by Nella Tyler
“What happened?” she mumbled as she tried to sit up. He helped her and pulled her to his chest.
“You tripped over a tree root. Do you not remember?” he asked worriedly.
She began to recall falling and hitting the ground. She winced and rubbed her aching thigh.
“I remember now. I didn’t see that dratted root,” she said in annoyance.
He stilled her hand to replace it with his own. He massaged her thigh tenderly.
“Better?”
She nodded.
“Yes. Thank you.”
“You were unconscious. We should have you checked out at the hospital,” he said anxiously.
“No. That’s not necessary. The fall knocked the air from my lungs. But I’m fine now,” she protested.
“Are you sure you didn’t hit your head?” He gingerly ran his fingers through her copper hair to feel her head.
She looked up at him.
“I didn’t. My hard head is okay,” she chuckled. “My thigh is little sore, but the pain will go away in a bit.”
His hand cupped her face.
“You do tend to be hard-headed,” he grinned.
She opened her mouth to retort and he covered it with his own. He kissed her slowly and tenderly. Then he drew back.
“Don’t ever scare me like that again,” he whispered.
His kiss had completely swept her previously outraged thoughts from her mind.
“I’ll try not to,” she said instead.
He helped her up and scooped her into his strong arms.
“Oh no! I can walk,” she objected.
“I’ll put you down at the bottom of the hill. Until then, enjoy the ride.”
“If you say so,” she giggled as she looped her arm about his neck.
He kissed her temple and made his way down the hill.
Chapter 4
They all stood at the shore of the crystal-clear lake and stared in awe at Likeke Falls. Meg had never seen anything so beautiful. She leaned against Drake and watched as the water rushed over the rock to pool in the waiting lake.
“Drake! How about a swim? I will race you to the falls,” Noah said.
“I was a competitive swimmer in college. I’m too fast for you,” Drake said.
“I doubt it. I was on the 2012 Olympic swim team in London. I have a silver medal to prove it. Still think you’re faster than me?” Noah touted.
“Oh! It’s time to put your strokes where your mouth is,” Meg teased.
“Bring it!” Drake said. He looked down at Meg. “I’ll be back for my consolation prize.” He smiled ruefully.
“And what might that be?”
“A kiss from you.” He tweaked her nose then took off his shorts to reveal dark grey swim trunks. Kicking off his socks and shoes, he trotted into the water.
Kai treaded water at the side of the waterfall. They were to race out to circle him then back to where the girls waited on the shore. They waited for Kai to raise his arms then took off. Drake was a strong swimmer, and for the first leg of the race he was a body length in front of Noah. Drake circled Kai first then Noah followed.
“I think Drake is actually going to beat Noah,” Meg said excitedly.
“Think again,” Beni exclaimed. “Noah is making his move.”
And indeed Noah was. He was gaining quickly on Drake, and within seconds had overtaken him with quick, strong strokes.
“He doesn’t seem big enough to have such powerful strokes,” Ashlee marveled.
“It’s his conditioning. Although he doesn’t swim competitively anymore, he still swims every day. He’s in great shape,” Beni said. “I doubt if he’s lost a second off his Olympic time.”
The two men were swimming toward them and Drake looked to be two lengths behind. Noah arrived at the shore to the cheers of the ladies. He bowed then turned to wait for Drake to arrive. Drake did so and was breathing heavily.
“Man! I can see how you made the Olympic team. You’re a beast,” Drake panted. “Great job!”
“You’re very good yourself. Did you ever try out for the Olympic team?” Noah asked.
Kai arrived at the shore and Ashlee moved to hug him.
Drake shook his head.
“I didn’t continue to swim when I left high school,” Drake said.
“Too bad. With some training, I bet you could have made the team. How old are you?’ Noah asked.
“Twenty-eight,” Drake answered.
Meg smiled. Drake was only three years older than she was. He was the perfect age.
“We would have been on the same team. How cool would that have been?” Noah smiled.
“Pretty cool,” Drake replied.
“Kai and I swim almost every morning. You should come with us,” Noah invited.
“I will,” Drake said.
“We’re going for a walk. Do you want to come?” Kai asked.
“No thanks. I think we will have a swim,” Drake answered.
“See you later then,” Kai said.
Kai and Noah grabbed the ladies’ hands and moved off with them. Drake moved to Meg’s side.
“Come out to the waterfall with me.”
Meg hesitated. She wasn’t a strong swimmer.
“I am far from a fish in water. I would only slow you down,” she demurred.
“It’s not a race and I’ll be right beside you,” Drake said softly. “I will take care of you.”
Meg sighed and relented. It wasn’t as though she couldn’t swim at all. She just wasn’t the best at it.
“All right.” She removed her clothes to reveal a blue, one-piece bathing suit with a skirt.
“I like. You’re sexy as hell,” he murmured.
Meg was unsure how to respond to that. He didn’t give her time to think about it. He caught her hand and guided her into the water. They began swimming leisurely toward the falls. There was an opening behind the falling water and Meg realized it was a shallow cave. They arrived at the fall and swam through the falling water. Meg’s feet easily touched the ground. She turned toward fall and stared through the cascading water. It made everything seem eerily distorted. Drake came up behind her and put his arms around her.
“A penny for your thoughts.”
“Only a penny? Surely they’re worth more,” she smiled.
“I’d give you whatever amount you want if you would share them with me.”
She leaned her head back against his broad chest.
“I wasn’t thinking anything of importance. I just noticed that everything looks disproportionate when seeing it through the water,” she responded.
“The trick of the water. It distorts objects to appear to be something they are not,” he remarked. “But this sheet of water also has a dual purpose.”
“What is that?”
“It provides the privacy that’s needed for me to kiss the daylights out of you,” he whispered.
He slid his hand around her neck to lift her face to his seeking mouth. Meg parted her lips and he deepened the kiss. She sighed contentedly as she enjoyed the expertise of his kiss. She could submit to his kisses anytime he wanted to give them. He ran his tongue over her upper then lower lip, which only incited her more. She turned to face him and looped her arms about his neck.
“You’re such a good kisser,” she murmured against his neck. “How did that happen?”
He chuckled.
“Lots of practice. But it came easily to me. I like kissing women.”
“I think I want to be the only woman with whom you practice,” she sassed.
“Really?”
She nodded.
“Umm hmm.”
“Well, that might require some negotiating.”
Meg laid her cheek against his shoulder as she pondered his words. There she goes again. Wandering into deep water that she wasn’t sure she could swim in. She had implied that she wanted him for her boyfriend. And of course he would want all that such an arrangement included. How was she going to unsay what she had s
aid? It was too soon for that kind of a relationship. She wasn’t ready. Her heart was still too raw.
“Meg? What’s wrong?”
“I have a tendency to put my foot in my mouth,” she mumbled.
“And sometimes I jump to conclusions. It’s all good. Don’t worry about it.”
“Is it?”
He gently lifted her head to face him.
“Yes, it is. Don’t beat yourself up for reacting to your feelings. I like kissing you as much as you like being kissed,” he said gently. “I quickly turned your words to my own advantage and I shouldn’t have. You want to take things slowly, and I’m good with that.”
“Are you really?”
“I swear I am. Please believe me, Meg.”
She smiled wanly.
“I believe you.”
He kissed her nose then captured her mouth for a tender kiss. Then he pulled back.
“We’d had better swim back before they think we’ve drowned.”
“All right. Although I do like our little haven.” She looked around and noticed what seemed like markings on the stone wall She moved to the wall to look closer. There were pictures of men, women, and children running.
“Drake. Come look.” He moved to stand beside her. “Look at this. These are pictures etched in the wall.”
“In ancient times, the Hawaiian people would communicate with drawings,” he responded.
“What do you think they are saying?”
“The figures look as though they are running.”
“From what?” she queried.
“That I don’t know. But what I find interesting is that the etching is not worn or faded. If the picture was drawn thousands of years ago, it should be hardly distinguishable,” he observed.
“It looks like it was drawn yesterday,” she said in awe.
“But who would do such a thing and why?”
“And who is the message for?” she asked
“A mystery.”
“I love mysteries,” she said excitedly. Meg would love nothing better than to unravel the secret.
He laughed at her eagerness.
“So do I. Shall we try to solve it? There will probably be a dull explanation to our inquiries. But it would be fun to find it.”
“Yes. I will be Watson to your Sherlock. But let’s keep it a secret until we discover more information,” she grinned.
He chuckled.
“All right, Watson. Let’s head back and start digging for clues.”
She clapped her hands in excited anticipation then stretched out in the water to swim through the fall. Drake swam close beside her. He smiled as he thought about their new adventure. It would keep him in her company that much more. And that was perfect for him. They didn’t notice Peleke standing on the rocks atop the waterfall them watching them across the lake. His marine-blue eyes were darkened and his face was drawn with worry.
*****
Meg sat in the living room of her suite and listen idly as Ashlee and Beni talked about the day. They were happy about meeting and spending time with Kai and Noah and were excited to be having dinner with them. Meg chatted and laughed with them but remained quiet about her and Drake’s discovery in the cave. Although Meg shared everything with Ashlee and Beni, she preferred not to speak of it to them. She wanted to keep it between her and Drake a little longer. She liked sharing a secret with him and didn’t want anyone else included just yet. It gave her a special connection with him, which was something that she needed. She longed to feel closer to him and this secret helped to provided that feeling.
“Will you and Drake join us for dinner, Meg?” Ashlee asked.
“Not this time. Drake has some business to attend to and I’m rather tired. I think I will relax in the Jacuzzi for a while then turn in,” she replied.
“Are you sure? You have to eat and you could always make it an early evening,” Beni pressed.
“I’m sure. I will order in,” Meg said.
There was a knock on the door. Ashlee stood to answer it.
“Okay. If you’re sure,” Ashlee said as she moved to the door. She opened it. “Hi Kai. Hi Noah. Come in.”
The two men entered the suite and looked around.
“Nice,” Noah said
“I’ve been in the hotel but never inside a suite. It’s quite elegant, if a little dated,” Kai said.
“That what’s Meg says,” Beni responded as she moved to stand beside Noah. “I guess Drake has some work to do on the place.”
“I wondered if he has decided to buy and restore it,” Meg commented. “It will be interesting to hear his assessment.”
“It’s would be a good investment if he does buy it. I’m willing to take on the electrical and plumbing contract if he does,” Noah said.
“I’ll let him know when I see him,” Meg said.
“Are you guys not coming with us?” Kai asked.
“Not tonight. Drake is working and I’m a bit tired. I intend to read a book in the hot tub then go to bed,” Meg explained.
“If you’re sure,” Noah said.
“She is,” Beni grumbled. “We just had this conversation. She refuses to change her mind.”
Meg laughed.
“Have fun, guys.”
“We will,” Ashlee grinned.
The two couples left the room and all was quiet. Meg called for room service then went into her bedroom to change into a bikini. She was too shy to wear them in public, but their suite had a private hot tub on the large patio. It was one of the perks for having a room on the first floor. She put on a yellow/gold halter-top suit. It was the perfect color foil for her hair. Too bad she wasn’t bold enough to wear it in public; it was stunning on her. She grabbed a white robe and went into the living room. She picked up a magazine and sat on the sofa to wait for her pork rib dinner. She was reading an article about dolphins when a knock sounded on the door. Thinking it was room service, she hurried to the door and opened it without looking through the peephole.
“Drake!”
“Hi. May I come in?”
She stepped back.
“Of course. I wasn’t expecting you.” Her robe was loosely fastened and she hugged it closer to her body.
He noticed the action and wondered what she wore underneath.
“My meeting finished sooner than expected so I decided to come see you,” he said as he entered the suite.
She shut the door.
“Oh. I thought you were room service with my dinner.”
“You guys are eating in?”
“I am. Ashlee and Beni have gone to dinner with Kai and Noah,” she said.
“Why didn’t you go with them?”
“I wasn’t feeling it. And I didn’t want to be a fifth wheel.”
“I would be happy to take you out to eat,” he offered.
She shook her head.
“No. I really prefer to stay in.”
“Do you mind a little company?” he asked as he moved to stand in front of her.
“No. Not at all. Let me change. I won’t be but a minute.”
He blocked her passage. She looked at him in confusion.
“What’s under the robe?”
“A bathing suit. I was going to soak in the hot tub after eating,” she said.
“There’s no need to change. I’ve seen you in a swim suit.”
“Yeah, but you haven’t seen me in this kind of bathing suit. And I would rather that you didn’t,” she thought.
“I’d rather change.” She tried to sidestep him but he moved with her.
“Why? There must be more to it. What don’t you want me to see, Meg?”
“Nothing. Let me pass,” she said firmly.
“Let me see what you’re wearing,” he countered.
“No.”
“Yes.”
She tried to pass him again and he blocked her way.
“Drake, please. Step aside.”
He grabbed her robe and yanked it open. He sucked in his breath.
“You’re beautiful, Meg.”
“Let go of my robe, Drake,” she insisted.
He did not comply.
“You’ve always wore a one piece. Why?”
“I’m not comfortable wearing a bikini in public,” she said.
He croaked what was supposed to be laughter.
“You have absolutely nothing to be ashamed of. Do you realize how many women would give their right arms to look as you do in a bikini? You are stunning.”
Meg always thought her breasts were too small and her hips too curvy. She became good at wearing suits that would camouflage those areas.
“I lack fullness in the right places and I’m too curvy in the wrong places,” she sighed.
She snatched the robe out of his hands and wrapped it around herself tightly. He puts his hands on her shoulders.
“You everything in all the right places. Sports Illustrated would hire you for their swimsuit edition in a minute. You are gorgeous and every woman on the beach would envy you if they ever see you in that suit,” he said.
“They will have nothing to be envious about because I’m not going to wear this bikini,” she announced.
He dropped his head to nibble the side of her neck.
“Yes, you are. And I will be the proud guy beside you to warn off the men.”
“No.”
“Oh yes! You have a splendid body. Flaunt it for the world to see,” he encouraged.
“Even the men?”
“I’ll have no problem fighting them off,” he chuckled.
She began to giggle at their ridiculous banter. She knew she wouldn’t wear the swimsuit, but it was nice to hear his praises. Then there was a knock on the door. She backed away to answer the door. This time it was room service. The waiter rolled in the cart and Drake tipped him as he exited the room. Meg securely belted her robe closed then lifted the plate covers. She sniffed appreciatively.
“Mmmm! This smells so good. Will you join me? There’s a ton of food here that I’ll never be able to eat.”
“Absolutely. I’m starved,” he smiled.
“Good.”
She set the food the on the dining table then went into the kitchen to retrieve a bottle of white wine from the fridge, also taking two wine glasses from the cupboard and another plate. She returned to the room and set the plate and glasses on the table. He pulled out her chair and she sat down. She felt a little self-conscious when he didn’t move from behind her chair immediately. She realized that her robe was gaping away from her chest and he had a clear view to her breasts. She tightened her robe again and he took his seat. He looked at her and smiled knowingly. She bowed her head and said a quick grace. She then dished up his plate and then her own.
