Leather and Sand

by Jayna Vixen

  God, he felt so…free.

  ***

  A cry ripped from Rhee’s throat as Dax wiped out. Turtle shot her a sharp look that she noticed from the corner of her eye. She scanned the water looking for that shaggy blond head and when he surfaced, Rhee breathed a sigh of relief.

  Thank you, Jesus. Now, he’ll come to his senses and paddle in….

  But he didn’t. Dax turned right back around, heading back to the line up.

  Damn that man!

  Turtle placed his big hand on her shoulder. “It’s okay, Rina. Your boy knows what’s up.”

  “But how—how could he? You don’t know him, Turtle…” she paused. “Or do you?”

  Turtle shrugged, his gaze becoming hooded. “Know The Phantoms. He’s the vice president, right?”

  Rhee nodded slowly, wondering just what the hell was going on. She knew that Turtle and his crew ran the streets. She didn’t ask a lot of questions, but she assumed that some of what he was into was illegal. He had always protected her, though. Rhee judged a person by his character, and Turtle had a lot of that. She knew his family too, his sisters. Even though he broke the law, Turtle and his boys operated by their own moral code, just like the Phantoms did. Perhaps that was why she had welcomed their presence in her life, and in Sirena’s as well. Manali grumbled when she became aware of Rhee’s association with the Natives, but she seemed to accept that having their protection was a good thing. So far, it had been.

  Turtle had been there for her. From her haphazard search for Mickey to her near-fatal labor and delivery experience, the man went overboard to help her. Rhee knew him well. His current tone told her that something was going on—something he didn’t care to reveal. Rhee’s carefully constructed life was clashing hard with the one she had sought so desperately to escape. For the first time, she considered what Dax’s presence here might mean.

  The Phantoms were outlaws. They ran guns—she knew that much. Dax wouldn’t be here on a freaking vacation, dummy! Most likely, he was here on business. Rhee’s mind began to whirl. Why was Dax at the hotel the night of the fundraiser? He had to have been there—had to have seen her during her speech. There was no other explanation for how he had managed to show up at just the right time. It would also explain why he was in a suit.

  A tingle ran down her spine at the mental image of the man in a suit. A suit that had ended up tinged with her boss’s blood. Goddamn it, Dax was going to drive her fucking crazy. In more ways than one. As Rhee watched with disbelief, Dax Jamison, outlaw biker, caught a wave and nailed the drop like a seasoned pro.

  Is there anything he’s not good at?!

  Dax crouched low as water curled over the top of his blond head. A few whoops and whistles erupted from the local boys on the beach as he was barreled. Dax was in the coveted green room—the place surfers dreamed of. And now, he was in tight with Turtle and his gang. They respected Dax’s surfing ability more than they appreciated fine wine or cash. He had just earned much more than the right to be on a locals’ beach. Anxiety began to pervade her mind once more as she considered that Dax might be out here for a while. And he was wheedling his way ever closer to her, and to Sirena.

  Rhee began hastily gathering up her beach stuff. She clutched Sirena’s chubby little hand. Then, she did the thing she was getting used to doing where Dax was concerned.

  She ran.

  Chapter Twelve

  A frazzled Rhee arrived back at her cottage, dragging her irate two-year old by the hand. Manali waited patiently in the garden, a serene smile on her face, appearing not to notice the tantrum that was about to be unleashed.

  “Want more beach!” Sirena stamped her little foot obstinately.

  “Ah, but I need help watering my plants, little mermaid,” Manali said calmly, offering the child a watering can. “And then we can snack on some poi.”

  For a second, Rhee thought Sirena was going to refuse and launch into a full-blown fit. She should have had more faith in Manali’s otherworldly abilities to redirect people. Sirena switched off her mad face and a cherubic smile magically replaced her frown as she took Manali’s hand.

  “ ’Kay.”

  Manali paused to give Rhee an intense look. “Talk to him.”

  Well, she sure didn’t mince words. With Sirena around, there was no way to communicate to Manali all the reasons why talking to Dax would be a very bad idea. What the hell was she supposed to say?

  Hi, Dax. Say hello to your daughter?! Gee, sorry for taking off like that, but I was pregnant and you were getting married. Hey, how’s Trish doing?

  There was another problem too. Rhee recognized that while her head might be capable of making logical decisions, her body still craved the man like he was her own personal drug. She could tell from the way her hands were shaking that she was in serious withdrawal. There was no telling what would happen if they were alone together. Rhee tried to remove the thought from her head. Even if she were still attracted to Dax, that didn’t mean he would want her, in that way. It had been a one-time thing and he had said himself he didn’t want more then. Why would he want more now?

  Rhee glanced at Sirena and sighed. It’s not just about me anymore.

  She closed her eyes, taking a long, deep inhale to clear her head of the sexual haze that thrummed in her veins. For all she knew, Dax was married with children himself. He was just out here on business. Their fortuitous meeting had been accidental…hadn’t it?

  Their own issues aside, what impact would any of this have on Sirena? Rhee knew better than anyone that young children were extremely impressionable. It might be best that Sirena not know her father at all. What good would it do for her to meet the man and then watch him leave whenever his business here was done?

  Fuck, I am so confused.

  Rhee had no idea what she wanted, other than for everything to just go back to the way it was before he had showed up. She glanced nervously at the beach trail. There was no sign of Dax, but his black leather boots sat in near the gate, looking very out of place in the sand. He’ll be back for those.

  He would return for his boots, wearing those borrowed trunks, his bare chest glistening with salt and sand….Rhee groaned, her head falling into her hands at the violent clenching that ensued in her belly.

  I am sick and tired of Dax Jamison holding all the cards. He threw her off kilter in such a physical way—it was unfair. She could hardly think straight with him around. Screw that.

  Rhee decided to take the deck into her own hands as she marched determinedly to the shower. She scrubbed herself down carefully, studiously avoiding all of the parts of her that tingled and ached to be touched. Finally, she stepped out of the warm spray to rub her favorite scented oil into the wet skin. She let herself air dry before selecting a simple, clingy wrap dress. Rhee had purchased it for the color; the soft green reminded her of sea glass.

  Even though it wasn’t slutty or flashy, every time Rhee wore the sea green dress, she felt slightly uncomfortable at the attention she garnered. She wasn’t really a “dress” girl. It wasn’t like she was dressing provocatively compared to the tourists and other islanders or anything, but for some reason, men stared when she wore the one-shoulder number. Even so, she felt sexy in the dress. She wore it to level the playing field in the event that she wasn’t able to disguise her lingering attraction to Dax.

  And his hard body. Shit!

  Rhee finger-combed her hair, marveling at the difference in it. Something about the island climate had turned hair that previously had the tendency to frizz into long, smooth tendrils that fell in soft, natural waves around her face. Studying herself critically in the mirror, Rhee gave her hair a final shake and then ruefully gave herself a thumbs-up.

  There! That’ll give him something to think about. Leaving her feet bare, she joined Sirena in the oasis that was their backyard.

  Rhee’s appearance was dampened just a few minutes later. True to her mischievous nature, Sirena instigated a water fight. Rivulets of water trailed down Rhee’
s face. She couldn’t help but laugh, prompting Sirena to swing the watering can in a wide arc, soaking Rhee’s dress. So much for trying to look cute. Maybe he won’t come back, anyhow.

  It didn’t matter, did it? No matter what, Rhee’s first priority was Sirena. Leave it to a two-year old to remind her what was important in life. It was right now. Not what was to come in the future or what had happened in the past, but right now—these were the moments that memories were made of. Sirena’s antics made it slightly easier to forget about the tall, blond memory that had haunted Rhee for three long years.

  Well, for a few minutes, anyhow.

  ***

  Dax caught more nice rides than he could count before the wind picked up and the waves started to get blown out. He took his last one all the way in to shore and hauled the heavy boat-board onto the beach. Turtle and a few of his boys waited, white teeth glinting as they offered him wide, genuine smiles. And a healthy dose of respect.

  “Pretty good for a haole. You surf as a kid?”

  Dax frowned. He didn’t discuss his childhood. Ever. “Some.”

  “Looks like more than some, brah. You got barreled. That wave’s pretty fickle.”

  “That board’s a piece of shit.”

  Turtle and a few of his boys laughed. “I’ll get you a new one—a nice one. For while you’re here. If you’re up for dawn patrol, we can talk business after an early morning session tomorrow. I’ll have my sister make us lunch.”

  Dax glanced at the beach trail. “That might work.” I can work this angle and Wince can handle the gun show.

  Turtle cleared his throat, following Dax’s gaze. “She’s like a sister to us. We take care of them.” There was no animosity in his voice, just an explanation with the hint of a warning. Still, Dax bristled at the man’s words. The message was clear: Don’t hurt her.

  “Where were you last night, then?”

  “Ah. Once I realized who you were, I wondered if your crew had something to do with that. Very little goes down on this island without me knowing about it.” Turtle accepted a joint from one of his buddies and took a long drag before passing it to Dax.

  “There may be more damage control to do. Apparently, Rhee worked for that piece of shit?”

  Turtle smiled grimly. “We’ll take care of it. Rina won’t have to worry about that schmuck or her income.”

  “Good. She has enough going on.” Rina. Rhee. It was like she was two different people.

  Turtle removed his sunglasses to peer at Dax, seeming to come to his own personal understanding. “The little one has your face. Your eyes, too.”

  Dax didn’t reply at first but a part of his heart fell into the pit of his stomach as he processed the other man’s words. If it was that obvious, he had to talk to Rhee. Right away. Who knew what she was thinking right now?

  Several seconds elapsed. “You’re a perceptive man, Turtle.” Dax passed the joint back.

  “Turtles are wise creatures.”

  Dax smiled at that.

  “We’ll send a car for you tomorrow at dawn.”

  He couldn’t think of a reason to object to Turtle’s plan. In fact, the idea of an early morning session was appealing. Even though he could already feel the pull in his arms, Dax was looking forward to getting back in the water again. Surfing seemed to hold the same therapeutic value to him now as it had when he was a half-grown kid. He felt more even-keel, more balanced now that he had been in the sea. The anger that had threatened to consume him on his way over here was a little bit muted now.

  I still need to see her. Them. Fuck.

  “I’ll return your trunks tomorrow.”

  “Nah, keep ‘em brah.”

  Dax shook his hand, returning Turtle’s friendly grin. The man seemed to be genuine. Looks like this is going to be an easy partnership. I think I actually like this guy.

  Not everything was going to be so easy, though. The knot in Dax’s guts intensified as he turned to head back up the trail to Rhee’s cottage. The walk took far less time than he remembered on the way down. Dax paused beside the little wooden gate to collect himself. He had the oddest feeling that once he stepped into Rhee’s yard, he would be stepping into the rest of his life. The innocuous little gate suddenly seemed like a portal that would transport him into a bizarre alternative to his current reality—one that he could never return from.

  Dax hesitated, his head warring with his heart. He should leave. Rhee was obviously doing quite well. The little girl looked healthy and happy. What right did he have to interrupt their perfect lives? And what did he expect to gain? He glanced at the black ink that decorated his arms. He was certainly no poster dad. Dax shook his head, hoping to clear the confusion and melancholy from his brain. It didn’t work. He was turning on his bare heel to leave when peals of girlish laughter rang out from other side of the gate, beckoning him like a siren’s call.

  Taking a deep breath, Dax steeled himself and walked into the garden oasis. Rhee and the child, his child, were engaged in some sort of water fight. They were both wet and giggling. Rhee chased her daughter, pretending to squirt her with the hose and the little girl ran away, laughing so hard she could hardly take a breath. The sight, literally dripping with innocence and joy, made his heart squeeze painfully.

  Dax had no such childhood memories. In fact, the few mental images he had of his own mother made him so angry that he could hardly bear to entertain thoughts of her. He stood frozen, watching this perfect mother and child play together.

  So natural, so right.

  The tension in his guts coiled tighter, making him feel slightly nauseous. He hadn’t gotten a close look at the little girl before. And now…

  Shit, I have a fucking kid. A little girl.

  He knew she was his. And he also knew the reason Rhee left without a trace. What mother would want her child corrupted by the club lifestyle? The last thing Dax wanted to do was to jeopardize that innocent little girl’s sense of security.

  He wondered how long it would take him to double back to the beach and walk up the hill to the main road. There was just one problem. His boots sat just inside the garden, next to the gate. Dax waited until their backs were turned and slipped inside the yard to snatch up his boots. He had nearly gotten away with his plan to escape unnoticed when a small voice rang out loud and clear.

  “Who that, mommy?”

  Dax turned slowly to find Rhee frozen, a pink watering can hanging from her hand. She was staring at him, a troubled expression on her face. Rhiannon could communicate a tidal wave of emotion in just a glance. She was anxious, angry, and scared. He could see that much reflected in the barest of glimpses. The child, however, was not restrained by any such feelings. She approached him so fast that Dax involuntarily took a step backwards, bumping hard into the wooden fence.

  “Hi-hi!”

  He stared at her face, unable to keep his emotions in check. The child had a strong, stubborn jaw and piercing blue eyes that seemed to see right inside his tortured soul. It was her eyes that got him. So blue—the exact shade of his own eyes. But so different. Laughter danced in the little girl’s eyes as she walked right up to him and proceeded to pour a watering can’s worth of cold water right onto his bare foot.

  “Gotcha!”

  She danced away, obviously expecting him to chase her. Dax had no experience with kids. He wasn’t sure what to do so he stood there awkwardly and then finally looked to Rhee, feeling helpless. She had masked her emotions pretty well at that point, and now wore a tentative smile. Oh, that mouth!

  As his eyes traveled over her, it became even harder to control his physical reaction. The stowaway’s damp dress clung to her like a second skin. The color complimented her unique coloring and her hair danced against the green; a perfect backdrop for the soft, reddish gold waves that trailed down her back. A drop of water rolled lazily down Rhee’s neck, and he followed its progress into her cleavage. Dax could clearly see the outline of her nipples. Which were hard. An immediate reaction from inside his tr
unks caused a momentary distraction from the current situation.

  Down, boy!

  Rhee’s landlady chose that moment to appear in the yard with a pitcher full of something that looked a lot like pina coladas. She smiled at Dax. He noticed Rhee’s look of confusion as she regarded the other woman’s obvious hospitality. He had to wonder if perhaps Manali wasn’t always so welcoming when men were around. Dax liked the protective, motherly vibe that the older woman exuded.

  “Happy hour.” Manali proclaimed, setting some snacks down on a wooden picnic table on the patio. “Welcome back, haole. Surfed the point, did you?”

  She was giving him a way in. For a moment, Dax wasn’t sure if he should take it. Then he saw the meat and rice. His stomach reacted loudly, and the child, his child, giggled like it was the funniest thing she had ever heard. Dax turned to stare at her again, as if she were a mirage that was going to disappear if he blinked. Her hair was lighter than his, but it was still blond. She was…cute. More than cute. A strange feeling quickened in his gut and Dax shifted awkwardly, unsure of what action to take.

  “Grumbly tummy!” The little girl poked a chubby finger towards him, and then looked at Rhee, who seemed to be stifling a smirk.

  Rhee smiled tentatively as she looked from Dax to Manali, breaking the uncomfortable tension that sat heavily in the air. “I can’t believe you surfed that wave. You must be starved.” She held out a plate to him, but still, he hesitated.

  “Are you sure?” He looked meaningfully at the giggling blond-haired monkey who peered back at him with endless mirth in her deep blue eyes. Rhee paused just long enough to cause concern, but then finally, she nodded.

  It had been a long time since Dax Jamison had taken orders from anyone, but when the child—his daughter—pointed to the bench seat and ordered, “You sit neck to See-wena,” he obeyed automatically.