Disheveled and sleep hazy, she asked, “Why, where are we going?”
“To the house of the sun.” He patted her butt and tugged at her hair playfully. “Come on, babe. Rise and shine.”
By 9:00 a.m., Laney found herself sixty-five feet above sea level at the top of Haleakala Crater, in complete awe of the vista before her. She snapped picture after picture of the two-million-year-old moonlike crater and the surroundings from the staging area, before the downhill bike ride Ty insisted she shouldn’t miss before leaving the island.
He’d been right. Wearing helmets and outer gear to protect against the frigid weather, they sailed down the volcanic crater area on sturdy bikes, dropping to the three-thousand-foot level in less than ten miles, only stopping their exhilarating ride at key lookout points to take amazing pictures. At one point, all five of the islands were visible from where they stood. “This is awesome, Ty. I’ve never come up here before.”
“I thought you’d like it. The landscape’s amazing.” Then he kissed the tip of her nose. “And the view from where I’m standing isn’t half-bad, either.”
Laney snapped a candid picture of him then, holding his helmet in hand, wearing a crazy orange jumpsuit, but it was the appreciative look in his eyes that she wanted to capture in time. “I’d have to agree,” she said, before putting her helmet back on.
As they biked down closer to sea level, the outer gear came off, Ty giving them up to the driver of the chartered van following them. And once they reached up-country, more level land known for ranches and Hawaiian cowboys, Laney shot more pictures, grateful to Ty for understanding her love of photography and glad to have had this chance.
After leaving Justin at the altar, she’d only snapped pictures of things that required no effort and no research on her part, her heart too shattered and her confidence too wobbly to make the effort.
But this…this discovery had fulfilled all of her dreams. She knew she’d gotten some great shots today and she had Ty to thank for that.
When they arrived back at the Wind Breeze, Laney realized this would be her last few hours with Ty. She didn’t want to waste any time making small talk. She’d seen the hot gleam in his eyes and knew he was thinking the same thing.
They fell onto her bed with great urgency. Hungry mouths, steaming bodies and wild caresses had them panting hard. Ty stroked her to a full climax instantly, knowing her body so well and then she returned the gesture, taking him in her mouth and bringing him to the brink. Ty took control then, positioning her onto her back, lifting her legs to his shoulders and bringing them both to fast and fiery fulfillment in a matter of seconds.
The next time they made love, it was slow, deliberate, a final farewell. Ty took care with her and allowed her the time she needed to come to grips with the end of their weekend together. His kisses were long and lazy and he caressed her body with the tenderness one would lavish on a precious treasure.
Laney was certain she’d never find a better lover. Ty thrilled her, excited her and made her laugh. But he wouldn’t make her cry, she told herself. She’d known going into this brief affair, there could be no future for them. She hadn’t room in her heart to even try again.
Thanks to Justin Overton, she couldn’t put faith in any relationship any time soon. Maybe forever.
So when Ty sat up, glancing at the clock, realizing the time and offering her a ride to the airport, Laney declined.
They’d say their farewells here and now.
Ty kissed her soundly on the lips and gazing at her with regret in his eyes, he said something quite mysterious, like the mystery man that he was. “You were quite a surprise to me, babe.”
He left her sitting on the bed, holding a satin sheet to her chest, her hair tousled and wild about her face, wondering exactly what he meant by that.
Three
One month later, Laney bent down on her knees to set a dozen white carnations on her father’s grave. He’d always liked the simple traditional flower, sturdy and hearty, a bloom that would thrive a long time. Nolan Royal believed in longevity and in keeping his time-honored namesake hotels first-rate despite the newer, up-and-coming chains. He’d built a prestigious empire on that premise.
Now, the man was gone, but the empire was still alive.
Tears dripped from Laney’s eyes as she touched the fresh grass that had been planted over his resting place, as if the caress could possibly bring her closer to him, somehow. “Oh, Daddy,” she whispered, “I’m so sorry.”
She’d never get over the guilt she felt these past few weeks at not having been stronger for him, not having been the person he needed, not having helped him more when he seemed to need it most.
When she’d come home from the island after her extended stay, he’d been relieved to see her. He’d been dealing with the tension and pressure of the business failings without her, relying on his right-hand man, the only other person he trusted with inside information, Preston Malloy.
She’d promised her father right before his fatal heart attack that she would work her hardest to help get things back on track. The hotels had been plagued with a run of back luck or worse yet, they’d been deliberately sabotaged.
Her father had been perplexed, angry and frustrated at how so many things could go wrong in such a short span of time. Within months, many of The Royals across the continent had failed in one way or another.
Don’t worry, Daddy. I won’t disappoint you again. Laney made the vow in her heart and her mind. She was sole beneficiary to The Royal holdings and now everything fell in her lap. She’d assured her father she would keep the hotels thriving and she would do it.
“I’ll take care of things now,” she promised, staring at her father’s bronzed plaque. It rested beside her mother’s in a private section of the cemetery.
“I thought I’d find you here.” Preston Malloy came up behind her.
She rose from her knees to face him. “What is it?” she asked. “Is there another problem at Royal?”
Preston wrapped an arm around her shoulder and hugged her close. “Not today, Elena.”
As close as they’d been through the years, she’d never allowed Preston or anyone besides her mother, father and best friend, to call her Laney. Yet, she’d given her nickname to one other person, on a sandy beach, on an island, at a time in her life when she really needed a friend. Now, those special moments seemed as if they occurred eons ago.
“I just came by to make sure you’re okay.”
“I’ll be fine.”
“You’ve been here every day since the funeral, five days ago.”
“I know. I need to feel connected. I want Dad to know I’m here.”
“He knows. He wouldn’t want you blaming yourself for not being with him when he died. We’ve already had that talk.”
Preston smiled. He was ten years older than her, but he’d become her rock lately, holding up the business end while coordinating all the funeral arrangements. Small wonder that her father valued Preston’s abilities and friendship. She was grateful that her father had Preston as his executive assistant. Now, Preston took on another heavy load, dealing with a grieving daughter.
Laney had always suspected her father would have liked to see something happen romantically between the two of them. But though she’d been on several dinner dates with him, nothing had developed in that regard.
“I wish I’d been there to hold his hand during his last moments.” Laney shook her head, grief eating at her thinking about her father dying alone.
He’d