Page 40 of The Rebel

Easy for him to sound confident when he has the Rochester millions backing him. Even if he flounders in his new role he won’t be left feeling a useless failure.

But I don’t say any of that. Instead, I point to the large window on the far side of the room, where I can see a stunning view of the resort’s lush gardens and the marina beyond. ‘Thanks, I’ll keep that in mind. In the meantime, I’m almost done with the PR on making your resort more appealing, because that out there sells itself.’

‘Great.’ He glances away and an uncomfortable silence descends.

‘What’s wrong?’

He takes another few seconds to respond. ‘Nothing. We can discuss it another time.’

Uh-oh. ‘But you’re happy with my work, right?’

‘Absolutely.’ He shoots me a tight smile. ‘It’s just an idea I had on the way over here but I’d prefer you wrap things up on the resort’s PR, then we’ll talk.’

‘Phew.’ I make an exaggerated swipe of my brow. ‘Okay, sounds good.’

‘I’ll leave you to it.’

Before he stands I touch his hand, just because I want to. ‘Things are all good with us, yeah?’

‘Yeah.’ He glances out of the window, as if ensuring we’re alone, before swooping in for a quick kiss. ‘Though you should’ve woken me this morning.’

‘Why, when I was having so much fun watching you sleep?’

I trace the back of his hand with my fingertip, over the tendons, the knuckles, his long fingers. It’s an intimate gesture and he doesn’t shy away.

‘That’s rather stalkerish,’ he says, turning his hand over so we’re palm to palm.

‘Then consider me your stalker for the brief time I have left on the island.’ I make a scary woo-woo sound. ‘You have been warned.’

He cracks a grin but his heart’s not in it. Something is wrong but before I can grill him further he gives my hand a squeeze and stands.

‘I’ll see you later.’

‘You can count on it…’ but my response fades because he’s already at the door like he can’t get away from me fast enough.

After last night I know we’re okay. We’re going to have fun after hours for however much longer I’m here, a few days max. That’s what happens when I do too good a job, it wraps up earlier than expected.

But Hart is hiding many secrets and I need to accept that I’m not the woman he’ll divulge them to.

Chapter Nineteen

Hart

Later that afternoon, Daisy sends me the final website design so I can approve it before it goes live.

It’s phenomenal.

She’s super talented, like I told her asshole boss, and will do well if she decides to branch out on her own. The new website is easy to navigate, with clearcut links to bookings, villas, facilities, attractions, and a gallery that would make any tourist want to get here as soon as humanly possible.

She’s made Gem Island the place to be and the resort look like a haven. She’s even managed to make me look good and that’s saying something. I have no doubt that once this website goes live and she ramps up the social media campaign, bookings will start to increase for the first time since Pa’s death.

But as I scroll through the fancy new website I’m struck again by how this place would be perfect for what I have in mind. It’s a radical idea that doesn’t fit with the island’s glamorous image. I mentioned it to Pa once and he shot me down before I finished articulating it.

I know it’s a good idea. Not for the PR but for what it will give to those kids who are doing it tough like I once did. It’s my way of giving back.

I’m tired of dealing with the same issues over and over. No matter which city in the world I visit, no matter the age of the kids, they’re all facing the same fears. Fear of being shunted from home to home, fear of foster parents and siblings, fear of losing everything and ending up on the streets, fear of abuse, fear of bullies.

I should’ve known Daisy would home in on my comment about bullies. That’s what set me off when I entered the conference room and saw that boss of hers berating her. Something inside me snapped, catapulting me back in time to when I was eight, in my first home, and an older foster sibling was standing over me, yelling in my face, jabbing his finger into my chest, trying to get me to fight back.

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