Page 54 of Blue Hawaiian
“Sorry. Did I wake you?”
“No, I’m…hanging out. With Marc. We were pretty tired after Mt. Haleakala, and…”
And you were banging. Because there’s nothing quite like make-up sex.
“I won’t keep you,” Jess said. “There’s nothing listed in the calendar app, so I wanted to make sure I wasn’t missing out.”
“I was going to suggest a shopping expedition in Lahaina, but I’m wiped out. Is that okay? I think Mama and Luisa are going if you want to join them. They might have left already, but you could meet them there.”
Jess let out her breath in relief. “I’ll pass. Shopping’s not in my budget right now. And I’m still kind of tired. But the volcano was great. I took a ton of pictures.”
“You liked it?” Her sister’s voice brightened. “Thanks for coming. I know I was grouchy at first, but I’m so glad you and Brody showed up. Despite the dumb Hobbit jokes.”
“You know how it is when Brody’s around. We always default to our nerdiest settings.”
“Right. Don’t forget the luau’s at six.”
“I wouldn’t miss it.” As Jess hung up, Gabi’s words of gratitude filled her with a warm glow. She’d done her due diligence. And now she could take the afternoon off, without feeling a shred of guilt. When she peeked back inside, Connor was on the phone.
“You sure?” he said. “The last thing I want to do is piss off Dad again. Or have Darren claim I’m not paying attention to the family.”
Jess waited, her hands clasped tightly, as he continued his conversation. From the sound of it, he was talking with Victoria.
But when he got off the phone, he smiled. “It’s all good. The others left at noon to visit the Ulupalakua Vineyards. They’re getting a private tour of the estate, followed by a VIP tasting at MauiWine. Victoria assumed I was going to Mt. Haleakala. That’s why I wasn’t invited.”
“Sorry. Visiting a vineyard in Hawaii would have been a cool experience.”
“Yeah, but not with my dad. After last night’s conversation, the last thing I’d want to do with him is visit a winery.” He frowned but shook it off. “Forget it. The thing is—we’re both free. So, how about a little beach time?”
She grinned in anticipation. “Perfect. I’ll bring my bikini.”
Maybe she’d been right.
Maybe shecouldbalance everything and have it all turn out perfectly.
Chapter 20
Connor found a quiet, secluded bay, twenty miles from the hotel. Then he and Jess rented snorkeling gear and spent hours in the water. With no one else around, they were free to act like a couple. All too easily, they slipped back into their old patterns—teasing each other, talking about movies, and making jokes about their families. He had such a relaxing afternoon with her that he lost track of time. They had to rush back to the hotel in order to fit in a quick romp, followed by a steamy shower. When he took her up against the tiled wall, with the warm water cascading around them, the sex was every bit as good as his fantasies.
With a half hour to spare, they went their separate ways to change for the luau. Connor hadn’t planned on leaving at the same time as Jess, but she emerged from her room seconds after he did. She looked drop-dead gorgeous in a tropical-print sundress that bared her shoulders and fell above her knees, revealing her shapely legs.
She tossed her hair and flashed him a sultry smile. “Don’t disappoint me tonight.”
“I won’t. After the luau, we’ll head back to your room. Discreetly, of course.”
“Of course. But don’t keep me waiting too long.”
In the elevator, she pressed up against him and captured his mouth in a deep, passionate kiss. He cupped his hands around her butt and pulled her closer, aware that any moment, the elevator could stop, and the doors could open. That didn’t stop him from trailing kisses along her neck and shoulders, making her gasp. He caught a whiff of something flowery. Like jasmine. Her perfume? Whatever it was, the smell turned him on.
“Let’s go back to my room,” he said. “Just for a little while longer.”
She pulled away. “Are you kidding? Gabi and Marc would ask too many questions if we both showed up late.” She smoothed the front of her dress. “We need to behave once we’re out there. No one can suspect what we’ve been up to.”
Easier said than done when he could barely keep his hands off her.
The luau was held on the Makai Terrace, the oceanfront lawn where the wedding would take place in three days. Bright tiki torches ringed the perimeter, adding to the ambience. Facing the beach, a low stage showcased a trio of guitarists, who serenaded the guests with Hawaiian melodies. Unlike the other activities Gabi and Marc had planned, the luau was one of the resort’s regularly scheduled events, open to all guests, and the area was thronged with people.
As Connor approached the party with Jess, Brody intercepted them. He was wearing a bright yellow Hawaiian shirt and had three leis strung around his neck.
