by Julie Kenner
A series of emotions played across his face. Then she visibly saw the tension release from his shoulders. “You’re right,” Kirk said after a moment.
“What?” she asked, raising her eyebrows and deliberately giving her tone a touch of incredulousness. “Did you just say I’m right? After everything being wrong from my stance to how I angle, I’m doing something that works for you?”
A small smile played about the ruggedness of his mouth. “Is that how I sounded?”
That slight tug of his lips made up for a lot of his tyrannical attitude. “A little.”
“A lot.” His eyes narrowed. “Listen, Drea. You have amazing surf instincts. You’re a winner, but you are missing the refinements, the little things that give you those extra style points from the judges. But I don’t want to change you. How you handled that surfer reminded me that your style is aggressive. You don’t have to do everything I say, or adopt my attitude, but I do want you to give it a try. To take it under consideration.”
She met his green gaze, and nodded. “I will.”
“Especially since I’m right.”
She swung her head in his direction, studied his expression. Then Drea gasped. “Did you just make a joke? Kirk Murray just made a joke about the seriousness that is surfing. I can’t believe it.”
“I make jokes all the time.”
“Are you sure? Because I think sometimes you forget that surfing is supposed to be fun.”
He instantly returned to the serious trainer. “It’s a sport. A very dangerous sport if you don’t take it seriously. Don’t forget the motto. Respect the wave—”
“Respect the sport. I remember.”
He’d quoted it often enough today.
She took a deep breath, missing their special connection of the day before. And especially of the night. “I know it’s Da Kine, but it’s you, too. I know I can never repay you for what you’ve done for me. You’re going to teach me style, I’m going to teach you to have a little fun in your life.”
“Now that, wahine, is something I’m going to take you up on.” His voice sent shivers down her back. Here she was thinking about the fun of standing on a board, and now he had her thinking of fun between the sheets. He’d never called her wahine before. The endearment men used for female surfers.
She leaned against him. “I like it when you speak Hawaiian to me.” She liked it a lot.
His gaze darkened, but then his expression turned regretful, and he glanced down at his watch. “Ready to say goodbye to your new roommates?”
No.
Instead she smiled and nodded.
Kirk had met her at the beach, grumbling about dawn patrol. She hadn’t wanted to make a lot of noise moving out this morning, so they were waiting until after they’d completed their surfing to remove her things from the bungalow.
“You do have to admit the beach is less crowded now,” she told him.
His hand slid around her hip. “I’d trade the crowds for more time in bed. With you.”
Drea had spent most of the night at Kirk’s, knowing her roommates, and probably Kaydee for that matter, would be wanting a full report about her date. Lucky for her, they’d been asleep when she’d finally slipped inside the bungalow. Her feelings were too new to want to talk about them.
“It’s crazy you doing dawn patrol anyway.”
“I told you, I can’t quit the Trading Post. I promised Mr. Cronin two weeks notice, and I need to keep good relations with him in case…”
Kirk’s lips tightened. “Okay, now we’re getting to the real reason. You were going to say you needed to keep good relations in case your surfing doesn’t take off?”
Or the sponsorship dissolves? But she’d keep that thought to herself.
“Drea, why are you afraid to think things might just work out?”
Why did everyone want to analyze her motivations?
“You have to keep a positive frame of mind at all times.”
“That’s easy for you to say. You’ve always had Daddy’s money…” She let her words trail off.
“I always had Daddy’s money to fall back on. That’s what you were going to say.”
She gave him a quick nod.
Kirk gave an easy shrug. “It’s true. I’ve had it easier than most. That’s the reason why I want to sponsor and train surfers. Give them the same kind of shot I had.”
“Like what you’re doing with me.”
“Like what I’m trying to do with you. You have to start believing in yourself to make it work.”
She flashed him a big smile. “I promise to try harder.”
She could tell he didn’t believe her for a second, but he did visibly relax. “Come on, let’s get your stuff from the bungalow.”
There was believing in herself and there was also being realistic. Keeping her job at the Trading Post was being realistic. Remembering that Kirk Murray wouldn’t always be her financial savior was also being realistic.
Even though she’d almost put her foot in her mouth, she was glad they’d had this conversation. She’d realized something about Kirk today. Although he took her comment about his daddy’s money in stride, she knew she’d struck a small nerve. Maybe that’s why he was so focused and almost businesslike about his surfing. Money might have put him in the position to get his shot, but Kirk’s winning was all him.
Strange that they had something in common. She wanted to prove that Rookie of the Year wasn’t a fluke. He wanted to prove he was the real deal. He’d met his goal. She’d just have to think positively about hers. Kirk would be proud.
LACI AND JC were waiting for her in the living room of the bungalow. She’d met both of them briefly in California, where she’d won her title, but she hadn’t hung around after the awards ceremony to chat. She just never seemed to fit in with the other surfers. But the pair had been a lifesaver when she’d arrived in Hawaii with little more than her board and no place to stay. They’d offered her their third bedroom. She’d thought they viewed her as little more than a pest, but now that she was actually moving out, the two looked a little down. Were they upset about her leaving?
JC stood and picked up one of Drea’s bags, handing it to her. “Thanks,” Drea said.
“No problem.”
They were about the same height, but that’s where the similarities ended. JC, who had had a meteoric rise to the top, enjoyed the gorgeous, exotic looks that made her a favorite among the male surfers and potential sponsors.
“Anything I can help with?” Laci asked as she passed Drea’s other bag to Kirk. She had that summery all-American girl look, with a face full of freckles.
“That’s it? Just two bags?” Kirk asked.
“I’m an efficient packer,” Drea said in a poor attempt at humor.
Laci turned toward Kirk. “Drea doesn’t have any clothes.”
“I have clothes.” But that defensive statement sounded pretty weak even to her own ears.
JC flashed her a secret wink. “Not the right kind of clothes. You’ll be doing interviews, community-service time. Shorts and T-shirts don’t work.”
“And don’t forget the evening stuff,” Laci added.
“I can’t believe I hadn’t thought of that. I’ve already ordered new suits and rashguards with the Da Kine logo,” Kirk said.
“She’s going to need the works,” JC told him.
“I’m on it.” Kirk grabbed his phone.
“Do I really need that stuff?” Drea just wanted to surf. Surely Kirk wouldn’t want her before cameras and reporters so soon. She hadn’t taken any of the publicity training Kaydee had insisted she’d need, and Drea wasn’t exactly a natural with a microphone in front of her face. Memories of how she’d frozen up in front of a high-school classmate flashed through her mind. The reporter was a friend just trying to get her yearbook class assignment completed. Imagine how terrible she’d do if it were for real. She’d let down Da Kine and Kirk.
“Trust me, you’re going to want all those clothes. The reporte
rs will be all over you,” Laci said with a nod.
With a click, Kirk returned his cell phone to the latch on his belt. “Okay, you’re all set for four at the store in my father’s hotel. I hate to rush things, but I have to get to work.”
Drea nodded, but made no move. The room grew quiet. The four of them just looked at one another awkwardly.
Beside her, Kirk stood straighter, as if he’d just realized something. “I’ll put these in the trunk so you all can talk. Just come out when you’re ready, Drea.”
“Please tell me you have hooked up with that man, because to not do so would be a sad and terrible waste,” Laci said when Kirk was out of earshot.
Drea felt the heat in her cheeks and knew she was blushing. “I, uh…”
“Don’t bother answering. Your face tells us nothing is going to waste. What I can’t believe is that you came back here last night when you could have spent all night in bed with him,” JC said. Then she glanced toward Laci. “A whole new wardrobe. Pretty slick.”
“What can I say?” Laci said, grinning.
Drea leaned against the wall. “I can’t believe it myself. It’s like from a movie, and at four o’clock, that’s where the fun, pumpy music comes in, and the girl comes out of the dressing room, flashing from one exciting outfit to the next while her friends shake their heads or smile.”
“I can shake my head,” JC said.
Laci nodded. “I can smile.”
Looked as if she was going to have help shopping. Good. She hadn’t figured it out until just this moment that she had stopped thinking of JC and Laci as competitors and roommates and now thought of them as true friends.
“I’m going to miss you guys,” she said quietly, feeling her throat tighten.
JC gave her a quick hug. “Hey, it’s not like we’re not going to see you every day on the beach.”
“And feel free to invite us over for room service anytime,” Laci told her with a smile. “We were counting on your skills with the can opener.”
Drea gave them both a hug, then quickly walked out to the car where Kirk was waiting for her.
As she shut the car door, Kirk reached for her hand and gave her a squeeze. “Okay?”
She nodded, but quickly changed the subject. “We surfing tomorrow?”
“Actually, I thought we could review the tape of today’s surfing.”
She raised a brow. “And where would we be doing that? Some place like, oh, your apartment?”
Kirk nodded. “My apartment works.”
Drea laughed. “I’m looking forward to it.”
The laughter faded from his eyes, replaced by heat and sexual tension. His fingers brushed her cheek. “If I kiss you now, I may just drag you to my apartment.”
Drea leaned across the gearshift and puckered.
Kirk groaned. “Wahine, you are going to kill me. I have to go to work.”
Warmth from his words suffused her body. “Drive,” she said, smiling. “I can kill you tomorrow.”
KIRK WASN’T SURPRISED when his dad walked into the small room Kirk used as an office at the back of Da Kine.
“You cut out of there pretty early last night. Your mother barely had the chance to say two words to you.”
“Good one, Dad. Zeroed right in on the surefire guilt inducer,” Kirk said as he saved the spreadsheet he was preparing and spun in his chair to face his dad.
John Murray nodded as if he was taking a small bow. “You really do need to spend more time at the hotel. Someday it will all be yours.”
“You have plenty of years to run your hotel, I’m not worried about taking up the reins. Besides, I had to get Drea home. She’s training.”
“Very stunning young woman. You’re sponsoring surfers now?” But it wasn’t really a question. His father knew exactly what his child was doing. “When you’d first mentioned looking toward ventures outside of surfing, it was only to help train other surfers. You have the restaurant, you’re sponsoring and now it looks like you’re still in training. What about your retirement?”
“It’s buildup to the retirement. Da Kine is doing the sponsoring, and it’s all part of the business plan. I’ve made an agreement with XtremeSportNet and the Girls Go Banzai competition. The restaurant is now the official meal provider for all the competitors, staff and other corporate sponsors.”
The other man nodded. His father’s unique version of “well done.” “Impressive, and good experience for when you take over the hotel. But how does Da Kine sponsoring a surfer figure into the deal?”
Kirk imagined Drea in her new suit, and his body instantly became more aware. Edgy. “She’ll be wearing the logo, and believe me when I tell you it will be seen a lot. Drea Powell is going to be a star. Have you seen her surf? She’s amazing. Gutsy. We’re training together.”
Although he couldn’t help noticing the panic that entered her eyes when interviews came into conversation. He’d wanted to tell her she’d be great, not just with an audience. The two of them hadn’t even discussed how they wanted to proceed together in public. He would have been thrilled with showing the world she was the woman by his side, but he wouldn’t without talking it over with her first. He smiled as he remembered her anger at him making the decision about where she was going to live. He wouldn’t fall into that trap again.
“Surfing was always your area of expertise, so I’ll take your word on it.” John Murray’s eyes grew concerned. “Things looked a little more…personal between the two of you than just a business arrangement.”
Had he been that obvious last night?
Hmmm, what had given him away? The fact that he couldn’t stop touching her or that they’d stayed fifteen minutes before he ushered her out of the lounge as fast as he could? The sex that had followed lived up to way more than his expectations. “Dad, I—”
“No need to explain. I was your age once. There was a time with your mother—”
Kirk held up a hand, grimacing. “Dad, these are really not details I want to know.”
His dad smiled. “Probably not. As my son, I know how much you hate to take advice from your old man. But from one businessman to another, let me tell you—there’s a reason for clichés like not mixing business with pleasure. It rarely works out.”
“HEY THERE, surfer dude.”
Kirk glanced up from the film he was watching to see Drea in his doorway.
Only it was a very different Drea. Dressed in a straight black skirt and silky, dark pink blouse, she didn’t appear to be the wild and reckless surfer he knew.
The knot she’d twisted the soft, long strands of her hair into made him want to take out whatever pins she’d used to hold it in place and sink his face into the sweet-smelling strands.
The very appropriate length of her skirt made his fingers itch to find the clasp and feel the whoosh of air as the material drifted down her legs and hit the floor.
And those little tiny buttons on her shirt made him ache to undo each one and slide the material off her shoulders so he could admire her beautiful breasts.
Which was why it was a good thing he’d changed their meeting place from his apartment to his office at Da Kine.
The smile on her face was beginning to fade.
Oh, yeah. He’d been so caught up in thinking about how amazing she looked, he’d forgotten to say anything to her about it. “I could eat you up.”
“Thank you,” Drea said as she closed the door behind her and stalked to his desk. She wrapped her arms around his neck and leaned in for a kiss. “I’ve been thinking about doing this all day.”
So had he. Working all day had been difficult, especially after hearing his father’s words. He bent forward, his hands already reaching for the tempting buttons on her blouse. Until he remembered he’d sent her to get that blouse. And the rest of her professional attire.
“Wait, Drea, wait.”
Her brows knitted in confusion. “What’s wrong?”
“I think we may have rushed things.” He hated saying that. W
ished he could call the words back, but he’d been thinking about what his dad had said ever since he’d left. His father was a successful businessman, and his advice had always been spot-on.
He was expecting her to deny it, maybe even get defensive or reassure him. He hadn’t expected her to laugh. “You think? Two days…” She made a tsking sound.
“I’m serious. You’re in training now and need to concentrate. This is your first major competition since winning Rookie of the Year, and a relationship between us would be a huge distraction.” Hard to say when all he wanted to do was, well, her.
She backed away and leaned against the wall. He hated seeing the pain in her eyes. Experiencing the same pain himself.
“That’s why we have the contract. You think I can’t handle it?” she asked, her voice filled with hurt.
“I’ve never actually trained anyone myself. I shouldn’t allow myself to get distracted, either. We both need to be focused and controlled right now.”
Drea folded her arms across her chest, and he thought she was going to argue with him. He almost wanted her to. Then she nodded and he reached for the remote control.
He hated that she didn’t fight harder. That he hadn’t, either.
Kirk powered up the TV. “Watch your stance on this first run you did.”
The next six days followed the same pattern. Surfing in the morning, followed by dissecting the films of her runs at the restaurant in the afternoon. Gone was the sexy, irreverent woman of earlier. Drea had truly become more focused and her style was improving. Cutting off the sex had been the best decision for her career.
But it was the worst choice according to Kirk’s body. If he’d thought seeing her splash around in the water in her bikini was tough a few days ago, now he knew what those small triangles of fabric hid.
His body physically ached as he positioned her hips on the board. He remembered how those hips felt against him as he thrust into her.
He missed her easy smiles, their conversation and her laughter. At night he stayed away, thinking of the soft, sexy sounds she made as she came.
