Page 96 of One Night in Hawaii

“That’s one of the problems of being loaded.” He sighed and pulled me against him. “People target you for your wealth. You can’t trust anyone. It’s a bummer.”

“You can trust me,” I promised.

“I know,” he said and turned off the bedside lamp. “And that’s why I love you so much.”

39

ARCHER

As the sun dipped below the horizon, casting a warm glow over the sandy beach, Ryder and Penelope’s party was in full swing. The crackling bonfire illuminated the faces of our friends, old and new, gathered around to celebrate Ryder’s achievement. I was happy for both of them. Penelope had been talking nonstop about how she was going to decorate the shop. Poor Ryder probably thought he was going to run some chill, surfing business. He didn’t know Penelope. She didn’t do anything chill. But it worked and I knew Ryder was happy with all of her prattling about what she was going to do.

It felt surreal to be back at the same beach where just a few months ago, my heart had been heavy with heartache. I remembered that night vividly—the waves crashing against the shore, the warmth of the bonfire, and Shiloh’s tearful eyes as she asked me to leave her boat. Things had looked pretty grim that night. I had convinced myself I would never find happiness.

But now, the scene was entirely different. Shiloh and I were together, hand in hand, our love stronger than ever. It was as if fate had brought us back to this very spot, this time to celebrate, not fight or sulk. The weather was a little cooler than that first night, but it was still pleasant. Shiloh looked more beautiful than ever. She was wearing a similar outfit. She had gone with a yellow sundress, a bikini underneath, and a sweater just in case she got chilly. I promised her if she was cold, I would be happy to warm her up.

As we danced and laughed with our friends, I couldn’t help but feel a profound sense of gratitude. Ryder had achieved his dream, and we were here, standing by his side, celebrating his success. Shiloh and I had a beautiful home and she had the grant she needed to take her trip next spring on her own terms, except I was going with her. That was not negotiable. The idea of her sailing alone scared the hell out of me. That meant I had to brush up on my boating skills. If I was going to be her first mate, I needed to know what the hell I was doing.

Ryder, looking elated, raised a toast to everyone, thanking them for their support and encouragement. He spoke about the challenges he had faced and the journey that had led him to this moment. And then he grabbed Penelope’s hand.

“You guys, I want to thank this beautiful princess,” Ryder said. “This woman kicked my ass into gear. She gave me a reason to want to get off my butt and accomplish something. When my surf shop is up and running, I know she’s going to be the one keeping me going. Baby, you are my hero. Thank you for coming into my life and loving me.”

Penelope’s bright smile warmed my heart. “You’re welcome,” she said and gave him a big, sloppy kiss.

As the night wore on, Shiloh and I stole a moment away from the crowd, walking along the shoreline hand in hand. The sound of crashing waves accompanied the whisper of the breeze, and I felt a deep sense of contentment.

“You remember the night I kicked you out?” Shiloh said, a playful smile tugging at the corners of her lips.

I chuckled, squeezing her hand. “How could I forget? It was the beginning of a rollercoaster ride that led us here.”

She nodded, her eyes sparkling with affection. “And now, we’re together, celebrating Ryder’s success. Life has a way of surprising us, doesn’t it?”

“It definitely does,” I replied, gazing into her eyes. “And I’m grateful for every twist and turn that led us to this moment. If it had been too easy, it wouldn’t have been nearly as exciting. I’m a man that likes a challenge.”

“Oh yeah?” she teased.

“No, you’re not getting free lessons,” Ryder said as we made our way back to the party.

We both laughed when Penelope stepped up and read the guy asking for free lessons the riot act. “I think he’s got himself a pitbull,” Shiloh joked.

“He better get her a muzzle and a leash,” I warned. “She doesn’t listen worth a shit.”

We found a seat on a log and snuggled together by the fire. We drank warm beer and enjoyed the antics of those that had a bit too much to drink. As I looked around at our friends, my heart was full of love and gratitude. That’s when it hit me. I had been waiting for the perfect moment to propose but it didn’t get any better than this. It seemed right to start our lives together in the place we had first been intimate. Granted, it didn’t work out the best that night, but we certainly made up for it later.

“Take a walk with me?” I asked.

“To our secret cove?” She flashed a grin and waggled her brows.

“Actually, yes,” I said. “Let’s go.”

As we walked away together, there were plenty of catcalls and warnings about sand getting into places that would certainly chafe.

“How did they not know we snuck away the last time?” Shiloh asked.

“I don’t know, but I’m glad they didn’t come looking for us. That could have been pretty awkward.”

“I knew that night that you were the man I was supposed to be with,” she said softly.

“You did?”

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