Page 13 of Try Me

She laughed. “Don’t push it.”

Declan grabbed his jacket and tossed his bag in the van. Jenny and Oscar climbed in, and Billy pulled away from the curb with another honk and a squeal of rubber.

Declan swung his leg over the back of the bike and leaned forward, bracing his hands on his thighs. “Where are we going?” he asked.

Pearl turned to look at Declan over her shoulder. “You’re just thinking to ask that now, eh?”

“Yeah,” he admitted.

She revved the engine. “You’ll have to wait and see,” she said. “Hold on. I like to go fast.”

Declan scooted closer and wound his arms around Pearl’s waist. Her body was compact and lean beneath his hands. He slid closer to her as she gunned the engine, proving that she liked speed as much as she’d promised.

A laugh tore from Declan’s throat as they zoomed passed the van. It had been so long since he’d laughed that the tickling feeling in his chest caught him off guard. The sound reminded him of someone he used to be. His heart thumped wildly as his body flooded with an unfamiliar sensation that took him a moment to realize was happiness.

Declan closed his eyes and let the wind rip through his hair, reveling in the wonderful strangeness that swelled his chest. The day had just begun, and already Declan didn’t want it to end. He didn’t know where they were going, and that was fine with him. He could ride like this for days with the sun on his face and a fearless woman in his arms.

When they pulled off the highway, it was too soon.

“Sharp Park,” Declan said, climbing off the bike as they pulled to a stop.

“You’ve been here?” Pearl asked, sounding disappointed.

“Yeah. Last summer.”

She took off her helmet and shook out her hair, leaving the strawberry scent of her shampoo to linger in the air. “That’s too bad,” she said. “I wanted to show you something new.”

Declan turned to her with a smile. “Sorry. I’ve pretty much surfed every break on the Pacific Coast. It’s what I do.”

Pearl’s expression turned wistful, and Declan realized he’d come across like an arrogant prick. His career was a dream for most people, but they didn’t realize what a lonely life it was, constantly moving around on the circuit.

“I could show you a nice break no one’s heard of,” he offered. “They say it can’t be ridden, but they’re wrong.” He glanced back at the waves crashing against the pier where a few surfers bobbed in the lineup, realizing he’d assumed she’d want to see him again. “Sharp Park is good though. There’s a heavy right.”

The waves were only a little taller than him, but it wasn’t wise to judge the strength of a wave by size alone. Eddie had died in a wave much smaller than the ones crashing against the pier.

“You been to Pe’ahi?” Pearl asked.

“Sure.” He nodded, recalling his early travels when he first signed with McKenna. “It’s the best break in Maui.”

“It’s where I learned to surf.”

Declan felt a tingle of awareness race down his spine, and he narrowed his eyes at Pearl. Pe’ahi was one of the fiercest breaks in Hawaii, and it was the preferred surfing spot of one of Hawaii’s most legendary female surfers, Sohayla Sunn.

The pieces finally clicked together, and Declan realized why Pearl looked so familiar.

“You’re Sohayla Sunn’s daughter?” he asked.

Dark eyes blazing, Pearl looked every inch the daughter of a Queen. “Yes,” she said. “I am.”

“Why didn’t you say anything,” Declan said.

“Why should I?”

“Your mother was a legend.”

“Yeah?” she asked, unzipping her jacket and tossing it over the seat of the bike. “Wait till you see me.”

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