Page 97 of Try Me

“That was you?” Declan asked when he finally found his tongue.

“I screwed up with him, but I’ve never been able to forget him. I’m here for six months filming a television show,” she said, flicking her cigarette onto the street. “I’m going to find Keoni and win him back.”

Declan wasn’t surprised to find out a beautiful Hollywood actress was obsessed with his best friend. Keoni had a way with everything. Women, music, the waves, they all seemed to bend to his will. If Keoni wasn’t such a great guy, he would be easy to hate.

Growing up, Keoni had everything Declan had ever wanted — a family who accepted him, a natural charm with people, a kind and generous spirit. And Declan had been given all the advantages that came with being born to the elite class in Hawaii. The two of them should have never been friends, but they’d somehow become brothers.

“Do you know where I can find Keoni?” Claudia asked.

Declan smiled. “The waves,” he said. “He’s not surfing in the contest, but he will be there. He won’t be able to stay away. As kids, we talked about having our own surf contest.”

“Who was going to foot the bill for your fancy contest?” Claudia asked. “Keoni didn’t have a dime to his name. We met because he was hustling money by giving surf lessons at Waikiki.”

Declan smiled, remembering when Bones and Keoni used to rake in the dough at Waikiki giving surf lessons to tourists. They would go down to the beach, strip down to their shorts, and have ten customers lined up before their shirts hit the sand. All female.

“I was going to bankroll the whole thing,” Declan said. “I was counting on my inheritance.”

Claudia looked up at him, shining her bright smile. “You’re rich?” she asked.

Declan laughed, looking down at the renewed interest on Claudia’s face. “You like me a little more now?”

Claudia rolled her eyes. “Asshole,” she said, taking another swig of the whiskey. “I should have known you were rich,” she said. “You have this air about you.” Claudia threw her shoulders back and looked down her nose at him. “No offense.”

“I don’t take offense,” he said, shaking his head. “You think I’m bad, you ought to see my brother.” Declan did an imitation of his older brother, who stood like he had stick up his ass, and Claudia snorted with laughter. Declan was about to say something, and then he froze.

His mind churned as a spark of an idea lit and then burst into flames. If he had his own surf team, he would sign Pearl. Declan could hire her. He would make the offer juicy enough that McKenna couldn’t turn it down. For that he would need money.

He checked his watch. It was only 8:00 p.m., not too late to call his father. As Declan turned the idea around in his mind, he talked himself through the obstacles. It was a wild idea, but it just might work. A smile spread across his face, and he grabbed Claudia in a fierce hug. “Thank you!”

“What did I do?” Claudia asked, stumbling as he let her go.

“You gave me an idea!” he cried. “But I have to go.” He grabbed her hand and started dragging her along the sidewalk. “Which one’s yours?” he asked looking down the strip of beach hotels.

Claudia increased her stride to keep up. “The Surfrider,” she said, a little breathless.

It wasn’t far from the Royal Hawaiian. As Declan walked her to the front of the hotel, he asked, “You okay from here?”

“You’d walk me to my door if I wanted, wouldn’t you?”

Declan blew out an impatient breath and grabbed her hand, tugging her into the lobby.

Claudia dug her heels in, stopping him. “Declan! I’m kidding. I’m fine from here. Go. Go get her.”

Declan glanced toward the door, anxious to be on his way. “You sure?”

“Yes,” Claudia said. Going up on tiptoes, she gave Declan a firm kiss on the mouth.

Declan pulled back, startled. “What was that for?”

“For luck,” Claudia said. “You’re going to need it.”

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