Chapter Five

Devon

 

Devon couldn’t get over how beautiful Kylie looked when he met her in the parking lot of Keauhou Bay. She’d pulled into the cul-de-sac in a minivan of all things, but the vehicle only served to make her stand out even more as she exited it. The juxtaposition of her elegance next to the family car made him chuckle out loud. “Did they run out of sports cars at the rental place?”

Kylie’s cheeks flushed as she took his hand. “Oh yeah, there was a mix-up with my reservation. But I have plenty of room for my luggage with this thing.” She quickly shut the door and squeezed out a smile as she took him in. “You look really good.”

“Thanks.” He straightened his posture, feeling the confidence her compliment gave him coursing through his body. Laurene had given him some pointers on pairing a light blue shirt with dark gray trousers for tonight, for which he was grateful. Even though his sister had cautioned him against seeing Kylie, he hadn’t listened to a word she said. Thank goodness he hadn’t because there was nowhere else he’d rather be but by her side. He lifted Kylie’s hand to his mouth for a kiss before letting it rest in his grasp. “You look amazing.”

“Thank you.” She glanced around the area, which consisted of a grassy park on their right with several picnic tables and a small stretch of black sand beach. Several families with small children were packing up their belongings, their laughter and conversations filling the air. Kylie glanced down at her high heels and pursed her lips. “I hope I’m dressed okay for the occasion. I wasn’t sure what you had in mind when you said to meet you here.”

“You look perfect. Come on, let’s get going. The sun will be setting soon, and we don’t want to miss it.” He led her along the edge of the grassy field, past a sand volleyball court and a small shop renting out kayaks, stand-up paddleboards, and outrigger canoes. They headed onto an old boat ramp where his surprise waited for them on the crystal blue water.

Kylie’s jaw dropped when they reached the end of the ramp. Her reaction was worth every penny—5.3 million to be exact—that he had spent on his new yacht.

Actually, a floating spaceship was more like it.

Its sleek and shiny dome-shaped exterior resembled the top half of a helmet. Large rectangular windows covered one side of the futuristic-looking vessel with a balcony on the other. What couldn’t be viewed from the outside were the yacht’s four levels, all connected by a spiral staircase. The lowest level, submerged at nine feet below the surface, offered an underwater observation bubble with a 360-degree view. That was the spot Devon couldn’t wait to take Kylie. Excitement rose within him as he thought about showing off his new purchase. His plan to impress her was already set in motion.

“Where in the world did you find this?” She gave him a questioning glance, her deep brown eyes twinkling with awe. “I thought we’d be going out on a boat, but this is unlike anything I’ve seen before.”

“I called in a favor with one of my father’s old business associates. This beauty is only one of a handful available in the world. If you think the exterior is cool, wait until you see the inside.” He hopped onto the yacht then reached out a hand to help her on board. A uniformed butler promptly greeted them and escorted them into the cabin.

Several bright lights cast a warm glow on the luxurious space. Two semi-circular white leather sofas faced each other on one side of the room. A rectangular table with an impressive spread of food—from hors d’oeuvres to desserts—stood on the other side next to a wine bar. Devon walked over to the bar, picked up two glasses of champagne, and presented one to Kylie. He raised his glass and proposed a toast. “To old friendships and new toys. Cheers.”

Kylie clinked her glass with his, hesitating before she took a drink. She released a soft sigh and took another sip. “This is so good. I could get used to this.”

Devon chuckled at her obvious pleasure. “You sound like you’ve never tasted champagne before.”

“Oh, it’s just been a while since I did.” She turned away from him to glance out a window. The sun was beginning to set, painting streaks of orange and pink across the blue expanse of the sky. “It’s so beautiful. Somehow the sunsets here are more vibrant than the ones back home.”

He strode over and stood behind her. The sweet floral scent of her perfume filled his senses, intoxicating him more than the alcohol. He placed a hand on her shoulder and gazed out at the scenery. “I’d have to agree. It may have something to do with who you watch a sunset with.” He paused to laugh. “That sounded less cheesy in my head. But I mean it, Ky. Everything looks more beautiful with you in it.”

Kylie turned slightly and glanced up, craning her slender neck to meet his gaze. A mixture of amusement and discomfort colored her cheeks. “Thanks for the compliment, Dev. You’re a really sweet friend.”

He stepped back when he heard the emphasis she placed on the last word. Perhaps he was laying it on too strong. He considered taking a different approach. If friendship was what she wanted—and what he had agreed to—he’d stick to more casual conversation. “So, I’ve talked a lot about myself, but I haven’t heard much from you. How’s your family doing?”

A pained expression crossed her face. “My family? My mom’s been struggling with back pain from a fall she took recently, but she’s doing better.”

“I’m sorry to hear that. How about your father? How is he?”

“He’s fine.”

Her curt tone surprised him. As a matter of fact, her whole demeanor—how she had suddenly crossed her arms tightly against her chest—threw him off. “I didn’t mean to pry.”

She gave him a tight smile. “I’d prefer not to talk about him if you don’t mind.”

“Of course. So, what have you been up to lately?”

“Not much, really,” she began with a shrug. “You know, shopping and traveling. The usual stuff people with money do.”

Devon nodded. It sounded like what his sister did with her time. “Do you work? Not that you need to, of course.”

“I, um, keep myself busy.” She lowered her lashes. “I support some charities in my free time.”

His ears perked up at her last statement. “That’s wonderful. Have you heard of the one Katrina and Kristopher Jones are putting on for cancer research tomorrow? It’s a golf tournament. That’s one of the reasons I’m here, to put a plug in for our company.”

Kylie’s head whipped up as a coughing fit suddenly consumed her. She spewed out some of the champagne she’d been sipping, her face flushed red. “Sorry, it went down the wrong tube.”

He grabbed a handful of napkins from the bar and handed them to her. “It happens. Are you okay?”

“Yeah, I’m fine.” She cleared her throat as she dabbed at the front of her dress. “Is there a restroom I can use?”

“Of course.” Devon took her glass and directed her down the hallway to their left.

He watched Kylie walk away, more intrigued and curious about the woman she had become. An air of mystery surrounded her, making him wonder why she was being so tight-lipped. She didn’t trust him like she once did. Why, he didn’t understand, but he was determined to find out. He wasn’t done wooing her yet.