And that meant one thing, that in spite of his long-held belief that he would never go down the same road as his dad – that he would never let himself love another like his father had loved his mother – he was falling for her… falling fast and he was helpless to stop it.
‘Did you want a coffee while you wait?’ she asked without looking.
She knew he’d eventually follow after her, attuned as she was to every movement he made. She’d swear her heart was pounding loud enough for him to hear, her body thrumming a persistent beat in his presence that only ever became more incessant the more she denied it. Denied him.
‘That’d be great, thanks.’
She pulled the shop key from the zipped pouched just above her bum and tried to push it into the lock, but it wasn’t just her heart that was unsteady, her fingers were too, and she fumbled over it.
‘Here, allow me…’ He was right behind her, the deep resonance of his voice running down her spine, the heat of his fingers as they closed around hers taking her breath away.
She said nothing. She couldn’t. She was so tightly wound nothing would come out; instead she stepped aside and let him unlock the door, her eyes raking hungrily over him and again remembering her own sweaty state.
She cocked a shoulder, did a discreet sniff, realizing she must smell. She’d really gone for it this morning, trying to burn out his power over her, and one glimpse of the fire in his intense blue eyes, his fringe flopped forward, his grin cocky and sure and yet so full of meaning – gah, she’d turned into a hot, sweaty mess for an entirely different reason. All the more so as the sun’s rays had lifted on the horizon, dazzling them both in its warm, romantic glow. It had been a perfect moment, it would have been the perfect kiss, with any other couple, just not them.
He looked to her as he pushed the door open and stepped back to allow her entry first. ‘After you, madam.’
A giggle worked its way up from nowhere and she knew it had come from nerves. Nerves that were totally shot where Todd was concerned.
‘Thanks.’
She took a wide berth around him, but still his fresh masculine scent assailed her senses, his presence making her body hum with awareness. It was ridiculous. She wasn’t a nun and he wasn’t some forbidden fruit that she couldn’t taste. Only she knew a taste wouldn’t be enough. No, she’d want the whole damn lot and would go in for seconds, thirds and then some.
She strode to the kitchen and flicked on the light switch, opening the cupboards with more gusto than was required, sending one door bouncing back on itself. She tried again, slower this time, feeling Todd’s curious gaze on her.
‘Caffeinated?’ she blurted.
He folded his arms and leaned into the doorframe. So relaxed, so at ease, why couldn’t she be that smooth? She was known for being blasé, unfazed, cool… she was none of that with him.
‘What would be the point otherwise?’
‘True.’ It came out a high-pitched squeak and she grimaced into the coffee machine as she loaded it up. At least all she could smell was ground coffee now and not his heady scent. She breathed it in and tried to reset her heart rate. She was such an idiot. Do you see it now, Todd? Really, what kind of question was that?
She took the jug from the machine and loaded it up with water, all the while trying and failing cataclysmically to keep her eyes off him, and each time he caught her peeking his smile grew.
‘Tell me, Todd, do most women fall at your feet?’
Where the hell had that come from?
From her frustrations. Her inability to think straight. The need to put a wall up between them and keep it there.
He laughed, but she could sense he was surprised by her directness. ‘I hope not, it would make for tricky terrain to walk.’
She ignored his attempt at humour, shaking her head as she clicked the coffee machine on and turned to look at him. ‘I think they do… I think you look at me and you can’t understand why I’m so keen to do the opposite.’
He ran his teeth over his bottom lip and damn it, if her belly didn’t contract with a rush of illicit heat.
‘What exactly does the opposite mean?’
‘It means I’m not going there with you. We had our… day, and it was fun, we agreed from here on in we’re…’ She struggled to define them. What exactly were they? Not friends, not business associates or colleagues, not…
‘We’re?’ he prompted softly.
She walked towards him, needing to get past him to head for a quick shower but he didn’t budge and she was forced to stop, to look up at him.
‘What are we, Malie?’
She wet her lips. ‘You’re Todd Masters, my… my pupil this second, which makes me your teacher, and you’re going to need to move if I am to get out of this gear and get kitted out for our lesson.’
His eyes raked hungrily over her and she felt every stretch of exposed skin, his gaze burning a path that struck with the throbbing force right at the heart of her. She needed to get laid, like yesterday. Desperately, insanely, and the man that made her want it so bad was the one man she wouldn’t let herself have.
He stepped forward, his thought-obliterating scent assailing her senses, the heat of his body engulfing her, his eyes searing down into hers. ‘Aren’t you tired of fighting this, Malie? I know I am…’
She tried to shake her head but it wouldn’t seem to move. She tried to speak but nothing came. She swallowed, her throat bobbing with thickening desire: just once, just let go once, then hit rewind.
Maybe it’ll be awful. Maybe those fingers that look so strong and capable will suck when they’re roaming over her, hungry, desperate.
And then what?
‘We have a responsibility to the kids…’ she tried.
‘We do, but that has nothing to do with this.’
‘It will complicate things.’
‘The only complication I can see right now is that I can’t concentrate anymore, I can’t sleep, I can’t work, all I can think about is you.’
Oh my God…
‘Don’t say that.’
‘What, the truth?’
‘Any of it.’ Her voice shook with her body as she held herself rigid, refusing to lean into him as her limbs, her torso tried to do just that.
‘Tell me you don’t feel it too?’
‘I…’ The denial stuck in her throat. She was a crap liar, just like Lily. She wet her lips, tried again. ‘It doesn’t matter—’
‘Hey, Malie, you here?’
Her eyes flared and Todd pushed up off the frame. It was Kalani – crap!
‘Saved by your godfather,’ he teased quietly, though she could see the seriousness in his gaze, the continued probing, the need to understand.
She gave him a weak smile and walked past him to find Kalani wedging the front door open.
‘Morning!’ she said, her voice unnaturally high which made her wince. She tried to lower it as she added, ‘You’re opening up early?’
‘Thought I’d get started on the paint job outside. Been putting it off for ages.’ He looked past her as he straightened, his eyes widening in surprise. ‘Morning, Todd, I didn’t expect to see you here.’
‘Morning.’
‘Todd’s here for his lesson,’ she rushed out, hating how her cheeks warmed. She had nothing to feel guilty for. Nothing. It wasn’t like he’d caught them at it. He could have done, though, they’d been that close… ‘I’m just gonna hit the shower, coffee is on, help yourselves.’
She legged it into the changing room, not waiting to read the look on Kalani’s face or the corresponding one on Todd’s. She didn’t doubt the speculation that would exist in her godfather’s mind – he knew her too well – and she could do without his judgement, she had enough of her own to contend with.
She checked her watch. Six hours and Zoe would be here. Six hours and she’d have her joyful distraction.
‘Sorry, Zo,’ she muttered, feeling a new sense of guilt at using her friend in such a way. Zoe wouldn’t mi
nd being her saviour though, not when she understood how very real her problem was.
Fifteen minutes later, she’d showered, scraped her hair back and donned her surf kit. She was ready. Or as ready as she was ever going to be when it came to Todd.
She pushed open the door into the main room, it was empty; she tried the kitchen, empty. She headed out front and there they were, seated at the table and chairs they used for briefings. Kalani was laughing at something Todd had said, the pair of them relaxed, legs outstretched, coffees in hand. Her belly fluttered at the easiness of the scene. She could almost forget that Todd didn’t belong here, that he was a fleeting presence that would soon be gone. She could almost believe he and Kalani had been long-time friends with the way they were chatting.
Todd looked to her and their eyes met, it was a second before she could breathe, another before she could speak. ‘You ready?’
She caught the slight pinched look on Kalani’s face and knew it was due to the strange tone to her voice. She ignored him.
‘Sure,’ Todd said, getting to his feet and knocking back the rest of his drink. ‘I poured you a coffee, why don’t you have it while I change?’
‘Thanks.’ She stepped free of the entrance to let him pass. She didn’t breathe in again until he and his addictive scent were on the other side of the door, leaving her in the far safer company of Kalani. She headed to the table to take up her coffee and felt Kalani’s inquisitive gaze on her. Scratch safer…
‘Don’t say it,’ she said, lifting the mug for a sip and looking out to sea.
‘I wasn’t going to say anything.’
‘Hmm,’ she said disbelievingly.
‘He’s a great guy, don’t you think?’
‘Kalani.’
‘What?’ His innocence was so forced that she shot daggers at him, her look doing all the talking for her.
‘What I don’t understand, Mea aloha, is why you look so scared?’
‘I’m not scared.’
‘What are you then?’ he said softly, leaning his elbows into his knees as he looked up at her. ‘Because you’re not yourself…’
‘You won’t understand.’
‘Try me, I might surprise you.’
She looked to her godfather and though she loved him dearly, she couldn’t put this on him. She didn’t really want to put words to it herself. She smiled instead. ‘In a couple of weeks, I’ll be back to my old self.’
‘A couple of weeks?’ He raised his brow. ‘You mean, when he’s gone?’
Her throat closed over. When he’s gone… that was precisely it. She raised her coffee to her lips, forced it down. ‘Yes.’
It was all she needed to say and thankfully Kalani didn’t press.
‘Are you free tomorrow afternoon?’ she said once she could trust her voice again.
‘I’ve freed it up to get on with this,’ he waved a hand over the shop front, ‘she’s in need of some TLC.’
Malie scanned the building and agreed, but… ‘If I put some time aside to help you next weekend, would you help me instead?’
‘Help? With what?’
Now Malie smiled, happier thoughts taking over. ‘My friend Zoe is coming to stay and I want to get her out there on the board.’
Kalani smiled. ‘For that, I’ll definitely pass up the painting.’
‘Thank you, I’m so looking forward to getting her on the water again.’
‘Right.’ Todd appeared in the doorway, his surfboard underarm and the surf school’s pink T-shirt pulled taut over his upper body, his grin full of excited anticipation and sending fire licking up her insides. Oh, God. ‘I’m all set.’
Oh, good.
‘Great.’ She forced a smile and placed her half-finished coffee back on the table. ‘Let’s go.’
‘Come on, Zoe, I need you…’ she muttered under her breath, pulling her board out and setting off down the beach, Todd racing on her heels.
‘What was that you said?’
She kept her focus straight ahead. ‘Nothing.’
‘You know, I’m starting to think that you don’t like me very much after all.’
If only…
She looked back at him long enough to spy the laughter in his eyes and realize he knew the truth well enough: the problem wasn’t that she didn’t like him, it was the fact that she liked him far too much.
And it wasn’t funny.
‘That lesson was brutal.’
Kalani grinned at Todd. ‘She didn’t take it easy on you, huh?’
‘I wiped out more times than I can remember.’
‘Sounds like playground antics to me.’
Todd shook his hair and raked it back, Nalu trotted up behind him and mimicked his move, showering Kalani and his freshly painted woodwork. Playground antics, what was that supposed to mean?
‘Nalu,’ Kalani grumbled, shooing the dog away and looking past him. Todd knew Malie was approaching, he could feel it in the awareness prickling all over his body.
‘You going to be OK without me today?’ she said, actively ignoring Todd. Pretty much as she had done on the waves, aside from issuing instruction after instruction.
‘Of course, my lessons start at ten, if you could pull the gear out for me before you go that would be a huge help – no worries if you can’t.’
‘I’ll help,’ Todd offered.
‘It’s OK, I can do it.’ She sent him a quick look, one that he couldn’t decipher and then she headed off inside the surf school, leaving Todd standing there.
‘She’s a big softie really,’ Kalani said, snagging Todd’s attention. ‘I think you’ve just got under her skin, that’s all.’
‘Under her skin? You saying I annoy her that much?’
Kalani laughed, his bulky body rumbling with it as he dipped his brush in the vibrant blue paint. ‘Annoy wasn’t the word I would use.’
‘What word—’
‘Is it the kids from the resort?’ Malie appeared in the doorway preventing him finishing his question.
‘That’s the one, five altogether.’
She nodded, ‘Got it,’ and headed back inside, quick as a flash.
‘Just don’t take it personally,’ Kalani said, sweeping the paint over the wooden pillar that held up the palm-fronded roof to the shelter that fronted the surf school.
It was pretty hard not to take it personally, but he could hardly get into it now with Malie coming back and forth and likely listening in right now.
‘So, how far is this little refurb going?’ he asked instead, gesturing to the school front and realizing that the whole thing probably needed a touch-up. It was a big job and he couldn’t spy anyone else that would be helping out.
‘All of it. No point doing it piecemeal, it only makes the old look more tired otherwise.’
‘You need a hand?’
Kalani looked to him, his eyebrow hitting the palm fronds above. ‘You serious?’
‘Absolutely.’
Kalani lowered his brush to look at him properly. ‘Don’t you have more important things to be getting on with?’
‘It’s time I took a holiday.’
His brow lifted even further. ‘Painting is hardly a holiday.’
Todd grinned. ‘It’ll make a nice change.’
If he was going to consider Malie’s suggestion of doing DIY with his father, he might as well start here and help the surf school. They were doing such a great job with his charity’s kids after all.
And it gave him a reason to be around Malie more…
‘I’ll head back home, shower and change. I can be back before you take your first lesson out and you can put me to work.’
‘You’re really serious?’
‘Totally.’
Now Kalani grinned, his eyes warming with his appreciation. ‘In that case, thank you.’
‘Although, would you mind running inside and getting me my stuff? I’ll return this lot later, I think Malie is wanting her space.’
And he probably needed it too. Was he
crazy to want to be around her more? To pursue this further? To pursue what exactly? He shook off the crazy riddle and watched as Kalani dropped his brush in the pot and gave him a nod.
‘Sure thing.’ He headed off inside, coming back seconds later with Todd’s bagged-up items.
‘Cheers.’
He left before Malie could get wind of his plan and change both their minds. He left before he could change his own too. His instincts told him this was worth taking a risk on and they’d never let him down before.
He was pensive, so distracted by his thoughts that it took him a while to realize his phone was ringing in his pocket. He pulled it out and checked the ID. It was Grace, his PA.
He swiped the call to answer. ‘Hi, Grace.’
‘Todd, I’ve had a call from Tara’s mum, Anne-Marie. She’s asked if you could give her a call back, I explained you might be tied up but—’
‘Of course, I’m just heading for the house, I’ll call her on the way.’
He hung up, hoping whatever it was, it was nothing bad. Tara was doing so well and as far as he could tell, her parents were benefitting too. Everything seemed to be heading in the right direction.
He located their number and dialled, Tara’s mother answered after a few rings. ‘Todd, thank you so much for calling back!’
He could hear the smile in her voice and took it as a good sign.
‘No problem, how can I help?’
‘I… err, we – Charles and I – wanted to ask a small favour, if at all possible, it’s fine if you can’t, or if it doesn’t work for you, or you know, you have plans…’
She was rambling with obvious nerves and he chuckled. ‘Hey, Anne-Marie, it’s fine, just ask…’
Chapter Fifteen
THEY WERE ON THEIR second bottle of wine and the giggles were rife. God, how she’d missed this!
‘So come on, Zo, spill, there must have been at least one total hottie in the Caribbean that you had your wicked way with?’ She topped up Zoe’s wine glass before seeing to her own and plonked the bottle back on the table between them.
They were lounging on the cushioned sun-beds Malie had borrowed from her neighbour for the duration of Zoe’s visit, having realized the upside-down crate she often used wouldn’t cut it and she didn’t want her friend feeling like she had to stay in her wheelchair all of the time.
Meet Me in Hawaii Page 19
