CHAPTERTWO
“Wow!” Emmy said as she stepped out of the Daniel K. Inouye airport into the midday sun, where she was greeted by a young woman holding a sign with what would have been her new last name.
“Are you Mrs. Townsend?” the woman asked with the biggest smile she had ever seen.
“I was supposed to be, but the bastard cheated on me two months before the wedding with my best friend. So, here I am. Alone. On what would have been our honeymoon. My name is still Emmy Nelson.” Emmy hated telling her story, but she had nothing to be ashamed about. She wasn’t the cheating asshole. That title was reserved for her ex-fiancé.
Yeah, it had hurt and still hurt, but after her conversation with Gerri and the little pep talk she had given herself, she had decided the best way to move on with her life was to do whatever the hell she wanted, and that included using her already paid-for trip to Hawaii to rediscover herself. Not only that, she wasn’t going to let a non-refundable trip to Hawaii go to waste.
“Oh! I … I’m sorry.” The perky woman’s face instantly fell with the nonchalant shocking news. She wasn’t quite sure what to do with the two bright pink flower leis hanging from her wrist.
“Don’t be. I’m just glad I found out about his betrayal before I saidI do,” Emmy said with a smile, trying to make the best of the sudden awkwardness … thanks to her mouth. “I’ll take both the leis for myself since I paid for them. I’m bound and determined to have the time of my life in this magical paradise!”
“What a great attitude to have regarding everything. I’m not sure I could be so upbeat,” the girl said. “My name is Malia, and I’ll escort you to your hotel and get you settled in.” She held the flower leis out to place around Emmy’s neck.
Emmy bent down and smiled to herself as the leis were placed around her neck. The flowery scent wrapped around her, and she breathed in a sigh of relief. Yes, it was weird that she was on what was supposed to be her honeymoon alone. Whatever. She was done crying, done asking why, and done feeling sorry for herself. It was time to pull up her big girl panties and figure out what to do with the rest of her life.
The woman opened the rear door of the SUV, and Emmy climbed in. It was a long flight, and she was ready to check into her hotel and take a short nap before heading out on her own to see the sights.
“Do you have a lot planned to keep you busy while you’re here?”
“I do. I plan on seeing everything I possibly can.” Emmy had done her homework and more than once. The first time she had planned out activities, it had been solely for couple’s activities. The second time around, she searched for activities for single people. Most of the things she found to do were going to put her far out of her comfort zone, but that was okay. That’s what this trip was all about … getting out there and figuring out what it was that she truly liked to do.
“I think that’s wonderful. There’s so much to do here, whether you’re single or with someone. You’ll have a great time, no matter what,” Malia said as they pulled away from the curb.
They drove in silence past the beautiful palms scattered throughout the scenery on the way to her hotel. She cracked open her window, allowing the salty sea air to pour in. There was something about it that rejuvenated her very soul. The second Emmy walked out of the airport, she felt a million times better than she had in months.
“It’s so beautiful here,” she sighed.
“It really is.”
“Have you lived here your whole life?”
“I have. I was born and raised here. I can’t imagine moving away from here. Hawaii is my home, my life. I swear it runs in my blood.” Malia laughed.
“I can see why.”
It didn’t take long for them to pull up outside of Kahala Hotel. It was even more beautiful than the website had depicted.
“Aloha,” a man said as he opened her door and held out his hand to her.
“Hi,” she replied with a smile. It was going to take her a hot minute to get used to how nice everyone seemed to be. Where she lived, most people frequented resting-bitch face as the norm. Everyone that she had seen since landing in Hawaii had nothing but smiles covering their faces. Maybe it was the sunshine that kept everyone in such good spirits. It was a nice change from her dreary life.
She gasped when she opened the door to her suite. It was more beautiful than she could have imagined. In addition to a king-size bed, there was a separate sitting area complete with a wet bar and everything she would need for her two-week getaway. Walking out onto the patio, she found herself a few steps away from the stunning sandy beach and pristine water.
“Oh, gosh!” she squealed at the sight.
Just to her left, she spotted the pool. Again, steps away from her room.
“This is absolute heaven!” Emmy couldn’t wait to change into her suit and head out into the sun. The nap she had been so desperate to sneak in was suddenly forgotten.
CHAPTERTHREE
“If it isn’t Kingston Conrad. What the hell brings you to my neck of the woods, brother?” Jace Morgan asked.
“Hey, punk!” Kingston pulled Jace into the standard man hug and gave him a couple of quick hard pats on the back before stepping back. “I got a call today. One that I wasn’t expecting,” Kingston said, taking a seat at the bar.
“Really? From?” Jace asked as he poured a glass of scotch and handed it to Kingston.