldn’t be hidden. Her blonde hair had been tied into an untidy topknot, from which loose strands trailed around her face and down her neck. Her blue eyes were lighter than I remembered, and it put me in mind of the ocean just after sunrise.
I calculated in my head and realized that she was around twenty-four now. It didn’t matter, I told myself firmly. She was still Jason’s sister.
“It’s been a long time,” Molly said.
I smiled and leaned in for a hug. I thought she returned the hug stiffly, but that might have just been my imagination. When I pulled back, I tried not to get sidetracked by the intensity of her blue eyes.
“It has been a long time,” I nodded. “Too long.”
Alani cleared her throat, and I realized she was still in the room. “I’ll just wait outside,” she said, with a knowing smile. She shut the door behind her, leaving Molly and me alone together.
I gestured towards one of the chairs opposite my desk. “Come, sit down,” I said. “You must be exhausted after the flight.”
Molly followed me to the desk, and I noticed that she was preoccupied with the view as she sat down. “I am,” she replied. “I had been hoping to head straight to my room and get in a couple of hours of sleep first.”
