Daniel quickly glanced at his watch.
“Well, this looks super romantic. You shouldn’t have,” Harper teased.
“Only the best for you.” Daniel lowered his lips to hers and grinned. Then he heard the sound.
Chop, chop, chop.
She gasped against his lips, and he grinned wider.
The helicopter landed as they both held onto their belongings, Harper’s hair slashing his face. He pressed down on her back, and they ran into the body of the craft. In moments, they were buckled in, and their headsets were on so they could communicate.
“Oh my god, I love choppers,” Harper said, taking his hand. Daniel squeezed it. “Where are we going? Tell me!”
When he just winked at her, she groaned.
An hour later, they landed on the helipad at the Four Seasons Resort in Maui.
Harper's nose had been stuck to the window as they neared the island and he’d listen to her chatter over the headphones, feeling so fucking proud he had made her so happy.
They were greeted by the manager, who shook Daniel's hand, knowing exactly who he was, and led them to a private beach dining area. Three staff stood on the edges and discretely seated them, provided them with plumeria leis and poured them a glass of champagne.
“This is incredible,” Harper said.
“Happy?” he asked, while their candles were lit.
The sun was setting directly in front of them in a haze of orange and pinks so bright it looked like something from a postcard.
Thank you, Mother Nature. The sunset Daniel hadn’t been able to plan, but this was Hawaii, and you were nearly always guaranteed a beautiful burning sky.
“Miserable,” Harper replied, looking at him like a woman falling in love. He’d be lying if he said he hated it. “Worst date ever.”
“Good,” he said and took her hand before he said something he wasn’t ready to say.
Probably ever.
For the next few hours, they talked and teased each other as a four-course meal was served, then they headed down onto the sand.
Harper took off her shoes and walked through the surf, holding her pink sundress in a bunch up by her thigh, showing off her toned, sexy legs. Her hair flapped behind them in the breeze.
Daniel walked backwards, watching her, and she smiled at him.
“You’re nicer than I thought you’d be.”
“I’m only nice to you,” he replied, and it was mostly true.
“Rubbish. The way you talk about your brothers, I can tell you love them.”
“Yes, but I’m not nice to them. They’re little shits,” he said, grinning.
“Those little shits are directors in your business.”
He shrugged. “It’s their business as much as it is mine.”
“What are they like?” she asked, and Daniel looked out across the ocean. He wanted to answer, but a part of him needed to keep a boundary up. Harper was his in Hawaii.
Nowhere else.
It had to be like this.