Every kiss. Every time they’d made love, it had felt like he was becoming more and more addicted to her.
Somewhere between that damn hurricane and the moment he’d slipped the Cartier watch onto her wrist, she’d slipped inside his heart.
Thanks to his father, and that fucking text, it had ended far too soon. Fuck it. Daniel didn’t know if that had been a blessing or a curse, but if he could change time, he’d throw his phone off the side of the building.
The truth was, he was falling in love with Harper.
Hell, maybe he was in love with her.
The fact he was still standing on Hawaiian soil pretty much spoke to that. He seemed incapable of leaving her, and yet, he knew tomorrow afternoon he would have to go.
His chest tightened.
He lifted his eyes and found Harper looking at him. It was quick. Then she smiled at the man she was dancing with, and he twirled her around.
Fast, but not fast enough. Daniel hadn’t missed the emotion in those deep blue eyes of hers.
Pain, sadness, hope, and disappointment.
Daniel could take the pain away. He was going to. He had to. For both of them.
Plus, if he had to watch another man touch his girl for another minute more, he was going to punch someone.
“Excuse me,” he said to Akino, placing his glass on the table.
Akino followed his eyes. “See you on your next visit, Daniel,” the man said, using his first name for the first time.
Daniel slapped him on the shoulder. “Keep up the good work, Akino.”
Then he went to get his girl.
Because she was fucking his.
––––––––
HARPER HAD NEVER DANCED so much. It was easier than standing around watching women swoon over Daniel, or continually catching his eyes on her.
He hadn’t even bothered to say hello, or text her, after spending the night with her on the sofa.
And why was she bothering to even think about him when she had Cooper, Graydon and Luke, who were treating her like she was a goddess? Especially Cooper, whom she’d spent most of the night trying to keep some kind of boundary in place with.
A slower song came on, and when the others left, Cooper stayed on the dance floor and pulled her in for a close dance.
“Hey.” He smiled, and she’d put money on this good-looking man having broken some hearts in his life. He held her in his arms confidently and moved them around the dance floor.
“Hey, back,” she replied, dropping her eyes.
“You look beautiful,” Cooper said, ducking his head a little to catch her eye.
“Thank you.” Harper smiled. “You guys have been amazing. You have been amazing. I’m glad I met you.”
His hand rested in the small of her back as they swayed to the song, and his thumb mindlessly moved across her bare back.
Harper was relaxed, but not totally. Her eyes darted to the red decorations and fairy lights twinkling off the pool water. It would have been a truly romantic moment had she not given her heart away to someone else.
For a moment, it made her angry. She liked Cooper. He made her smile. She fit in his arms, and he had a way of making her feel special. Like he would do anything for her.
Cooper was that guy who would never let you down. You’d marry him, have a great sex life, and grow old together, not wanting for anything.