Zara

I spent most of my afternoon daydreaming about Lance. I relived every single time he kissed me, and even imagined where it would have led if we hadn’t stopped. The imagery playing in my mind made it hard to focus. Luckily I wasn’t that busy at work, and Palu spent most of the afternoon running around Lanai City, giving me time to enjoy my Lance-induced haze.

By mid-afternoon the rain had lightened but still fell steadily. While typing up a speech that Palu needed to deliver at the monthly town hall meeting, the bells on the front door chimed and in walked Lance. Drops of moisture clung to his hair, his face, and darkened the shoulders of his pale-gray T-shirt.

I couldn’t hide how happy I was to see him, even if it had only been a few hours since he had dropped me off.

“Hi, beautiful. I thought you could use a pick-me-up.” With a stunning smile, he offered me one of the two lidded Styrofoam cups he held. Under his arm was a small brown bag that fell to the counter.

“Kona?”

His ice-blue eyes rolled skyward. “Of course.”

“That was so sweet of you to come back out in this mess. You’re a lifesaver. I was falling asleep while typing.” I met him at the counter, searching in the bag and finding tiny thimbles of creamer and packets of sugar. Once my coffee was prepared, I inhaled its heady aroma and then took my first amazing taste. “Mmm, so good. Thank you.”

“Please don’t moan like that,” he said with a wink. “I’ve been climbing the walls of my tiny bungalow because you left me in a very unsettled frame of mind.”

I couldn’t help but laugh. “Unsettled?” I asked before taking another delicious sip.

“Extremely.” He followed my lead, tilting his cup to his lips as he leaned over the counter. “I’ve been thinking.”

“Oh? What about?”

“Mainly about you. I came up with a great idea.” He leaned even closer, and the scent of his cologne intoxicated me so much that I had to refrain closing the distance to bury my nose in his neck.

“What idea?”

He tilted his head to the side with a sexy smirk playing over his lips. “I think you should take a leave of absence and be my personal tour guide.”

“How did you know?” I tried to remember if I’d mentioned applying for the tourism job in Honolulu. Except for Annia, I’d told no one—mainly for fear of jinxing it.

“How did I know what?”

“That I just applied for a job in Honolulu at the department of tourism.”

“I keep trying to tell you, we’re meant to be.”

“Seriously. How could you know that?”

“I didn’t. On our way to dinner the other night, I was in awe over the way your face lit up while telling me all about Lanai. The pride you feel for your city is obvious. All those cute little facts, like there are no traffic lights on the island. All very impressive knowledge.”

“You’re teasing me again.”

“I’m not. I mean it. You’re a natural. When did you apply?”

“A few days ago. I didn’t bother telling anyone because I don’t expect anything to come from it.”

A frown caused a crease to mar his forehead. “Why not?”

“Because I have no experience. It’s a long shot.”

“You don’t know that. When they call you to interview, I’ll help you. I’ll even go with you if you want.” Of course I’d want. Was he serious? “So, my idea was brilliant then. Give your notice today,” he continued excitedly.

“I can’t just quit and spend my days showing you around Hawaii.”

“Why the hell not?”

“Lance, are you mad? You’re talking rubbish.” He smiled wide and I knew it was over my choice of words. “Stop making fun of me.”

Before I could react, he grabbed my hand and pulled me closer. “I would never.” His lips met mine in a soft, sweet kiss. After all the times we’d kissed, it still felt as exciting as it had the first time. The way his scruff scratched against my chin when he tilted his head to deepen it caused a rush of heat to travel through me.

I felt like such a hypocrite. It was just a few days ago when I carried on about how our relationship couldn’t progress, and that we should just be friends. Yet there I was, making out with him twice in one day. I’d come to realize I was weak when it came to Lance White. He forced my hand like no one ever had. With just his lips he managed to have me questioning why I was so hell-bent on keeping my distance.

And my God, this man could kiss. Before meeting Lance, I’d had no idea a kiss could simulate the same effects as being zapped with electricity.

He pulled away and his chuckle forced my eyes to fly open. I had been embarrassingly lost in the kiss and didn’t have time to recover.

“You okay?”

“You can’t keep kissing me like that.” I tried to pull my hand from his, but he tightened his grip.

“Why not?”

“For one, I’m at work.”

“No one is here. Besides, we’d hear a car pull up before they got to the door. Lame excuse.”

“Okay, how about the fact that friends don’t kiss like that?”

“This is true.” He rubbed his long fingers against his scruff, his eyebrows pulling in contemplatively. “Then we’ll have to trash the friend nonsense. I really didn’t sign up for that anyway. I was trying to make you happy. It’s clear you’re happier when I kiss you. Your eyes are brighter. Your cheeks are flushed.” He leaned forward and skimmed a finger over my bottom lip. “Your lips are fuller.” He dragged the finger over my chin and down the center of my neck and tracked it straight to my heart. “Most importantly, your heart is happier.”

“You know this how?” I challenged, putting my free hand on my hip to emphasize my doubt.

He flattened his hand against my heart and lifted my hand to lay it against his chest. The firm muscle beneath the knit of his shirt flexed at my touch. Meanwhile, my pulse quickened at his touch.

“Feel that? It’s pounding in rhythm to mine. That’s how I know.”

The crunching of shoes on the gravel outside forced him to step away. The bells rang just as Palu said, “I feel like a duck.” A truer statement had never been uttered as he sported his bright yellow raincoat and waddled closer.

His eyes landed on Lance with a smile. “Hello, Mr. Lance. What a nice surprise. Did you need me?”

Lance shook his head, reciprocating his own devastatingly handsome smile. “No. I just came to visit Zara.” Turning his focus to me, he added, “I’ll pick you up tomorrow at ten.” With that, he grabbed his coffee, waved, and walked out the door.

The bastard walked out the door! Leaving me hanging and completely turned on in front of my boss.

“Pick you up?”

“Oh…um…I arranged a surf lesson for him.”

Palu smiled with a nod. “He likes you.”

“He’s just a friend,” I lied.

Palu patted my arm and waddled into his office. Without words, he’d basically just called me crazy. And he was right.

Who was I kidding? Lance wasn’t just a friend.

He was…

He was…

Oh, lord…he was a dream come true here to steal my heart.

“Darling, can you toss the salad?”

“Sure, Mama.” I took the bowl from her and moved to the table to do what she’d asked. I could feel her eyes on me as I mixed the greens with the dressing.

“Are you okay, Zara?”

“Of course. Why do you ask?”

She moved closer and lifted her hand to feel my forehead. “You look flushed.”

“I’m fine.”

“Who’s flushed?” My father came in and sat at the table, sporting his normal scowl. His eyes landed on mine, and the scowl deepened.

“What?”

“It’s that man. You’ve been acting strangely ever since he showed up in town.”

I scoffed at his accusation. “I have not.”

“What man?” my mother asked as she placed the chicken and rice on the table.

At the sound of the ceramic plate hitting the oak, Marshmallow came barreling into the kitchen and screeched to a halt at my feet.

“That Lance guy. Did you know he was here today?”

“Yes, Zara told me. So?”

“What do you mean, so? Who is he? Do you know anything about him? How does a man pick up and leave his life for weeks? What’s he running from?”

I groaned audibly, earning a disapproving look. “Stop it, Papa.”

My father plucked a piece of chicken and began sawing into it determinedly, ignoring Marshmallow’s sad puppy eyes. Having pity on him I patted my lap, inviting him to sit with me.

“Zara, do not feed him from the table,” my mom scolded before she turned to my father. “Andres, he’s a nice man. Very respectful.”

“He’s hiding something. No one comes to Lanai unless they are hiding.”

“Oh my God.” I released a pent-up breath. “Not everyone is out to get us. I like him. He’s nice and funny and I enjoy spending time with him. You’ll have to deal with that.” His eyes drilled through me, but he said nothing…and that spoke volumes.

“Zara’s right, Andres. You need to stop this nonsense. With each year that passes, you’re getting worse.” My mother went about dishing chicken and salad onto her plate, completely unfazed by the look of shock on my father’s face.

“How can you ask that of me, Talia? How could you so quickly forget what we lost, what they did to us?”

My mother’s eyes cut to him and instantly welled with tears. In a strangled voice she said, “I haven’t forgotten. Every day I remember what happened to our baby…every single day. Lilou will always be with me.” She smacked her hand hard against her chest. “My eldest daughter is always in my heart, Andres. As I know she’s in yours. But I can’t live my life in constant fear. We came here to be safe, and we are.” She took his hand in hers and pleaded, “Please, my love. We can’t stop Zara from living because we are afraid to.”

“I’m sorry,” he said. He pulled her into his arms and rocked her back and forth as she cried. “I’m sorry I upset you, Talia. But I’m afraid I can’t pretend to hide the fear that I carry, or stop it from coming out. That’s a promise I can’t keep.”

The rest of our meal was silent. It happened every time our past invaded our present. Remorse hit full force, causing me to lose my appetite. I had no idea what they were truly feeling. They both carried many horrific memories deep inside that had scarred them forever. And for the most part, they were able to put aside their angst and provide Annia and me a nice life here in Lanai.

The years had dulled my memories of what happened before we fled South Africa. At just ten, I remember coming home from school to hear my parents arguing. Or at least I thought they were. When I walked into their room, my father was throwing clothing into a suitcase. I could still feel the chill that ran through me assuming he was leaving us, only to learn that we were all leaving.

We had left it all, and we’d had so much. Much more than many of the families we knew. We had pretty much left with the bare essentials, flew across the globe, and landed in Lanai.

We might not have had the riches we’d had in South Africa, but Annia and I had a set of parents who would do anything for us…including leaving everything they had to ensure Annia and I would never meet the same fate as Lilou had.

How could I blame my father for his behavior when all he wanted was to protect us? I felt bad for giving him a hard time earlier. I felt bad for defying him so much lately, but I couldn’t feel bad about liking Lance. I couldn’t agree to not seeing him. I wouldn’t be able to stay away from him. I now knew that without question.

And if that was what my father wanted, in spite of all he did for me, then that was a promise I couldn’t keep.