Paradise Wild (Wild At Heart Book 2)

by Christine Hartmann

  But in the morning her heart and mind were, for once, in agreement. Today I’ll do it.

  Later, in Denver’s air-conditioned sedan, Ellie’s confidence seeped away without her being able to stop it. The farther his car climbed up the winding road into a jungle-like Maui she’d not seen before, the more the huge green leaves encroached on the path, the more the mountain folds towered above, the less eager she was to bare her soul. Denver seemed different, more reserved, and less passionate. His kiss at the now familiar parking lot had been brief, almost perfunctory. Rather than sweeping her out to sea on a tide of desire, it left her beached and confused.

  His hand rested on her knee, but she didn’t know what to do with her own. She moved it from his arm to her stomach to the armrest. Conversation was spotty. Ellie was grateful for the changing scenery that occupied her attention. When Denver paid the five dollars and pulled into one of the few remaining spots in Iao Valley Park’s lot, Ellie felt her heart pounding not from excitement but from nervousness.

  This isn’t going the way I’d imagined it.

  Around them tourists from Japan, China, and India snapped photos. Ellie read the informational sign at the beginning of the path while Denver took her photo with his phone. He stowed it and led the way, hands in pockets, Ellie’s bag slung over one shoulder. Ellie lagged a little behind as they climbed the asphalt path between lush monstera plants.

  “There’s what all the excitement’s about.” Denver pointed beyond a short bridge to a thin mountain fold. “The Iao Needle. It’s actually not a needle from the side, obviously. Just looks that way from here.”

  Ellie stared at the narrow peak, worn and smooth, like a finger pointing to heaven. “Maui’s mountains seem so soft and inviting compared to what I’ve seen in California.”

  Denver’s eyes twinkled for the first time since he’d picked her up. “How about compared to what you saw in Delaware?”

  Ellie relaxed at the joke. “Very funny. In Delaware we get excited about anything higher than sea level.”

  He took her hand and led her across the bridge. Then he urged her under a set of green railings and down a narrow path into the shrubbery. When they were out of sight of the tourists on the bridge, Ellie pulled him back.

  “The sign said to keep to the designated walkways.”

  He pointed to the worn trail. “Looks pretty designated to me.” He kissed her lightly on the lips. “Really. People do this all the time. And it’s so worth it.”

  The track roughly followed the Kinihapai Stream that cascaded over large and small boulders to their right. The chatter of visitors faded quickly behind them. They clambered over lava rocks, holding on to smooth, thin multi-colored trunks of young rainbow eucalyptus trees. Ellie recognized the shapes of leaves she pushed out of the way, but not their size. The air was pungent with the scent of rotting fruit. She saw Denver stoop now and then to pick something from the ground and put it in her bag.

  These look like office plants on steroids.

  She brushed sweat from her face. In the increasing heat of the sun, she was grateful for the shade of their path. They climbed gently upward, Denver stopping to help her over particularly steep sections of trail. The river to the right looked increasingly inviting.

  No one met them as they continued their journey. Ellie began to pant. Sweat dripped off her nose. The rushing stream taunted her with its clear water and cool breeze.

  What’s the plan, Denver? Do I get to take a breather?

  But she felt uncomfortable asking.

  He’s worn out. Probably needs a workout to get the job stress out of his system.

  When Denver veered toward the small river, Ellie lifted her eyes toward the sky.

  Thank goodness. I’m about to faint.

  “That was awesome.” She beamed at him. “Now what?”

  He pointed to a pool nestled behind some large boulders. “Care for a swim?”

  A master designer could have crafted the scene. An enclosure of large and small rocks created a natural pool lined with a pebble floor. The stream gushed into it from a two-foot high waterfall on the left and poured out down a similar one on the far right. Between lay a clear, smooth expanse of water about twenty feet in diameter, cool and irresistible.

  Why didn’t I bring a swimsuit?

  “I don’t have a suit.”

  Denver grinned and raised his eyebrows. “Neither do I.”

  He helped her to a smooth rock partly sheltered from the sun by an overhang of trees. He stripped off his damp t-shirt. Ellie peeked at the chest she had been dreaming about for days.

  Wow. He does not disappoint.

  Denver stepped over his shirt, leaned over, and kissed her, in one instant unleashing the longing she had thought was forgotten. She felt him undo the buttons of her blouse, his fingers cupping her breasts through her bra. Ellie pulled down her shorts, suddenly eager and warm. She stood in front of him, naked except for the strips of white lace surrounding her torso and thighs.

  “You’re beautiful.”

  Denver scooped her into his arms. She laughed as he carried her into the water.

  The pool was surprisingly deep, rising past his shorts. He laid her onto the cool surface, supporting her with a hand under her hips and upper back.

  “Relax. I’ve got you.”

  Ellie closed her eyes. She let her head float, feeling her hair drifting around her like a comforting halo. The chill water refreshed her mind. Her legs bobbed with the gentle undulations of the rippling stream. She heard the surges of the waterfalls.

  I never want this to end.

  His hands caressed her from underneath, massaging her neck and slipping down across her buttocks. He bent and kissed her again, not with the demanding passion of the times before but with a loving tenderness that brought a sparkle to her eyes. His lips pulled gently at hers as she arched up to meet him, her mouth pushing back, her body aware of every sensation. Instead of being washed away, she felt her senses heighten, her pulse quickening.

  I trust you, Denver. Take it further.

  As though reading her mind, his arm glided between her legs, parting areas already awash with moisture. His fingers reached and stroked her, releasing a yearning moan from her lips. His mouth moved to her breasts, still supporting her from underneath. He pulled the thin fabric aside with his teeth and fondled her nipples with his tongue. Ellie’s face and lips throbbed with desire. Her body writhed.

  Wait. Not yet. It’s my turn first.

  She reached her hand around his neck and swung herself upright, silencing his protest with a long, deep kiss.

  “Now me.”

  Her hands roamed beneath the surface of the water, tugging at his shorts, squeezing the evidence of his desire. She pushed him backward to the edge of the pool and dove under, letting her head rub between his legs as she lifted one foot then the other. She emerged with his shorts and her underwear in one hand.

  Now it’s both our turns.

  “Wait. Give me those.” He held out his hand for his shorts and dug in the pocket.

  She blushed as he put on a condom.

  “Sorry.” He drew her onto his chest. “I know it’s unromantic.”

  She shook her head. “It’s all part of the most romantic day a guy has ever created for me.”

  Her mouth covered his with grateful kisses as her hands maneuvered herself onto him. He let out a moan. She clasped him around the neck, encircling his torso with her legs. They rocked in unison, first gently, then with an ever-increasing passion until the empty valley echoed with the cries of their desire.

  ***

  In the sun on the rock, cuddled against his chest, her face dripping with the sticky juice of ripe guavas, Ellie felt the words pour out effortlessly.

  “I followed you home that first night after the beach.”

  Denver grazed her face with his fingertips and twined a lock of her long hair around them. “You did?”

  “Yes. I’ll admit it. I’m a stalker.”

&nbs
p; “I love that you stalk me.” He engulfed her nose in a gentle bite.

  “Then you’re going to love what I found out even more.” She caught his eyes and raised her eyebrows.

  “Yes?” He propped himself up on his elbows.

  “We’re neighbors.”

  “Seriously?”

  “Next door neighbors. You know that family you’ve been complaining about? The one that makes all the noise? That’s me.”

  Denver sat up. “You live next door?”

  “I do.”

  “Why didn’t you tell me?”

  Ellie shrugged, but with none of the timidity she’d felt before. “I was embarrassed I’d followed you. And it never seemed like the right time to bring it up.” She reached her face up and kissed his nose. “You know how it is when you get yourself into a situation where you’re not being honest? It’s not that you want to lie. You just can’t figure out how to tell the truth.”

  Denver looked at the stream. “I know what that’s like.”

  “You must get into those situations at work.”

  He gazed at her. “I’m in one of those situations now.”

  “Well, I know how to take your mind off that.” Ellie slid down the rock and nestled her head between his legs.

  That night in the bathroom of Vivyenne’s house, Ellie texted Jacqui.

  Ellie: Not coming home. Staying in Wailea. At my house. With Denver.

  Jacqui: Don’t waste time texting me!

  Ellie: Will u feed Viv?

  Jacqui: No. He’s full on geckos and cockroaches. Now get back to what you were doing.

  A lewd emoji accompanied her text.

  Early the next morning, just before dawn, Ellie hummed as she prepared a breakfast of waffles and fruit. Denver emerged from the bedroom in a towel, his hair still dripping from a shower. He encircled her waist and rubbed his hips against her from behind.

  “Hey, we’ve got to eat.” She shoved him gently away with her elbows. “I don’t know about you, but I’m starving. That lunch on the rocks seems like days ago.”

  Denver sat at a stool at the counter, using a kitchen towel to dry his hair. “Need help?”

  Ellie poured batter onto the hot griddle. “I’m good.”

  Denver looked around. “Where’s the cat you told me about? Your bread and butter? Did I scare him off?”

  “No. He’s Upcountry feasting on bugs.”

  “What? Like at a cat spa?”

  Ellie laughed. “It’s a long story. But the short of it is that I was getting a little freaked out in this house by myself. So Viv and I moved Upcountry for a few weeks.”

  Denver abruptly stopped toweling his head. “Viv?”

  “Yeah. Strange name for a cat. But his owner’s named Vivyenne. Go figure.”

  Denver stepped forward. Ellie paused, one hand on the open waffle iron.

  He spoke slowly. “You’re not talking about Vivyenne Lovejoy, are you? It can’t be.”

  Ellie let the iron close again. “It is.” The look on his face made her hold her breath.

  Calm down, Ellie.

  “Christ.”

  She walked around the counter and took his hand, trying to connect with his eyes. “What’s up? You know Vivyenne? It’s one of those small world things, right?”

  “I heard she’d bought a house on Maui, but I had no idea…” He met Ellie’s gaze. “Look, Ellie, I do know Vivyenne. We…” He let out a big breath and shook his head. “Why does it always have to be so hard with you?”

  Ellie frowned. “Hard?”

  Denver tugged her toward him. “I don’t mean it that way. But you’re not going to like this. Vivyenne and I used to be a couple.”

  Smoke from behind her drew Ellie’s attention to the waffle iron. She opened it and stabbed a blackened mass with a fork, throwing it into the sink and running water on it until it stopped sputtering. She unplugged the iron and took a seat on the opposite side of the counter.

  “’Fess up.”

  “We’ve known each other for years. We have mutual friends. The Kirkpatricks. That’s actually, now that I think about it, probably how she heard about this house. Anyway, we only went out for a few months. And it’s been over for…I don’t know.” He rested his hand on the counter. “It petered out months ago. It’s just been an occasional email since then. It wasn’t much more than that to begin with. It was convenient, that’s all.”

  Ellie pulled a banana from the basket on the counter and peeled it slowly. “So what was last night with me? Convenient?”

  “Last night was the beginning of something special, Ellie. Believe me. Vivyenne’s nothing.” He held out his hands.

  Ellie put down the banana and put her hands in his. “I want to believe you.…” She fixed her eyes on his.

  “Let me tell you something else…”

  She shook her head. “No. It’s okay. I’m with Celine on this one. I’m jumping in with both feet.” She brought his palms to her lips and kissed them. “I have this thing about trust. Here you are, good looking, intelligent, rich, kind. It seems too good to be true. But you’re true and you’re good and I’m going with it.” She laughed.

  Denver walked around the counter and laid his head on Ellie’s shoulder. “Oh, God, Ellie.” He squeezed her so tightly she caught her breath. After a moment, she pushed him away.

  “We’re good. Let me take a shower now. Can you handle breakfast?”

  Denver nodded. Ellie spun from the chair and skipped toward the bedroom.

  When she returned, Denver presented her with a plate of fruit and waffles. His phone lay next to her fork.

  “What’s this?”

  “Read the email.”

  She read a short email from Denver to Vivyenne. It indicated he’d met someone special and he wanted to make sure Vivyenne understood that from his perspective their relationship had been over a long time.

  “You didn’t need to show me. But I appreciate it.” Ellie picked up her plate. “Let’s eat outside. I love watching the sun light up West Maui and the ocean.”

  Later, the morning rays lit up more than just the ocean as Ellie and Denver lay naked and entwined on the boards of the lanai.

  “Can you come over tonight?” Denver spooned her from behind and ran his fingers along the contour of her hips. “I’ll make us dinner.”

  So this is what jumping in with both feet feels like.

  Ellie smiled into the distance. “I’ll be there, neighbor.”

  ***

  Denver felt cloaked in euphoria as he strode into his one-room guesthouse. He’d left Ellie getting hurriedly dressed for the morning’s workers. She’d shooed him out with a kiss and a wave. He’d sauntered across the lawn and pushed his way through the bushes, ignoring the scratches on his arms and legs.

  I’ll tell her everything tonight. Get it all off my chest. It’ll be good.

  He grinned, remembering the day before at the mountain stream. He pulled a pad of sticky notes from under the printouts spread across the dining table and began a shopping list for dinner.

  Maybe I can get her to stay here with me instead of Upcountry.

  He looked through the cabinets, whistling an off-key Andy Grammer tune. When his phone beeped, he picked it up more out of habit than interest. The text message stopped him short. He put down the note pad and dialed.

  “No, you’re not bothering me.” He twisted open a mayonnaise jar from the refrigerator with one hand and sniffed cautiously.

  “Sure.” He frowned and threw the jar in the trash.

  “What do you mean no one else showed up? Nobody?”

  He stopped walking and stared out the window. “No paychecks. And you’re the only one who showed up at work? Where’s Eddie?” He jammed his free hand in his pocket. “Look. Cut the bullshit. What do you think happened?”

  Minutes passed while he listened, mostly silently, to the person on the other end of the line. Then he fished in his backpack.

  “Hold on.” He jerked out a white tangle of w
ires. “I’m plugging in my headset. I want to pack.”

  He slammed a suitcase onto the bed. “Now give me the details. All I heard was that my fucking company’s going under. My partner apparently took off. And the company accounts have no money. I know there’s more to it than that.”

  Two hours later, in the last row of the economy section of an airplane bound for Seattle, Denver bit his lip and texted Ellie.

  Denver: Forgive me. Work emergency. On plane back to Seattle. Rain check for dinner?

  Ellie: Oh.

  Denver: I know. It’s killing me.

  Ellie: It’s all good. Work comes first.

  Denver groaned audibly. The matronly woman next to him looked askance and edged to the far side of her narrow seat.

  Denver: Not much longer. I’m getting out of this mess as fast as I can.

  Ellie: I’ll be waiting. When will u be back?

  Denver fastened his seatbelt.

  Denver: Don’t know yet. Might have to go to China.

  Ellie: Glad we told each other everything.

  Denver slapped his hand over his eyes.

  Dammit. After a long pause, he stifled another groan and slowly typed his reply.

  Denver: Me too.

  Chapter 15

  Late afternoon the following Monday, near quitting time for the workers, Ellie roamed through the house, inspecting progress, documenting, texting Devora updates. Most of the current work focused on the kitchen. Half the existing cabinets had been torn from the walls, leaving gaping holes in the paint. Exposed cement board contrasted with the smooth silver lines of the new stainless steel appliances. Cabinet door samples in twenty shades of white lined the kitchen counter. Buckets of paint and piles of drop cloths occupied a corner near the back door.

  Devora: Take another picture. Make sure the color’s accurate.

  Ellie sighed and positioned her phone over a door sample for another shot.