The Sweetest Kiss: A Billionaire Love Story (3 page)

I
spent
the next few hours up to my neck in dirt. I had visions of arriving in a picture-perfect place, dropping my bags down, and catching up on some serious R&R. But that wasn’t to be. It had been a month since my sister’s funeral, her body was brought back to the United States and buried beside my parents in Nevada. It wasn’t just the fact that Hurricane Fiona had torn the place to shreds. The place looked as if it hadn’t been cleaned in a year. Emily had been so secretive about her diagnosis. When she eventually told me, I wanted to shout at her. I could have helped her. Instead she had tackled it alone. Why? That was Emily. Being independent was both her strength and her weakness. I had noticed that she had lost weight when she visited New York two years before she died. Had she known about her cancer then? If she did she kept it to herself.

I continued scrubbing the bathroom sink. Lime scale rings had formed around the bottom from what appeared to be a tap that was leaking. That was another thing I had to add to my long list of repairs. Within a matter of an hour I had a sheet full of repairs that needed to be done. If this place was going to operate as a retreat and make any money, it needed to be in top shape.

Taking a break from the cleaning, I pulled off the yellow rubber cleaning gloves, tied my hair back to get some air to my neck, and then slumped down on the sofa. On the table in front of me was a stack of mail. Most of it was junk, but there were some utility bills and… As I sorted through it, I found a letter addressed to me. I flipped it over. She hadn’t sealed it and there was no stamp on it.

I took out the piece of paper inside and unfolded it.

D
ear Hayley
,

W
ell
, my sister, if you are reading this now, I have passed on. I was going to drop this in the mail to you but I had a gut feeling that you would take my offer. So if you are reading this now you must be wondering why on earth I would put you in charge of my business. It’s simple really. For all your hard work in the city, I know you aren’t happy. I could see it in your eyes when we would Facetime. Look, I haven’t had it easy down here and it sucks that my life is going to be cut short. I had hopes of marrying one day and having kids. I know, I never told you that
but there was a lot I never told you. But despite not seeing that happen, I have loved every minute of my life. Believe me when I say that I am going to the grave kicking and screaming. I don’t want to die. I don’t want my life to be over. But life has another plan for me. Maybe we come back again? Or perhaps we move on to some other planet. Who knows. There are many things that are out of my control.

I’m sorry that I didn’t tell you sooner about my diagnosis. I really didn’t want to stress you out any more than you already were after mom and dad died. Anyway, I’m starting to feel sorry for myself so let me get to the part about what this letter is about.

Hayley, I really want you to make a go of this. It’s not going to be easy. Hell, the past two years haven’t been easy since the Waylands took over. But don’t let them push you around. And believe me they will try. They are going to toss more money at you than you can imagine and it’s going to be tempting. I can’t speak for you, but I would hope as my sister that you would hold your ground. Don’t sell out. They bought up all the cottages on the island except for my three and Mrs. Arnet’s two. Thankfully she had a thick skin like me and wouldn’t let them intimidate her.

Now I know it’s entirely up to you. You can ride out the year and then sell if you want to but if you want to do one thing to honor my memory, please don’t sell it to them and if you do sell, stipulate that the owners cannot sell it to the Waylands.

I know I sound as if I am hating on them but I despise their big-money attitudes. Not one of them has had to work an honest day in their whole life.

So, enough of my ranting. I love you, sis. I’m going to miss you the most. I wish we had more time together. Follow your heart. Find a man that makes you happy. He doesn’t have to be perfect. Just someone who treats you right. Respects you and is willing to roll up his sleeves.

Until we meet again,

I
love you
, sis,

Emily

A
few tears
dropped down on the paper. I wiped my face with the back of my hand and folded up the letter. It was hard to imagine that she was gone. It was difficult enough being here but in some way I felt as though she was still around. I breathed in deeply and went out the back. The ocean roared, waves lapped up against the shore, and the sun beat down. It was a pocket of paradise. An oasis. As I stood out there, I suddenly had a sense that someone was watching me. I spun around and was startled to find the same man who I had seen earlier.

“Sorry to intrude.”

“Who let you in?”

The man thumbed over his shoulder. “The door was open. I…” he trailed off staring at me. “My word. You are the spitting image of Emily.” He gave a warm smile. I felt my insides churn a little. He was handsome. I cupped my hand over my eyes to block out the light so I could see him better. The kind of guy that looked as if he had just stepped out of a men’s fitness magazine. He wore a black V-neck T-shirt that hugged his muscles in all the right places, a white pair of khaki bottoms that were rolled up, and a pair of flip-flops. He had deep blue eyes, the kind that reminded me of a wolf. His black hair swept back in curls.

“You must be…”

I found myself momentarily at a loss for words before I snapped out of it.

“Emily. I mean, Hayley. Hayley Fields.”

He stepped a little closer and I began to feel a little self-conscious. I ran a hand through my hair, pushing back a few loose strands that were whipping around my face.

“I’m Ethan.”

He sounded as if he was going to continue but he didn’t. I came over to him and extended my hand, he took a hold of it, and I felt his strong grip. I felt butterflies in my stomach.

“I’m guessing Emily didn’t say anything about me?”

“No. No she didn’t. Um, are you a friend of Mrs. Arnet? Son or grandson?”

He smirked. “No, I’m taking care of the property. Doing a few renovations and repairs.”

“Is she ill?”

“Not exactly, she decided to sell and I took it on.”

“Ah… a fellow misfit.”

“Excuse me?”

“Well you know. It’s us against them. The evil Waylands,” I said before laughing.

He laughed. “Right. Yeah, I’ve heard about them.”

“So do you have family?”

“You mean, wife, girlfriend? Kids? No. Just me.”

I shifted from one foot to the next feeling a little awkward.

“So do you perform repairs on the island?” I quickly interjected hoping to shift the conversation back to something that didn’t seem like I was prying.

“Not exactly but—”

I sighed. “I was just hoping I could find someone to give me a hand with a few things around here. You know, get the place up to scratch.”

He glanced around as if he was surveying the damage.

“I could give you a hand if you like.”

“You would?”

“That’s what I said.”

“Right.” I bit down on inside of my cheek. “And um, what brought you over?”

His eyebrows rose as if remembering. “I just wanted to welcome you to the neighborhood.”

“Not much of a neighborhood. Just me and you in the cove.”

“I’m sure that will change soon. By the way, have you seen much of the island?”

“Not yet, up to my neck in grime right now.” I began to feel self-conscious again.

“Come, I’ll show you around.”

“Ah, I don’t know about that. I mean, I look a mess.” I twirled a finger through my hair.

“You look fine to me.”

I looked around wondering what else I could do. The dirt would still be there when I got back.

“Why not? Sure. Let me just grab my flip-flops.”

I squeezed past him and the sliding door and caught the aroma of his cologne. It was spicy and aromatic. I ducked into the bedroom and looked at myself in the mirror. I look fine? I shook my head. He had to be lying. I looked as if I had been dragged through a bush backward. My hair was all over the place. I hadn’t put on any makeup since leaving New York. I had more resemblance to a hobo. I tore off my top and dug around inside my unpacked suitcase for a shirt. I tried one, then another and eventually went with a white blouse. I kicked off the shoes I had on and pulled out my flip-flops. It felt good to wiggle my toes around and not have to worry about having them frozen by those New York winters. Maybe I could get used to this place?

We left my place and walked along the beach.

“So what do people do for fun around here?”

He squinted as he looked over at me. “Everything. Snorkeling, boat rides, island hopping, windsurfing, you name it, we have it here.”

“You mentioned you knew my sister?”

He looked off into the distance, then reached down and picked up a piece of an old branch. “We dated.”

I frowned. “Wow, she never told me that.”

“Maybe she forgot.”

“No, I would have imagined that would have been something she would have told me.” I stopped walking. “How long has it been since you took over Mrs. Arnet’s place?”

“About a month.”

“Then when did you date my sister? She was ill for over nine months.”

“Ah, it was kind of an on again, off again thing we had going.”

I nodded. As we rounded another area on the island we came across a bar called Goalie’s Bar, an open-air bar and restaurant. The posts which held up the roof looked as if they were made out of the palm trees.

“You should see this place at night. They wrap lights around the trunks and turn it on. It’s something to see.”

I carried my flip-flops between my fingers as we walked on the white sand.

“So what’s the deal with the Waylands?”

“What do you want to know?”

“Well I know a fair bit about them because of my work.”

“Which was?”

“The
National Enquirer
.”

He stopped walking.

“What?”

“Really? You worked for that trashy tabloid?”

I frowned. Okay, maybe it was trashy but I suddenly found myself becoming defensive of the very company that I had come to loathe. “Yes. It was a job. Everyone has to earn a living.”

“Not off the backs of others.”

He continued walking.

“What do you mean?”

“You know the way they are always releasing trashy stories that aren’t true.”

I cocked my head to one side. “I can’t argue with that. But lies, sex, and gossip sell.”

“Not sure I could lay my head down at night and feel good about working for a company like that.”

“Really? Well, who do you work for?” I asked curious to find out how his work was any better than mine. I couldn’t help taking offense, even if every word he said was true. Why was that? Why was I getting all up in arms over some company that I no longer worked for? Perhaps my worth was tied to my work. Emily had always said I took it all a bit too seriously. Maybe she was right.

He picked up a shell and tossed it out into the surf.

“I work for myself.”

“Doing what?”

“Like I told you, I am going to be running the two cottages that Mrs. Arnet owned.”

“So we will be neighbors.”

“Sort of. I don’t sleep there. My place is on the north side of the island.”

“Oh, you are in one of the Wayland-owned properties?”

“You could say that.”

As we continued making our way around the island, I was beginning to think we should have taken a scooter. “This is quite the distance. We aren’t going to walk the entire thing, are we?”

“You tired?”

I breathed out hard. “I haven’t stopped since leaving New York.”

“Really? You should have told me. We can do this another day if you like.”

“Well, how big is this island?”

“About one hundred and fifteen acres. We can walk back. There is plenty of time to see the island.”

We turned back around and began the slow trudge back to the cottages.

“So what is the deal with all the hate towards the Waylands?” I asked.

“I’m not sure, really. I mean everyone got to keep their jobs, they have improved this place and made it their mission to develop conservation and sustainability initiatives. Some of which are getting rid of people having water bottles on the island.” He gazed at the one I was holding in my hand and I turned a slight shade of red, after which he let out a chuckle. “Don’t worry. There are no plastic police going to ticket you.”

“I didn’t know they were involved in that. I always just saw them as a family that were focused on making money and wasting it in bars.”

“Ah see, that’s what trashy tabloids will report. As that’s the stuff people love. They love to see the train wreck. None of them will have an article about what we are doing with the environment. Like how we have programs to teach students about marine conservation and resource management or we have our own water filtration and bottling plant right here on the island. The entire thing turns wastewater into irrigation water.”

“We?”

He paused. “I meant, well, we as an island. Not me.”

“For a moment I thought you were about to say you were one of the Waylands.”

He let out a chuckle. “Me? A Wayland?” He again laughed.

Upon returning to the cottages, I was about to go in when I thanked him.

“Well, Ethan, thanks for that short trek around part of the island.”

“Yeah, perhaps we can do it again and I can actually show you the whole island.”

“I would like that. Anyway, nice to meet you.”

I turned to head in when he spoke, “Hayley, would you care to join me for dinner tonight? I mean after you have had some rest. I’m just going to throw a few lobsters and burgers on the BBQ.”

“Sure, I would like that,” I said, no hesitating. Truth was I didn’t have anything to cook up and I didn’t feel like trekking to the other side of the island for food. Then of course having dinner with a guy who was extensively easy on the eyes wasn’t something I was going to pass up.