Page 126 of The One

But I placed my hand there, feeling the thumping of my heart, and said, “I’m sure it’s a beautiful resort. From what I’ve seen of their ones in Europe, they’re five-star accommodations. Rhett’s family—and I’m sure the Spades are the same—don’t do anything that isn’t luxurious.”

“Now, that’s a name I haven’t heard you say in a while.”

Just because I hadn’t said it didn’t mean I hadn’t thought about him.

I’d done plenty of that.

I’d also Googled his name and found an Instagram account that seemed to be his, even though he’d never posted a single photo. During my last trip home to visit my parents, I’d even driven by his house. There was a gate that blocked his entrance from the street, so I could only see parts of his mansion that stuck up beyond the line of hedges.

Why I Googled him every few months, I didn’t know. Why I’d looked up his address and driven by his home, I didn’t know that either. There was no explanation for my desire to want tosee where he lived and what his life looked like now and to know details that I couldn’t find online.

There was just something inside me that wanted those answers. But even if I got them, I wouldn’t know what to do with them because my feelings for Rhett Cole were such a complete and utter mess.

I licked my lips, wishing the coffee was an Aperol Spritz. “Well, his name didn’t come out of nowhere. This conversation had prompted it.” I paused. “You haven’t seen him or his family out and about in LA, have you?”

“Honey, we don’t run in the same circles as the Coles.”

“Right.” I took a breath. “I was just curious.”

“I can understand why. You loved that boy for a long time.”

Mom … I still do.

FORTY

Rhett

Present Day

Hart Weston waited until the entire conference room turned quiet before he stood from his chair, earning everyone’s attention, and said, “Ladies and gentlemen, in one week, we’ll be breaking ground on the Charred restaurant in the Cole and Spade Hotel in Bangkok.”

The other four Weston siblings; the three Spades; their cousin, Jo, along with her husband, Jenner Dalton; and the three of us Coles erupted in applause.

We were a full house today, all packed into the conference room of our corporate office.

The Bangkok hotel, our newest build-out and a project led by Brady Spade, was halfway through completion. That meant it was time for the Weston family to go in and do their thing. They were a group of five siblings who had been longtime partners with the Spades. When our families merged into one company, they became business partners with my family as well. Theyowned steak houses, seafood and raw bars, and clubs across the world. Charred—their award-winning, Michelin-rated steak house—would be just off the lobby in our hotel in Bangkok.

I didn’t think the Westons’ only purpose in coming today was to celebrate the upcoming construction. I was positive they were also here to discuss where we were building next. They didn’t want to miss out on any new opportunities, and with their reputation and following, we wanted them just as badly as they wanted us.

“So, spill the news,” Hart continued once everyone turned silent. “Where’s the next project?”

I chuckled. “I would have bet my life that was the next thing coming out of your mouth.”

“Your life?” Hart grinned, his green eyes shining like fucking gems. “I need to start making myself less obvious.”

Brady glanced at the other six partners of our company and said, “Should we tell them?” When he finished speaking, he focused his stare on Jenner, our attorney.

“From a legal standpoint, I don’t see any reason to keep it a secret,” Jenner replied.

“Iceland,” Rowan announced. “Specifically Reykjavik.”

“Tell me more,” Beck cooed.

Beck Weston was an NHL star for the LA Whales. He didn’t have an active daily role within their company. But during offseason, he was extremely involved, and he personally financed many of their projects.

“We’re building a three-hundred-room, six-level hotel and spa in the heart of the capital,” Macon replied. “There will be space for two restaurants and a coffee shop, a rooftop bar that will be enclosed with a retractable glass roof, and a patio that’ll wrap around half of the top floor.”

“Envision an overly modern build,” Cooper explained. “A level of modernism we’ve never explored and an interior thatwill have the same feel—completely off-brand from anything we’ve done. We’re known for our warmth and inviting designs. This won’t be that.”