As Quinn laughed, the server visibly relaxed. “Sir, I can remove all the—”
“No, the lady here’s got my number,” Quinn said. “I want it all.”
The words warmed DeAnna even more than his laughter. “I ordered cheese for us to save room for seafood.”
“I figured. What’s in your coconut?”
She handed it across the table. Chuckled at the grimace on his face after he took a swallow. “Too sweet.”
“I’d like to take a peek at the resort stores. After we eat, let’s go shopping.”
“Eww…”
“Come on, there must be someone in your life who’s expecting a gift. After you’ve been vacationing in Hawaii for a week?”
His forehead creased with furrows. “You’re right. Could we, maybe, set some sort of a time limit?”
“What’s your rush? Got a hot date?” The minute the joking words left her mouth, she knew she’d stepped off the ledge.
Complete with the twinkle, and wicked grin, the alpha male was back in spades. His hand shot across the table. Capturing hers, he cradled it, caressed her fingers. “I will have, if destiny’s still working with me.”
She swallowed a gasp as a hot surge of desire curled through her. Pressing her lips together, tight, to hold back a groan, she pretended to ignore his remark. No, no way. She wasn’t touching that with a—
“Will you go dancing with me?”
Her scrambled brain realigned. “You’re asking me to dance?”
“After shopping. Let me impress you with one of my top talents.” Eyebrows up, he watched her face. “Say yes.”
“I’d love to dance with you.”
Dinner over, they made a circuit through the lobby reception area, checking out the high-end shops and many kiosks targeting impulse buying tourists.
A short, well-lit hallway led to a mini-mall. She kept a mental note of the brand names of unfamiliar merchandise and clothing lines. Most of the manufacturers, she already knew. Overall, she recognized much of the stock.
Half an hour later, Quinn asked, “Are we done yet?” He had his game face on.
She went on tiptoe, kissed his chin. “Why don’t you take a look at the sale table in the back corner? Maybe your mom would like the set of Kauai coasters, or the sampler of resort spa products. Plus, there’s a bunch of golf stuff on half price. I’ll only be ten more minutes. Pick out your gifts and I’ll meet you at the register.” DeAnna hurried to finish.
She spotted Quinn already at the counter, his mound of loot piled in front of him. “Good work,” she said, wondering which gifts were for Olivia.
“Are you guests of the Fragrant Gardens?” the clerk asked. Quinn nodded, and she said, “We’ll be happy to deliver your purchases to your room.”
“Cool,” Quinn whispered in DeAnna’s ear, “just like at Walt Disney World.”
Bag-free, she led the way into the lounge. With only her big smile and a medium-sized gratuity, she scored them a booth.
“What are we drinking?’ he asked over the music. “Would you like one of your Mojitos? Or how about another champagne?”
“I’d love a beer. Make mine without the frills.”
The band wore tropical shirts and paper leis. A ukulele made even the Bob Segar and Journey songs sound faintly Hawaiian. The minute the beers arrived, Quinn was on his feet, leading her to the dance floor.
She quickly discovered he hadn’t exaggerated his dancing skills. The whole truth, and nothing but the truth? Standing still, the Major was one chiseled, sexy specimen. Then when he put all those muscles in motion?
After a few numbers, the band slowed the tempo. Quinn swept her into his arms. Their first slow dance. He was confident, graceful. An irresistible temptation.
CHAPTER 8
Q uinn took a surreptitious peek at his watch. Almost 2 a.m. The lounge would close soon. Did they have an early start scheduled for the morning? Honestly, he couldn’t remember. Dee had distracted him all through dinner without him even realizing it.
Like when they’d put their heads together to review the butler’s version of a meshed itinerary? He’d been engulfed in her scent. Every ounce of blood fueling his brain punched out and headed south. He got hard, his pants got tight, and his brain turned to mush.
Experiencing the same reaction on the dance floor, he knew this was one place he didn’t need the gray cells.
“What time is it?” Dee’s face had been buried in his neck as they swayed to a slow ballad. Now she peered up at him.
“Time for bed,” he whispered. Her face flushed pink. He loved it when she assumed his intentions, and her faced colored. Was that embarrassment? Or desire?
“Come on. I’ll walk you to your door.”
He wanted her. Just thinking about it was painful. He knew it would happen. Soon. But Delores Smith, or whatever her real name, was special. And here they were, at one of the most romantic places on earth. He’d keep trying. But if necessary, he could be patient a little while longer. Especially if it meant making their first time together a memory to cherish.
Maybe he could seduce her with breakfast in bed?
In the elevator, he nuzzled her earlobe. “What time’s our first tour in the morning?”
“In the butler’s agenda, she moved your 7 a.m. hiking jaunt to the weekend, substituted my 11 o’clock helicopter tour.”
“Hot damn, we can sleep in.”
“Definitely. And then you’re up for a plane ride?”
“Whoa, wait. You just raced past what’s left of tonight. What I’m up for is to spend those hours in your bed. Memorizing every inch of your gorgeous body.”
She made a choking sound. “Not yet.” She said the words so softly, he could barely hear them. “I mean, I really want to—”
He kissed the tip of her nose. “I know. I love teasing you but I’d never push you to do something you’re not ready for. How about a compromise? If we each sleep in our own beds tonight, what do you say to sharing breakfast from room service in your suite?”
“Sounds nice.”
“Great. Now, about tomorrow’s flight. A helicopter’s not a plane. It’s a helicopter.”
“Wow, technical much? Let me rephrase. Are you willing to go on a sightseeing flight in a chopper?”
“I don’t know.” He sounded hesitant, tried to look scared. “I might get airsick.”
“Oh, please. You don’t want to miss Waimea Canyon, the Grand Canyon of Hawaii. And I think they’re flying us along Na Pali Coast State Park.”
“I didn’t pack my helmet.”
She smacked him on the shoulder. Quinn spun her around, trapped her against the elevator wall, and proceeded to ravage her mouth with aggressive kisses.
Dee kissed him right back, reinforcing his belief that she wanted him, too. Damn. When they did get together, it was going to be spectacular.
At the door to her suite, he gave Dee a prim peck on the cheek. “Sweet dreams,” he breathed. “Breakfast at 9 o’clock sharp.”
* * *
AT 8:55 the next morning, Quinn opened the door to his suite and met the young woman pushing the room service cart. “I’ll take it from here.” He signed for the food, tipped the employee, and waved away the hovering butler.
“Got this,” he said with a bright smile.
Dressed in board shorts and a t-shirt for a day of tropical sightseeing, he’d also slipped condoms into his pocket. Just in case his breakfast plan worked and this morning took a seriously sexy turn.
Dee answered the door, obviously ready to eat and run. She was dressed in knee-length shorts and a sleeveless blouse. His fantasy had Dee greeting him dressed in only a transparent nightgown. That hopeful day-dream burst like an over-inflated balloon.
“Good morning. Shall we eat outside?” She indicated the table on her balcony overlooking the beach in the distance.
He wheeled the cart through the living room. “Does this mean breakfast in bed is out of the question?”
“Let’s save it f
or tomorrow morning.”
He skidded to a stop. Heart thundering, he abandoned the covered plates. “That calls for a kiss.” Taking a side-step, he grabbed her and enfolded Dee in his arms.
“You are amazing,” he sighed against her lips. The kiss was deep but surprisingly restrained considering how turned on he was. Tonight. She wanted him and they were having sex tonight.
Better confirm, said the skeptical voice in his head.
He left a trail of feathery kisses across her cheek. Then tipped his head up, watched her expression carefully. “Honey, did you just make a date with me for breakfast in bed…following a night of sex?”
Eyes darkening, her smile looked a little ragged around the edges. “Does our truth policy mean we have to be so blunt? The plan sounded much more romantic in my head.”
“Oh, crap.” His stomach dropped. “Um, sorry.”
“Don’t apologize. Yes, Quinn, I want to have sex with you tonight. Now, can we eat before our food gets cold?”
“To hell with the food.” His arms tightened around her. “The last thing I want is to screw this up. And not just because of the sex. Dee, I can’t remember ever wanting a woman so much.” Like never. “Swear to god, I’ve never felt so off-balance. I keep questioning myself, and you…” Forgetting his train of thought, he got lost in a pair of blue eyes.
Dee pressed her hands on either side of his face, tugged his head down until their mouths met. Opening, she slid her tongue across his bottom lip. God, she continued to surprise him.
Before the kiss got out of control—who was he kidding, simple proximity to the woman played havoc with his control—he gently released her, and stepped back to set up their meal. Pulling out her chair, he shook open the linen napkin and draped it in her lap.
He poured her coffee. Added one teaspoon of sugar, one little container of Vanilla creamer and one of half and half.
“Exactly right,” she murmured. “You don’t miss a thing.”
With a flourish, he uncovered the plates. Dee’s appreciative laughter sent his heart skittering. In a nod to her usual healthy breakfast, he’d ordered a condiment-sized bowl of oatmeal and one of fresh fruit. But for the main course? A plate of golden waffles with butter and syrup on the side. His tall stack of waffles also boasted two side orders of bacon.
He sat across from her. She beamed at him. “Major, you’ve certainly got the gentleman thing nailed.” Her eyes widened and she raised her hand. “Wait. No suggestive comments about nailed. Don’t spoil it.”
Seeing the gleam in her eyes, he only hoped he could make it through the day without ravishing her. Her warning in mind, he found a different topic. “I’m sorry we missed seeing the pod of dolphins yesterday. A guy I know, another WSO from a different squadron, went swimming with trained dolphins during his Florida vacation.”
“Is that something you’d like to do?”
“Not after seeing those films, The Cove and Blackfish. Watching how dolphins are captured, torn from their families? It was brutal. Made me realize captive dolphins suffer living in tanks, their food withheld unless they perform.”
Dee nodded, so he continued. “My kid sister Olivia and I used to love going to SeaWorld. I’m ashamed to say, it never occurred to me to consider the dolphin and Orca point of view. They deserve to live free.”
“I totally agree.”
“Are there captive dolphin places here in Hawaii?”
“Not on Kauai. This island and the resorts here abide by Dolphin SMART.”
“Are there captive dolphin shows or swims on other islands?”
“Sadly, yes. DolphinQuests at Hilton Waikoloa Village on the big island and Kahala Hotel and Resort on Oahu. Also, SeaLife Park on Oahu has performing dolphin shows.”
“I’ll bet you’ve thought about what the resorts could offer in place of swimming with captive dolphins.” His hand shot up. “Wait. Don’t answer if that’s off-limits.”
“It’s okay. Without going into details, I’d promote swimming with or near wild dolphins. Almost every resort has snorkeling, SCUBA, dolphin and whale watching boat tours. They need to push any activities that could include wild dolphin encounters or sightings.”
“I’m sold. Snorkeling appeals to me. Maybe we could try that later this afternoon? After our death-defying helicopter ride?”
“No time. Tonight’s the luau. Besides we’ll need a reservation.” Dee folded her napkin and stood.
“Leave the dishes, honey,” he teased and reached over to pull her down onto his lap. “How about a preview of tonight?”
Giggling, she licked his ear. His phone buzzed with an incoming call. He stood them both up. “Save my place.”
His Caller ID said: Whitney. Quinn hesitated. “Let me take this in the other room.” Closing the bathroom door, he accepted the call. “Hey Frank.”
“Where are you? According to the schedule, you should be hiking.”
“Naww, sounded way too much like healthy exercise. Got a copter tour at 11 o’clock instead. Something wrong?”
“You bet your ass there’s something wrong. You’re making me look like a damn slacker.”
“And?”
“Seriously, Dad got your first report. The old man says you went way above and beyond the questionnaire. Did you honestly send him a detailed rundown on treatments at the fucking spa?”
“You seem to forget how awesome I am.”
“Are you telling me you actually got treatments at the damn spa?”
Quinn bit his lip to keep the smile out of his voice. “I asked about them.”
“Then you included suggestions about fancy golf tournaments and wrote shit like enhancing the experience. Quinn, that’s the kind of information Dad can use at all his other properties. Man, he’s fucking loving you.”
“Well, I love him, too. This has been a terrific week so far. This resort rocks. How’s Maui?”
“Cut the bullshit. What’s going on?”
Oh hell. Quinn made a split-second decision. “Here’s the deal. I met someone.”
“You’re such a slut. That’s what I get for sending you to Kauai alone. Turn my back for one fucking minute and you’re all over somebody else.”
“Very funny. Seriously, Dee’s a big part of the reason I’m burning up your dad’s lists. We going together to check out stuff. Then when it’s time to write my report, I imagine what she’d say and ideas she’d recommend. It’s incredible.”
“Who is she? What’s she doing there?”
Quinn cringed. Dee undoubtedly worked for a competitor.
Frank persisted. “Don’t tell me she’s simply a tourist.”
Quinn flash-sorted the details in his head. “No, she’s more than a tourist.” Better share the bare minimum about Dee. “The lady lives and works in Honolulu. I like her. Without crossing any line, she’s been a big help and I’m grateful.”
“Grateful you’re met a convenient—”
“Stop right there. Don’t say anything insulting about her.”
“God, Quinn. You never learn. Have you fallen for this woman?”
“Why did you call, Frank?”
“I’m booked on a flight to Kauai this afternoon. See you when I get there.” Frank disconnected.
Quinn sat on the closed toilet seat, his head between his hands. “Shit.” Things were about to get real complicated.
CHAPTER 9
DeAnna stood near the bathroom, trying to hear what Quinn was saying. Finally, she spoke through the closed door. “Quinn?”
“Still here.”
“Is everything okay?”
“Dandy.”
“If you’re alright, we need to leave. The stretch limo golf cart waits for no man.”
“Be right out.”
She pressed her lips in a thin line. Had Quinn been talking to Olivia? With a shrug, she stuffed her camera and note pad in her shoulder tote, and moved into the living room to wait.
“I’m ready,” Quinn announced, bursting out of the bathroom. He dash
ed across the room, grabbed her elbow and steered her out the door and toward the elevator. “It was a business call.”
In the back seat of the six-passenger electric cart, he draped his arm over her shoulder and spoke quietly. “Frank called. Said he’s flying here this afternoon.” Mouth turned down, Quinn’s face was a thundercloud.
“And that’s bad news because?”
“I realize that was the original plan. Frank and I coming to Kauai to check this resort. But now I’ve met you and…” his voice drifted off.
“Maybe you should finish out the week with Frank.”
“Is that what you want?”
“I didn’t say that. Still, it isn’t a matter of what I want. Frank made the arrangements and paid for your trip. Is still paying for everything, including your room. The huge suite you barely use.”
“Is that an invitation to move in with you?”
She stared at him. “Be serious for a minute. I’m just saying, if you feel you’re under obligation to Frank—”
“Frank’s father is paying. He wanted two pairs of eyes checking things out.”
“Okay, then, you owe his father. Maybe you should go back to the original plan.”
“That’s not what I want to do. My conscience is clear. I’m seeing more stuff and from a different prospective with you than I ever would’ve with Frank. Meeting you, teaming up for part of this, is turning out to be best all around. Especially for me. Without even a hint of info-sharing.”
He gave her a thorough kiss. In her sandals, her toes curled. “So far, my reports back to Frank’s dad are exceeding expectations.”
“If that’s what you’ve decided, you need to settle things, make peace with Frank.” Her hesitation, her reservations about his decision, must have come across in her voice.
Quinn’s brow furrowed. “Dee, by teaming up with me, do you feel you are in any way short-changing or betraying your boss, or the company you work for?”
“Not for a minute. True, I’m a permanent employee, you’re on temporary assignment. Yet my obligation this week seems about equal to yours. My employer is paying for everything, including my suite. As long as I get the job done, am meticulous about not betraying him or the resort corporation, I don’t feel a bit guilty.” She looked in his eyes, searching for Quinn’s true state of mind.
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