Aloha Fantasy

by Devon Vaughn Archer

  “But she certainly seized the opportunity,” Boyd grumbled stubbornly, a trait he’d inherited from their father. Whereas Ashlyn was just like her mother—generous to a fault and perfectly happy taking chances with her life. And property. Well, he wasn’t going to just stand by without at least giving his opinion that she could be playing with fire in coming up with this cockamamy plan.

  “Can you blame her?” Ashlyn challenged him. “Who wouldn’t want to spend a few weeks in Hawaii, soaking up the sun and everything else our islands have to offer?”

  “Yeah, I suppose.” Boyd realized he was fighting a losing battle with little ground to stand on. Maybe he was just being overprotective of her and the property they co-owned.

  “What are you so worried about anyway? Do you honestly believe Danica plans to come here and make a mess of things just to piss you off? Or maybe rob us out of house and home, as if she needs to?” Ashlyn folded her arms, giving him a look that suggested how ridiculous that was. “The lady’s an award-winning, highly respected photographer, who’s doing quite well for herself, thank you.”

  “I never suggested she was a thief,” Boyd said lamely. Even if he questioned her motives, it was obvious to him that Danica was successful in her own right. Just as Ashlyn was, as an international relations specialist. And he was an unqualified success as an investor in everything from stocks to high-end properties. His keen investments afforded him the ability to act as a tour guide on the side. Showing visitors his appreciation for the paradise he lived in made his pleasant life even sweeter.

  “If you give Danica half a chance, you just might find you two have a lot in common,” Ashlyn said.

  “Such as…?” He imagined this would be good.

  She met his gaze. “You’re both headstrong, great looking, educated, successful, independent, outgoing…and available—”

  “Whoa…hold on a minute.” Boyd had no argument about the adjectives applied to them until she got to the available part. Yes, he was single again and—by choice—had been for some time. Between work and not finding that one woman who really fit the bill, he wasn’t looking at the moment. “This isn’t about my love life.” Or was she being sneaky in trying to play matchmaker between him and her college friend?

  “Hey, I’m just saying…” Ashlyn gave him a coy look.

  “Yeah, right.” He frowned lightly, even though he knew she had his back always, as he did hers.

  “Danica’s a great gal and still my best friend. All I’m asking is that you give this experiment a chance to work for me and her. And don’t be afraid to put your tour guide cap on to show her around our great city. I promise she won’t bite.”

  Boyd grinned. He wasn’t entirely averse to being bitten by the right woman. And maybe nibbling on her body, too. It would be premature, though, to think that this was in the works with her friend.

  “Fine,” he relented. “She can come and hang out at the house for a month. I promise I’ll be on my best behavior and make her feel welcome on the island.”

  Ashlyn’s face broke into a wide smile. “Mahalo.” She lifted up on her toes and hugged him. “I knew I could count on you.”

  “Always,” Boyd promised. He would take Danica’s visit one day at a time till her month was up and Ashlyn was back where she belonged.

  And Danica was back in Chicago.

  * * *

  It was exactly a week after they made plans to switch residences for a month that Danica was aboard a plane bound for Hilo International Airport. Though she had hardly been able to think about anything else, it was still hard to believe she was actually en route to heaven on earth. She was almost giddy with excitement and intended not to waste one moment in this trip of a lifetime.

  If that meant trying new things, she would.

  She’d love to be swept off her feet by a hunk in Hawaii who could take as much as he gave. But she wasn’t getting her hopes up. Whether in Chicago, Hilo or anywhere else, romance only happened if the connection was there. And if it wasn’t, oh, well…

  Danica sipped on her cocktail in first class, looking out on the thick white clouds. She knew that at that moment Ashlyn was en route to Chicago. They had timed it to practically pass each other in the air as they literally switched places in their lives.

  Before she’d left, she had given her loft a more thorough cleaning than usual, wanting to leave a good impression for her friend, whom Danica believed was getting the short end of the stick in the exchange. She, on the other hand, was getting a slice of Hawaii, which spoke for itself.

  Nevertheless Danica was proud of her place in the Windy City and wanted Ashlyn to feel right at home. Toward that end, she’d left her a few goodies—fresh fruit, chocolate and wine—the latter two of which were Ashlyn’s guilty pleasures. And Danica’s friends promised to take Ashlyn out on the town and be available if she needed anything.

  As promised, Danica had asked a handsome male friend named Hunter Ortega to give Ashlyn a call and see if they might hit it off. Hunter was a successful investment banker who had been to Hawaii many times. He was also single after ending a long relationship and seemed a good match for Ashlyn.

  One can only hope we both do better in each other’s stomping grounds than in our own backyards when it comes to finding love.

  When the plane landed, Danica had butterflies in her stomach. She was on the Big Island and there was no turning back now. For a month, this was home.

  She received a spirited lei greeting and was pointed in the right direction to retrieve her bags. Afterward, she found Ashlyn’s white Suzuki Kizashi sedan and was on her way. Marveling at the lush scenery, Danica drove from the airport and, per Ashlyn’s instructions, wound her way through several streets before reaching Kalanianaole Avenue and the house she would call home for the next month.

  It was a large two-story Hawaiian plantation-style residence surrounded by mature landscaping of palm trees and lush tropical plants.

  Danica walked onto the lava-rock front porch with a built-in koa wood seat. She found the key under the doormat and went inside, stepping onto a ceramic-tiled floor in the foyer.

  All she could think of after one glance of the great room was Wow! The place was huge, with a eucalyptus hardwood floor. The sun shone through a skylight over a vaulted beam ceiling. The furnishings were an impressive blend of antique and contemporary. On a hexagonal glass coffee table was a bottle of macadamia nut honey wine with a ribbon around it and a tag that read Welcome.

  Before she sampled it and went on the grand tour, she had one task—to set up her laptop.

  She and Ashlyn had sent each other a short video message to be played the moment they arrived in each other’s homes.

  Sitting down on the plush couch, she watched as Ashlyn’s face came onto the computer screen.

  “Aloha, Danica. Welcome to my home. I won’t take up any of your precious time. Just wanted to tell you a bit about the house. It was built in 1937 by my grandparents, who left it to my parents, and eventually it became my and Boyd’s property. The house overlooks Richardson Beach with black sand that you’ll find really interesting. Okay, enough from me. Have fun and maybe meet the man of your dreams. Aloha!”

  Danica smiled. She was already having fun. As for meeting the man of her dreams, she was keeping an open mind but not getting her hopes up.

  She rose and approached stained-glass doors that opened to the backyard garden and a path toward the ocean. After grabbing her digital camera, Danica stepped outside, basking in the warmth and sunshine. She couldn’t resist taking a few pictures right away to send back to her friends in Chicago.

  Walking across winding cobblestones, Danica stood not far from the beach, taking in its intriguing black sand. She snapped more pictures, this time focusing on the marvelous ocean itself. Turning back to the magnificent yard, she came t
o a section with red, pink, white and purple anthurium flowers and couldn’t resist the urge to see them through her lens. The yard was shaded by grand hapu’u tree ferns and fruit and palm trees.

  What she wouldn’t give to have them in her backyard every time she stepped out of the house.

  Danica shifted the camera west across the grassy yard, hoping to catch a perfect sunset. Her lens instead fell upon the sculpted image of a tall, muscular African-American man with black Rasta locks. After getting over the shock, Danica had to admit he had certainly gotten her attention better than any sunset ever could.

  Chapter 2

  “So you must be Ashlyn’s friend?” Boyd asked, as if he had a doubt.

  “Yes,” she answered, moving the camera away from her face. Her big café au lait eyes assessed him. “And I take it you’re the brother?”

  He flashed a half grin. “Indeed. Aloha.” Moving closer, he stuck out a hand. “Boyd Reed.”

  “Danica Austin.” She put her hand in his, feeling his long fingers wrap firmly around hers as she gazed up at his eyes, which were an appealing mix of steel gray and jet black. “Aloha.”

  Boyd studied the woman. He had to say that the few photographs he’d seen of her hardly did her justice. She was gorgeous, with a butterscotch complexion, high cheeks, a dainty nose and full lips. The fine brunette hair fell below her shoulders and suited her. She was slender with just the right curves. She had on a white ruffle corset, jeans that hugged her hips and flats, which from where Boyd stood were perfect for her above average height.

  “Didn’t mean to scare you,” he said. “I called out for you inside, but got no answer. Then I heard you out here.”

  “It’s all right,” Danica said after taking a breath. Of course he had a key to the house. After all, it was part his. Still, it might have been nice had he phoned ahead of time to let her know he was coming. “You may have caught me off guard, but that was mainly because I was so absorbed with the beauty all around me.”

  And now with the beauty in front of her. She had to admit that Ashlyn’s brother was one hunk of a man. Her immediate thought was of Boris Kodjoe with dreadlocks, in an attractive coat of milk chocolate and at least six foot three inches. Boyd wore a print shirt and shorts, accentuating his muscled arms and strong legs. Sneakers completed the relaxed island look she’d already come to recognize.

  Danica resisted the urge to snap his picture. After all, besides being Ashlyn’s very appealing, photo-worthy brother, he represented Hawaii itself.

  “I take it this is your first time to the islands?” Boyd asked.

  “Yes. I’ve wanted to come for years, but the time was never right.”

  Until Ashlyn decided to give you free room and board and you simply couldn’t resist. “I see,” he said. “Look, I would have been happy to pick you up at the airport, but Ashlyn said the two of you had worked it out to take each other’s car as part of this swap.”

  “We did,” Danica acknowledged, somehow sensing he wasn’t necessarily on board with their arrangement. Why was that? “Seemed like a fun way to step into each other’s world. I thank you anyway for being willing to chaperone me from the airport, had that been necessary.”

  “Not a problem.” Boyd gave a tiny smile. He wished she wasn’t so damned attractive; it only made it more difficult not to like her. Even more he wished she hadn’t come. Would she find she couldn’t hack it and leave early? Maybe he would just let this thing play out and see how things went. For all he knew, maybe Ashlyn would find that Chicago wasn’t exactly what she had in mind and be back on the Big Island in a snap, sending her friend packing.

  “So did you have a chance to check out your new digs?” he asked Danica, trying to keep his voice friendly instead of overly suspicious and guarded.

  “No, I haven’t had the chance to do that yet,” she said.

  “Well in that case allow me to give you the grand tour.”

  Did she have a choice? She forced a smile. “That would be nice.”

  * * *

  “This is obviously the kitchen.” Boyd wondered if she was a good cook. That wasn’t Ashlyn’s forte, while he had always been handy in the kitchen.

  “I can see that.” Danica looked around at the spacious room with old-world craftsmanship, Koa wood cabinets, stainless steel appliances and even an ocean view. I’ll bet I could cook up a storm in here, she thought. Maybe even invite him to join me. Or would that be going overboard for someone she didn’t really know?

  Boyd opened the refrigerator. “Ashlyn took the liberty of stocking it with what she remembered as some of your favorites, along with some authentic Hawaiian cuisine.”

  Danica flashed a smile. “How sweet of her.” In fact, she had done the very same thing in her loft to make it easier for her friend.

  They moved from room to room on the first floor and Danica was awed by both the simplicity and elegance of the home. On the second floor there were yet more well-appointed rooms with terrific views of the ocean and mountains.

  “This is the master suite, or Ashlyn’s room,” Boyd pointed out. Or your room for now. “Hope it’s to your liking.”

  “What’s not to like?” Danica said, scanning the bedroom/sitting area from its huge windows to the hardwood floor to the rustic cedar furnishings. It seemed like the perfect room, one she could imagine cozying up in over the next four weeks.

  “I was thinking the same thing.” About you. Boyd stood over her, contemplating what it would be like to make love to her. Something told him the experience would reach his very core. He turned away such thoughts, realizing that she wasn’t there for his pleasure. And he wasn’t ready to give Danica a free pass for taking advantage of Ashlyn’s generosity.

  Danica was also very much aware of Boyd’s presence, the heat emanating from his solid body so near that it made her own temperature rise. She could actually picture them on Ashlyn’s queen bed doing some things that would truly set her soul on fire. She forced herself to cool off mentally and get back to the real world. One where Boyd was only hanging around as a courtesy. Or so she assumed.

  “Well, thanks for the tour,” she told him, looking over her shoulder.

  “My pleasure.” Boyd wasn’t ready to see this end just yet. “I’m sure you must be hungry after your long flight and probably some less-than-tasty offerings on the airline.”

  “I’m starved,” Danica admitted.

  “I’d be happy to whip up something for you,” he offered. “Or better yet, there’s a nice bistro not far from here that has some great food. My treat.”

  “The bistro sounds good. Let me just freshen up.”

  “Of course.” Boyd smiled. “I have to make a phone call anyway. I’ll wait outside for you.”

  Danica wondered if Ashlyn had put him up to this kindness on her behalf. Or was it all Boyd’s own doing? Either way, she didn’t see where it hurt either of them to have a meal together as she got used to her new home away from home.

  After washing her face and brushing her hair, Danica applied just a touch of makeup, which was all she ever wore anyway. During the daytime she had to remember to put on sunblock, wanting to protect herself from the strong Hawaiian rays.

  She peeked out the window and saw Boyd leaning against a shiny black Mercedes-Benz sedan, a cell phone up to his ear. Apparently he did well for himself. She seemed to recall Ashlyn saying something about him being a big-time investor. But her friend hadn’t indicated that he was seeing anyone. In fact, she had suggested just the opposite.

  Not that Danica could honestly expect that a man as hot as Boyd was just waiting around in this hotbed of beautiful women for her to arrive on the scene. Any more than he had any right to expect that she had come to the Big Island in search of him.

  Downstairs Danica got on her computer, hoping Ashlyn was
at her place by now and available for a quick chat. She opened the Skype interface and rang her.

  Within a few moments, Ashlyn’s face appeared.

  “Well, Aloha,” Ashlyn said. “Looks like you’ve arrived at your destination, safe and sound.”

  A smile crossed Danica’s face. “I could say the same about you.”

  “Yes, I’m here and loving your place.”

  “You took the words right out of my mouth,” Danica said. “Your house is out of this world. How could you ever want to leave for even one day, much less a month?”

  Ashlyn chuckled. “People have often asked me that when I’ve traveled elsewhere. I usually tell them that I prefer to see the green grass on the other side from time to time.”

  Danica laughed. “Good way of putting it.”

  “The Windy City should give me plenty to work with.”

  “I hope so,” Danica said, knowing that Hilo would provide her with more than enough things to do. “So…I’ve met your brother.”

  Ashlyn smiled. “I was about to ask you about him. What do you think?”

  “He’s very handsome,” she said honestly.

  “Just don’t let that go to his head,” her friend joked. “Otherwise, I might never hear the end of it.”

  “I’ll try to remember that.”

  “Has Boyd been on his best behavior?” asked Ashlyn.

  “So far, so good.” Danica could see him still yapping away outside. “In fact, he’s invited me out for a bite to eat.”

  “Hmm…good for you.”

  “It’s just a meal,” Danica emphasized. “I have to eat.”

  “I didn’t stock the fridge enough?” Ashlyn teased. “Seriously, have fun with my big brother and then whatever happens, happens.”