the chased.
I sit at the table for a few minutes pondering my life and wishing there was a luau tonight. Kai drops into Baggy’s vacated chair and asks me if I’d like to take a walk along the beach. I smile and agree to go with him.
As we walk, I can’t help but wonder if it is part of the resort employees’ jobs to help entertain the lonely, loser guests who don’t have anyone special in one of the most romantic spots on Earth. The thought dampens my spirits, and I decide to relieve Kai of his duty. “You don’t have to spend time with me,” I tell him. “I know it is part of your job to make sure the resort’s guests have fun.”
He gives me an odd look. “I don’t know what you think is in my job description, but it’s nothing like that. I’m not a gigolo.”
“I thought this might fall under the ‘other duties as needed’ category,” I tell him, only half-joking.
“No, I’m here with you because I want to be.”
His words are sweet and perfect—exactly what I want to hear—and it frustrates me beyond reason. I run a hand through my hair before calling him out on it. “I know that Leilani is pregnant.” I let that hang in the air for a bit. Kai is silently looking at me, like he needs more of an explanation than that. “Well, don’t you think you should be going on a romantic stroll along the beach with her, not me?”
“No,” he tells me before understanding dawns. “Oh, you think the baby is mine. Leilani and I are just friends—have been since we were kids.” Relief floods through me at his explanation, until he bowls me over with a surprising statement. “The baby is Honi’s.”
You could have knocked me over with a feather. Huge, sweet, high-voiced Honi is the father of Leilani’s baby?
“Honi has always been in love with her, and I think she feels the same way about him, but she’s scared to admit it, even to herself.” I nod, trying to absorb what he is telling me. Honi seems like a terrific guy, but he is not at all the type of person I pictured being with someone like Leilani. “He’s not exactly who she envisioned herself ending up with, but love sneaks up on us sometimes.” Kai’s words mimic my thoughts exactly.
“Whoa,” is all I can say. Suddenly, it sinks in with me that all of the barriers between Kai and I were figments of my imagination. His shady dealings behind the bar and his gorgeous, pregnant girlfriend were things I had blown out of proportion in my own mind.
I am in paradise with a sweet Hawaiian hunk, and there is no reason why I can’t have a hot, sexy fling with him. The realization washes over me. We have stopped walking and are standing very close. The moon isn’t quite full, but it’s big and shining brightly over the ocean. There is a light breeze tossing my hair back. This is the perfect moment for a kiss. I tip my head back and wait, but nothing happens.
He asks if I’m ready to head back to the resort and the moment is gone. Maybe I have misread him? Is he just being friendly? We walk alongside the pool and I torture myself with these thoughts. Why didn’t he kiss me? Should I have kissed him? There must be a reason why he didn’t. I wonder what it could be.
Suddenly, he stops and turns to me. He hesitates as if undecided about what to do. Finally, he steps closer to me and drops his lips down to mine in a tender, tantalizing kiss. I open my lips seeking more, but he pulls back.
“Goodnight, Roxy.” He says the words, and then he is gone. I stand there with my eyes closed, feeling like I am floating for a minute. I bring two fingers up to my lips, savoring the feeling of having just received the best kiss of my life.
“Wow.” I say the word aloud since no one else is around. Finally, I return to our cabana, even though I know there is no chance of my heartbeats slowing enough to allow for sleep anytime soon.
Chapter 16
Apparently, my heart rate did eventually calm down because I sleep like the dead. I awaken with a
I sit at the table for a few minutes pondering my life and wishing there was a luau tonight. Kai drops into Baggy’s vacated chair and asks me if I’d like to take a walk along the beach. I smile and agree to go with him.
As we walk, I can’t help but wonder if it is part of the resort employees’ jobs to help entertain the lonely, loser guests who don’t have anyone special in one of the most romantic spots on Earth. The thought dampens my spirits, and I decide to relieve Kai of his duty. “You don’t have to spend time with me,” I tell him. “I know it is part of your job to make sure the resort’s guests have fun.”
He gives me an odd look. “I don’t know what you think is in my job description, but it’s nothing like that. I’m not a gigolo.”
“I thought this might fall under the ‘other duties as needed’ category,” I tell him, only half-joking.
“No, I’m here with you because I want to be.”
His words are sweet and perfect—exactly what I want to hear—and it frustrates me beyond reason. I run a hand through my hair before calling him out on it. “I know that Leilani is pregnant.” I let that hang in the air for a bit. Kai is silently looking at me, like he needs more of an explanation than that. “Well, don’t you think you should be going on a romantic stroll along the beach with her, not me?”
“No,” he tells me before understanding dawns. “Oh, you think the baby is mine. Leilani and I are just friends—have been since we were kids.” Relief floods through me at his explanation, until he bowls me over with a surprising statement. “The baby is Honi’s.”
You could have knocked me over with a feather. Huge, sweet, high-voiced Honi is the father of Leilani’s baby?
“Honi has always been in love with her, and I think she feels the same way about him, but she’s scared to admit it, even to herself.” I nod, trying to absorb what he is telling me. Honi seems like a terrific guy, but he is not at all the type of person I pictured being with someone like Leilani. “He’s not exactly who she envisioned herself ending up with, but love sneaks up on us sometimes.” Kai’s words mimic my thoughts exactly.
“Whoa,” is all I can say. Suddenly, it sinks in with me that all of the barriers between Kai and I were figments of my imagination. His shady dealings behind the bar and his gorgeous, pregnant girlfriend were things I had blown out of proportion in my own mind.
I am in paradise with a sweet Hawaiian hunk, and there is no reason why I can’t have a hot, sexy fling with him. The realization washes over me. We have stopped walking and are standing very close. The moon isn’t quite full, but it’s big and shining brightly over the ocean. There is a light breeze tossing my hair back. This is the perfect moment for a kiss. I tip my head back and wait, but nothing happens.
He asks if I’m ready to head back to the resort and the moment is gone. Maybe I have misread him? Is he just being friendly? We walk alongside the pool and I torture myself with these thoughts. Why didn’t he kiss me? Should I have kissed him? There must be a reason why he didn’t. I wonder what it could be.
Suddenly, he stops and turns to me. He hesitates as if undecided about what to do. Finally, he steps closer to me and drops his lips down to mine in a tender, tantalizing kiss. I open my lips seeking more, but he pulls back.
“Goodnight, Roxy.” He says the words, and then he is gone. I stand there with my eyes closed, feeling like I am floating for a minute. I bring two fingers up to my lips, savoring the feeling of having just received the best kiss of my life.
“Wow.” I say the word aloud since no one else is around. Finally, I return to our cabana, even though I know there is no chance of my heartbeats slowing enough to allow for sleep anytime soon.
Chapter 16
Apparently, my heart rate did eventually calm down because I sleep like the dead. I awaken with a
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