Page 37 of Perfect (mis)Match

“Thanks,” Piper whispered back, grinning mischievously. “Now let’s go have some fun.”

11

PIPER

Iwas officially in paradise.

Lush, tropical, flower-scented paradise, complete with the promise of a waterfall somewhere in the distance. How was this my job?

Adding to the strangeness was the fact that I was holding hands with the man I used to detest, who I now had to admit I actuallyliked.

And thankfully, the Sullivans had warmed to him too. They’d given us a tour of their stunning home, and we were now checking out our private bungalow, which was down the hill from the main house.

Our accommodations were what I’d call “fancy Hawaiian rustic”—soaring, bleached wood paneled vaulted ceiling and a wall of windows on the back side with white billowy curtains blowing in the breeze. It was quiet luxury with a focus on comfort and honoring the environment.

“This way, this way,” Jean beckoned as she walked through the space. “I want you to see the view from the back.”

“You’re not going to believe it,” Joe added with a wink.

Vincent pulled me along until the four of us were looking out the open back wall, gazing out over the rolling fields of heliotrope. Miles of purple stretched out before us, the occasional flicker of pink and white wildflowers breaking through the violet sea.

No wonder the space smelled so sweet.

“It’s perfect,” Vincent said with awe.

I knew he was thinking about the harvest, but it sounded like real appreciation for the natural beauty of the land.

“We’re pretty proud of it,” Joe said. “Glad you’re here to see it.”

I held my breath. Whatever Vincent said next could make or break the entire trip. I’d secured us the time with the Sullivans, but we still needed to jump through the hoops they presented in order to get to the contract stage. And Vincent had to prove there was more to him than the jackass they’d met at the engagement party.

He turned to Joe. “I’m honored that you trust this harvest to Summit. Your contribution is the key toEvermore’s success, and we love that your farm’s DNA will always be a part of it. Thank you for all of this.”

I breathed a sigh of relief. Humble. Appreciative. Kind.Perfect.

“It’s our great pleasure,” Joe replied.

The two men regarded one another for a few seconds, as if they were silently sealing the deal.

“Now, come see the outdoor shower!” Jean said as she scurried down a hallway.

Joe followed right behind her, leaving us bringing up the rear.

“Outdoor shower?” Vincent muttered to me under his breath. “What is this, summer camp?”

Ah, there he was. He hadn’t lost his edge after all.

“Stop,” I whispered, giving him a soft punch to the gut that only made him chuckle.

I wasn’t exactly thrilled about the possibility of showering outside either until I saw what Jean meant. We stepped into an oasis of a bathroom, where the white porcelain soaking tub bordered a completely open-air space with two waterfall shower heads. The privacy wall that blocked off the area was made of black volcanic rock, and the vines and tree branches grew down on it as if it was a natural part of the environment.

“Okay,wow,” I breathed.

“Have you ever tried an outdoor shower?” Jean asked.

I shook my head.

“Not one like this,” Vincent said. “I used a makeshift one when I was summiting a mountain, but that was a very different experience.”

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