by Conn, Claudy
Grady stood and pulled her along with him. “You did that on purpose! Are you nuts?”
A little giggle slipped out. She’d been called much worse. “Come on,” Brittany said, dragging him back up the path for home. “I’m hungry and today I am no longer a guest. Would you like to help me feed my new family?”
4
LENA JAVIER SAT at the kitchen table of her Bed and Breakfast and listened to her niece prattle on about her new young aunt, and of the adventure she shared with Grady earlier that morning. All the guests at the B&B were out for the day, and she didn’t expect to see them again until late in the afternoon. Lena had all the time in the world to sit back and enjoy Erika’s company.
The girl was supposed to be upstairs changing the linens and tidying up the bathroom for the guests, but it was a slow week. Only two rooms needed attention and neither party messed the bathroom up.
“So Grady survived an adventure out in the deep blue sea. I was wondering when he would face his fear and get back in the water,” Lena chuckled happily.
“Auntie Lena, Grady didn’t go in willingly. Brittany pushed him into the rip current,” Erika protested.
Lena didn’t believe the circumstances mattered. The boy loved the ocean and it was high time he got back on the horse. “Either way, it’s a start.” She pointed out the window toward the dock where Terence kept the Erika Rose. “Business has been down since Grady quit working with your dad. That good-looking boy brought in a lot of tourists.”
“Auntie Lena!” Erika’s cheeks beamed red. “Grady practically lives at my house. He’s more of a brother to me.”
Lena raised a questioning brow. “Don’t pretend you haven’t noticed. I see how you drool over the kid. Tell the truth, Erika. You like him.”
“He’s too old for me,” she pouted.
Lena stopped for a moment. Her young niece said the words she thought her auntie wanted to hear, but that didn’t mean Erika believed them. “He is,” Lena agreed, “but just because it’s true, doesn’t mean you don’t have feelings for him.” She touched Erika’s hand. “I don’t want you to be upset if Grady and Annie’s sister form a relationship.”
Erika put on a brave face. “I don’t see how it could hurt any worse than seeing one of his many girlfriends coming out of his house almost every morning.”
“The boy’s a dog, no doubt about that.” Lena got up and pulled a pitcher of lemonade out of the refrigerator. Watching some strange girl dating Grady was one thing, but having her brand new aunt date him was another. “Grady has some maturing to do, but I like the kid. And no matter how much you protest, I know you like him too.” She poured a glass and placed it in front of her niece. This auntie had to set the girl straight. The news would be a lot easier to take coming from her than from Terence, Annie, or heaven forbid, Grady himself. “Erika, baby,” she began gently.
Erika scooted her chair back and exclaimed dramatically, “Not you, too! I don’t need to be lectured by everyone. I know Grady is too old for me. I already said that. I know he looks at me as a little sister. I know he cares about me, but that it’s not romantic in any way.” She stomped a childlike foot. “I know, I know, I know! How can I make it any clearer?”
Lena drew in a deep breath. It looked as if she joined the party a little late. “So you’ve been cautioned before.”
“Over, and over, and over again! From Annie and Daddy. From Eleanor and even Grady. I’ve heard it a million times, but I can’t help it. I love him.” Erika dropped back into the chair and laid her head on the table. “What am I going to do, Auntie?”
Lena ran her fingers through Erika’s long, ash-colored locks. This new shade of her niece’s ever-changing hair color wasn’t her favorite, but she kept her opinion to herself. Erika was growing up, but in many ways, she was still a baby. Unfortunately, she needed to hear some cold hard facts she wasn’t going to care for. “Sweetie,” she began softly, “you can’t make someone love you. Grady cares about you, but since it’s not in a romantic way, you are going to have to make a concerted effort to let him go.”
Erika turned her head and glared.
Compassion for her niece’s plight filled her. There wasn’t a woman on the face of the earth who hadn’t been in her shoes. “It’s tough growing up. And until you find the right person, love can be a wicked bitch.”
“Is that why you aren’t married?”
Erika was trying to shift the direction of their conversation, but she was going to be in for a surprise. “I was married,” Lena began. “I married my best friend, but he died.”
Erika took a sip of her lemonade and cocked her brow. “That’s an old story, Aunt Lena. Tell me something new.”
The familiar expression made Lena want to laugh. The same look was made by Terence almost daily. Blood or not, Erika was her brother’s daughter through and through. “Okay, did you know Kai was gay and I married him so I could take care of him until he passed? He had AIDS. Do you know what that is?”
“We have sex education in school. I doubt there is anything you can teach me.” A frown pinched Erika’s brow. “I don’t understand why you felt the need to marry him, though. Is this some sort of life lesson you’re trying to teach me? Was marrying Uncle Kai a mistake?”
Lena was quite sure she could teach the girl at least a thing or two, but Erika had a point. Had marrying Kai been an error in judgment? Lena never considered that before. If she had to do it over, she would, but would it be the right call? Kai left her a huge insurance policy and the home she turned into a business. Kai took care of her much more than she had him, and he set her up to succeed. The problem was that the B&B didn’t afford her the opportunity to meet new people who wouldn’t be leaving in a week or so. She isolated herself since Kai’s death, and Lena was growing sick to death of being alone.
“Marrying Kai wasn’t a mistake,” she continued. “My mistake was deciding that building a successful business was more important than living my life. Thank you for pointing that out to me, little one. I think I’m going to go down to the open air concert at the Art Center tonight. Would you like to come with me? Maybe we’ll both find someone more appropriate if we open ourselves up to the idea.”
Erika scowled. “I tried that last week and I got busted for it. I’m grounded.”
Lena patted her hand. “I’m glad you’re keeping your options open. Next time you want to go, call me. I’ll take you and your friends, but no more lying and sneaking out, okay?”
Erika rubbed her hands on the top of her thighs. “I won’t chance it for a while,” she giggled. “I have to give Larry and Daddy some time to forget about this one.”
“Oh girl,” Lena chuckled. “Larry might forget, but your dad won’t. And neither will Annie. You’re better off calling me.”
• • •
GRADY SAT ON his front step, waiting for Annie’s return. She took the Coffee Cart to the pier with Terence’s truck so she could run some errands afterward. Grady hoped that meant she planned on seeing Larry Wright. Since coming to Oahu, Erika’s biological dad had switched specialties. Back in San Diego, his law firm was all about the family, but since the drama over Erika’s custody, familial battles had lost its appeal. Now he focused on business law. He was semi-retired, but he helped out Terence, Annie, and any other Javier family member who needed it. The family was huge and they kept him pretty busy.
Larry was okay for an older guy, but his girlfriend, Eleanor, was amazing. She encouraged Grady to open up and tell her his dreams. The lady was also instrumental in getting Larry to offer his services free of charge. Eleanor had a way about her. She could get anyone to do almost anything she wanted. The world was lucky she only used her influence for good. With her power of persuasion, she could have been the next Hitler or James Jones.
Eleanor adjusted to the laid back island style long before her live-in love. The fact that the couple wasn’t married was baffling. To see an older couple shacking up felt unnatural, and it seriously bugged him. Larry prop
osed about a million times, but Eleanor was having none of it. She liked their life just the way it was.
Since Larry helped Grady draft the business plan in Annie’s hands, he was fairly certain Annie’s pseudo father would advise her of its value. Grady was so nervous about the outcome of the meeting, he hadn’t given much thought to the morning he spent with Brittany and the dolphins. After they told their story to Mr. Javier, Erika, and little Max, Grady’s mind turned toward business and the potential answer he would receive.
Brittany opened the front door of the Javiers’ bungalow and hauled Max out with her. The two-year-old didn’t want to be held and was fighting to get down. His chubby little legs kicked a million miles a minute, but Brittany held on tight. Grady watched her bring his face close to hers.
Grady grinned and waited for the famous Maxwell Javier head-butt. It never came. Instead, Max opened his arms and hugged Britt tight, then the little bugger laid his head on her shoulder. Grady couldn’t count the number of times he received a fat lip from the squirt, but Britt came out of the encounter injury free.
Grady scratched his head. Brittany could run faster, throw farther, swim better, and now she even did Max better than him. Strangely, it wasn’t an issue. Once upon a time, Grady had been fiercely competitive, but since his parents’ accident, he decided not to sweat the small stuff. Life was too short.
Brittany’s eyes grew bright when she saw Grady watching them. Cuddling Max a little tighter, she walked across the street.
Their dolphin adventure was incredible, but it was the kiss he and Brittany shared which excited him the most. Brittany looked a lot like Annie. Her hair had a more reddish tint to it, but the family resemblance was strong. Part of him felt he was kissing his boss.
The thought made him shudder.
The kiss was the reason he lost his balance and caused them to fall into the rip. He really hoped he could purge the similarities between Britt and Annie out of his mind because kissing Brittany was amazing.
His cell phone vibrated in his pocket. He dug it out and sighed. It was the girl he’d been seeing the past few weeks. Callie was a little nuts, and Grady didn’t want anything more to do with her. He ignored the call and shoved the phone back in his pocket. Chatting with Max and Brittany was a much more appealing option.
Max saw him coming and successfully wiggled out of Brittany’s arms. He waddled over with his adorable, arm up, toddler gate. Grady scooped him up and tossed the little guy into the air. Max shrieked with joy and Grady felt like his hero. Max had only been airborne a few inches, but it had probably felt like he was flying.
“You’re good with him,” Brittany complimented. “I wish I had your touch. You should have heard him a few minutes ago.”
Grady heard Max wail many times and was glad he missed it. “Are you kidding me? I saw Max lovin’ on you a few moments ago.” He hoisted Max up and brought him face to face. Grady’s eyes were wide and his voice excited. He focused on the baby boy, but his words were meant for Brittany. “Max doesn’t like to cuddle.” Grady shot the baby out at arm’s length and rocked him side to side. “This kid rarely sits still and he gets into everything.”
The next time Grady brought Max close to his face, the little boy grabbed his nose. Max’s sharp nails pierced through Grady’s skin and his thumb went deep up his nasal passage. “Ouch!” Grady grimaced and slowly peeled Max’s fingers off. “He’s got a mean little grip.”
Brittany chuckled and reached her arms out to save Grady from any more of Max’s punishment. The toddler dove for her wiggling fingers. Britt pulled him close. The boy clutched her shirt and rested his head on her breast. Grady was envious that Max got to cop a feel and he didn’t.
Brittany glared in Grady’s direction. “Stop that.”
“Stop what?”
“Stop ogling my boob and stop thinking whatever it is you’re thinking. Max is just a baby, and there is nothing sexual about him laying his head on my chest.”
Grady crouched down to Max’s level and held up a palm. “High-five little buddy. You have her fooled.”
Max didn’t leave Grady hanging and smacked his hand happily.
Brittany placed an irritated hand on her hip. “I’m leaving if this conversation doesn’t make an about-face right now.”
Grady’s phone vibrated again. It was Callie. The chick wouldn’t leave him alone.
“Do you need to take that?” Britt asked. “I have to get this guy down for his nap anyway.”
He stashed the phone and reached for Brittany’s elbow. “Let’s get him home and I’ll help you.”
“I don’t think it’s a two-person job.”
Grady wasn’t ready to leave Brittany’s side, and he wanted to be right there the very moment Annie arrived home. “It is today.”
• • •
THEY WALKED INTO the Javier home in time to witness an argument between Terence and Erika.
“I already worked at Lena’s today. Why do I have to go out on the boat, too?”
As calmly as possible, Terence explained, “A group of women want to go diving out at the Mahi Wreck. I’ll need your help to get them outfitted and in the water as quickly as possible. They’ve only booked the Erika Rose for three hours. That’s not a lot of time. This tour is typically an all-day excursion. You haven’t been out to the wreck for a while now. You can go diving with them.”
His cajoling offer was met with teenage frustration. Erika threw her head back and wailed, “I’ve been down there a million times. It’s boring.”
Terence kept his cool, but his voice grew firm. “Fine. Don’t go diving, but you’re still coming with me. If an ounce of attitude pops out of your mouth in front of paying customers, you will be grounded for the entire Christmas break.” His head cocked in warning. “Do I make myself clear?”
“Dad,” Erika whined. “Take Grady.”
Leave it to Erika to drag him into their argument. Grady survived and even enjoyed the experience with the dolphins, but he wasn’t ready to commit to half a day out on the Erika Rose.
Terence looked at Grady for an answer. “Well, kid. What do you say?”
He wavered for a moment, but in the end, he decided one bout with the Pacific was all he could take for one day. Grady shook his head in the negative.
“If Erika doesn’t mind babysitting,” Brittany volunteered, “I’ll help you.”
Erika’s mood brightened. “Deal!” She raced over and took Max out of Brittany’s arms. “Come on, Maxie. Your big sis is going to put you down for your nap.” Two seconds later, both Erika and Max were gone.
Skepticism poured out of Terence’s eyes when he turned Brittany’s way. “Are you sure about this? Annie gets seasick. I need someone to help me. I don’t have time to take care of you today.”
“I’m in the ocean all the time. I’ve never been seasick.”
Terence was leery, but he relented. “Would you be interested in diving?”
Brittany declined his offer. “I don’t know how.”
“We’ll have to remedy that soon, but today you can help me get the ladies’ tanks on.” Terence took Brittany by the arm and guided her toward the door. “While they’re in the water, I’ll give you a crash course so you’ll have an idea of what’s involved before you decide if you want to get certified.”
Suddenly frightened of her new responsibility, Brittany backpedaled. “Maybe this isn’t such a good idea. What if I do something wrong? I don’t want to kill anybody.”
Grady couldn’t help laughing out loud. “I worked for him for two years and never once did he let someone in the water without checking to make sure everything was working properly. Mr. Javier is mega safety-conscious. You’re basically going along for the ride and to protect him from getting hit on too much. Ladies on vacation don’t care if there’s a wedding ring on his finger.”
Terence chuckled. “I loved it when you worked for me, kid. With you around, they never gave me the time of day. Are you going to stay here and hang aroun
d with Erika?”
Grady dipped his head in the affirmative. “Probably, I need to talk to Annie.”
“Good luck with that. That was some business plan you put together.” Terence winked. “I think I saw a bit of Eleanor’s influence in there.” He slapped Grady on the back. “Don’t tell my lovely wife I said anything, but I think she’s hooked. I’d be surprised if she doesn’t go for it.” Then he turned to his new first mate. “Let’s get going. I’ll give you a tour of my pride and joy and a quick run through of what I need from you today.”
From Max’s bedroom, Erika called out, “Max and I take great exception to your last remark, Dad. We were under the mistaken assumption that we were your pride and joy.”
Mr. Javier’s mouth quirked up into a half-smile. “You would be,” he hollered back, “except the floating, water worthy Erika Rose doesn’t talk back, and my beautiful boat has never once head-butted me.”
• • •
TWENTY MINUTES OUT on the Erika Rose, and Brittany realized there was a big difference between playing in the surf and being out in a boat. Her face felt green, and every pitch of the slightest wave sent her stomach whirling.
It was a relatively calm day and Brittany wondered how she would have weathered a storm. This was bad enough. Next time, she’d know better than to volunteer her services.
Terence was trying really hard not to laugh at her predicament, but the amused glint in his eye gave him away.
“Stop laughing at me.”
He reached under his seat and came up with a barf bag. “Just don’t puke in my boat.”
Snatching the bag out of his hand, she growled, “It’s almost like you were expecting this.”
“I live with your sister,” he reminded her. “I always come prepared.”
Brittany kicked her head in the direction of the four other females onboard. Each held a beer in their hand and their raunchy banter was growing progressively loud and crude with each sip. Britt wasn’t sure which was making her more nauseous, the women or the rolling seas. “Should they be drinking before their dive?”
