Landon

The little bell above the door announced my arrival. In spite of the way the small window air conditioner hummed, working its ass off attempting to cool down the room, it was barely cooler than the hot Hawaiian air outside. The outdated boom box played yet another Don Ho song, competing noisily with the air conditioner.

I came under false pretenses, planning to hand over the donation I had promised Palu at the luau. The real reason for my impromptu visit: I knew Zara worked there…but she didn’t know I knew she did.

“I’ll be right out,” a South African accent called from another room. I remained silent, waiting at the long Formica counter as my heart pounded from anticipation.

Don Ho’s static-laden voice changed over to Elvis’s just as she walked out. In ten seconds flat, I noticed that her yellow sundress was the same color as the flecks in her eyes. I noticed how it fell right above her knees to reveal her long, gorgeous legs. And I noticed that her hair was piled on her head in a messy bun, revealing her graceful neck.

And then she noticed me, and her wide smile instantly halted along with her steps.

“What are you doing here?” The hopeful expression on her face contradicted her accusatory tone.

“It’s nice to see you, too,” I teased.

“I’m just surprised you’re here.” My eyes focused on her teeth as they tugged the corner of her bottom lip. Waiting for my gaze to meet hers, she then said, “So, hi,” while offering a small wave. The apples of her cheeks reddened just enough to penetrate her golden-tanned skin…just enough to reveal her embarrassment. “I’m sorry for being rude.”

“You’re forgiven. You look very pretty.”

She gave me a half smile before saying, “Thank you.” The phone behind her rang and she lifted a finger as she answered it. The conversation lasted less than a minute before she hung up and came back to lean on her side of the counter. Subconsciously, I leaned in as well, willing the Formica to split down the center like the Red fucking Sea.

“Sorry, I’m the only one here. How can I help you?”

“Actually, I need to speak to Palu. When will he be back?” I asked.

“He had to pick something up in town. Is there something I can do for you?”

Yes…but it involves getting naked.

Ignoring the devil that sat on my left shoulder, I shook my head. “It’s not important. I’m sure you’re busy. I can come back another time.”

Just as I pivoted and before I could take a step she said, “Wait!”

Not bothering to school my elation, I turned to reveal that I was grinning like a fool. She tried to fight her smile but failed miserably.

“You can’t fool me.” I folded my arms in a challenge, and called her out. “You’re really happy to see me.”

“Don’t be ridiculous. I’m just doing my job,” she said, waving a hand in dismissal.

“Whatever. You can act all cool and aloof, but I know better.” Her silence proved my point, as we stood in a smiling standoff. “You’re so beautiful.”

“Stop.”

“What am I doing?”

“Flirting.”

“I’m not flirting…yet.” I leaned on my elbows on the counter, bringing me close enough to reach her hand. “Do you know the color of your dress brings out the flecks in your eyes?” I threw her my most dazzling smile and winked. “Now I’m flirting.”

“Yes, I see that.”

My thumbs traced patterns on her palm. “Can I have a kiss?”

“Someone could come in.” She slipped her hand from mine, making me regret that I asked. “You’re going to get me into trouble. I’ll tell Palu you came by.”

“Zara.”

“Yes?”

“I knew you worked here, which is the real reason I’m here. So, there’s that.”

“You did?” she asked eagerly. It was times like this her age came through. Those genuine moments of enthusiasm when she’d let her guard down and forget to act cool. She mimicked my stance, leaning over her side of the irritating counter. Our faces were inches apart. If I pushed forward the slightest bit, I could steal the kiss I asked for.

She was right there—close enough to see those gorgeous gold specks, or to smell that delicious scent of hers, or to even hear the faint sound her tongue made when it moistened her lips. So close…inches. But because Palu could walk in at any moment, or even someone else she knew, the space between us might as well have been a mile wide.

I had her complete and undivided attention and needed to say something, anything. What I came up with was, “Why haven’t I seen you for three days?”

“I don’t know. That’s why I came by to visit yesterday,” she whispered, shocking me in the process.

“When?” My brain ticked through the events of my long boring day, wondering how I had missed her. “I was home all day.”

“It was early, before I had to be here. You were probably sleeping, so I chickened out.” She opened a drawer and pulled out a brown paper bag. “I saw them when shopping the other day and thought of you.” With a shy smile she pushed the bag closer. I reached inside to find a package of marshmallows.

I instantly laughed at the gift, and she laughed with me. “Best gift ever,” I said, my eyes holding hers as I did. “Have dinner with me?” My question caused her lips to part, but no sound escaped. “Like a date, a real one. I’ll come to your house, pick you up, and take you out.”

I watched an internal battle ensue as she stood staring at me.

This was clearly a precipice in our relationship. Relationship…was that what we had between us? What I knew about her could fill a thimble. What she knew about me was significantly less.

I could have argued that all that came with time. Boy met girl, boy wanted girl, boy then got to know girl.

In our case, boy would leave girl.

“So, dinner?” I watched the smooth skin on her neck nervously work a swallow. “What time works for you?”

“Seven?” Her quick response shocked me.

“Really?”

A smile spread over her lips as slow as oozing caramel…and it was just as sweet. “Yes.”

“Then seven it is.” Expecting an argument, I smiled and nodded my confirmation before she could change her mind. Like a teenage boy who just got the head cheerleader’s attention, I grinned before taking her hand back in mine. “I need your address.”

Then she said, “No, I’ll come to your place.”

I shook my head adamantly. “No way, Zara. I don’t want you walking alone at night.”

“Lance,” she said on a short sarcastic laugh. “We’re in Lanai. It’s perfectly safe. I walked every evening before I even met you. I’ll bring Marshmallow with me, as long as you don’t mind him hanging out at your place while we’re gone.”

“Spike? You’re going to depend on Spike to protect you?” I released a genuine belly laugh.

“Stop that. He has a wicked bite.”

I wanted to debate, but worried she’d renege on dinner. Choosing to pick my battles, I nodded. “Okay. You can walk to my place, but I drive you home. And next time we go out I come to your door to pick you up. So, whatever it is you need to do to prepare for that, this is your fair warning.”

“Is that a threat, Mr. White?”

“It’s a promise.” I leaned over, catching her upper arms to pull her closer. “Can I kiss you?” On her nod my lips molded over hers, and I’d be damned if anyone walked in because I simply no longer cared. When I pulled away, her eyes remained closed for a few seconds before they slid open. “Tell Palu I’ll be back with my donation.”

Snatching up my marshmallows, I walked toward the door when she said, “Wait. What should I wear?”

With a hand on the knob, I shook my head and said, “I don’t care if you show up naked. Just show up.” Changing my mind, I stopped and turned. “I take that back, no nakedness while walking to my place, or ever outside for that matter. Please be careful.”

“You’re so cute.”

Lifting the marshmallows in my hand, I said, “Thank you for these. Going home to eat them.”

She gave me a drop-dead gorgeous smile and said, “I’ll see you tonight.”

Correction, that smile and those words were what caused me to feel like I got the attention of the head cheerleader. And kidding aside, I might have skipped to my Jeep.

I decided to take her to Nobu at the Four Seasons. A phone call secured a table for two in one of their private rooms. I may have promised her dinner out, and that was the only reason I wasn’t making her dinner at my place, but I still needed to be cognizant of being recognized. I wasn’t too concerned. Most of the residents of Lanai lived in a fantasy world painfully stuck somewhere around 1984.

I heard them before I saw them. Spike was sure to announce their arrival as his incessant yipping floated down the beach and straight into my bungalow. I stood and walked to the screened door, waiting for them to appear. I laughed as he came barreling around the bend, his form as stealthy as a Thoroughbred…of course, one wearing a pineapple embroidered bow tie.

The moment I opened the door, he sprinted up my porch and into my arms. “Seriously, dude, one of these days you’re going to go right through that door.”

Ignoring my words, he whimpered and yelped as I held him close to my chest. While he molested my face with his tongue, I caught sight of Zara walking toward us.

Fuck me.

She wore a long white dress that hugged her curves, gold Grecian sandals, and her hair hung wavy and messy around her shoulders. I just figured out what it was about her that took my breath away. Besides her beauty, she always had that just-fucked look. Like someone had spent the last hour running their hands through her hair and kissing her full lips until they were swollen and tender.

My eyes tracked her every move like a lion stalking his dinner.

“I don’t get that kind of greeting anymore. I’m beginning to get jealous.” I knew she was referring to Spike, but unable to resist, I put him down, pulled her into my arms, and gave her a movie-worthy kiss. It was the first time I took her lips without asking. The way her arms immediately circled my neck was all the permission I needed.

The more her fingers flexed in my hair and her hips pushed against mine, the more I wanted to make good on my desires to take her. Every fucking time my lips touched hers it caused a reaction I’d never felt in my life. I couldn’t even argue that it was purely physical, because besides the telltale signs of my excitement behind the zipper of my slacks, also came a pounding tattoo in my heart that I couldn’t control.

The ache I felt inside confused me the most. A pinch of dread that nagged deep in my gut as I stood molding her to my body while my mouth made love to hers.

She stumbled when she pulled away, and if my arms hadn’t been around her waist she would have fallen off the porch.

“Wow.”

“Yeah, my sentiments exactly,” I whispered, leaning my forehead against hers. As long as I was that close, I pressed my lips to hers once more and she sighed when I did. “Jesus, Zara. I can’t get enough of you. You look stunning, by the way.”

“So do you. That shirt brings out the blue in your eyes.” Her words caused me to steal another kiss. She smiled against my mouth and said, “God, you smell so good.”

What a fucking coincidence. Her tropical scent, a cross between coconut and passion fruit and something entirely Zara, drove me insane. My lips moved across her jaw to her ear. The shiver that caused her to tremble in my arms sent a bolt of desire right through me. Her reaction to the way my lips traveled over her skin was a fucking turn-on, and a fucking torment. With each tiny shudder or soft sigh, I couldn’t help but imagine how she’d respond to so much more than just kissing her.

“We can always stay here,” I said between nibbles on her neck. “Eat peanut butter crackers while getting naked…two of my favorite things combined.”

“As tempting as that sounds, I’m not sure I trust myself being alone with you right now,” she said after pulling farther away.

“Well, that’s a problem. Because it may not be tonight, but I will get you alone with me sooner than later.” When I couldn’t read the look on her face, I asked, “Does that scare you?”

“Yes and no.”

“Why?”

“Because I never doubted my judgment before, and with you I’m doing it often.”

“Do you trust me?”

“Yes. That also scares me.” She shrugged but met my unwavering gaze with one of her own. “But not enough to stay away from you.”

“Shit, Zara. You admitting that out loud…” I couldn’t voice what I wanted to, because that would be sure to send her running. So instead, I said, “I feel exactly the same.”