Kristen had dragged her out to a local bar where they had gotten completely smashed and danced like idiots all night long. It was just what Harper had needed.
Now she was on her way to Hawaii to meet with the team to look at locations and prepare for filming later in the year. She’d asked to be as involved as possible to ensure her books were represented accurately.
Harper had two weeks on the island, giving her a few days before the network arrived, then a week after her business with them was complete.
“I really wish I could afford to come with you,” Kristen pouted for the third time during their drive to the airport.
“Me, too.” Harper had tried to justify spending the money to take her friend with her, but flights from New Zealand were costly and they’d both agreed they’d plan a proper girls' holiday one day in the future.
“Find yourself a sexy Hawaiian boy, or man in uniform, while you’re there and have some sexy fun,” Kristen said, winking.
Harper shook her head. “Hell no. Either I have poor taste in men or bad luck. I’m going to shop, read, swim, tan and surf—not in that order—and that’s it.”
And focus on her books being turned into an amazing show for her readers. She couldn’t wait to tell them.
Her heart was still pretty bruised. She knew now David wasn’t the one, but the way he’d left had been cold and cruel.
It was clear he was cheating on her, or about to, and had used her career change as an excuse, manipulating her as he did.
Asshole.
It had taken a lot for her to open up and trust him when they’d first met. She had just turned twenty. On her twenty-first birthday, he’d pushed for them to move in together and then two years later he had proposed.
Had Harper burst into tears and said yes? No. She had asked for a few days to think about it. Which should have been a sign.
But after watching her parents' marriage, Harper wouldn’t race into anything. Her mother was constantly in her ear about David and how she shouldn’t trust him.
Turns out she had been right.
So, no, Harper had no intention of letting another man into her heart or life. She just wanted to focus on her career, and she’d worry about what that meant another day. She was only twenty-five—she had her whole life ahead of her. One that didn’t include lying, cheating men.
“Such a waste,” Kristen said. “Look at you—you’re goddamn gorgeous. All that olive skin and gorgeous long, dark hair.”
Harper knew she had been blessed with her father's Hawaiian genes and her mother's fast metabolism. However, she also worked out regularly and ate healthy. Tomorrow she would confidently put on a bikini and step onto Waikiki Beach.
“That doesn’t mean I should go around sleeping with all the men on the island.” She laughed.
“Not all of them. Two or three would be sufficient.” Kristen had shrugged and given her a cheeky grin. “And let that hair of yours down—my god, girl, you have the gifts. Use them.”
Harper's hand lifted self-consciously to her long, dark curls, which David had called a permanent mess. Perhaps that was why she always wore it up in a bun or some other twist.
He was right, though. Even when she did that, strands would come loose.
“Later, or it will frizz on the plane.”
“I think I need to buy a ticket. You are going to waste this trip. You need to be young and stupid—even for one of your two weeks.”
Harper shook her head and laughed.
She was very clear about her goals in Hawaii. A holiday romance was not one of them.