Someone up there was clearly having a laugh at his expense today. First his father had refused to accept his help which had resulted in a phone call from hell, and then he’d tried to save a dog from drowning only to find himself the one in need – in need? He was never the one in need.
And now his rescuer was mad, real mad, judging by her silhouette that showed her hands were fisted on her hips.
‘Never mind sorry,’ she erupted – definitely mad. ‘You could have got yourself killed.’
He let his head loll back, his eyes closed again, like he could somehow magic away the whole situation. He’d been an idiot and he’d likely put her in danger too. It had been foolish, reckless, stupid even, and to his horror, he could feel a foreign surge of heat creeping into his cheeks.
Beside him there was a swoosh as she dropped to her knees, a soft curse falling from her lips as her hand fell to his chest. Her palm was warm despite the clinging wet fabric of his shirt.
He couldn’t peep, if he did, he knew the blush – a blush, for goodness’ sake – would spread. And he was trying to force it back. He didn’t blush, he didn’t get embarrassed and he sure as hell didn’t need help. He was always the one to give help. And yet… the sea water swishing around in his gut, currently threatening to make a reappearance, and the way his knees almost knocked told him he’d definitely needed that help.
‘Hey.’ Her hand pressed into his chest. ‘Hey.’
Still he didn’t react.
‘Hey!’ There was nothing soft about it now, her palm was hard, urgent as it shoved at him. ‘Are you OK?’
He took hold of her wrist before she could shake the sea water out of him and gave a laugh. Not that he really felt like laughing. And that made it a nervous laugh and he hadn’t produced one of those since… well, for ever.
‘I’m OK, save for my ego. That’s taken a hit.’
He opened his eyes to look up at her and the whole world seemed to stop. For the briefest moment, all he saw were a pair of piercing eyes only a foot away, close enough to feel her harried breath mingle with his. They were cat-like, so dark as they glittered at him, captivating him, and he had the ridiculous notion that he was drowning all over again… until they narrowed and flashed with another surge of rage.
‘Your ego is the last thing you should be worrying about.’ She pushed off him, rocking back on her heels. ‘What on earth did you think you were doing out there?’
It wasn’t just her eyes. It was the angle to her cheekbones, her perfect almond-shaped face and lips that were plump in spite of their tight, grim line.
He swallowed. He really needed to get a handle on this situation. He felt unsteady, rocked to his core, and now he wasn’t so sure whether that was from his near-drowning or her.
‘Are you going to answer me?’ She fisted her hands back on her hips and continued to loom, the angle drawing his eyes to her chest, the narrow slant to her waist, and swell to her hips… and he wasn’t overheating with pure shame anymore.
He scrambled up onto his elbows with a cough and she scuttled back, just a little, but the space was good, really good. It gave him the clarity he needed, to drag in air that wasn’t tainted by her coconut sea scent.
‘I’m really sorry.’
‘Wading straight into a rip current and refusing to listen to a single instruction I gave you.’
‘Hey, I listened.’ He raised a hand to ward off the onslaught of her words. ‘I just couldn’t understand why you wanted me to do that.’
She shook her head so fiercely droplets of sea water fired at him, her mass of hair already springing up into corkscrew curls as they released her fury on him. ‘You never try and swim against it, no one can beat it.’
‘I just wanted to get back to shore before the riptide pulled me under.’
She laughed. The sound sudden, unexpected and glorious. At least she wasn’t livid now. ‘For your information, you were caught in a rip current, and no one gets dragged under by it, you get swept out.’
‘OK.’ He said it slowly. ‘That’s not what I’ve seen on the TV.’
‘This is real life. So in future, you get caught like that, you do as I say and you either swim parallel to shore, or you go with it until you feel the pull soften. Then you get out of it before attempting to swim to shore. Understood?’
Understood? He couldn’t remember the last time someone had spoken to him in such a way and he had the ridiculous urge to roll his eyes. ‘Yes, Mum.’
‘This isn’t funny, dude.’
‘I didn’t say it was.’ But she’d just called him dude and now he really did want to laugh. How interesting it was to be stripped of his identity and just be one of the masses again, or the dudes, as she put it.
She was studying him intently and he realized too late that his amusement certainly wasn’t amusing her. He tried to straighten his face, to look serious. Was there another lecture brewing?
‘You could have died out there,’ she admonished, but it was softer now.
‘Yes, I got that much, thank you.’
‘Unless that was your intention?’ She frowned and swept an eye over his length: shirt, chino shorts, socks… at least he’d had the foresight to toe off his trainers and drop his mobile in them before running in. ‘It’s not normal to go swimming dressed for dinner.’
‘Look, I was trying to rescue a dog.’
‘A dog? You ran in the water where there’s no lifeguard, the light is almost gone, to rescue a dog?’
She didn’t sound like she believed him. Great, did she now think he’d put himself in danger intentionally? His amusement morphed back into embarrassment just as swiftly. This was getting better and better. Where was the dog anyhow? He started to scan the beach and then a thought occurred to him.
‘Hang on, you were way out in the water when I got here, you’d gone in with no lifeguard, limited light… yada yada yada.’
She lifted her chin. ‘I know what I’m doing, plus I’m a qualified lifeguard.’
‘Oh, so you can rescue yourself when in difficulty, yes?’ He’d swear she was the one blushing now, and even if she wasn’t, it suited him to think she was. ‘That’s a cracking skill.’
She shook her head and shoved at his chest. ‘I wouldn’t have swum into the rip current for a start.’
‘No, I got that loud and clear.’ He looked back to the sea, to where he’d been making an idiot of himself minutes before and frowned. ‘Not that I understand how you spot one in the first place.’
She turned to look at the water too. ‘You see that channel you were in; you see how the waves are breaking either side, but that strip looks calm, virtually still…?’
He shifted higher onto his elbows and looked to where she motioned with her hand. ‘Yes.’
Her eyes came back to him, sharp, direct. ‘That is a rip current.’
‘Got it,’ he hurried out, which he did, and he would certainly remember it in future. ‘But at the time I was more focused on the dog that—’
As if on cue, said dog trotted up and like his rescuer shook off his hair, showering Todd in another layer of sea water. Only this time the effect wasn’t quite as appealing.
‘It was this one as it happens.’ He nodded his head in its direction and noted how the hound looked far too innocent and in no way in need of rescuing at all. The dog gave a sharp bark in agreement, or to rattle him further – he couldn’t decide.
‘Nalu?’ She still didn’t sound convinced.
‘Na-who?’ He stared at the dog like he could blame it for everything that had gone wrong that day.
‘Nalu…’ She leaned over and ruffled its great big head. ‘He belongs to the surf school further down the coast.’
‘He does?’
‘Yup and that’s why he’s called Nalu, it’s Hawaiian for wave or surf.’
‘Very apt.’ He knew he sounded disgruntled, but he couldn’t help it. If it hadn’t been for Nalu, he wouldn’t have made such a complete fool of himself. ‘I take it he knows all
about rip wotsits then?’
She laughed again, the sound even lighter and easy now. ‘Yup.’
Nalu gave a little snort and plonked himself down.
It really was time to bring an end to the whole emasculating experience, but the idea of just walking away from her was worse than enduring it.
Instead he found himself asking, ‘Well, now that I know Naaluu is safe and I certainly am, because of you, how about a drink to say thank you?’
Her eyes widened. ‘A drink?’
‘Yes… you know one of those things people do for fun?’
She nibbled her bottom lip, a move he found strangely contrary to the confidence she projected both in and out of the water.
‘I can’t, I already have plans.’ She glanced at her watch and gave a curse under her breath. ‘And I’m going to be late.’
She looked back to him as she shot to her feet. ‘Will you be OK getting home?’
Her obvious concern was sweet and frustrating – no, humiliating – at the same time. It would probably be better all round if they never saw one another again. His ego certainly thought so.
‘I’ll be fine, my place isn’t far.’
She hesitated, leaning on one foot then the other. ‘OK. But if you want to swim, maybe stick to the more common areas next time. This section doesn’t get many visitors with it being so overgrown.’
‘That’s what made it perfect.’
Her eyes narrowed and he knew she was trying to suss out his reasoning.
‘Well, next time, maybe just avoid the water and the acts of heroism.’
‘You’re on, I’ll leave those to you.’ He laughed as he said it, expecting her to take that as her cue to leave. Instead she went back to chewing her lip as Nalu trotted around to sit at her feet.
‘You can stop worrying, you know, I’m not about to go back in.’
‘Of course, yeah…’ she glanced away and then back to him. ‘I’ll see you around… come on, Nalu.’
Then she was off, ducking to grab her board on the way and jogging into the foliage that bordered the beach. He was left with his ego in pieces but a strange excitement thrumming through his veins. The comedown of the adrenalin, he supposed, only he had a feeling it wasn’t just that…
And he hadn’t even caught her name.
He knew where she came to surf, though… if ever he wanted to engineer a future meet-up…
‘You need to move,’ he suddenly heard from the foliage, not that he could make her out. ‘The tide is about to take your designer trainers out.’
He shot up, she was right, the water was already lapping at his toes.
He launched himself at his shoes, his wet and sandy clothes making the entire move awkward and her soft giggle trickled through the air, tailing off as she went further into the greenery.
He found himself smiling down at the footwear now in his hands. Smiling?!
He could have died and instead of reeling from it, he was grinning like a fool.
He pulled his phone out of his shoes and checked his home screen, cursing when he saw the time.
No more grinning now, she wasn’t the only one about to be late.
Chapter Two
‘NO. NO. NO. NO.’
Malie was tugging her fingers through her hair and getting nowhere. It was one thing to think she didn’t have to do a lot to get ready. It was another to forget about her painfully belligerent corkscrew curls that wouldn’t be tamed even with a vat of oil poured over them.
Why had she even agreed to this? Cocktail parties weren’t her thing. Give her a foam party in Ibiza with Zoe, Lils and Victoria and she’d be on it in a flash. Although this time they wouldn’t lose Zoe for a whole three hours. Now she giggled. Fun times. Real, fun times.
Before the cancer took Koa.
Before the car accident that took away V’s chance of having children and Zoe’s ability to walk.
She shivered, the familiar guilt sparking.
Losing Koa had left her bereft and made her invisible to her parents. They’d immediately shut down their surf school, unable to keep it going when their champion surfer, their pride and joy had died. They’d forced her to give it up too, but she couldn’t. Instead she’d hidden it from them, and thus had begun the separation: their life and hers.
Her friends had been her lifeline. Zoe hiding Malie’s board for her so that she could sneak out on the waves. Sometimes with Zoe. Sometimes alone.
And then the accident had happened, and life had changed for them all.
They’d been buzzing that night a decade ago, on the way to the school’s summer ball, not realizing that life was about to change for ever. And then bang… literally.
Malie had come away with nothing more than a few cuts and bruises, Lils’ injuries had been similar. And to see their best friends, as close as sisters, suffer as they had… survivor’s guilt was a real thing.
First, she’d experienced it with Koa, and then the accident had thrown her in deep again.
Working hard to help others, particularly those considered disadvantaged or vulnerable or disabled – or for whatever reason in need – was the one way she knew how to climb out of it.
By helping them, by opening their eyes to what they were still capable of, to face what life throws at them and keep on trucking, the ocean made all that possible.
Surfing was therapy. It had helped her to cope and now she used it to help others. She’d taken inspiration from Zoe. When her friend could easily have wallowed, closed in on herself, she’d fought, she’d made something of herself.
All Malie had to do now was get Zoe back on a board and she would be happy. Which is exactly what they would do later this month when Zoe came to stay. Finally, her friend would be here, in Malie’s world of surf, sea and sand, and nothing would stop them getting out on the boards then.
She gave an excited little squee, twirling on the spot and… stopped dead. Oh dear.
Her fabulously airy apartment with sea-facing views looked more like the before scene from one of those domestic goddess SOS TV shows. It would likely send Zoe into a flat-out tailspin and she’d start pulling out mops, cloths, bleach… that’s if she didn’t refuse outright to stay and check in to the nearest available hotel.
Yup, she would have to find time to clean from somewhere.
But right now, she needed to get her hair sorted.
She picked up her brush and tried again. And again. It wasn’t having it.
She turned back to the mirror and let go of the brush handle. It didn’t move. It sat on the side of her head like some random accessory – great. Just, great!
She stuck her tongue out at her reflection and flung out her hands in surrender.
Look, you are you, she mentally reasoned, you can do a good job selling the work that you do without perfect hair. You can channel Zoe’s can-do attitude and get it done.
It was the reminder she needed. Tonight’s cocktail party wasn’t about looking the part, it was about representing the surf school and making sure that the charitable foundation knew that the programme was in safe hands with her. That investing in Surf Therapy was the right way to go for the disabled and disadvantaged children they helped.
And if she could pull it off tonight, and over the course of the next few weeks while representatives from the charity were visiting, then hopefully they would send more groups her way.
She yanked the brush out and tossed it onto her bed to join the mountain of discarded outfits, and scooped up more coconut oil, smoothing it through her hair as best she could. Au natural it was going to be!
She washed her hands and picked up the dress she’d decided on. Victoria had made it for her especially, the baby blue fabric with its delicate white swirl was so light against her skin and perfect for the Hawaiian climate. Its halter style and loose skirt complimented her frame, or as her friends would say enhanced her fabulous assets which to her were just a royal pain in the proverbial.
She stepped into it, tied the neck and
returned to the mirror. Not bad. Even with the wild hair.
Just a sweep of lippy, mascara and… hmm, maybe just a little blusher wouldn’t hurt. It was the most made-up she’d been in… well, months… not even for Christmas Day had she gone this all-out.
Kalani would be pleased. And that’s what mattered. He was her godfather, her boss, the owner of the surf school in which she worked and the man who’d said he would back this venture of hers. He believed in her so she would too.
She grabbed her silver sandals and slid them on – they weren’t the heels her friends would have told her to wear but hey, she still had a beach to cross. She could take the road and go with heels, but it wouldn’t be half as atmospheric or soothing, and she wanted the latter. Nerves weren’t really her thing, but so much depended on tonight being a success, of making the right impression, that the belly-butterflies were rife.
She headed out into the night, knowing her route like the back of her hand. Coincidentally, the private residence where the function was being held bordered the stretch of beach she’d surfed at earlier that evening. Tucked away. Usually deserted.
Not today though. She felt the flutters ramp up and pressed her palm against them. It’s just nerves. Not him.
She was used to ripped, surfer types. Long, shaggy bed head, tanned, god-like bodies, abs to die for. Not pale-skinned, trainer-wearing, hoity-toity rich dudes that looked like they’d been plucked out of Victoria’s upmarket wine bar back in Chelsea. Not that he’d sounded rich. In all fairness, his accent had sounded more South London to her. But there’d been an air about him, it hadn’t just been his clothing that had spoken of a definite affluence. And when he’d looked at her, when they’d been so close on the beach… even now she felt her body heat up.
It was a good job she’d been too busy to go for that drink he’d offered. She had a feeling that any more time spent in his company she’d be in trouble.
‘Aloha, Malie.’ Her uncle embraced her when he saw her. He’d arranged to meet her at the entrance to the private drive, that way neither of them had to go in alone. They dealt with the rich daily – providing lessons – but this was different. This was on their territory.
Meet Me in Hawaii Page 2
