Their conversation turned even more personable and friendly, and they talked much longer than Bailey would have dreamed.
“You seem like good folks to me.” Kade grabbed a concert flyer from off the vanity and tore off a piece. “I have good instincts. Either of you got a pen?”
Bailey dug in her purse. “Right here.”
He took it and scribbled something on the back of the scrap before handing the pen back to Bailey, and the paper to Seth. “My personal cell number. Give me a call next time you go fishing. I need a little notice, but I could use a partner on Whitefish Lake.”
Bailey blinked in surprise.
Kade Fields is giving Seth his personal number?
“I know a great spot.” Seth seemed to take it in stride. “Best fishing on the lake is away from the crowds on the north end.”
She wondered if Seth hobnobbed with celebrities often. After all, he was a celebrity in the cowboy world.
“I look forward to it.” Kade turned to Bailey. “You’re welcome to come too, Ms. Bailey.”
She gulped and tried to maintain her poise. “Sounds like fun.” She managed to get the words out without sounding like a dope. At least she hoped she did.
Last thing on earth she’d expected was to end up with an invitation to fish with Kade Fields.
Of course, she and Seth would be going different ways come the end of her trip to Momi. However, being asked by Kade Fields to go fishing was now on top of her oh-my-God-that’s-awesome list. Maybe Seth would give her a call if he arranged a trip with Kade.
Thing was, she wanted to go fishing, or do anything else with Seth that he could come up with. She didn’t need Kade Fields for that.
“The reporter is here, Kade.” A male voice came from the doorway. It was the same man who’d stopped them in the hallway.
“Give me five and you can send her in,” Kade said.
“You’ve got it.”
Kade turned his attention to Bailey and held out his hand. “It’s been a real pleasure meeting you, Ms. Bailey. Hope to see you again.”
Bailey shook hands with him and gave him a smile. “I would enjoy that.”
“Give me a call.” Kade extended his hand to Seth. “Look forward to catching some of those trout and northern pike.”
“I’ve been planning to head out there later this summer,” Seth said. “I’ll let you know when and we’ll see if it fits your schedule.”
After a goodbye nod from Kade, Bailey and Seth left the room and backstage. They walked past a reporter and cameraman, down the stage steps to head out of the amphitheater.
“I don’t believe that just happened.” Bailey’s head spun. “Kade Fields’ phone number?” She smiled at Seth. “Guess he knows a great guy when he meets one.”
Seth grinned. “He’s the genuine thing. Good man who made it big and hasn’t let it get to his head.”
Bailey looked at Seth. “Sounds like someone else in the equation.”
Seth laughed. “I wouldn’t call being a rodeo cowboy in the same league as a country superstar.”
“You’re a superstar in the rodeo world.” Bailey cocked her head to the side, considering it. “Counts for something.”
“Still down on rodeo cowboys?” Seth said in a teasing voice.
Bailey gave a slight lift of her shoulder. “I’ve had some experiences that made me leery of cowboys who live that life. Things like that can color a person’s point of view.”
He looked thoughtful. “I get that. I’ve seen a lot of rodeo cowboys go the wrong way over and over. Success or failure gets in their head and they handle it in different ways.”
Bailey clenched her jaw then forced herself to relax. “And some just make damn stupid choices.”
“They sure as hell do.” He studied her like he wanted to know more about her past experiences.
Not going there. She needed to get off the topic.
She pulled her hair back and tied it into a knot to get it out of her face. “Are you done in for the night?”
“Hell no.” Seth reached for her hand. “I know of a great bar in Olino. Low-key with terrific Hawaiian bar food. You’ll love it.”
“Bar food with local flavor and some kind of fruity drink sounds good.” Bailey slipped her hand into his and squeezed. “Let’s go, Montana.”
6
Keoki’s Bar was in Olino, near the Puanani boutique hotel. Women tended to flock around single men in Olino, so Seth always kept an eye out for an escape route.
But he had to go to Keoki’s at least once—more like half a dozen times—when he came to Momi. He just had to keep his time there short.
In Olino, the ratio of single men to single women was about one to twenty-three. Single men had to be wary or they’d end up with a roomful of women vying for a date.
Not that he planned to mention that to Bailey. He wanted her to meet Keoki and try his malasadas.
Bailey took off her sandals before she stepped onto the sand. “It feels so good walking barefoot with the sand between my toes. You should try it.”
“Maybe later.” He slipped his arm around her shoulders and held her closer to him as they approached the lights of the bar. She didn’t pull away, and that alone filled him with heat.
Ocean waves slapped the shore then drew away before coming down on the sand again. The roar of the ocean and the clean, fresh scent in the air had called to him since he was a teenager.
If he wasn’t a rodeo cowboy, and all his family in Montana, he just might have moved from the mainland to Momi and worked on Pono Ranch. Manu had asked him to do just that many times.
A radio played at the bar in the background, and he recognized Israel Kamakawiwo‘ole, also known as Iz, singing Somewhere Over the Rainbow, one of his most popular tunes. Iz wasn’t around anymore, but his work lived on.
They walked closer to the open-air bar that was painted in a number of colors, from pink to turquoise to orange to blue to green. The lighting wasn’t too bright or too dim and the bar was surrounded by sand on three sides, the ocean on the fourth.
Warm smells of good food washed over Seth. His stomach threatened to give him hell if he didn’t get something to eat.
“Keoki’s is one of my favorite places to go whenever I visit any of the Hawaiian Islands.” Seth grasped Bailey’s hand. “You’ll love his cooking.”
They made their way through the crowd of small tables and chairs at the foot of the stairs. They took the few steps up to the U-shaped wood beach bar. Seth helped Bailey onto an empty stool before he took one next to her.
A giant of a man filled the doorway behind the bar. He spotted Seth and his expression went from hard and wary to almost pleased.
He approached and spoke in his deep bass. “Seth, brother. About time you came to see me.”
Seth and Keoki grasped hands and the man slapped Seth on the back. Keoki’s hand was massive, but he had a grip that wasn’t too tight.
“Keoki, this is Bailey McBride, who’s here from Arizona.” He turned to Bailey. “Meet Keoki. I’ve been eating his malasadas since I started coming to Momi.”
Seth looked back at Keoki. “Damn, that’s been a long time.”
Keoki didn’t smile a whole lot, and he came off as gruff as hell, but his wide-set eyes were friendly. “I hope you like malasadas,” he said to Bailey. “That’s all this one will eat when he’s here.”
He turned to Seth. “Melia is going to be disappointed to see you with a beautiful woman.”
Seth grinned. “I think Melia will be just fine.”
“After all these years, you should know Melia.” Keoki retreated through a door behind the bar. It was a wonder the big man could fit through it.
“Seth.” A delighted feminine voice came from their right. “You’ve come to see me.”
He laughed when he saw the beautiful woman with long black hair and a short brightly-colored flowered dress. “Always, Melia.”
He introduced the women before he said, “We’re here for Keoki’s
malasadas and for some of your best bar food.”
Melia pouted, but she had a sparkle in her lovely eyes. “Not for me?”
“It’s good to see you again, Melia.” He meant it. She was the biggest flirt on the island, but she was fun and had a heart of gold.
Melia gave Bailey a genuine but teasing smile. “Hold onto this one. He’s worth it.”
Bailey’s cheeks turned pink, but she just returned Melia’s smile.
“What do you want to drink?” Melia asked Bailey.
“The fruitiest one you have, with rum,” Bailey said.
“Oh, I know what to bring you.” She grinned and turned to Seth. “I’ll get your favorite beer with the lady’s drink and take your orders when I’m back. When you’re finished with your food, you’ll get the largest order of malasadas you can eat.”
“I can eat a lot, if you don’t remember,” he said.
“It’s amazing you stay so good looking.” Melia laughed and left to make their drinks.
Seth turned his grin on Bailey. “I’ve known Melia since we were teenagers.”
Bailey’s smile did such wonderful things to his gut, and she didn’t seem to mind Melia’s flirting. “She’s definitely friendly.”
“Yep.” He appreciated the fact there was no pounding music in Keoki’s, so he could talk with Bailey without shouting. A Makaha Sons tune began—a nice addition to the night.
He grabbed a couple of two-sided laminated menus off the bar top and handed one to Bailey. “You’ll love the food here.”
“What do you recommend?”
Seth scanned the colorful menu. “Keoki’s doesn’t have a lot on the menu, but what he does have is excellent. Almost everything he uses is locally farmed and caught.”
He went on, “My favorites are the Ahi Sashimi and the Coconut Crusted Shrimp with orange mango sauce.”
“Sounds good.” Bailey scanned the menu then looked up at him. “Spam fries? Panko breaded and fried, with banana ketchup?”
He grinned. “Spam is a favorite on the island. You’ll find it everywhere.”
“When we were growing up, one of my big brothers used to fry Spam slices and make sandwiches with them.” Bailey smiled. “Mayo, tomato, lettuce, and Spam on whole wheat. We liked it, but I think I’ll go for something else while in Hawaii.”
She looked at the menu again. “I’d like to try the Spicy Tuna Roll and Fish Kebab.”
Melia returned. She placed a brown bottle in front of Seth. It had a waterfall of clear water in a tropical setting and Wailua Wheat on the label.
In front of Bailey, she set the largest fruity drink Seth had ever seen. The sunrise-colored drink even had a pineapple wedge and a slice of orange on the rim with a pink umbrella toothpick with a strawberry sticking into the pineapple. It also had a sugar cane stir stick, a blue straw, and a tropical flower on top of the beverage.
Bailey’s eyes widened. “What in the world is it?”
“I made it up, so we’ll call it the Melia.” She grinned. “You want fruity, I give you fruity.”
Seth wanted to laugh. Overkill. So Melia.
Bailey did laugh. “Thanks, Melia. I think I’m gonna love it.”
“You will.” Melia looked from Bailey to Seth. “Your favorites? Ahi Sashimi and Coconut Crusted Shrimp.”
“That’ll do for me.” He glanced at Bailey. “Are you set on the Spicy Tuna Roll and Fish Kebab?”
“Sounds fantastic.”
“Get started on that drink.” Melia swept through the door that Keoki had vanished through earlier.
Bailey stared at her beverage again, as if she was trying to figure out where to start. “I think I have to dismantle it first.”
As he downed his first swallow of his pale wheat ale, Seth watched Bailey begin with setting the umbrella aside.
His gut stirred at the site of her lips on the strawberry as she ate it first. Well, hell. He was getting hard watching her eat a damned berry.
“So far so good.” Bailey attacked the pineapple wedge next, followed by the orange slice. She took out the flower and set it aside before she stirred the concoction with the sugarcane stick.
When she finally got to the drink, she brought the straw to her lips and sipped. She closed her eyes as pleasure washed over her features. Her throat worked as she sucked on the straw.
Damn. Everything she did made him want her more.
Bailey set the glass down as she opened her eyes and met Seth’s gaze. “This has to be the best alcoholic drink I’ve ever had. Maybe even better than a Haupia cocktail.” She stirred the beverage again. “As good as it is, I shouldn’t drink it too fast. It’s strong.”
She pushed the drink toward him. “Try it.”
Seth obliged and drank from the rim. Citrus, berries, mangoes, and other flavors assaulted him. He lowered the glass. “Sweet and definitely fruity. And you’re right, there’s a lotta rum in there.”
He pushed the glass back to Bailey. “It’s good, but I’ll stick with beer.”
“All the more for me.” Bailey sipped from the blue straw. “Yummy.”
Melia arrived with plates mounded with food and placed them in front of Seth and Bailey. “You’ll need this for your strength.” She flashed a grin at Seth. “I hear there’s a group coming over from the Puanani. Should be soon.”
Seth nearly groaned. He moved his stool closer to Bailey. Maybe the women would get the message, even if it wasn’t exactly true.
Taken.
He sighed. That wouldn’t stop them from flirting.
“Good, isn’t it?” Melia looked at Bailey and pointed to her drink.
“It’s amazing.” Bailey held the sugar cane stick. “How much rum did you put into it?”
“The perfect amount.” Melia gestured with both hands for them to get started. “Eat and then I will bring you malasadas.”
Seth and Bailey dug in. “Wonderful,” Bailey said between bites. “I didn’t realize how hungry I was, and this so hits the spot.”
“I knew you’d enjoy it.” Seth looked out from the open air bar to the beach and the ocean. “After we eat we can walk on the beach if you’d like.”
“I’d love to.” Bailey held a fish kebab in one hand. “I’ll need to work off all this great food and the drink.” She gestured to the radio. “Who’s that? I like the song.”
“Kealiʻi Reichel,” Seth responded as the singer’s most recent hit spilled out of the radio behind the bar. “I know most of the popular Hawaiian singers and enjoy listening to them when on the islands.”
“I like the music I’ve heard since I’ve come to Momi,” Bailey said. “What kind of music do you prefer when you’re back home?”
“On the mainland, I prefer country,” he said. “Kade Fields, Dierks Bentley, Carrie Underwood, Blake Shelton, and George Strait. And many others.”
“All great singers.” Bailey looked thoughtful. “Then there’s always Keith Urban, Luke Bryan, and Brad Paisley.”
The moment Seth set his fork on his empty plate, Melia arrived. It was like she’d been waiting, yet came out of nowhere.
“Good, yes?” She said to Bailey.
Bailey gave an enthusiastic thumbs up. “Best I’ve had on the island, and I’ve had some great food.”
“Of course.” Melia turned to Seth. “You’re getting skinny. I will bring you even more malasadas than I promised earlier.”
Seth looked down at his body that hadn’t changed in years, and back at Melia. “If you say so.”
“Skinny?” Bailey laughed and shook her head when Melia left. “I don’t think so.”
Seth shrugged. “You gotta know Melia.”
He leaned his forearms on the bar. “We shouldn’t have to wait long. They keep stocked up on malasadas on busy nights. Most of the time they can’t make them fast enough.”
Melia returned even faster than he’d expected, with the biggest pile of the crème-filled donuts he’d ever seen.
“Holy cow, Melia.” He shook his head. “This is like t
hree days’ worth.”
“You said you could eat a lot.” She laughed as she looked at Seth. “I give you a lot.”
“You sure did.” Bailey picked a malasada off the pile and bit into it. “Oh. My. God.” Her mouth was partially full of malasada. She chewed and swallowed. “That is the most incredible thing I’ve ever had.”
“Of course.” Melia flipped her long hair over her shoulder. “There are none better.”
A good deal of ruckus came from the doorway. Melia’s attention was drawn in the direction. “Better hide, Seth.” She gestured to Bailey. “Even this one can’t save you.”
Bailey looked confused as she met Seth’s gaze. He looked in the direction of the commotion and cringed. A large group of women had swooped into Keoki’s, and one of them already had set her sights on Seth.
He leaned close to Bailey and slid his arm along her back. She tilted her head clearly believing something was off.
“Just remember, I didn’t ask for this,” he told Bailey.
She furrowed her brow. “Ask for what?”
He sighed. “In Olino, women outnumber men by twenty-three to one. Usually Keoki’s is fairly safe. But tonight…you’re about to see what happens to single men.”
It wasn’t long before Seth and Bailey were surrounded by single women. Seth kept a grip on Bailey’s hand as he repeatedly tried to tell them he was with someone. He recognized quite a few of the women, who showed up at the rodeo every year.
Melia packed the malasadas in a big bag and set the bag on the bar top.
Seth shoved his free hand in his pocket and pulled out a hundred, enough money to pay for everything they’d had, plus a good-sized tip for Melia to share with Keoki .
Melia took the money from him.
“No change,” he told her.
“Come again while you are on the island,” she said over the noise. “Bring the woman. I like her.”
Seth put his arm around Bailey’s shoulders and they fled Keoki ’s.
When they were out on the sand, close to the shore, Bailey’s laughter filled the night. “That was almost worth the price of admission.”
Seth gave her a rueful look. “One thing we don’t agree on.”
Midnight with You Page 6
