Page 68 of Hula Girl

Afterward, we went to my place again, not even making it as far as the bed before we pulled each other’s clothes off. I can’t get enough of him and it seems he feels the same way.

He woke me before my alarm went off in the morning and made slow, sleepy love to me.

And then he got up and started the coffee maker before hopping into the shower.Still in a post-orgasm daze, I curled up in bed and inhaled his scent. As I listened to the water from the bathroom, I marveled at how quickly we’ve become comfortable with each other. It felt like this in Maui, too. Like we needed no separation from each other, that we simplyfittogether.

Later, I kissed him goodbye at the door when he was leaving to go to his firm. And then I kissed him again. And again, until he stepped back inside, kicking the door closed behind him as he pulled his fly open with one hand and pulled up my dress with the other.

I’ve never been so relaxed about being late to the office. How else could I be when I’m so intensely sexually satisfiedandfalling so hard for him?

“Are you still there, Ava?”

Sitting up straighter, I zero in on the voice and wonder how long I’ve been checked out.

“Ah, yes. Sorry, I had someone here in my office,” I say, thinking quickly. “Can you please go over that last point?”

From then on, I return to my usual laser-like concentration. I have work to do, after all, since this time, I’m picking Ford up from his office later today so I can take him to meet my mom.

* * *

I thought Miller,Newell & Kahn was a nice law firm, but it’s nothing in comparison to McAvoy & Partners. The elevator ride to their offices takes an obscene amount of time, but I suppose that’s what’s to be expected when you’re going all the way up to the forty-sixth floor.

When I enter the reception area, I’m greeted by not one, but two pert, smiling blondes behind a huge shared desk.

“Hi,” I say, not sure which one to look at. I finally pick the one on the right at random. “I’m here to see Ford McAvoy.”

“Senior or Junior?” she asks.

“Oh, um, Junior.”

“Your name?”

I straighten my spine and give her my name.

“Have a seat.” She nods to the sleek leather settee by the wall of windows showcasing the city.

As I start to do as I’m told, I wonder why I didn’t just have Ford meet me downstairs instead of doing this formal pickup at the office thing. A part of me wonders if he was hoping to impress me, but I dismiss that idea. He’s not the type to want to show off. Or if he did, it would be about catching waves. A vision of us together on his longboard flashes in my mind. That was such an incredible experience. Gliding on those waves felt heavenly. And then, lying on the board with Ford, feeling his heartbeat somehow sync up with the gentle lapping of the water was the most soothing feeling. For a moment, I wish we were back there. I wish we were spending lazy, long warm days together at the beach and having poke at Makai’s before stumbling tipsy back to his little shack on the sand.

“Ah, there you are, Ava.”

The voice interrupting my little fantasy isn’t Ford’s. At least notmyFord’s. I look up to find his father coming toward me with open arms as if we’re old friends.

Standing, I smooth down my dress and smile at him. “Looks like you’ve been troubled by mistake,” I say. “I asked them to let your son know I’m here.”

“Oh, don’t be too hard on Emily.” He stops himself and glances at the reception desk. “Or was it Emmaline?” he asks with a shake of his head. “I can never keep them straight. I mean, who can when they’ve got such similar names?”

“Yes, well—”

“That is an impressive ring, Ava,” he says, taking my left hand into his.

“Thank you. I … well, I really love it.”

“I imagine you do.”

I’m not sure what to do with that response, so instead, I skirt past it. “It was very kind of you to come out to get me. Maybe you wouldn’t mind showing me to Ford’s office?”

For a moment, he just watches me.Examinesme.

I imagine most people would be intimidated by this close inspection, but I’ve had more than my fair share of successful older white men like him assessing me in this way. Instead of wilting the way I’m sure he’d intended I do, I wait him out.

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