Ashlyn laughed. “Maybe next time you’ll listen to your little sister and not try to ruin things that are in your own best interest.”
He grinned. “I thought this was about you and Danica switching lives—not trying to play matchmaker.”
“Hey, whatever happens between you two is a fringe benefit,” she explained. “Just like I hope will be the case when I get together with Danica’s friend Hunter.”
“Hunter, huh?” Boyd was not so sure he wanted this dude to hunt after his sister, but he realized she was an adult and he had to trust her judgment just as she clearly trusted his.
“Yes, Hunter. We’re meeting tomorrow for lunch. I’ll let you know how it goes.”
“Spare me the details,” he said.
“So long as you do the same, should you and Danica decide to hook up.”
Boyd pondered the possibility. “My lips will be sealed, if things head in that direction.”
“Okay, now that it’s settled, mind if I go back to sleep?” Ashlyn yawned for effect.
“Go right ahead. Hope you have a good time tomorrow with Hunter.”
“I could say the same for you and Danica. I assume you’ve already made plans?”
He grinned crookedly. “I’m going to show her around a bit, per your suggestion. Other than that, there’s nothing special in the works.”
“If you say so,” she said. “Aloha.”
Boyd disconnected, laughing to himself at his sister’s overactive imagination when it came to his love life. In fact, he didn’t really have a love life at the moment. But then neither did Ashlyn. Did that make them two sorry siblings, or what?
Chapter 3
The next day Danica was up at the crack of dawn. In spite of what had been a long day before, she was eager to have some fun and adventure. Being able to do at least some of that with Boyd made her even more excited. She tempered that excitement, reminding herself not to have any unrealistic expectations where he was concerned. After all, the truth was that at the end of the day she wanted more than just a romp in the hay, or on the sand.
But she had also come to Hawaii with her eyes wide open, hoping to catch a fish of sorts, who would cause her heart to skip a beat and show some passion and promise in the bedroom. Could Boyd deliver in that regard? If so, then the future, if there was one between them, would work itself out.
Otherwise she was still up for a good time, and Boyd seemed to be more than up for the challenge. Or had he simply gotten a little carried away with his desire to kiss her last night and had all but forgotten it today? She’d find out soon enough.
By the time Boyd showed up, Danica had gotten better acquainted with the house, unpacked her belongings and had a light breakfast. In keeping up with island tradition, she’d dressed casually in a multicolored short-sleeve shirt, Bermuda shorts and sandals. She pulled her hair back into a ponytail.
Boyd liked what he saw as he appraised Danica. She fit right in with her attire, and stood out at the same time with sheer beauty that even in Hawaii was a treat to behold.
“Aloha kakahiaka,” he said. In case she didn’t know, he explained, “That’s good morning.”
“Good morning.” Danica blushed, thinking she needed to become more familiar with Hawaiian words to keep up with him.
“Ready to take a look around your new city?”
Danica certainly wished it was a permanent arrangement, as she imagined she could get used to this atmosphere in a hurry. But the clock was ticking with each moment and before she knew it, she would be back in Chicago and her real life. Meaning far away from the Big Island and Boyd Reed.
Glancing at him, she saw that he looked manly in a yellow polo shirt, gray shorts and gym shoes. A whiff of his spicy cologne appealed to her.
“I’m ready if you are,” she declared.
“Great.” Boyd looked around and saw that everything seemed to be in order. Ashlyn kept the place immaculate and it looked like Danica wanted to do the same during her stay. That certainly worked for him, though he’d never tell her that, now that things seemed to be on the right track in their new friendship.
In his car Boyd turned to Danica as she was buckling up. “Did you sleep well?”
“Yes, I did, thank you,” she answered. “Wasn’t too hard, all things considered.”
“I’ll bet.”
“How about you?” Danica pictured him asleep. And then she pictured him in bed, doing things other than sleeping.
“Yeah, slept like a baby,” he said. Not that he would’ve had a problem if she had been around to keep him wide awake.
“Good for you.” She smiled thoughtfully as they began to drive. “So where to first?”
“I thought we’d head downtown so you can familiarize yourself with what many consider the pride of Hilo.”
“Hmm…okay. Sounds interesting.”
“What has Ashlyn told you about the city, if anything?” Boyd asked.
“Not much,” Danica had to admit. “Mostly general stuff, like a few tourist attractions. Guess she wanted me to discover most things on my own.”
“That’s the best way to get to know Hilo,” he agreed. And I’m happy to do my part, so I get to hang out more with you.
They parked off Kamehameha Avenue and went on foot to explore the roughly ten-block downtown.
Boyd pointed out the historic Federal Building. “It was built way back in 1917,” he told her.
“Incredible.” Danica took a picture of the building.
“That’s the Pacific Tsunami Museum,” Boyd said a few minutes later. “It came about after devastating tsunamis in 1946 and 1960.”
“Can we go inside?”
“Of course.”
Later they stood before the Kamehameha Statue, honoring King Kamehameha I, who was the first chief to rule all the islands. Boyd took a picture of Danica beneath it, then flagged a passerby to take a picture of them together. For him it was an excuse to get close to Danica. He put his arm around her and smiled as the picture was taken. Danica felt the contours of Boyd’s rock-hard body as he hugged her and she him, barely able to concentrate on the picture as much as the man.
They finished the downtown tour with a short walk in Happiness Garden, a park that overlooked Hilo Bay and provided a stunning view of Hilo’s Black Sand Beach and the Mauna Kea Mountain; followed by a stroll along Banyan Drive with its magnificent banyan trees.
“I could take pictures here all day,” Danica laughed.
Boyd smiled, enjoying the sound of her voice. “I’m sure you could.”
“But I’ll show some restraint and see what else is out there.”
“Good idea.” He noticed an errant hair had fallen onto her brow, and took the liberty of brushing it off with his hand and smoothing it back. “That’s better.”
Danica blushed. “Where to now?”
“I was thinking we could grab a bit to eat—at my place,” Boyd suggested out of the blue. “Then we can check out a few more places that might interest you.”
“Sounds good to me.” Admittedly she was curious to see where he lived and how it compared to the house he owned with Ashlyn. Was it a typical bachelor pad? Or something more suitable for companionship?
* * *
Boyd drove into the Hamakua District, where he’d found the perfect house. Though he’d shared some female company there from time to time, for the most part it had been just him. Seemed as if no one could hold his interest for very long. He suspected that might change if Danica hung around for a while. But that didn’t seem very likely, as her life was in Chicago and he had little enthusiasm for either maintaining a long-distance relationship or giving up his enviable life in Hilo.
He made a right turn onto Old Mamalahoa Highway and after pass
ing through a gated entry, drove by groves of Himalayan, Sumatran and Japanese bamboo on his property before coming upon the architectural delight he called home.
“Here we are,” he told Danica.
“I can see that.” She gazed with awe at the impressive landscaping and then at the house itself—an island-styled, single-story oceanfront home. “Can’t wait to see what the inside looks like.”
Boyd smiled, eager to show off his digs to the beautiful lady Ashlyn had brought to the Big Island. And into his life.
As they stood on the covered lanai, he said, “The house is a confluence of several architectural designs. For instance, this antique hand-carved mission door was made in Guadalajara, Mexico.”
“Nice,” Danica said, trying not to appear too overwhelmed.
Once inside they stepped onto decorative tile flooring in the foyer, which transitioned into Kurupayra hardwood throughout the house. Boyd took Danica on a walk-through of the spacious rooms, all with cathedral ceilings and bay windows. The furniture was a combination of leather and wood, with a couple of antique pieces seemingly thrown in for good measure. He even showed off his state-of-the-art fitness room.
“So this is where you work out?” Danica had wondered where that muscled body developed its form.
“Every day of the week, when I’m here,” Boyd said. He needed exercise as a stress reliever, not that he couldn’t think of other ways to work out that were more entertaining. Like making love to a gorgeous woman.
“You’re really dedicated to the cause,” she told him.
“Most of the time.” His eyes swept up and down her body, convinced she did something to be so lean and shapely. “You work out?”
“When I can. Mostly aerobics, swimming, walking and making use of an elliptical machine.”
She noted he had one.
“Feel free to use mine whenever you like,” Boyd told her, realizing he was extending an invitation to Danica to become even better acquainted with him in the process.
“I’ll probably take you up on that.” She imagined it would be fun to work out together—in more ways than one.
Boyd showed her his media room with all the latest gadgets, including a sixty-inch plasma television, music center and computer, and with a plush sectional and antique oak cabinets and tables.
“You really know how to go all out,” Danica said.
“Just wanted a great place to relax and enjoy entertainment.”
“Looks like you’ve got it.”
He led her to the very spacious master suite, entering through a Japanese 19th century Meiji-period door. There were shoji doors leading to an elegant bathroom and a fully equipped office. The room itself had large windows with incredible views of the landscape, along with a sunken conversation area with bamboo furniture and an Italian ceramic gas fireplace.
Danica honed in on the king bed surrounded by bamboo furnishings.
“Who does your decorating?” she asked him.
“Actually Ashlyn gets credit for much of what you see, along with my own vision,” Boyd said.
“Well, kudos to you both.”
He smiled. “Glad you like it.”
Danica looked at him. “How long have you lived here?”
“Bought the place two years ago.”
“You’ve obviously settled in quite nicely.”
“I’d say so,” he told her as he stepped closer. He’d love to kiss her again, only this time with more passion and promise. He gazed into her eyes and couldn’t help but go out on a limb by saying, “I’m starting to settle on you.”
Danica’s lashes fluttered. “Oh, really?”
“Yeah, really.”
Her heart skipped a beat. She was feeling it too and suspected he knew that. “You’re starting to work on me, as well.”
Boyd put his arms around her slender waist, drawing them together. “Maybe we need to do something about that.”
“What did you have in mind?” she asked hesitantly.
“Just this…” He held her cheeks and laid a smooth kiss on her full lips. Feeling no resistance, Boyd continued, quickly becoming aroused and loving the softness of her mouth beneath his.
His kiss was so hot, Danica nearly melted on the spot. In an entirely natural response she wrapped her hands around his head, enjoying the thickness of his dreadlocks as she tunneled her fingers through them. Her mouth opened, drawing Boyd’s lower lip within. She found herself sucking on it, tasting the man himself. It turned her on like crazy. As did the fact that she could feel his erection pressed against her, dying to come out and be put deep inside her where he would no doubt work his magic.
Though the notion of making love to him right here and now appealed greatly to her carnal instincts, Danica resisted the incredible ache between her legs. She wasn’t quite ready to go down that road with Boyd yet. Not till they knew each other a little better at least.
With every ounce of willpower in her, Danica pulled away from the most powerful, succulent mouth she had ever felt.
“I think we’d better slow down a bit here,” she said with a sigh. Otherwise they might never get out of his room until they’d gone all the way.
“You’re probably right,” Boyd stated, forcing himself to use self-control, even though her kiss left him hungry to explore the rest of her body. But that could come later, if she was of the same mind. He sensed she was, very much so. “Shall we head to the kitchen for lunch?”
“Good idea.” Danica felt flushed and was happy for the distraction of food. Another part of her, though, was surprised that he was able to turn it off so quickly after clearly being turned on. Was that how he managed to contain his libido? Or was he simply biding his time before she surrendered completely to his animal magnetism?
* * *
“This is the kitchen,” Boyd said, sweeping his arm to showcase the room. He thought about what a turn-on it would be to feed Danica and watch those sweet lips.
Danica stepped inside a kitchen most women would kill for. At least those who could cook. It was custom designed with travertine countertops, antique tansu cabinets, built-in titanium appliances and a stone floor. There was a walk-in pantry and a separate breakfast room.
“No wonder you saved it for last,” she said. “This is fabulous.” She wondered how often he had guests over.
“Certainly makes it easy to prepare a meal,” he admitted.
Danica regarded him. “So you’re a pretty good cook, I take it?”
“I can hold my own.” He smiled slightly. “Why don’t I see what I can put together for us?”
“I’d like to help,” she told him, wanting this luncheon date of sorts to be a joint endeavor.
“Then you can.” Boyd had no problem with her sharing in the food preparation. Indeed, he found that a refreshing change from some women he’d been involved with who didn’t seem to know their left from their right when it came to preparing even the most basic meals, much less something challenging.
Between the two of them they made a shrimp salad, and had it with leftover baked boneless chicken, macadamia nuts, fresh fruit and lemonade. They ate at a wooden table in the breakfast room.
Boyd admired Danica from across the table, enjoying her company while wondering why he’d never gotten to know Ashlyn’s longtime friend before now.
“Tell me more about you,” he tossed at her.
Danica lifted her eyes to his. “What would you like to know?” Truthfully she wanted to discover more about him, too.
“What’s your life like back in Chicago?” Seemed like a good place to start.
“Hectic, at times demanding, and often fun and fulfilling,” she said. “I have a great group of friends there to support me and keep me grounded.”
B
oyd popped a few macadamia nuts in his mouth. “What are your interests, besides photography and, I assume, traveling?”
“Yes, I do love to travel.” Danica only wished she hadn’t waited so long to visit Hawaii. She could have met Ashlyn’s brother sooner and who knew what might have transpired. She ate her salad, while thinking of other things she enjoyed doing. “I like to go to the movies, with romantic comedies and thrillers being my favorites. Also, I enjoy dancing and going to see the Bears and Bulls.”
“Sounds pretty well-rounded to me,” he said, sipping lemonade.
“Of course.” She chuckled. “All Chicagoans are well-rounded.”
He laughed. “I doubt that.”
“What about you? When you’re not playing host to your sister’s friend, getting rich off investments, being a tour guide or working out, what is it that really gets Boyd Reed stimulated?” Danica immediately blushed at her choice of words as she recalled his erection while they were kissing. Quickly she added, “Apart from sexually, I mean.”
Boyd felt a tingle of fresh desire at the mere mention of the word. He couldn’t stop thinking about when their lips had met and how much he wanted her.
He gave her a sly grin. “Well, taking sex out of the equation, I enjoy many of the same things you do, though I prefer cozying up in my media room to watch movies than in some cold theater. Add to that reading history books and mystery novels, going to jazz clubs and just hanging out with my best friend.”
Danica cocked a brow. “Would that best friend happen to be a female?” she asked boldly.
Boyd thought he might have detected a slight case of jealousy. Or perhaps that was more wishful thinking of a lady with whom there was only a hint of romance and its great potential thus far.
He put her mind at ease. “Actually, no. Lowell Makani and I have known each other since high school. He’s a cool guy and a laugh a minute.”
Danica was surprised that she felt relieved. It was nice to know that she wasn’t competing for his time with another woman, even though she had no claim on Boyd and didn’t have a jealous bone in her body.
Aloha Fantasy Page 4
