by M. Clarke
“You mean…you didn’t like what you saw?”
“No. That’s not what I meant. I meant…I’ve seen lots of women naked.” Oh shit! Wrong choice of words again.
“I bet you have,” she yelled.
Yup, I definitely shouldn’t have said that. Those words gave a bad impression of me. “Our breakfast is getting cold.”
“I don’t care.”
“Come on, Rachel.”
“You should have told me.”
I started to chuckle. “I was actually enjoying my view.”
“Are you laughing at me?”
“No, I’m laughing at us.”
Leaning against the door, I tried not to laugh again, but I was finding this quite amusing. We barely knew each other, yet we were acting like a couple having an argument. Why did women twist our words and make it seem like we were the bad guys? “After all of the trouble I’ve been through taking care of you, you don’t give me any credit?”
There was no answer, but a light thump against the door indicated she was leaning against it. Knowing some women liked men to be in charge, and noticing she seemed to fit in that category, I embraced it. “Rachel,” I huffed, “you come out right now, or I’m going to break down the door.”
A few seconds later, the door cracked open just enough for me to see her eyes, then it slowly opened wider. She had on shorts and a T-shirt, looking amazing.
“I didn’t see anything,” I tried to reassure her. “It’s done. It’s nothing I haven’t seen before.” I might have come off a little rude, but she had to know that she didn’t need to be embarrassed of her beautiful body. Then I walked back to the kitchen to give her space, as if nothing happened.
I guess she got the picture because she came over and sat in front of her plate of food on the dining table. “Thank you.” She flashed her eyes at me, and placed a slice of mango I had cut up in her mouth.
“You’re welcome. Are you feeling better?”
“Much better. Thank you for all your trouble. I don’t know how to show you my appreciation.” She took a sip from her glass filled with orange juice.
I chewed the piece of omelet in my mouth and swallowed. “You already offered and I gladly accepted.”
Rachel chewed quickly, looking eager to ask me a question. “What did I offer?” She looked worried.
“You said you were taking me out to dinner tomorrow night. Don’t you remember?” I was messing with her, but I figured this was my opportunity to get her to go to dinner with me.
She seemed deep in thought. “I did?”
“Yes. I’m picking you up at six tomorrow night.”
“Oh.” She looked confused, slicing the omelet with her fork. “I think I’m suppose to have dinner with Stacey and Hendrix.”
“That’s okay. It will be a double date.” I don’t know why I’d said date; it was a slip of the tongue. When she tensed up, I spoke again. “I mean …it will be fun. The more the merrier.”
“Sure. It will be fun.”
I stood up and took my plate to the kitchen. “Now that I know you’re better, I’ll see you tomorrow at six. I better go.”
Rachel brought her plate to the sink, right behind me. She had eaten all her mangos and half the omelet. I guessed she was a fruit lover since I had seen her buy all those fruit at the market place. “Are you going to work?”
“Work?” I chuckled, then realized she had no idea. This confirmed we didn’t know each other. I had to change that. “I don’t live here, Rachel. I’m visiting my brother. I’m on vacation just like you.”
“Ohhh.” She flicked her hair off her shoulder.
“Where are you from?”
“New York.”
Rachel moved to the corner of the kitchen, resting her hand on the counter with one leg slightly bent. It took every ounce of me not to pick her up, plant her on the counter, and take her right then and there. I had to snap out of these naughty thoughts. “That’s pretty far from California. That’s where I’m from.”
“Yeah.” She nodded to agree and even looked disappointed.
As we stood there staring at each other, there was a comfortable silence in the air until I broke us out of it. “Don’t worry about Stacey. She’s in good hands. Hendrix is a good guy, so you really don’t have to be concerned.”
“Okay,” she said. “Thanks. I’ll give her a call soon.”
“Well…I better go.” I don’t know what possessed me to do what I did next. I reached inside her comfort zone and kissed her on the cheek. It happened so fast she had no idea it was coming. “See you tomorrow.” After I opened the door, I turned and said over my shoulder, “By the way, dinner is casual. If you want, you can wear the same outfit you wore this morning before you changed.”
“Ugh.” Rachel laughed while she threw something at me. I closed the door before I could find out what it was.
But New York…damn! That was too freakin’ far!
Rachel
Being a tad worried about Stacey, I texted her.
Where are you?
I’m at Hendrix’s.
He didn’t go to work?
Not if I can help it. How are you feeling?
I’m better.
I bet you are.
Nothing happened.
I can’t say that for me.
You tramp. Lol!
Haha!
Are you coming home?
I’ll see you at dinner.
Chapter 8
Rachel
“I was so embarrassed.”
“Seriously? He saw you dressed like that?” Stacey leaned in closer, like she couldn’t believe what I had just said. “I bet he was hard,” she giggled.
I ignored her comment and continued. “He even cut the mangos into squares. Just how I like them.”
“Nooo way. That’s too cute.”
Our conversation stopped when Hendrix returned from the restroom and Jax came back from letting the hostess know we were there.
“Our table is ready,” Jax said, gesturing for Stacey and I to go first.
The hostess led the way. After we’d gotten settled in our seats, she gave us the menus. A bottle of wine was already set on the table. I assumed Jax had asked for it ahead of time. “Welcome to Roy’s. Have you been here before?”
“Yes,” Hendrix and Jax said at the same time, while Stacey and I said, “No.”
We all laughed, including the hostess, and she finally continued. “Our special today is the roasted macadamia nut crusted mahi-mahi with lobster cream sauce, and blackened island ahi with spicy soy mustard butter sauce. You might like the tempura white seabass with cilantro citrus sauce, topped with black rice and quinoa. And if you are going to have the Roy’s special chocolate soufflé, please let the waitress know. It takes about twenty minutes to make one. Your waiter will be right with you.” With that, she filled our glasses with water, then wine, and left.
“Too many choices.” Stacey flipped through her menu.
“I think I’ll have the filet tonight,” Hendrix said, placing his glass down after taking a drink of his wine. “We should definitely order the chocolate soufflé. In fact, I’m having my own.”
“If it’s that good, I’ll have one, too.” Stacey pointed at the menu. “There it is. That looks so delicious.”
“I don’t know what I want. Everything sounds so good,” I said, and took sips of my water. Sitting this close to Jax made me thirsty.
“Eat whatever you desire.” Jax placed his arm around my chair, leaning closer so only I could hear. “You look amazing by the way. I prefer you in the white tank top and G-string panties, but this dress frames your body nicely. To make it even sweeter, it’s an easy access dress. I want to slip my hands up your thighs and grab your ass.”
I spat a part of the water I had just drank out of my mouth, and the part that should have been swallowed went down the wrong way, making me cough relentlessly. I was so embarrassed. Becky had told me she’d spat in front of Matthew, and I’d laughed at
her because I had thought it was funny. Now that it happened to me, I completely understood.
“Are you okay?” Stacey asked, handing me her napkin while Jax patted my back.
“Here. Drink more water.” Jax handed me my glass. “It should help. Sorry about that.”
After I drank it, the coughing subsided.
“What are you sorry for, Jax?” Hendrix’s tone was reprimanding. “Put your hands where I can see them on the table.”
“I didn’t do anything,” Jax said with a smirk, chuckling. “Here…let me help you.” Reaching over, he surprised me by dotting the spot at the corner of my mouth tenderly with his napkin. I knew he’d done that on purpose. Damn it! I enjoyed it.
“Then what did you say?” Hendrix’s questions brought me back to him.
Hendrix knew his brother all too well.
Jax threw up his hand, curling the corner of his lips, looking innocent. “I didn’t say anything. You can ask Rachel.”
“Really?” Hendrix furrowed his brows.
The waitress broke up the conversation by choosing that moment to arrive at the table. After we ordered, she left.
“So, Hendrix told me Jax is just visiting,” Stacey informed, tucking a strand of her hair behind her ear.
“Yes,” Jax agreed.
“Where in California do you live?” Stacey was always the one to ask questions, but I didn’t mind as long as Jax was willing to answer. The truth was, I wanted to know as well.
“In Beverly Hills.”
“What do you do? If you don’t mind me asking?”
Jax looked away, rubbing at his stubble. Oddly, he looked nervous. After finishing his glass of wine, he spoke. “I have jobs here and there. Sometimes I’m required to travel. Enough about me.” Jax was short and to the point. I wondered what he was hiding. He was definitely hiding something when he diverted his attention to me. “Rachel, what brought you out to New York? Hendrix told me your sister lives in Los Angel
es.”
“Yes. My sister lives there. I went to NYU. From there I got into photography. I work for a small studio.”
“The reason for the camera.” Jax nodded, as if finally understanding my obsession with it. “How did you and Stacey meet?”
“We both needed a roommate. Mine moved out because she wanted to move in with her boyfriend, and Stacey’s roommate graduated and moved back home.”
“We’ve been the best of friends ever since,” Stacey added with elation. “So, is it just the two of you?”
“Just Jax and I,” Hendrix said. “My mom gave birth to me and fell in love and wanted another child. Then she had Jax. And, since he was a nightmare, she stopped there.”
The three of us laughed at his comment, but Jax raised his brows and frowned. Even his frown was too adorable. I wanted to suck those pouty lips. Then the hot words he’d said before I started coughing repeated in my mind, sending hot flashes through me.
“That’s not true.” Jax shook his head. “After you were born, you were so ugly that they decided to have another child. After I was born…I need not say another word. They stopped there.”
“I guess that’s why I’m the one with all of the brains.”
We all had a good laugh.
“Hendrix, have you always lived in Kauai?” I asked.
“Jax and I were born and raised in Texas. Our parents still live in the house we grew up in. When we came to Kauai for one of our family vacations, I fell in love with this place. I don’t live here full time, I just come during the spring and summer peaks. Sometimes I go see Jax in Los Angeles, and other times I visit my parents in Texas, but it looks like I’ll be visiting New York real soon.” Hendrix looked at Stacey, who was smiling from ear to ear.
This was too sweet. They had already fallen head over heels for each other. I hoped it didn’t die as quickly as it came. Long distance relationships were hard, but I hoped it would turn out differently for them.
Having experience with long distance relationships with Greg, I knew how difficult it could be. As I thought of Greg, I wondered how he was. He had a difficult time with the breakup, but we both knew it was inevitable. With his heavy schedule as a medical student, he rarely had time for me. Eventually, my feelings for him dissipated.
“That’s wonderful,” I said, breaking my thoughts of Greg. “You’re welcome to come.”
“I might go to New York,” Jax said casually. “How about me?”
“What about you?” I teased.
Jax’s dimple appeared when his lips turned down into a frown. God, he was so freakin’ hot when he did that. Without thinking, I raised my hand to his cheek and touched his dimple. Jax’s face turned into my hand and caressed against it. Our eyes locked for a brief second until the waitress came with our food. I snapped out of whatever it was between us and started eating.
“Any plans for tomorrow?” Hendrix asked, taking a bite of his steak.
“We’ll be tanning at the beach first, then Rachel is planning to take a surfing lesson afterward,” Stacey replied, twirling her fork around the noodles.
“Really?” Jax’s eyes grew wide with excitement, placing his glass down to give me his full attention. “Where about?”
“I’m going to the local beach in Poipu,” I answered quickly, letting him know that it was none of his business. I tried to change the subject, so I started to talk to Stacey. “Want to meet up for dinner, or do you have dinner plans?”
Jax asked a question before Stacey could answer. “What time is the lesson?”
“Not sure.”
“With what company?”
“I forgot.”
Jax narrowed his eyes at me, seemingly as if he didn’t believe me. But it was the truth. After I’d made the appointment, I had forgotten the name. Kauai had difficult names; it was hard to keep a track on how to pronounce them. I knew it was safe since I had made the appointment with our guest service.
“You shouldn’t have lessons with just anyone. I’ll refer you to a good one. Some of them have no idea what they are doing. It’s dangerous out there.”
A part of me was enjoying Jax’s concern, but the other part of me was not. We weren’t dating, and I didn’t like to be told what to do.
“I’ll consider it.” I purposely stuffed a couple of shrimps in my mouth to avoid answering his questions to come.
“You’ll consider it?” He repeated my words, as if he couldn’t believe I wouldn’t listen.
I swallowed fast to retort. “I don’t like being told what to do, Jax,” I snapped, emphasizing his name. “You don’t own me. We’re not a couple.”
Jax let out a light chuckle. “We can change that.” There was a silent pause. “Seriously, you need to be careful out there. If I didn’t have a meeting tomorrow I would be out there with you, to make sure you’re safe.”
Seriously? He would go to that trouble? Doesn’t he have better things to do? Meeting? I thought he was on vacation? Not liking where this conversation was going, I didn’t say a word. Hendrix and Stacey gaped between Jax and me. Stacey showed her pearly white smile while Hendrix frowned and raised his brows. “Off limits means do not look. Do not touch.” Hendrix pointed his fork at Jax.
Jax scowled playfully. “What Jax wants, Jax gets.” That was the end of that conversation.
Chapter 9
Rachel
“Can you put some on my back for me?” Stacey handed me the sunblock. “I can’t reach.”
I slapped some on my hand and rubbed the areas she couldn’t reach. “You’re a little red. It’s a good thing you asked me.” I sat back down on the beach mat and dug my feet into the soft sand. Loving how cool it felt, I dug in further. Looking out into the stunning view of the ocean filled me with serenity. Seeing the calmness of the waves put my mind at ease, and watching families having fun in the water melted my heart.
“It’s too bad we can’t put up the umbrella. It’s so windy here.”
I nodded to agree and opened my book to my bookmark. “See
ms like you and Hendrix are getting to know each other quite well.”
“Very, quite well,” Stacey snickered. “Who knew? I mean…we’re here to get away and here we are with dates. I had to travel all the way to Kauai to find a man that has all of the qualities that I’m looking for. He’s intelligent, he opens doors for me, and he’s a perfect gentleman…but not in bed. Just the way I like it.” She giggled. “Most importantly, he has a job. Well, he owns his own restaurants, so that’s an added bonus; not that money is everything, but you know what I mean.”
Reading while Stacey was talking, I flipped the page. “I do. Your last one was terrible and a bum. I was so happy when you let him go.”
“Yeah, well…the sex was great. Luckily, I know better now. I was naïve and stupid.” Stacey leaned over. “What are you reading?”
“Becky recommended it. It’s called My Clarity.”
“Is it good?”
“Let’s just say, I love the chemistry between Elijah and Alex. He’s a bad boy with a big heart. I cried and laughed. It’s about two people meeting by fate and helping each other heal. The storyline makes you think about life and how we shouldn’t take things for granted because you never know what will happen any minute of the day.” I wanted to tell Stacey that Elijah’s personality reminded me of Jax, but I didn’t. She wouldn’t understand since she’d never read the book. “Anyway, just be careful with Hendrix. Don’t fall in love. We’re leaving in six days.”
“I know. Is that what you keep telling yourself about Jax?”
I lay my book on my lap. “What? No. I mean…yes, he’s good looking, and yes, I…maybe dreamt once or twice about us in bed, but no, I’m not hooking up with him. He’s too much of a flirt.”
“I didn’t see him flirt with anyone but you, so you might want to re-think those thoughts.”
“It doesn’t matter anyway. Long distance relationships don’t work. Greg lives in Florida, and that’s closer than Beverly Hills.”
“You never know. Sometimes fate has wrong timing, then it corrects itself when least expected.”
I let out a laugh. “Fate has wrong timing to let you know ‘he ain’t the one.’”
