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Why does he care? Unless he’s interested beyond her pussy, after all…
Kate turns back, a frown settling between her brows. “We’re going to lose sunlight quickly. I need to walk the perimeter before then. Clearly, the hotel south of us has put up something that resembles a fence so we can approximate the property line. We’ll have to verify, of course, but I’d like to see the rest, especially to glean any possible egress issues for heavy machinery. This whole…structure needs to come down.”
“You’re calling this shit hole a structure? You’re being kind,” Marcus quips.
She sighs. “I have a million things to do. I need to get started.”
Then she’s gone, disappearing under something that used to be a decorative arch, but was long ago reclaimed by nature.
“Nothing here looks stable or safe. I’m going to follow her,” I tell him.
Marcus curses and scrubs a hand down his face. “I’d accuse you of using this situation to your advantage, but if Kate dies her first day on site, it would upset Savannah. Then Chad would kill us both.”
If that’s the excuse he needs for giving a shit… “Let’s go.”
Together, we set our luggage beside Kate’s things and follow. Normally, I wouldn’t leave suitcases lying around, but there’s literally no one in sight. The moist ground and dripping trees make it obvious it’s rained recently. The front of what used to be this hotel is more than half mud, but I don’t see a single footprint. In fact, nothing looks as if it’s been disturbed by human hands in years.
“Where should we set up our office?” I ask him as we follow Kate.
“Beats the hell out of me. This is going to be a shit show. You know that, right?”
I shrug. “Kate seems determined to make it work.”
“Because her future at Force Financial depends on it.”
It does. “I want her to succeed.”
“Because you want her.”
“So? You do, too. Are you going to help her or make sure she gets fired to punish her because of it?”
He scowls. “Don’t be an asshole…”
“You’re only saying that because I’m asking you a question you don’t want to answer.”
Zinger dropped, I dart after Kate.
Marcus is right behind me, scrambling and cussing as he shoves tree limbs aside and kicks vegetation out of his way. Maybe that’s a metaphor for our connection with our gorgeous new colleague, and I need to roll with it. If I pursue Kate, my best friend won’t be able to help himself. I know Marcus; he’ll move heaven and earth to touch her with me.
When Marcus and I were with Taylor, my sister asked why I shared her with him. I didn’t have an answer, except that it felt right. I’ve made most decisions in life by instinct. After the three of us fell apart, I questioned myself. How could I have been so wrong? Now I’m wondering if that winter was more about figuring out what sort of life I want and less about finding the woman meant to spend it between us.
My gut is screaming at me not to let Kate go—and not to let Marcus push her away. Is it possible pursuing her will result in heartbreak again? Sure. But it’s also possible we’ll end up happily ever after.
I refuse to give up before I give us a try.
In a few steps, I catch up to Kate on a narrow path beside what was once a huge swimming pool. Now it’s a half-filled breeding ground for mold and insects. “Kate?”
She spins to face me, blue eyes and pillowy lips wide. The sun glows behind her as it races toward the horizon. Golden light illuminates her pale curls, caressing her shoulders and whipping in the breeze. As I stare, she raises her determined chin. Kate has spine. She’s a doer. I like that. Once Marcus stops fighting his pull to her, he’ll appreciate that, too.
“What do you think?” I ask. “Beyond the fact it needs a bulldozer.”
“I’m trying to reimagine the space. I don’t know why they built the parking lot facing the ocean, rather than the road. The slope of the land? Volcano eruptions? Something else entirely? Whatever the reason, I suspect it will be expensive to fix, particularly since the soil is hardened lava, but the effort and expense will be worth it to give guests the maximum benefits of the site’s natural beauty.”
“Beauty?” Marcus challenges as he approaches. “On the island, sure. Here? I don’t see it. I don’t even think it’s possible. If you put lipstick on a pig, it’s still a pig.”
He’s pushing back harder than he needs to. To foment friction between them?
I’m not having it. “I think she’s on to something, man. After all, it’s Hawaii. And this place is unspoiled.”
