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And me? Yeah. I’m the idiot who married him.
God help us all.
eleven
WEST
The hum of the heavy machinery fills the air as I walk through the resort later that afternoon. Checking progress, feeling satisfied because we’re making headway in the impossible task of building something from nothing.
And I’m really trying not to think about the way Eden looked so upset earlier. Or how lonely she said she was. And how it’s my fault she’s feeling that way.
Shoving my hands into my pockets, I take a long breath, trying to focus on the view instead of the woman currently messing with my equilibrium. From the top of the hill, the resort site fans out in a horseshoe curve around the bay at the northern most point of the island.
The framing’s already done on most of the family cottages. Clean white timber, pitched roofs, wide porches made for sticky ice-cream fingers and tired toddlers. There's a splash pad going in by the café. Themed gardens that’ll bloom to life by the time we open. And a treehouse climbing zone tucked into the oaks.
It’s small. Intimate. Miles from the Vegas monstrosities Vin usually bankrolls.
But I can’t help but feel the rush of accomplishment heating my veins.
“Nice view.” Hudson’s voice cuts through the noise.
I turn to see him and Parker walking up the slope from the south entrance, hard hats in hand, boots coated with the same red island dust that clings to everything up here.
“Just don’t look behind you,” I mutter, jerking my chin toward the pile of shipping pallets stacked like a game of Jenga someone gave up on.
Hudson gives a dry chuckle. “You’ve seen my backyard. Mess doesn’t scare me.”
His yard’s a riot of plastic slides, muddy footprints, and fairy lights tangled in the trees.
I grew up with manicured lawns and silent hallways. If something was out of place, it got locked away or thrown out.
I prefer his landscaping to that of my parents’.
Parker slaps his palm against my shoulder. “You’re looking cranky. Is everything okay?”
“Everything’s fine.” I nod toward the field office. “Shall we go inside? The next stage plans are there.”
As they follow me in, I force my shoulders down and my jaw to loosen. Act normal. Professional. Do not, under any circumstances, picture the expression on Hudson’s face if he knew I almost kissed his little sister.Again.
The office is barely cooler than the outside air. The portable A/C unit hums in the corner, rattling against the thin metal walls. I motion for them to sit at the table, grabbing the freshly printed layout from the corkboard behind me.
Hudson leans back in one of the plastic chairs, his forearm resting casually on the edge.
“Before we get into numbers,” he says. “I just want to say thanks again for looking out for Eden.”
I pause for a breath too long. The blueprint in my hands suddenly feels heavy.
But Hudson doesn’t notice my hesitation, thank god.
“You offering her a place to stay?” he continues. “That was above and beyond. Especially with the timeline you’re under here.”
Parker snorts. “You might be the only man on the planet who could survive sharing a roof with Eden Fitzgerald and a project like this. Both at the same time.”
I force a tight smile. “I was happy to help.”
Hudson stretches out his legs. “I can’t imagine it’s easy having someone that young crashing at your place. I love my sister. I’m so glad to have her home. But it must be like babysitting a hyperactive golden retriever. Plus I assume it’ll put a bit of a cramp in your… extracurriculars.”
I lift an eyebrow. “Extracurriculars?” I don’t like the sound of that word. Not at all.
