Chapter Two

Laurene

 

If there was one thing Laurene Brooks hated to admit, it was that sometimes her brother, Gabriel, was right. She hated that he’d lectured her as soon as she’d arrived yesterday about how she was wasting her life away. Not to mention, her money as well, which she thought was a ridiculous notion, considering they had an endless supply of it. Their father may have taught them how to work hard and save while he was alive, but he’d left them set for life when he’d passed away. Even though he hadn’t been the most affectionate man, she did miss him and the way he’d spoiled her. Out of the three children, it was no secret that she’d been their father’s favorite. Perhaps that’s why Gabe was so hard on her.

Laurene turned to Noah who seemed to be thoroughly enjoying his time behind the wheel of her car. “How’s work been going for you?”

He flashed her a smile that revealed a dimple in his right cheek. “It’s been great. We’ve made some really good progress lately with our new treatment. I don’t know all the details of the science behind it since I’m just the tech guy, but I’m excited. I can’t believe I get to play a part in helping to cure cancer.”

“That’s amazing, Noah. My brothers are so fortunate to have you on board.” Laurene brushed a strand of hair out of her eyes, jostling the half a dozen gold and diamond bangles along her wrist. She let out a soft sigh. The new jewelry she’d splurged on recently had made her happy when she’d put them on, but now they seemed to weigh her down. Perhaps it was the mention of her brothers’ company that pricked her conscience. They had a worthwhile cause to invest their time and money in, but all she concerned herself with these days was filling up her closets.

“What have you been up to lately?” Noah asked as he took the next exit off Queen Ka’ahumanu Highway. “Gabe mentioned you’ve been busy doing retail therapy.”

It irked Laurene that her brother would expect nothing else of her. She fixed her eyes on her passenger side window. A sign that read Kona International Airport among tall swaying palm trees came into view. She shrugged and replied, “Just keeping myself busy. I flew to Singapore last week and Dubai the week before that. It was my first time at the Mall of the Emirates. The shops were nothing new, but their skylight was just beautiful.” Thinking about all the places she was fortunate enough to visit lightened her mood. She turned to face Noah with a smile. “The entire ceiling is a glass dome, and it makes the whole mall so bright and airy. It’s like being in a snow globe, minus the snow.”

“That sounds cool. I’d love to see it someday. I’m sure it beats the strip mall where I shop.” He chuckled. “The only time that place is lit up is during Christmas.”

She had to laugh. Noah was such a good sport to be going shopping with her. Not only that, he was so sweet and sincere, like a fresh breath of tropical air. He wasn’t the type of guy she usually dated, but maybe that was a good thing. He didn’t have the entitlement that so many of the men who were born into money had. She’d met her fair share of them when she attended various sporting and celebrity events around the world.

Noah was the same guy Gabe had brought home from Harvard. Except that now at thirty-five, he was even more handsome. She liked how he had paired a fitted white dress shirt with navy shorts and a pair of tan loafers. His outfit reflected what she liked most about him—his relaxed and friendly personality. If there was anyone she felt the most like herself with, it was Noah.

She’d gotten to know him better over the past year when she visited her brothers’ workplace. Their interactions were casual and fun, bordering on flirtatious, but only on her side. Noah was as innocent and unassuming as they came. She had really missed him lately, but she couldn’t tell him why she’d stayed away. This trip, however, was the perfect opportunity to make up for lost time.

“Well, you’re in for a treat today,” she remarked. “Luxury Row on Kalakaua Avenue where we’re headed is a nice little place. There’s also a nearby dessert shop I want to take you to where you can build your own ice-cream sandwich.”

He beamed at her. “That makes two treats. Well, three if you count the fact that I get to spend the day with you.”

“You are so sweet.” She grinned to see the tips of his ears turn red at her compliment. “Oh, look, there’s my plane.”

After passing through a security gate, they reached a private landing strip where a large jet waited for them. Its sleek and modern design was highlighted by a wraparound sunroof with windows the size of a typical door on a commercial plane. The inside was just as luxurious with wooden paneling and plush white leather seats. She and Noah settled in comfortably on a couch opposite a coffee table that held a generous spread of delectable treats the staff had prepared. The entire space was bathed in the warm glow of the midday sun.

Laurene squeezed her eyes shut and took deep breaths as the jet lifted off. As much as she loved to travel, she dreaded flying. Being 45,000 feet off the ground made her skin grow cold and palms sweat. She was thankful it was only a short forty-five minutes from the Big Island to Oahu.

A strong arm came around her shoulders, immediately bringing with it a sense of security. She opened her eyes to find Noah’s blue-gray ones eyeing her with concern. “I hate flying if you can’t tell,” she admitted with a sheepish smile. “I thought having all these windows would be cool. Now I can’t bear to look at the view. Pretty silly, huh?”

“Not silly at all. It’s rather brave of you. You’re tackling a fear as we speak.”

With Noah by her side, Laurene did feel emboldened. She relaxed a little and released a sigh of relief. “It helps to have you here. Thanks, Noah.”

Before he could respond, the jet dipped slightly, propelling Laurene straight into Noah’s chest. “Oh! What’s happening?” She righted herself but stayed close to his side, wrapping her arms around his trim waist. Her heart raced, whether from her fear of flying or being so close to Noah, she wasn’t sure. All she knew was that it felt good to be in his arms.

He held onto her more tightly. “It’s just a little turbulence,” he comforted her in a low, calm voice. “Don’t worry. Nothing’s going to stop you from shopping today.”

She pulled back and smiled, not missing the humor in his tone. “Promise?”

“Promise.” Grinning, he offered his pinky finger to her. “I’ll even pinky swear on it.”

She laughed. “I’ve never seen a grown man do this before.”

“It’s something my younger sisters used to make me do when we were kids. It’s not a promise unless it’s a pinky promise.”

“If you insist.” She hooked her pinky with his, enjoying the gentle tug he gave her finger. The playfulness of their contact quickly disappeared as their gazes locked. The exchange was so heated, so intense, that it sent a tingle down Laurene’s back. That is until Noah suddenly let go.

“Wow, look at that view.” He turned to look out of the windows above them. “I’ve never seen anything like it.”

Laurene nodded as she pretended to listen to Noah describe the various shades of blue in the sky and the ocean below. The colors sounded lovely, but she didn’t have the heart to appreciate them. Her stomach was twisted in knots, partly from anxiety, but more from disappointment. One second, Noah had been on the brink of kissing her, the next moment, he couldn’t look her in the eyes. What had gone wrong?