Page 6 of One Night in Hawaii

My foot landed on something cold and wet. I managed to catch myself before I sprawled face first into the sun. I looked down and saw red. Actual red. Blood? My foot didn’t feel cut.

The woman sat up and slapped her book on the sand. “What are you doing?” she snapped.

“Sorry,” I said again. “I didn’t want to end up falling on you. I figured jumping was the best option.”

She pulled off her dark sunglasses and glared at me.

“Those kids were running amuck,” I tried to explain. I reached down and righted her drink, but it was mostly sand. “Here, take mine. It’s a pina colada. At least that’s what they told me. I haven’t taken a drink. It’s clean and germ free.”

She sighed. “It’s fine. I don’t need a drink.”

“No, please,” I insisted.

I was doing my best not to notice how beautiful she was. Long blonde curls framed her face that was devoid of makeup. I could see freckles across her nose and cheeks. And she had the prettiest green eyes I had ever seen. She was tanned from head to toe and had the look of someone that spent a lot of time on the beach. With her perfect, tight body, I wondered if she was one of the professional surfers I had been seeing a lot of. Apparently, there was some big competition happening, and everywhere I looked, there were hot women and shirtless surfer dudes.

“It’s fine.” She reached for a pink, gauzy top and quickly put it on. I wasn’t sure if she realized it didn’t actually prevent anyone from seeing her body.

“I am sorry,” I said again.

I was stalling. I wanted to keep talking to her because she was absolutely beautiful. Then I remembered I was in Oahu with my sister on my honeymoon. I had no business looking at women after getting jilted.

She got to her feet and picked up the book she had been reading. I immediately recognized the author name and the cover was very familiar. It was similar to the book Penelope had on the plane. I was a little embarrassed to admit it, but in my boredom, I had picked up the book while Penelope slept. It was the kind of book that could make a grown man blush. I knew women liked to read smut while men preferred watching it, but I now understood why they read the books they did.

“How far are you into the book?” I asked.

“What?” Her eyes widened as she stuffed it into her bag.

“You looked like you were really into it.”

“It’s research,” she muttered, embarrassed.

“Research? What kind of research?”

I pressed. I couldn’t help myself. I was intrigued by this beautiful woman and her secret research. Her cheeks flushed as she hesitated.

“I’m a marine biologist,” she finally admitted.

I grinned. “Really?”

“Yes.” Her tone was haughty, clearly trying to cover the fact she’d gotten busted.

“Is that book about dolphin shifters or something?” Yes, I should probably hand in my man card. I knew what a shifter was. I knew all about shifter romances because of my sister. I was bored and she was asleep. I didn’t have anything better to do than read one of her naughty novels.

Her eyes narrowed at me before she put back on her sunglasses. “Move! You’re standing on my towel.”

I couldn’t stop smiling as I watched her snatch it up and stomp away. I watched her go, admiring the sway of her hips and her firm ass.

“What are you doing?” Penelope asked.

I turned to see her coming toward me in her massive sunhat and Chanel sunglasses. She frowned and looked around. “What’s wrong with you? You’re smiling. Teeth and all. Are you having a stroke?”

“Nope.”

“What are you doing?”

“Nothing,” I said, shrugging.

“You’re standing here like an idiot. I thought you were headed back to the hotel.”

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