Page 19 of One Night in Hawaii

“Sure,” I said, shrugging. “I should go back and change.”

“Trust me, you’re going to blend right in,” Shiloh said, laughing. “It’s a bit of a dive bar. The tourists avoid it like the plague. There may or may not be a rumor the place is dangerous.”

“Then I would be happy to tag along.”

8

SHILOH

Isat across from Archer, the late afternoon sun casting a warm glow over the beach bar. It was a hidden gem, away from the typical tourist spots on Oahu, mostly frequented by locals. After a day of surfing, I was looking forward to unwinding and enjoying some drinks at one of my favorite places. The place was loud with surfers and the typical service employees all talking about their days.

I couldn’t help but notice the faint red tint on Archer’s face from the sunburn he got during our surf session. His hair was slightly tousled, and his eyes sparkled with a mischievous charm. Despite the sunburn, he looked incredibly attractive. He looked so much more alive than the first time I saw him on the beach. He had lost some of that stiffness I noticed on the yacht before I cajoled him into jumping in.

The place was filled with casually dressed people, mostly surfers, their skin tanned from the sun. The service staff moved quickly around the room, taking orders and refilling drinks. Sunlight streamed through the windows, bathing everything in a golden glow.

A mixture of salty air, fruity cocktails, sizzling burgers, and cold beer filled the air. It was all very familiar to me. It felt like home.

“I bet you don’t drink a lot of flat, semi-warm beer,” I teased.

He took a long drink. “It’s not that bad. Maybe it’s because I’m really thirsty.”

“Wait until your burger arrives,” I said, laughing. “After the day you had, you’re going to think it’s the best thing you’ve ever eaten.”

“Are you suggesting it isn’t?”

“It’s good food, but I think they take advantage of the fact the people that order the warm beer and slightly burned burgers are so thirsty and hungry they won’t notice.”

The clinking of glasses and the laughter of the conversations blurred to create an energetic and upbeat atmosphere. The waves crashing onto the shore nearby could be heard in the background. It was perfect. Ryder and his friends were sitting at a nearby table, talking to almost everyone. They were all very well known in the area.

“Did you like it?” I asked him, referring to our surfing adventure. “Today. Surfing.”

He leaned back in his chair, flashing a flirty smile. “I liked a lot of things about today,” he replied with a hint of playfulness in his voice.

A blush crept onto my cheeks. I took a sip of the warm beer, trying to hide my nervous excitement. Archer and I had known each other for all of two days, but today’s surf lesson felt like something big. Like something really shifted.

“I can’t believe you’ve never tried surfing before,” I said.

“Surfing was amazing,” he said, my eyes locked with his. “I never thought I could do it, but you were a great teacher.”

“Not me. Ryder. I cannot teach anyone to surf. I fake it until I make it.”

Archer chuckled, reaching across the table to brush a strand of hair away from my face. His touch sent a tingling sensation through me. “You are a natural,” he said, his gaze lingering on my lips for a moment before meeting my eyes again. “And I had a lot of fun learning with your encouragement.”

The air between us seemed to crackle with anticipation, and I found myself drawn to him like the pull of the ocean. The shared adrenaline rush of surfing had opened up a new chapter in our relationship—one that held the promise of something more. In the back of my mind, I remembered the fact his sister was paying me to hang out with him. I would hang out with him without being paid. I debated whether or not I should tell him about my arrangement with Penelope. I didn’t want to embarrass him. But I also didn’t want to lead him on. If the attraction I felt turned into anything and he learned I was being paid, he would think I was only with him for the money. I was pretty sure that made me a hooker.

As the sun dipped lower on the horizon, casting shades of orange and purple across the sky, we continued to talk and laugh. He was no longer that brooding guy that complained and pouted. I had a feeling there was a lot more to Archer Ryatt. It was easy to misunderstand the guy. I had a feeling he didn’t really understand himself.

“Ready?” I asked when our burgers were delivered.

“I would be nervous, but I’m too hungry to care,” he said, laughing. He picked up his burger and took a large bite. I waited, watching his reaction. He bobbed his head up and down. “It’s a little well done, but not bad.”

Archer’s eyes held a mixture of tenderness and desire, and I could feel my heart racing with every glance he stole in my direction. There was an unspoken question hanging between us, and I couldn’t help but wonder if we were both thinking the same thing.

I took a bite of my burger. “Not terrible.”

As the evening wore on, the bar filled with more locals, their laughter and chatter creating a lively atmosphere. But for me, everything else seemed to blur into the background, leaving only Archer and the undeniable chemistry that crackled in the air. I didn’t know what was happening between us, but I liked it.

“I’m going to get us a couple more beers,” I told him. “They’re swamped and I don’t want to add more to their workload.”

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