Read Online Rolling in the Deep: Hawaiian Heroes, Book 2 by Cathryn Cade - Free Book Online Page A

escaped the charges. For a man as private as he, through nature and necessity, it had been an exercise in public humiliation.
    Now he had to live with the knowledge that his size and strength, and his sexual tastes, were too much for most wahines. Yeah, Claire Hunter might want him, but he couldn’t trust that she knew what she was getting into. Like his beloved sea, she thought he’d be all sunlight and calm. But he was the stormy waves, pounding away at a hole in the rock until the water broke through and the rock fell into the ocean, enveloped by the waves.
    He couldn’t bear to see the sexy light in those blue eyes dim to fear. And she was Melia’s best friend besides. No way in hell was he going to try her on. 
    Kahni was busy tonight, but there’d be other nights.
    He turned his cold beer bottle idly in his hands as she sauntered out from behind the bar to wipe down a table and pile the empties on her tray.
    Behind him, a group of men, three Hawaiians and two haoles, were talking fishing. Daniel watched them in the mirror as they discussed the record marlin that had been taken just off the coast, the chances of a tropical storm to the south turning toward Hawaii, and the navy maneuvers that had prevented two of them from getting to their favorite fishing spot the week before. One of the Hawaiians, heavyset and muscular, watched Kahni walk by on her way back to the bar.
    “Fuckin’ navy,” one of the others said without heat.
    One of the haoles laughed, the rough sound of a habitual smoker. “Saw a couple of my old navy buddies last week. One of ’em told the damnedest story. They got all these newfangled electronics now. Even got cameras that can take pictures underwater—on some kine motion sensor. So, one of their young techs swears to his officer he sees a guy on this camera, swimming clear out, fathoms deep. With no scuba equipment.
    “This officer says, ‘Damn college boys been smokin’ Kona Gold before they come on shift. I catch ’em at it, I’m gonna bust their asses back to ensign.’”
    The other men laughed. Daniel sat rigid on his stool, only his thumbs moving as he rotated his bottle in the condensation puddled on the bar. Wasn’t hard to figure out who the camera had caught—him. Despite the warm air, a chill snaked down his spine. Kahni passed him, carrying drinks to a young couple sitting outside at one of the small plastic tables. He scarcely noticed her.
    “They see da picture?” asked another, right on cue.
    “Nah, just a shadow. Prob’ly just da nai’a.”
    Daniel blew out a gusty breath and took another swig of beer. He’d have to be more careful on his undersea swims in the future. A lot more careful.
    “Tommy here seen a mermaid once, when he was smokin’,” said a stocky Hawaiian with earrings and bushy sun-bleached hair.
    “Hey, Kimo, she ka nani,” his smaller friend shot back in a hoarse voice. “I asked her to come wit me, but she say, ‘Just gimme your fish, kanaka.’ I say, ‘You don’t wanna hana ai , go find your own fish.’”
    The men all laughed uproariously.
    Daniel turned on his barstool, chuckling at the story, and one of the fishermen caught his eye and nodded. Daniel nodded back. Kimo turned and scooted his chair back, eyeing Daniel with dawning recognition.
    “Hey, man, you da one who was wit Apana when he died, yeah?” he asked.
    Daniel nodded somberly. The man shook his head. “Bad luck Apana had.”
    Tommy snorted in disgust. “Bad luck, hell. Dat buggah never took care his boat. Surprised he ain’t come dead sooner.” He pointed the neck of his beer bottle at Daniel. “You one lucky kanaka.”
    Daniel jerked his chin in acknowledgment. “Good to be alive.” He looked at the array of empty bottles on their table. “Buy you another round?”
    The group shifted in their chairs. Kimo and Tommy grinned. “Oh, hell yeah, bruddah.”
    Daniel slipped Kahni another larger bill and took a pull on his beer as one of the men rose to accept