“Lexi, I’m falling apart,” Gracie whispered. “Everything I’ve worked for my whole life . . . I don’t know what to do.”
Lexi flipped open her laptop and found a flight with a couple connections. Gracie could leave for Kauai in four days. “I have my finger hovering over the mouse. I really don’t want to take no for an answer, so please say yes. I’ll book you a flight. You’ll be here Saturday.”
She heard shuffling and another sniffle. “Okay, I’ll pack my bags.”
“Squeee!” Lexi cheered. She heard Gracie laugh. “I’m going to have you squealing by Sunday. I miss your enthusiasm.”
“I’ll be there. But hey, that isn’t why you called, is it?”
Lexi had completely forgotten about Derek, but everything came rushing back as soon as she thought his name. “Well, there’s this guy.”
“Okay, I’m packing my bag right now. If Lexi the workaholic has been on a date already, then Kauai must be pure magic.”
“Two dates,” Lexi said softly.
“What? Are you kidding? That’s great news!”
“I think it is, but I have a little dilemma,” Lexi replied. “He doesn’t know about my money.”
“Hmm, I don’t see the problem. Isn’t that what you’ve always wanted?”
“Yes, but unfortunately his views of the wealthy are less than savory.”
“Because he’s a hard worker who’s never caught a break, or because he’s a bum who thinks he deserves everything?” Gracie demanded.
“He’s a hard worker. You should see him chopping coconuts, and he’s a photographer, too. I met him at the craft store and then at art night.”
“Oh man, sounds like you’ve got it bad. So what’s the big deal? He doesn’t need to know the status of your bank account right now. For all you know, he could be a millionaire, too, right?”
Lexi thought about that for a moment. “It could work, but he was pretty vocal about some rich snobs we ran into on the beach today.”
“Well, there’s your answer. If you thought they were snobs, they probably were. Maybe he’s never met a nice rich person.”
Lexi heard movement in the background, a zipper being pulled. “Wait, are you really packing right now? Isn’t it, like, almost midnight there?”
“Like I said, if Lexi Burke has been on two dates in one week, then I’m coming to make sure she hasn’t been abducted by aliens.”
“You didn’t say that.” Lexi scrolled through the screen of flights again. “Wait, there’s a flight that leaves tomorrow night. It has an extra layover, but you could be here by Wednesday. What do you think?”
“Holy cow! Weren’t you just asking me why I was packing after midnight? I’ll never be able to sleep now.”
“Good. Less adjustment from the jet lag. Get packin’, girl.”
Gracie laughed, and Lexi smiled because she sounded happier. Lexi felt better, too. Maybe Kauai was magical, because she was already thinking of what she would text Derek and when she might see him next.
11
Derek pawed through a pile of dirty clothes near his bed until he found his phone lying under a pair of socks that should have been washed last week. Usually he was tidier, but his mind had been completely occupied with the new photos he was prepping for the coming art night and particularly Lexi Burke. Of course the battery was dead, so Derek had no choice but to start cleaning his twelve-hundred-square-foot home while it charged.
He’d just finished spraying down the bathroom when his phone pinged with an incoming text. The tiny sound made Derek’s heart pound like it was ready to race right out of his chest. Two more pings chimed by the time he got to his phone. The first two were from Pika with the schedule for chopping coconuts, and the third was from Lexi. Derek’s finger trembled as he swiped the screen to open her message.
Hey, I can’t wait to see you at art night so you can congratulate me for winning the bet.
Derek grinned and air-punched several times. It wasn’t much, but it was something. He’d hoped for a chance to see her before Friday, but by the time he finished working with Pika and started prepping his photos, there weren’t any daylight hours left. Kauai sort of shut down at night—at least, the activities he wanted to invite Lexi to closed with the sunset.
He considered whether he should ask her out anyway. They could hang out and watch a movie, though not in his pigsty. What if she changed her mind by Friday and decided she didn’t want to waste any more time on him? Derek gripped his phone, struggling with the angel on one shoulder and the devil on the other. Finally, he texted her and asked if she’d like to grab dinner on Wednesday. Five agonizing minutes later, his phone dinged with her reply.
Would love to, but I can’t. My best friend is coming to visit and I’m picking her up from the airport.
Derek grunted and tried to think of a trendy, cool response that didn’t sound like, Man, I feel like a loser, but I wish I could see you. He typed out ten responses before finally coming up with something half decent.
Sounds good. Hope you have fun, but not too much fun. See you Friday.
After he hit send, he thought of five different things he could have said that might’ve sounded better, and then he decided to put his phone away and finish cleaning his house.
Friday seemed forever away, but Derek was taking Lexi’s bet seriously. He did want to sell out of those turtle pictures and several others he was preparing so that he could take her on a real Hawaiian date. It would be nice to make enough money to take a day off and hike the Na Pali coastline for more fantastic photographs.
He wondered how it would feel to have Lexi photograph with him. Maybe she could hold his reflector, help him with his camera equipment. She’d said something about not knowing what she would do next after quitting her job in Chicago. Derek wished he had enough money to offer her a part-time job working with him. He scrubbed harder at his kitchen sink—that was a pipe dream. His heart was tangling up his head, trying to make him find a way to spend more time with Lexi. He didn’t want to scare her away, so he’d have to be patient. He groaned and rinsed out the sink; at least the kitchen looked better.
A quick survey of his house reminded him of his humble circumstances. Lexi said she lived in Princeville, which was a far cry from the ghost town that was Hanapepe. He figured she must be renting something temporarily. Wherever it was, his little house would look like a shack compared to a Princeville address. But Lexi didn’t seem like the type who would criticize the differences. He swept the antique hardwood floor and thought about how unassuming and natural Lexi was in any situation.
When he finished his chores, he grabbed his camera gear and headed to Poipu Beach. If the weather cooperated, the afternoon promised calm waters filled with marine life for him to photograph. Working would be the only thing to get his mind off this obsession with Lexi.
Before he waded into the water with his bulky camera, he tucked his thoughts of her away, determined to keep his head underwater until it cleared.
12
Lexi picked Gracie up from the airport on Wednesday afternoon and took her straight home, where the two friends reconnected on Lexi’s secluded beach.
“This is fantastic,” Gracie murmured, half asleep under a beach hat, her arms looking more golden by the minute. Her Italian heritage gave her the kind of skin Lexi could only dream of.
“I know. Crazy to think that I’ve been all over the world, but never made it to Kauai.” Lexi sipped papaya juice and enjoyed the feeling of doing absolutely nothing.
“Ditto. I’ve danced in Europe, South America, and even Australia. I’m so glad you twisted my arm to get me here.”
“Twisted your arm? More like caught you when you jumped.”
Gracie adjusted her hat and sat up in the beach chair. “Have you talked to Derek today?”
Lexi shook her head. “Not since Monday. I’ve texted back and forth with him, but kept things sort of low-key.”
“Dang, now I feel like I’m in the way. You should tot
ally be out on the town with him right now.”
Lexi swatted Gracie’s arm. “Aren’t you the one who told me it’s a good thing to let a man marinate in his own desire?”
Gracie snorted. “Man, I must have been reading too many romance novels. But that is a good line.”
“Yep, it is, but why do I wish that I had a picture of him right now to tide me over until Friday?”
“True. That is a problem, because I need to check this guy out. I thought you said he was a photographer. Didn’t he take any pictures?”
“Not of himself,” Lexi replied. “Remember the kissing sea turtles? I guess we’ll both have to wait.”
“I’ve never known you to be that forward, basically asking a guy out on a date,” Gracie said. “Genius method, though, to disguise it as a bet.”
“There’s that.” Lexi turned back to watch the ocean. There was no doubt that Derek was a hunk, but Gracie had a pretty good sense of people. If she thought something was off with Derek, she’d run the other way and drag Lexi along with her.
Lexi leaned back in her chair, thoughts swirling with Derek’s thick eyebrows and contoured cheekbones. Please pass the test, Derek Mitchell.
* * *
On Thursday, the two friends explored more of the island of Kauai together. Gracie had a penchant for lighthouses, so they drove up to the Kilauea Lighthouse.
A short trail led to the lighthouse, and as the path curved with a great view of the ocean, Lexi stopped and pointed out a rock that was covered in splotches of white. Upon closer inspection, they discovered that the white things were actually birds.
“I love all of the surprises this island has to offer,” Lexi said.
“You seem happy today,” Gracie said as they continued up the path.
Lexi smiled. “I feel happy. Everything is so different here. It’s like another world.”
“Do you ever think you’ll miss it? The office? The work?”
“Parts of it I do miss, but I think we miss a lot of our old habits, and that’s what my former life was—a habit. It didn’t bring me joy anymore.”
Gracie paused, her lips twitching, and she frowned. “Maybe that’s the stage I’m in. I wonder if I’m afraid to start a new habit.”
“You’ve been working so hard for so long. Maybe you’re like me, and you won’t be able to realize how drained you are until you take some time off.”
They reached the top, and both women laughed when they saw the tiny lighthouse that was no bigger than some of the quaint homes in the older part of Hanapepe. “I was thinking it would be bigger,” Lexi whispered.
“I like it, though. It’s another surprise. Maybe it’s a sign,” Gracie said.
“What kind of a sign?”
“I’ve been hiking trails, traveling all over, trying to reach the top . . . but maybe when I get there, it will feel like this.” She pointed to the lighthouse. “I wish I knew for sure.”
“I think that if you’re not happy now, getting another lead part in a ballet won’t change that for you.”
Gracie pressed her lips together and looked out towards the water. “You’re probably right. I just don’t know who I’d be without ballet.”
The mood was heavy, almost as if the conversation was drawing storm clouds from the distance. Lexi took Gracie’s arm. “C’mon, let’s go explore this lighthouse. You have plenty of time to figure it out. Maybe there’ll be another sign.”
“Does that mean Derek is your sign?” Gracie giggled.
Lexi laughed, but she didn’t say anything. Her heart was too busy pounding out its reply at the thought of seeing Derek tomorrow.
13
Lexi and Gracie arrived in Hanapepe about seven-thirty—Derek knew the moment she walked onto the street like a beacon calling to his heart. From across the way, he could see her sunlit hair under the booth lights. It fell across her back in soft waves tonight, and her dress flowed to her ankles. He thought about her hot-pink toenails and wondered if she’d switched colors. Man, he was really losing it if he was thinking about a chick’s toenails. Lexi looked up at that moment and caught his eye. She started to wave, then looked at her hand and folded down her three middle fingers. Laughing, she flashed him the hang-ten sign. He waved back, and when she turned to her friend, he wiped his face to smooth out his goofy grin.
He had a few minutes to check his display before they came down the street to his booth. He noted that Lexi was guiding her friend along some of the other booths, probably taking her time while he sold a few more photos. Derek grinned. He hadn’t quite lost the bet yet, but he’d never been so happy to lose before. The streets were busy tonight, and he’d already sold twenty-six photographs. The woven frames Kima had made were almost gone. That warmed his heart more than the excitement of money for himself. Finances were tight for Pika’s family, too. If Derek could help Kima get away from selling coconuts for a few hours and rest her back, he would double his order of hand-woven frames and find a way to sell them.
Just before Lexi and her friend got to his booth, a couple purchased over a hundred dollars in photographs, including an enlarged version of the kissing sea turtles. Lexi beamed at him, and he didn’t even try to tame his grin after the couple left and he tucked the money away.
“Aloha! I think you must be my good luck charm. I haven’t sold this many photos at art night before.”
“Really?” Lexi bounced up on her toes. “Does that mean I won?”
“I’ll have to check the inventory first,” Derek said.
“I should introduce you to my friend, Gracie Cardulo.” Lexi motioned to the dark-haired woman with deep brown eyes beside her. “Gracie, this is Derek Mitchell.”
Derek shook her hand, wishing he had a reason to grab Lexi’s hand, also. But they stood on one side of the table and he on the other. “I hope you’re having a nice visit. Kauai is the isle of wonders.”
“Is that what they call it?” Gracie said, glancing at Lexi.
“No, that’s what I call it,” Derek said.
Lexi laughed, and Derek liked the way her energy seemed to flow through him, causing a spark that lit the embers of every thought he’d had of her over the past week. She studied him with a confident stance and that gorgeous smile. Derek wondered if she could feel the spark, too.
“These photos really are fantastic. Where’s this one from? It’s not here in Kauai, is it?” Gracie asked. The question jolted Derek back to the present, and he tore his eyes from Lexi to the stacks of photos in bins on the table. Gracie held out a panoramic view of Waimea Canyon.
“It is. That’s Waimea Canyon on the west side of the island.”
Gracie looked again, shaking her head. “No way, it looks like southern Utah. Well, this is much greener.” She turned to Lexi. “I need to see this place.”
Lexi nodded. “It’s on my list of places to visit, so let’s bump it up to the top.”
Derek watched the exchange, wishing he could think of a clever way to offer himself as a tour guide. He didn’t want to come across as desperate, but he desperately wanted to be with Lexi when she saw the canyon.
“Maybe we should ask the guy who took the picture for directions,” Gracie said.
Lexi turned to him, and Derek’s mouth went dry. Suddenly he was seventeen and tongue-tied. He swallowed. “You can go from the beach to this in about a half hour.” He pointed at the picture Gracie held and took a leap. “I can show you where I took that picture.”
“Tomorrow?” Gracie asked. Lexi nudged her friend, but Gracie ignored her.
“I’m chopping coconuts with Pika again, but if I get off early we could get there in time to take some shots and make it to the fish fry before the sun sets.”
Lexi nodded. “That would be fun.”
Gracie put a hand on her arm. “Wait, what about your date?” She pointed from Lexi to Derek. “Don’t you owe her mahi-mahi? Or was it sushi?”
They all looked at the table, which displayed various sizes of pictures packaged in cellophane a
midst the few framed photos he had left. It had been a very good night for sales, the kind of night that gave him hope and fueled his dreams. A buzz of adrenaline ran through Derek’s fingers as he sorted through the photos. Then he caught sight of one of Kima’s woven frames. His stomach dropped like a rock. Normally he wanted to win every bet he took, but losing this one had specific perks—like Kima’s fish fry that he wanted to share with Lexi. He’d been looking forward to taking Lexi out, and now one photo was going to mess up his plans.
“There’s one left.” Derek slid a photo of the two sea turtles out from under an older picture. He tilted his head and tried to smile naturally.
“Wait a minute! You cheated,” Gracie said. She took the image from Derek. “He hid it.”
“No way. I always play fair,” Derek said. “Look at my table. People have been pawing through these all night.”
Lexi took the photo from Gracie, ignoring the lighthearted accusations between the two. She traced one of her slender fingers along the bumpy palm leaves and lifted her eyes to his. He was struck again by the vivid green color and hoped he’d have a chance to photograph her soon.
“Excuse me, sir?” Lexi held up the photo. “I’d like to purchase this illuminating piece on the story of true love. These two turtles seem to have it figured out.”
“Wait, isn’t that cheating too?” Gracie stage-whispered. Apparently Gracie’s sense of fairness did not play favorites, and Derek liked her all the more for it.
Lexi elbowed her friend. The photo was an eight-by-ten and he’d marked it for forty-seven dollars because of the frame. “It’s not cheating if I give it to you. Ma’am, I insist that you take this photo, because you are the only one tonight who truly recognized its beauty and meaning.” Derek felt like he was walking along the edge of Waimea Canyon, holding his heart over the abyss.
Lexi shook her head and opened her purse. “I thank you, kind sir, but that would definitely be against the rules.” She took out several bills and some change, counting out to forty-seven dollars.
Hawaiian Masquerade (Destination Billionaire Romance) Page 7
