Heating Up Hawaii

by Carmen Falcone

  “Found it?” he asked behind her.

  Hot awareness knitted her spine. His closet no longer doubled her Dallas living room in size. His presence made the big, airy closet morph into a tight rabbit hole. Very, very tight.

  “Do you have a shirt in a dark, solid color?” she managed to ask, choosing to turn to him slowly as she regained composure. He didn’t need to see her chest heave with frustrated breathing, or her flushed cheeks.

  He opened the third drawer and removed a dark green long sleeved shirt. “Will this one do?”

  Penny nodded. “Be quick, we don’t have much time.”

  He must have taken his suit jacket off in the bedroom, because now all he had on was the white shirt he proceeded to remove, quickly scooping it over his head and throwing it on a chair, instead of opening each button.

  A heat coiled in her stomach and arrowed down to her sex. Within a moment, that hunk of a man stood shirtless next to her. She cleared her throat and tried to look to the sides, to appreciate the fine craftsmanship behind the wood lines.

  Should I just go? I should. I should.

  However, moving would mean going around him to get outside the closet, and the possibility of rubbing her limbs against his bare flesh made her skin break out in goose bumps.

  “As I’ve mentioned in the email I sent, Brooke Okole has a variety-type show on the local channel. She’s a great liaison for us, since her show has very good ratings. It will smooth your image with the locals, after the bad press because of the safety breach.” Penny opted to speak, which —she hoped—would show she was still in charge. During her speech, her voice went up and down like the cords of a violin, as her gaze swept over his rower’s chest.

  A dust of dark hair swept over his pectorals and stomach, and it narrowed down, disappearing into his black slacks. With time, he’d gained more muscle. Phew.

  She wiped a thread of sweat from her forehead.

  Luc didn’t make direct eye contact. It became clear his intention wasn’t seducing her, but to change as fast as he could.

  “Luc? You read the email, right?” she asked, to slice the one-sided sexual tension that could very well suffocate her. “It wasn’t easy getting this interview last minute.” She felt pathetic fishing for a compliment or the slightest sign of recognition.

  What if he simply didn’t care about her professional efforts after she had told him she wouldn’t sleep with him? What if her chances of getting good references had gone down the drain even before the completion of her assignment?

  “Yes.” He answered, with a blasé look. “Is this good?” He finished closing the buttons and opened his arms, showing her the end result.

  “It will do,” she said coolly. “Time to go.”

  An hour later, she couldn’t help the smile from spreading across her face. Whether he acknowledged it or not, the interview had been a fantastic idea. It helped, of course, that Luc could knock anyone off their socks.

  From the moment he charmingly apologized for the delay at the beginning of taping, he had been engaging and dynamic all at once. Brooke looked indeed taken by him, showing an appreciation that seemed to go beyond the professional level.

  Maybe her cheeks will cramp from all that smiling at him.

  “You seem to be so hands-on with this particular hotel, Luc.” Brooke said, as they sat side by side, on the oversize wood chairs with fluffy weather-resistant pillows.

  “There were a couple of misconceptions after the flood, and I just wanted to be a part of it every step of the way.” He flashed that million watt smile right at the camera.

  “Could this also be about your late father?” Brooke crossed her legs and then tilted her head to the side with a concerned expression that screamed daytime TV drama.

  Penny’s eyes searched for Luc’s. He didn’t scowl or say anything, but his hesitation followed by the bob in his Adam’s apple sufficed. His father? What did his father have to do with anything? For all Penny knew, he’d been an Italian immigrant who died when Luc had been shy of his tenth birthday.

  “I understand he used to work as a maintenance tech at this very same hotel, or should I say before the remodeling you’ve done after you bought the property.” The reporter brushed off any awkwardness or maybe just ignored it.

  “That’s correct.” Luc straightened his shoulders. There was a depth to his eyes, one that didn’t go unnoticed by Penny. “Familial ties only make me love this island even more.” He smiled again, though she could see right through him. It was a staged smile, as fake as Brooke’s breast implants.

  The reporter acquiesced and after a couple of more general questions, ended the interview. The cameraman turned his equipment off, as the sun went down on the horizon.

  She found herself alone with Luc, who still sat on the same chair and looked out to the ocean as if she wasn’t even present.

  “Well done.” Penny said lightly, sitting on the chair in front of him.

  He scowled at her, his eyes blazing into hers. “Next time you book an interview, make sure I talk to a real journalist and not the upgraded version of a social columnist.”

  Penny took a deep breath. “How did she know about your father? I mean, I did research about you and even I had no idea.”

  “She’s from here, which gives her an advantage. And I’m sure people like that do anything for dirt.”

  “Well, even if it’s true—”

  “It is true.”

  “Tell me about your father.”

  His stance instantly hardened. “Why is he relevant?”

  “From the moment someone else just mentioned him, he is relevant. I’m supposed to know more about you,” she said. The part of her that wanted to know more about him battled against her common sense. Hadn’t she known enough? Didn’t knowing him put all kinds of dirty thoughts in her mind? Why on Earth would she want—no— need more?

  Because, she concluded as she watched the way he lifted his chin when she mentioned his father, it began to feel like she didn’t know him at all.

  He swallowed. “My father moved here before we did. He was restless. Born and raised in Italy, he moved to France where he met my mother. Then he wanted to come to the US. He chose Maui, where he worked as a maintenance guy for a few years.”

  “And then?”

  “He died in a car accident,” he whispered, as if saying it loud would make it more real, more painful. Then he shifted to stare at the ocean.

  “I’m sorry.” Penny watched his profile. The wind quietly ruffled his hair. She should embrace the stillness and share the silence, but he never said much about himself. Letting go of that opportunity didn’t seem wise. Neither is wanting to know him better. After all, the superficial complicated things as they were. “Is that why you bought this hotel?”

  “I had my eye on it for a while. When I heard the hotel group wasn’t doing well, I offered to buy it and remodeled. I named it after my father. He would have liked it.”

  “I bet.” She smiled at the poetic justice.

  “Is there anything else you need to know?” His voice gained formality. “For you to perform your duty?” The last sentence had the power of an unstoppable locomotive, which abruptly yanked her out of its way. Did she need to know more? Not at this point. Not unless he hid something else she should know.

  Then, before she could let her thoughts disentangle and develop in her mind, she said, “Luc, is there a chance you won’t give me the companies’ names at the end because we didn’t…sleep together?”

  The moment she heard her doubt out loud, she felt a cold shiver in her spine. Or was it because of the way he looked at her, with a blend of disappointment and mockery? The evening breeze swept over her. Nah. She couldn’t blame it on the weather.

  “Why, ma petite? Would that make you change your mind?”

  “You know it wouldn’t.”

  “Then you should know that I don’t need to use this type of gimmick to take a woman to bed.” He pronounced each word carefully. “Even y
ou.”

  Chapter Six

  “Luc? Are you paying attention?”

  Luc blinked at Brad, and noticed the pen felt hot in his hand. Was he clicking it obsessively again? “Yes.” Luc lied, shaking his head he wished a bucket of cold ocean water could be poured on his face to wake him up from his annoying state of aloofness.

  Merde.

  “You are okay with the reports I just went over, then?” Brad asked.

  Luc swiveled his chair. “Yes.” For the first time in years, he had paid no attention in a meeting, which was incredibly dangerous. There shouldn’t be anything more important than the re-opening of his resort. The Leoni had had a bad start, and he couldn’t fail his father’s memory again.

  There shouldn’t be anything he wanted more than this. He pushed the image that formed in his mind away. Or tried to.

  Luc felt his hand clasping around the pen again.

  “Good, because I didn’t go over any report,” Brad chuckled, then glanced at his watch. “I was asking if we could reschedule our meeting for tomorrow. I forgot today’s Sunday and I offered to show Penny around.”

  Luc sat upright and dropped the pen on the desk. “Penny?”

  “Yes. Poor thing has been working nonstop. We all have. I thought she deserved to have some fun, too.”

  Luc couldn’t avoid the smile stretching slowly across his face.

  Of course she deserved to have some fun.

  Since their last conversation after the interview, three days ago, he’d noticed Penny had gone out of her way not to face him. Whenever she was forced to talk to him, she masked her expression with that annoyingly professional smile, one that hinted he was just like anyone else. A client. A colleague. Someone she knew. A boss?

  Things couldn’t go on the way they were.

  Her accusation he would only do his part of the deal if she slept with him with still rang in his ears. Did she really think that lowly of him? A strange thought tugged at his mind. Although they’d met and slept together before, she didn’t know him well enough if she considered him a big jerk. He wasn’t perfect, but damn it, the look of pain in her eyes when she’d said those things… Had he done that to her? Was he just paying the price for the horrible image she’d built of him, with his help, in the past? “Tell me, Brad, didn’t you say your husband complained you are never home these days?”

  Brad sighed. “Well, yes, but it will get better after the re-opening.”

  “Why don’t you take the day off?”

  Brad chuckled. “This is my day off, Luc. It’s eight am. I just came to check a couple of things.”

  “Yes, but having to show the island around to a coworker still feels like work, to me. I relinquish you of that task.” Luc turned off his computer screen, stood up and grabbed his suitcase. “Go home and spend time with your husband. I will take Penny myself.”

  Brad frowned. “You?”

  “Yes, I feel bad since I was the one who brought her here. I feel…I owe it to her.”

  Brad stared at him in silence for a moment. “Are you sure? I promised to show her a good time.”

  “Don’t worry, I’ll show her a good time.”

  ***

  Penny paced in front of the sundry shop again. She had tried looking at the wide range of magazines it offered, had treated herself to an overpriced bottle of water and even chatted to the clerk.

  She smiled to herself. Brad had invited to show her the island. Since her arrival, sightseeing hadn’t been a priority, and after long days of work it didn’t matter. Not when she had press releases to write or people to contact, not to mention the RSVP list which kept growing.

  Truth to be told, a change of air was all she needed, even just for a day.

  She felt silly about standing in a public area wearing a purple sun dress over her black bathing suit. When was the last time she’d felt carefree like this? Her toes wiggled inside her flip flops.

  This was Hawaii. The sun shone brightly outside on a record heat temperature for the week, according to the weatherman. She’d seize the day with Brad, and celebrate being away from Luc.

  “Hi, Penelope.” That unwanted familiar voice sounded behind her, as if he materialized on command.

  She swung around. Her flip flops stuck to the cool marble tile, squeaking. She blinked at him. The Luc before her wore a black tee-shirt, which clung to his chest and enhanced his strong arms, and a pair of long denim shorts with tan sandals. The man had sandals on.

  “Hi, Luc. I’m waiting for Brad.” She felt the need to tell him, as if he’d really care what she did during her free time.

  “I know. I hope you won’t be disappointed, but there’s been a switch.” He said it with a grin which told her Luc expected her to be completely at ease with what he was about to say.

  Penny rested her hands on her waist, wishing she would have worn heels to boost her confidence. “A switch?”

  “Brad has been working a lot lately as well. Today is his only day off. I know he offered to show you around, but I told him I could do it.”

  Her brows tightened around her temple line. “You?”

  He curled his lips. How did he manage to sound that arrogant? Not only had he butted in on her day’s activities with Brad, but he assumed she’d be thrilled to be treated as if she were a mere task to be checked off from his list.

  Penny shook her head. “I’m not charity. I release you from this obligation which was never yours to begin with.” She loved how confident she sounded. “I can go exploring on my own.”

  He chuckled. “Penelope, you’ve been doing an outstanding job. I know I haven’t made it easy for you and I apologize. I said some hurtful things the other day. Let me make it up to you by showing you my appreciation.”

  Her heart pounded. “I understand you don’t apologize often, but you really need to get better at it.”

  He made a face. “Maybe you can help me. Look, it doesn’t have to be harsh between us.”

  If only that were true…The harshness hurt, and it cut her heart even deeper. On the upside, it offered her the emotional distance she needed from him. Was she ready for a truce?

  “Really? Because I was getting used to the awkward silences and avoiding each other.”

  “We can go back to it tomorrow.” He shrugged, with a genuine smile more dangerous than the usual smug. “Today, let’s have fun.”

  Penny chewed on her lower lip. An entire day with Luc? The idea bothered her. At this point even if she declined his offer, her day would be ruined anyway because she would spend the whole day thinking about it…about him.

  Perhaps to visit a couple of touristy places with him, in crowded public areas, was harmless. “Sure. Thanks.”

  He instructed her to meet him at the main entrance while he got his vehicle.

  When she saw his ride, she almost fell backwards. Luc showed up driving a black shiny Harley Davidson. “I didn’t know you had a motorcycle.” She touched the polished Harley, her fingers gliding over the softness of the leather seat, and she caught her reflection in the small round mirror on the front.

  Fear and temptation gleamed in her eyes.

  “I just rented this one. It’s the best way to experience the island.” He handed her a helmet. “It’ll transport you into the scenic views and enhance your taste buds.”

  Penny’s pulse skittered. Enhancing my taste buds isn’t a smart move.

  “C’mon, ma petite.” He gave her a hand, and she hopped on the motorcycle, swinging her leg around as she pushed her dress down. Thankfully it wasn’t short, otherwise she’d be in serious trouble.

  “Hang on,” he said as the motor roared, his posture straight and facing forward, both of his hands on the leather handles.

  Where do my hands go? He must have read her mind, or simply seen her worried expression through the mirrors because he grabbed both of her hands and plastered them on his chest.

  “Are you ready now?”

  Penny swallowed. She felt her fingers tremble as they wrapp
ed around the ridges of his hard body.

  Ready? It was all relative…

  ***

  “This is amazing.” Penny glanced around in complete awe as they approached the huge waterfall dropping amid the green paradise. Once the water hit the rocks, it generated a lot of small, adjacent pools.

  Visitors took pictures and bathed in the water.

  This is the closest to paradise I’ll ever get.

  “Come this way.” Luc held her hand in his. Of course, he probably did it because they walked on rocks. The gentleman inside of him wanted to make sure she didn’t trip or slide like she almost had a few minutes ago as they’d made their way to the waterfall from a reinvigorating hike.

  Her rationalization did nothing against the jolt of electricity that skated up her arm, warning her hormones against him. What was there to fear? For the past few hours, they had sightseen, visited and learned about historical places, taken pictures of national parks, and she’d filled her eyes with breathtaking panoramic views of primitive beaches. They had even shared an innocent lunch at an outdoors sandwich joint.

  He hadn’t mentioned her past at all, and she doubted he would. Thus after an exciting but tiring half-day, a dip inside the cool waterfall waters didn’t seem like a bad idea.

  Though the closeness to him threatened a response of volcanic proportions. The touching started to get to her. Luc offered his hand whenever she got off the motorcycle. He touched her elbow for a moment longer than needed as he led her through the crowd that was gathering around a picture-worthy attraction. Luc patted her back to guide her through the hike.

  Each time his fingers made contact with her skin it affected her more than before, which prompted her to take an even longer breath and make a bigger effort to overcome the rumbling of her body, and the pulsating spot in between her legs.

  The area where he took her consisted of a small pool, with water streaming from the big waterfall. The loud voices from tourists and families became lower and lower as they ventured further to a very secluded pool, surrounded by the raw nature of a luscious greenbelt.