I cover my ears and laugh until I’m snorting. It’s ugly. “Stop it, both of you.”
When we’ve all recovered, I give them some additional details. “I’ve scheduled you a tour of the island by helicopter this afternoon. Brian will drive you to the heliport, and I’ll meet up with you for dinner downtown. After dinner, Brian will whisk—”
“Jackson won the house in a poker tournament, right?” Gabby asks.
I nod. “Technically Jackson paid a dollar for it, and he’s put some money into the place for renovations.” Just then, we drive up to the gate and roll in.
Gabby grabs my arm. “Holy shit, where is the hou—”
We’ve crested the hill, and the view opens to the majestic house that is all Hawaiian, with full-length windows open to allow the ocean breeze through the house.
“That’s not a house, that’s a compound,” Gabby says with awe.
I guess that’s one way to look at it. “We’ll have almost fifty people here in three weeks for Memorial Day weekend,” I tell them. “It’ll be crazy.”
Gabby turns to Damien. “Honey, go invent something and become a billionaire. I want to live next door.”
We laugh. A houseman comes out to greet us, and we follow him into the house. He disappears down the hall toward the room Gabby and Damien will be staying in, and I show them around the living area and where I’ll be working, if they need me.
“I thought you might want to change into some shorts,” I tell them at the end of the tour. “Let me show you your room.”
I lead them out of the library and down the hall. “I only wanted to show you all this because I helped with the decor. The decorator did not appreciate my taste. I think she thought it was too low-brow for Jackson. And, she thought she could hit on Jackson, and he’d take her up on it.”
“Oh no, she didn’t,” Gabby says.
I chuckle. “Jackson went so far as to tell the designer my wishes were to be followed, or I could fire her because it was my house.”
“Are you kidding me?” Gabby asks.
I shake my head.
They follow me down the glass hallway. “I’m guessing you and Jackson don’t walk around here naked?” Gabby teases.
I laugh. “Watch this.” I flip a light switch, and suddenly the glass becomes opaque.
“Woah,” Damien says.
“I know! Isn’t it amazing?”
Gabby turns to Damien. “If she actually gets this house, we’re moving in. She’ll never know we’re here.”
We stop in front of their room. “This is the Big Island suite. You just need to remember the name. That way, if you need help or someone asks you where you’re staying, the staff will know what you mean.”
“Aren’t you clever?” Gabby winks at me as she enters. “It’s beautiful.” She looks around the brightly colored room. “I love it.”
“Just so you know, everything came from Bullseye.”
“Don’t they have the most amazing stuff? And it’s so affordable.”
“I figured these rooms didn’t need ten-thousand-dollar décor. We were fine with five hundred dollars in décor, and that’s probably stretching what it cost.”
“That decorator must be pissed at you.”
“Probably, but I paid all her bills on time, so she better be careful. She has lots of competition on this island, and I could very easily make sure it got out that she presented us with Bullseye décor and charged her designer fees. That would take her reputation down a few notches.”
“I think you’re part evil,” Damien says with pride.
“I’ll leave you to change. Breakfast will be ready when you come out,” I tell them. “The view is stunning. I think you’ll love it.”
“The view is better than this room?” Gabby shakes her head as if it’s impossible.
I nod. “Every room has a beautiful view.”
I walk back to my office and sort through most of my morning email before they come looking for me. I show them to the kitchen to meet Leilani.
She greets them warmly. “Help yourself to whatever you find. If you want something made, just let me know, and I’m happy to whip it up for you.”
“My own chef?” Turning to Damien, Gabby says, “If Jackson dumps her and comes to me, you’re toast for this house alone.”
“I’m not worried. Jackson would spend one hour with you and send you back to me.”
“What?” she feigns indignance.
“He’d know you were only after his money, and my measly partnership at the law firm will have to suffice.”
“Wait? You were named partner?” I ask. This is big news, and I’m so excited for him.
He nods with an all-tooth grin. “I did. I owe it to you for tipping the scales when you referred Jackson to me.”
I jump into his arms. “That’s fantastic.” Turning to Gabby, I say, “Your dad must be disappointed since that means you won’t be moving back to Dallas.”
“Totally.”
We walk out to the pool deck, and I point out various points of interest until Leilani appears with their breakfast.
Gabby’s eyes go wide. “Holy crap. This is stunning. And you’re living here? Why would you ever want to leave?”
“Enjoy your breakfast,” I tell them. “Leilani will serve a light lunch for us at one by the pool.”
“You’re amazing.” Gabby hugs me and whispers in my ear, “I love you.”
“I love you, too,” I whisper back.
I leave them to their morning and head back to work through the bills for the estate, a laundry service for table linens, and dish rentals for fifty people over the poker tournament weekend—so much to do, and I’m running out of time.
A little while later there’s a knock at the open door to the library. “Hey, we met Brian’s boys. Aren’t they cute?” Gabby walks in.
“I agree. I keep
