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The first day on the island was justifiable. I didn’t know.
The second day…?
That was just wrong of me. So wrong.
I drag my arm away from my face and then blink away the light all over again. Next, I make myself sit up.
Time to get moving.
I’ve waited too long to get back to the company CEO. There’s a significant time change between the company headquarters in New York and me here in Hawaii. I need to email Fabian back before he finishes up work for the day. Otherwise, I’ll look like a slacker.
I force thoughts about the Dreamy Jack Morgan out of my sleep-deprived mind.
I can’t risk a trip to the only restaurant with a buffet-style breakfast because I could run into Mr. Hunk himself. I need some time away from Jack if I’m going to think straight. So, I rummage in my suitcase for one of the packets of instant coffee I always keep on hand.
The bungalow has a microwave. I fill a mug with bottled water, zap it for two minutes, then shake in powdered coffee. It’s not as tasty as actual brew, but it will do.
I carry the concoction to the couch, then sit cross-legged. As I take my first sip, my cell phone rings.
“I knew you’d be up,” Alexis gushes as soon as I answer. “I bet you watched the sunrise.”
“I wish.”
“You didn’t?”
“I was too lost in thought.”
“Girl! I was picturing you on some white sand beach, watching pink tint the waves. You’re not still upset about this Jack Morgan thing, are you?”
I twist a strand of hair nervously. ‘Upset’ doesn’t even come close to how torn I feel.
“Lex, this is a big deal,” I say. “And yeah. I’m still freaking out about it. I know it probably sounds romantic... I mean, I fly to an island, meet a gorgeous guy?—”
“With abs of steel, you said. Didn’t you say that? This is once-in-a-lifetime stuff, honey. Honolulu with a gorgeous guy? Come on. You won the lottery. All you need to do right now is thank your lucky stars and enjoy every single freaking minute of?—”
“I can’t.” I rub my forehead. “It’s not how it sounds. It’s complicated, Lex. Like, really complicated. And I’m making it worse because I keep getting swept away when I shouldn’t. I really shouldn’t have gotten so dolled up last night for what was supposed to be a freaking work meeting…”
I drift, thinking about how different parts of me were at war last night while getting ready for dinner with Jack.
“That was so stupid of me,” I fret aloud. “I did the smokey-eye effect, plus my cherry red lipstick, and I swapped my flip-flops for ballet flats…”
She bursts out laughing.
I scowl.
“What?” I sip my coffee. It isn’t good. The bitter taste bites at my cheeks. But the ends justify the means; if this helps me wake up a bit after my poor night of sleep, it’s worth it.
I pucker my lips and brace myself as I draw in another sip.
I’m also making this face because Alexis is still laughing.
“Whew!” she gasps. “Okay, sorry, you get me sometimes with these things you say. Believe me, wearing your ballet flats is not as scandalous as you’re making it out to be.”
“I’m trying to explain that my head was in the wrong place going into that meeting.”
“So, you wanted to look cute. So what? I sometimes wear red lipstick just to go to the grocery store. It’s not wrong to want to feel pretty. You can do that for you, not ‘cause of some guy.”
“That’s the thing, though. I didn’t do it for me. I did it for him. And he’s not just some guy. Not anymore.”
