Page 5 of Duty and Desire

I strolled over to him. “Would you be Kai?”

He jerked his head up. “Yes.” His gray-green eyes twinkled. “Well, hello.”

“Aulani sent me.”

He broke into a huge smile. “She’s a treasure.”

I frowned. “You speak English with an American twang.”

Kai nodded. “Our teacher was American.” He gave me an inquiring glance. “Is this your first visit to the islands?”

“Yes. I don’t suppose you know Roger Farris. I’m staying in his property.”

I hadn’t thought his smile could getany wider.

“Roger. Good man. Likes his cocktails.” He passed me a folder. “Pick one. It’s on the house.” His eyes glittered. “You can’t beat a cocktail for helping you forget the world.”

I opened the folder and scanned the list. “In that case, I’m going to need a few.”

I had a list of my own.

Relax.

Drink.

Swim.

And wait for my writing brain to come back online.

How hard could it be, in such surroundings?

Chapter Two

March 30

Gio

This was a mistake.

The sun shone, there’d been no rain for two days, and the temperature was a pleasant seventy-eight degrees.

None of that mattered.

I’d been there a week, and thus far I hadn’t written one goddamn word.

Not one.

No ideas.

No inspiration.

And far from being relaxed, I was climbing the walls of my beautiful bungalow.

I’d emailed my publisher before I left San Francisco, outlining my plans for the next four months. I’d asked him not to apply any pressure, especially if he wanted G. Meyer to produce anotherbestseller.

Except the pressure wasn’t coming from him, but from me.

This wasn’t the reset I was looking for. I’d driven all around the island, hoping for inspiration to strike. I’d sat in bars, strolled on the beaches, people-watched…

---