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“You own a hotel here?” I asked, my eyebrows shooting up in surprise.
“A resort, really. Plenty to do there, and I’m sure you’ll enjoy the beach,” he replied with a knowing smile.
I tore at my sweater, yanking it over my head and tying it around my waist as the captain fired up the motor on the boat. The breeze felt incredible against my skin as we stood on the deck, the boat chugging through the turquoise water. I tilted my head upward, soaking in the sun on my face.
“You should put on sunscreen. The sun is fiercer than in New York,” Oliver advised, his tone gentle but insistent.
“I don’t burn that easily,” I protested, waving a dismissive hand.
“You have fair skin,” he reminded me.
“Stop being a mother hen,” I teased, rolling my eyes.
I glanced over at Vlad, who was trying to stifle a smile, and then back at Oliver. He just shook his head and grabbed my hand, kissing the back tenderly. The island came into view a few minutes later, a long stretch of sandy beach disappearing into a grove of leafy palm trees. Two boats loaded with supplies sat anchored on the dock that jutted out into the water.
The heat was getting to me, and I wished we had stopped at the hotel so I could have changed into shorts. I wiped at a trickle of sweat as it leaked down my cheek, feeling sticky and uncomfortable. Oliver, on the other hand, looked cool and composed, his shirt barely showing any signs of sweat.
“I need air conditioning, stat,” I muttered, more to myself than anyone else.
Chapter 11
After the boat was secured on the new wooden dock, we disembarked, stepping onto the hot sand. Even though I was wearing sneakers, I could feel the heat seeping through the rubber and leather. In the distance, the beeping of equipment and the banging of tools filled the air.
As we approached the construction site, I was awed by the progress. Concrete walls were being put into place, and the entire foundation, as well as most of the outer walls, were complete. Men worked diligently on the roof, laying orange clay tiles. Oliver introduced me to the foreman, Charles Hennigan. He was a small man with a bald head, but it was clear he commanded respect. When a worker tried to give him a hard time, he stared him down with unwavering authority.
“How is everything, Charles?” Oliver asked, his voice carrying over the noise.
“On schedule,” Charles replied. “We made up some time with the walls. The pours went well and dried fast, thanks to the lack of rain.”
“How’s Jonah? And where is he?”
“I sent him to the bunkhouse. He didn’t seem to be feeling well. I think he might be a little dehydrated.”
“Thanks. I’d like to see him.”
Oliver shook Charles's hand before heading toward a large concrete house painted white with gray shutters. We walked along the hot sand until we reached a sturdy steel door.
“What will you do with this house when ours is built?” I asked, curiosity piqued.
“It will be turned into employee quarters,” Oliver explained.
“No one will be in the house with us?”
“Do you want them to be?” he asked.
“No. I want to be alone with you.”
I reached up and smoothed my hair back, feeling the sweat on my scalp. I couldn’t wait to get inside and out of the sun. Oliver pushed open the gray steel door, and I raised my eyebrows in surprise. From the outside, the house looked stark and boring; however, that was not the case inside.
Cool air rushed over my skin as we stepped into a large, open room. It housed a modern kitchen with stainless steel appliances, including an oversized refrigerator and a six-burner stove. White quartz counters gleamed, and the island accommodated eight black iron stools. A long wooden rectangular table was surrounded by twelve chairs.
On the other side of the room was a large conversation area with three overstuffed brown couches and a flat-screen television mounted on the wall. Gray tile swept through the rooms, leading down a long hallway where several doors hinted at bedrooms and bathrooms. The ceilings were open rafters, and large windows covered with closed white Venetian blinds kept the sun at bay. The walls were painted a basic white, with no décor yet adorning them.
I sighed with relief as the air conditioning soothed my overheated skin. “This is amazing,” I said, turning to Oliver. “I had no idea it would be so nice inside.”
Oliver smiled, pleased with my reaction. “I wanted to make sure everyone was comfortable. The main house will be even better.”
“I can't wait to see it finished,” I said, genuinely excited.
