Read Online Torch Ginger by Toby Neal - Free Book Online Page B

it must have, perched on the cliff overlooking the entire Hanalei Bay. She did want to see that. And the Bird Refuge sounded like a good cause. The feeling of attraction-apprehension he elicited rose up in her again.
    “When is it?”
    “Tomorrow night, which as you know is Friday night.”
    “That’s pretty soon,” she hedged.
    “I figure, strike while the iron is hot. And the iron is hot.”
    A blush prickled up her neck. She decided to shut this down.
    “I don’t know why you’re bothering with me, Alika. I can tell I’m not your type—heels? Come on. And you’re definitely not my type.”
    “I like you, hard as it is for you to believe. Plus I want to see what you look like in a dress.”
    “Do I get to see what you look like in a dress?”
    “It’s not entirely out of the question, if you’re into that.”
    Lei couldn’t help laughing.“Incorrigible!” she exclaimed.
    “Ah. Everyone eventually discovers my middle name. We could have some fun. You aren’t entirely opposed to fun, are you?”
    “Not entirely.”
    “Okay then. I’ll pick you up at seven.”
    “No. I’ll drive myself and meet you.”
    Long pause.
    “Don’t you trust me? I won’t drink more than a glass or two of champagne. I promise.”
    “No. I’ll drive myself, or no deal.”
    He threw up his hands in mock surrender, teeth flashing in the dim light.
    “I’ll meet you then, at the portico at seven p.m. I’ll be the man looking insecure, with a red rose in his teeth.”
    “Okay. But you gotta behave. I get snappy when I’m embarrassed.”
    “Imagine that.”
    When she pulled the truck out, he was still standing in the driveway, his hands in the pockets of the robe, watching her go.

Chapter 8
    Lei was putting away the natural food groceries from the health food store, still in the cotton robe and bikini, when Keiki burst into Intruder Alert barking.
    No one dropped in on her out here. She slipped the Glock out of the holster hung over the back of the kitchen chair and slid it into the roomy pocket of the robe, tightened the belt, and went to the front door. A tall curly-haired man, backlit by the headlights of a taxicab, stood near the chain-link gate.
    Keiki let him know Lei was well guarded.
    “Lei?”
    “Yes?” Her hand curled around the reassuring pebbled grip of the Glock in her pocket. That cool weight had come to feel like an extension of her hand.
    “Lei, it’s me, Wayne. Your dad.”
    She switched on the porch light.
    Her father stood behind the crisscrossed wire in creased dark jeans and a plain white T-shirt with a small duffel in his hand—post-prison issue. Light gleamed off his silver-shot hair and craggy features. She couldn’t see into the shadowed hollows of his eyes.
    Her thoughts flew away in shock. She hadn’t seen him in months, since she’d visited him at Halawa Prison, a brief reconciliation never consolidated beyond a few phone calls and letters.
    “Hey, Dad. What’re you doing here?” She was aware of the rattling idle of the taxicab’s engine, the harsh glare of its lights, the total awkwardness of the situation. She came down the steps to the gate.
    “I got out,” he said simply. “I heard you moved, so I came here.”
    “Aren’t you supposed to stay on the island your parole officer assigns you? Isn’t there a halfway house you’re supposed to go to?”
    “Yeah.” A flush of embarrassment marked red flags on his high cheekbones. “But there’s no room for me there yet. A condition of my probation is that I’m on the same island as my daughter, the police detective. Congratulations on the promotion, by the way.”
    “Thanks.” Lei stared at him hard. “But you should have told me, called me, something. You can’t just show up here, at my home, and expect me to—I don’t know what.”
    “I’m sorry. I can come another time.”
    “No.” She gestured impatiently to the cab, waving it off. “Come in. We’ll figure something out.”
    Her heart thudded, nervous