Page 17 of Fragile Hearts (Hibiscus Hearts #3)

I panic-packed on Thursday night after asking Owen a million times what I should bring. His response was literally bikinis. He was of zero help, and I’m back at it again this morning, pretty much shoving everything I own into a suitcase I borrowed from Sage.

It isn’t just the idea of spending time with Owen’s family and being at this luxury resort that has my anxiety through the roof.

The idea of packing can be triggering for me because, as a kid, I did it so often, and with it came the unknown.

I often think it’s why I’ve never left the island, not that I have the money to travel, but it scares me to leave.

Owen doesn’t know any of this, and I’m not sure I’ll ever tell him, already having unloaded way too much of my bullshit on him. He doesn’t know that I scrambled to Sage’s house to beg her for a suitcase so I didn’t look like the foster kid that I am in front of his parents.

“Sloane!” Owen calls, and I slam the suitcase shut, plopping my ass down on it so I can zip it closed. “You coming?”

His words get closer, and a few seconds later, he’s in my doorway, a smile on his beautiful, tanned face. All perfectly straight white teeth, that dimple, and as he leans against the doorframe, he winks at me.

“I’m sorry. I’m just…” I stop, having no idea what to say, except that I know if I start talking, I could end up in a puddle of tears.

“Come here,” Owen says, stepping farther into my room. My hands are shaking as I try to get the suitcase closed, my breathing is growing labored, and I can feel the threat of tears sting my nose.

He holds out his hand, and I take it, going willingly into his embrace, my head resting on his chest. I take in a deep breath, closing my eyes, letting his smell calm me.

We’ve been sharing a bed for the past several days, and while nothing ever happens, it’s probably the best sleep I’ve ever had in my life. There’s something about him that soothes me, that makes me feel safe and cared for.

I can feel the tears begin to spill over despite every attempt to stop them. Wetting Owen’s shirt, I know I should pull away, not wanting to stain his shirt with makeup, but I can’t bring myself to.

“What’s going on?” Owen asks softly, his lips gently kissing the top of my head, his hand tracing lazy circles on my back.

“This is overwhelming for me,” I admit. “Packing is hard. It reminds me of moving, and I’ve never had a suitcase. I had to borrow this one from Sage.”

Everything comes out in a rush, my heart slamming into my chest, my arms tightening around Owen, seeking the comfort I know he brings me.

“Fuck, Sloane, I’m sorry. You should have told me,” Owen responds, his words low and sweet. “I want this weekend to be special for you, not stressful. What can I do to help?”

“Nothing.” I don’t know what to tell him. Fixing this isn’t something that happens overnight. I know I need therapy, something I just can’t afford right now. But someday…

“I want you to come to me when you feel this way. You can tell me anything. I’ll be here. No matter what,” Owen says, and my heart feels like it’s going to shatter into a million pieces.

“I worry I’m too much for you. That I’ll scare you away. That you won’t want to deal with all my bullshit.”

“Never. I’ll spend the rest of my life proving to you that you’re worth it.” He eases me back, his hands cupping my face, his thumbs brushing away the tears. “Never be afraid to tell me anything, Sloane.”

I nod, taking a deep breath. Looking over my shoulder at the suitcase, my clothes nearly busting out of it, the zipper straining where it is closed.

“What you got in there?” Owen asks, chuckling a little as he motions to the suitcase, looking like a ten-pound sausage crammed into a five-pound casing.

“Everything. I don’t know how to pack.”

“Can I help you?” Owen offers, and it’s literally the sweetest thing he’s ever said to me. At least in my eyes, it is. His offer comes with no conditions and no judgment, and that puts me at ease immediately. Everything about Owen is like this—never the desire to change me, but rather to help me.

I nod again, walking over to the overstuffed suitcase. I tug at the zipper, freeing it, and it nearly pops open like one of those cans filled with fake snakes.

He laughs, and I follow, shaking my head at how ridiculous my suitcase looks.

“Guess you didn’t take my advice and just pack bikinis, huh?” Owen jokes as he lifts a few things from the suitcase. Holding them up, he laughs again. “I think the only thing you didn’t pack was your work uniform.”

My cheeks turn hot, and I giggle a little. Rifling through, I pull out one of my Orchid Bay pencil skirts and button-up.

“Sweets, did you think they were going to put you to work?” Owen asks. Taking it from me, he tosses it onto the bed.

“I don’t know,” I say, covering my face with my hands.

“Don’t be embarrassed,” Owen says, kindness lacing his words. He pulls me to him, dropping a few simple kisses to my temple before moving back to the suitcase.

“Okay, so we’re going to be gone for three nights.

Pack something for each day, and underwear, socks if you need them, and a couple of swimsuits.

You’ll need your toothbrush, but I have toothpaste and any makeup or that kind of stuff.

One night we have a dinner, but I’ve already taken care of that.

” He brushes over this last comment, trying to move onto the next quickly, but I stop him.

“A dinner? What do you mean you’ve taken care of that?”

“It’s formal, so I have a dress for you.” He shrugs, again with his typical casual nature. “Now, there are places to hike, so you might want to take something to hike in. Other than that, you’re good.”

“Owen.”

“What?”

“What did you do? A formal dinner?”

“I didn’t do anything,” he says. “It’s just something my parents put together when they open a new resort. You’re good. Like I said, I’ve got you covered.”

The conversation dies there when he moves on to trying to get my suitcase in order. He holds up a sundress from the suitcase, looking at me as if to ask if I want to pack it or hang it back up. Taking it from him, I hang it back up.

We go along like this until I’ve got the suitcase packed, and Owen zips it closed without having to put all his body weight on it.

“Ready?” he asks, heaving it off the bed. “Let’s get going so we don’t miss that ferry.”

Orchid Bay Lux is exactly as I expect it to be.

Luxury. Peak fucking luxury. I thought Orchid Bay on Maui was stunning, but this is a whole other level.

It looks like it was crafted by billionaires specifically for the luxury crowd, with everything in soft tones and lush greenery.

Colorful flowers are woven throughout, dotting each area of green with strategically placed color, like Mother Nature herself decided to partner with them on this.

The open-air lobby has a soft tropical breeze blowing through it, and somehow it feels warm yet still air-conditioned, something I can’t even begin to explain.

And the smell, oh my god, the smell. It’s fruity and subtle, and it makes me want to close my eyes and bask in it.

“Owen, this is unreal,” I say, finally finding my words. I was silent most of the drive over here, being picked up by a driver at the harbor in a fully restored mint green Ford Bronco convertible that was something you’d see in a movie or on some influencer’s Instagram page.

“Yeah, it’s pretty fucking epic, huh? Wait till you see our room,” he says, and I don’t know why it’s just hitting me now, but we’re sharing a room.

“Do your parents know we’re sharing a room?” I ask, my nervousness returning.

“Of course they do. We’re dating, right?”

“We did say we’re dating,” I say, giggling. “I mean, that’s what this feels like. Although, I’ve never dated, so I guess I don’t really know. I’ve had like random boyfriends and hook ups, but…” I stop, my word vomit is only getting more embarrassing as it goes on.

“Dating is good, Sloane. This is good.”

He pulls me close, and I turn to him, smiling. I push up on my toes, kissing him. “Thank you. I don’t think I can thank you enough for all of this.”

“Nah, it’s all good.”

I look around, seeing something new in this gorgeous lobby every time I do. It’s not very busy, and I guess it wouldn’t be since it’s not actually open yet.

“It’s going to be a little quiet today,” Owen tells me. “People don’t start arriving till tomorrow, so today is just training staff and my parents running around making sure everything is perfect.”

“Do they need any help?” I immediately ask, wanting to make sure they know how grateful I am for this experience.

“They wouldn’t let you even if you tried. You’re a guest today, so enjoy it.”

Grabbing both our suitcases, he tilts his head, telling me to follow him, and I do, taking in every angle of the resort as we walk to the elevators.

No expense was spared when it comes to the Orchid Bay Lux, even the elevator is like nothing I’ve ever seen before, with deep-stained wood and pearl buttons. I can’t even begin to explain this, and I snap a few pictures of it, needing to send them to Alana and Daisy because they won’t believe it.

Owen leads us to our room, a suite that seems to be the only thing on the floor, and when he opens the door, holding it for me, I gasp out loud.

“This is bigger than your house,” I cry out, rushing over to the open-air lanai, the view spanning the entire thing. “And oh my god, this view! The mountains and the water. I’ve never seen it look so blue. Did your parents do that too?” I let out a laugh, and Owen does too.

Coming up behind me, he encircles me with his arms, pulling me so our bodies are flush. Moving my hair to the side, he kisses my neck, and I close my eyes, loving the feeling of having him this close.

“You’re spoiling me like you do Mochi,” I tell him, turning in his arms. “What if you don’t?—”

“Don’t. Don’t say what you’re thinking because it’s not going to happen. I’m obsessed with you, Sloane. I want to give you the world.”

“But what if all I want is you?”

“I’m already yours.”

I swallow hard at his words. I’m his too. Something I never thought I’d be in my life. If anyone had said I’d be with Owen Sinclair, I’d have laughed, but here we are.

“Come on, let’s go see the rest of this place.”

Taking Owen’s hand in mine, I drag him around to every room. Each one is better than the next, and when we get to the bathroom attached to the main bedroom, I freeze.

“That bathtub,” I groan, my head falling back, but then I see the shower, and it’s even better. “Owen! Look at the shower. It has a place to sit and,” I stop, counting the showerheads, “it has twelve showerheads. Holy shit. I think you could fit like six people in there.”

“What if I only want to fit two in there?” Owen says, his eyes smoldering, and he was right when he said we should wait because we’re going to fuck in that shower, and it’s going to be unreal.

My cheeks heat up at his comment, and he brushes his fingers across one, smiling as he says, “There’s that shade of pink that I love.”

I wet my lips, smiling and trying hard not to strip his clothes off right here and have him bend me over that massive marble counter.

“I don’t even know what to say, but I need to thank your parents. Will we see them tonight?” I ask, getting away from the subject of sex—sex that I want like I’ve never wanted anything in my life.

“I don’t think so. Probably not till tomorrow,” he tells me, and I’m okay with that as long as I get to thank them.

“Hard to believe this whole thing started off as a shithole motel on Waikiki back in the sixties, huh?” Owen now says as we make our way back to the living area. “My grandfather started Orchid Bay when he was stationed on Oahu with the Navy, and now it’s this.”

This story is in every room at the Orchid Bay on Maui, a little book on the tables in the rooms telling guests how it all began, and it really is one of those stories that people are drawn to. A simple man with a dream, and it’s grown into one of the most prominent hotel chains on the islands.

Owen steps out onto the expansive lanai, and I stand next to him, weaving my fingers with his and bringing his hand to my mouth, kissing it.

“Thank you. This is more than I could ever have dreamed of.”

“No one else I’d rather be here with than you,” he says, giving my hand a gentle squeeze. “Now let’s go explore this place.”