"Attention all passengers, the pilot has turned on the fasten seatbelt sign as we prepare for take-off. Please remain in your seats."

I let out a long breath as I stretched out my legs. I had to admit, riding in first class had its perks. Thankfully my father was footing this bill. Along with the hotel we were flying to in Hawaii. The beach trip was finally here, and I wasn't looking forward to it any more than Harper was. Harper. That seductive minx was starting to take over my thoughts on a regular basis.

The night I met her at the bar when she was upset made things more confusing. The best choice I made was staying sober while she drank her stress away. If I had one drink that night, I probably wouldn't have been able to resist her. She had asked me to stay the night with her, and I did. That was mistake number one. I have never stayed the night with a woman. Not like that. Not with one as sexy and spunky as her. Not one who snuggled up next to me, putting her body flush against mine. Not one who rested her head on my chest and wrapped her arm around me.

She had changed from her outfit to a sexy teddy in an attempt to entice me. Then, the cunning woman got completely naked. It was hard to resist her, but I simply spent the night kissing her. When I woke up to her body draped over mine...I panicked. I lied in the note I left her. I didn't have any work things to tend to. I just needed to clear my head.

I happened to run into Jillian later on at the gym. I had no intention of spending more time with her; but then I got the text from Ryan. The text that started out as random conversation. Then he told me that he was taking Harper to dinner. When I hung up the phone, I glanced at Jillian and invited her out.

I knew it was jealousy that led me there. But I wasn't the only one. I noticed the look in Harper's eyes when she saw my date. She was fuming. She thought she was clever as she tempted and teased me with Ryan. And she was. I immediately dropped Jillian off and declined her invitation for sex. I found myself outside Harper's door fifteen minutes later. I was about to leave when I got the text from her. I hope your enjoying your date. I could almost hear the anger in her statement. That's when I knocked on the door and kissed her. She responded to me, as always.

When I pushed her into the kitchen and sat her on the counter, I had a decision to make. Break my own deal and fuck her or find a loophole. I chose to go down on her, and it was one of the best decisions I ever made. Feeling her heel dig into my back as the sweet taste of her release slid down my throat was indescribable.

"Hey, Jay," Ryan said as he took the seat next to me. A lot of the family took different flights out today. For instance, Harper was on the morning flight with her girlfriends. I only knew that, well, because I asked her.

"Where's Harper?" I asked Ryan as absently as I could. We had to be careful with this secrecy stuff. We had to make sure we asked questions that seemed completely normal. Most importantly, we also had to know which questions we couldn't ask.

"She took an early flight with her friends. Something about getting there for tanning or some shit. You know, girl stuff."

Yeah, I knew exactly what he meant. The one thing I was looking forward to on this godforsaken trip was seeing Harper in her little skimpy bikinis she mentioned. Also, the illicit lingerie. If she agreed to my deal, of course. Little did she know I was going to make this trip extra tempting for her.

I knew what buttons to press and I was willing to play dirty. Whatever is necessary to have her screaming my name as she came around my cock, I thought to myself. I haven't been this long without sex before. If I wanted to, I could go get it. But I only craved her for some unknown reason.

"So, plan on hooking up with some chicks while on this trip?" Ryan asked.

I snorted. "Of course. When don't I have a woman?" It was the truth. One thing I was known for was the countless women I slept with.

"Listen," Ryan said with warning, "just don't sleep with any of Anne's friends all right? It will really piss her off."

Oh, really? Would it? "I wouldn't dream of it," I answered with a smile. The plane took off and I glanced out of my window. This is going to be fun...

12 Hours Later

"You have got to be fucking kidding me," I said to Ryan as we stood in front of Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea. The place was huge and extravagant. I did pretty well financially, but this fucking place...

"Yeah," Ryan said as we started walking to the front counter to check in. "Thank God our father is footing this bill."

I hated when he said, 'our father'. I barely saw much of Damian growing up. He made the occasional jaunt across the pond to show his face, but mostly, he just sent money. I avoided him at the first engagement party. Hopefully, I could avoid him now, too. I didn't want to get into it with him.

"What's the room situation?" I asked Ryan. I really didn't feel like sharing a room with anyone. Especially if my plan to get Harper back in my bed was going to work. Stop thinking about her, my inner voice reminded me.

Ryan handed me a key. "You got your own room. Same with me. The girls are doubling up I think."

"So, you and Harper aren't sharing a room? Doesn't seem very fiancée-like." Which is my way of trying to figure out if this trip was going to be better than I thought.

"Nah, Anne wanted to stay in a room with her best friend Lanie. Something about bridesmaiding-it-up? Who the hell knows?" He turned and clapped me on the shoulder. "Gives us more time to hang out, bro. I'm glad you're here."

A certain blonde has me glad to be here as well. Since Harper wasn't rooming with Ryan, there's a greater possibility of she and I being able to spend some time together in private. I knew she was staying with her best friend, but I'm sure she could make an excuse to sneak out and come to my room.

Ryan frowned at me. "How long are you in the states for, by the way? You can come to the wedding, right?"

Originally, I wasn't going to be in the wedding. Originally, I wasn't going to come to the states at all. After much convincing from my mother, I wound up on a plane for eight hours to New York. When I got there, I still wasn't ready to deal with him. After checking into my hotel, I found that damn bar. The one where a certain blonde threw back drinks while staring at her engagement ring in disgust. I've never been tempted to sleep with someone in a relationship, especially engaged or married. I didn't want to deal with the drama of an angry boyfriend or spouse. All my rules seemed to go out of the window that night. The name of the bar was rather ironic. Down the Rabbit Hole. That's what it felt like when I met Harper.

"Jay, you with me?" Ryan asked, realizing I got lost in thought.

"Yes, I'll be here for the wedding. I have an open-ended ticket to return to London."

"That's great! It wouldn't be the same without you. If it's cool I'll swing by your room later so we can have a drink and talk."

"Sure. Sounds good," I answered and meant it. I honestly didn't mind hanging out with Ryan. As far as siblings go, he was my only brother.

Ryan and I went to our separate rooms to get situated before having drinks. Mine seemed pretty secluded, which I enjoyed. The hotel room was enormous, just like I knew it would be. Our father never settles for anything less. Money was never a problem for him.

My cell phone rang, and I couldn't help but smile at the name on the screen.

"Hey, Mum," I answered.

"Jackson! I was worried when I didn't hear from you right away. Did you arrive in Hawaii okay?"

My mother was always a worrier. After my father, she never remarried or, by my knowledge, dated anyone. She raised me by herself in London and always made sure there was food on our table, and I had everything I could possibly need.

"Yeah, sorry. Ryan and I shared an Uber to the hotel, and I didn't want to be on the phone in the car."

"Oh, how is he? Is he excited about the wedding?" She asked with genuine curiosity. From the few times Ryan came to visit, or we flew to the states, she always treated Ryan as family. She never held any resentment towards him because of their father.

"He's well. He asked about you and told me to tell you he said hey. He also invited you to the wedding, but with everything going on..."

When my mother didn't say anything for a few minutes, I asked, "Any more updates?"

"They are going to do another round of chemo and radiation starting next week."

My eyes closed tight at her answer. She was diagnosed with Hodgkin's Lymphoma six months ago. It took her two months to finally tell me. I was helping her with her medical bills and, to be honest, it was getting expensive. I was going to deal with that while I was here as well. But now...

"I'm coming home."

"No, Jackson. I'm fine. I want you there. Please. This is a big deal for your brother, and he wants you there."

"Jackson Reese...." She said in warning when I didn't answer.

"Fine. But if I suspect you aren't telling me the truth about your health, I will call Dr. Allen and be on the first flight out."

She let out a long sigh. She knew I would do it, too. "Of course, Jackson. I promise. Now, please tell me how it's been so far? How is Hawaii? Have you met any girls?"

Before I could answer her, my phone beeped, letting me know I had a text.

"One sec, Mum," I said, glancing at the screen.

Harper: Black or red bikini tomorrow? ;)

I smiled as I typed my answer before putting the phone back to my ear.

"Actually, Mum, I did kind of meet someone..."