Chapter 7

Zara and I walked the rest of the way with our fingers linked. I was pleasantly surprised that she let me take her hand…that was, until we got closer to the luau and she slipped free from my grip. With a quick glance up the beach, she pulled me behind the tree line.

“Are we going to make out again?” I teased. “Missed my lips?” I puckered up in an exaggerated way and leaned into her.

With a firm hand held in my face, she blocked my advances. “No.” That one word turned my pucker into a pout. She suppressed a smile before she whispered, “What I was going to ask was, could you hang back and wait a few minutes?”

I whispered back, “Why are you whispering?”

“I don’t want anyone to hear us.”

I glanced at the party and chuckled. Even though there was no way anyone could hear us with the festivities in full swing a few hundred yards away, I whispered back, “You’re adorable.”

She shoved me playfully. “So, you’ll wait here?”

“I have a better idea. Let’s just resume where we left off.” I pulled her farther into my body, and she again tried but failed to hide her grin.

“Lance, humor me.”

Lonce, humah me.

So fucking sexy. I didn’t think I’d ever tire of hearing her say my name. I could only imagine what it would sound like as she said it through a winded sigh as my mouth covered her pussy.

“Okay, only because you asked me to. I’ll wait a few minutes. But before you go, I need one more thing.”

Before she could object, I held her face and kissed her softly. The kiss was meant to be a quick, chaste peck. What happened when my lips touched hers, and the way she reacted when they did, caused a hot-as-fuck, explosive kiss to detonate between us.

Her fingers gripped my wrists as I continued to hold her face while giving a new meaning to the term “French-kissing.” She pulled away to drag in a gulp of air.

“Oh my God, if I don’t leave now I’m going to regret it.” Her response was a direct contradiction to the way her eyes focused on my lips longingly.

Every part of her was addictive, from her face to her body to her accent to her personality. Sure, there were plenty of fish in the sea, especially when I had to consider my fishing boat would be pulling out of Lanai sooner than later…but so the fuck what?

Even once I got back to my life, moved on, and picked up where I’d left off, after having met her, I knew she would not be someone I could easily forget.

“I really can’t walk with you?”

“Not tonight. It’s just easier this way. I don’t want him to ruin my mood.”

“Zara, does he…” The words halted as the possible reasons why she was afraid of her father hit me. “He doesn’t hurt you, does he?”

“Oh, no! It’s not like that at all. It’s just the opposite. He’s super protective, for very specific reasons. Honestly, Lance, he’d never do anything to hurt us. It’s complicated.”

“Okay, fine,” I finally said. “I don’t want to cause you any problems, Zara. But I also am not going to go away. I want to spend time with you while I’m here…any way I can.”

“I’d also like to spend time with you.” Spike yipped and she laughed. “I guess we both would. And please understand that this has nothing to do with you. Annia’s leaving has been hard on my parents, and being the younger one, they are clinging to me more than ever. I’ve been slowly building my independence, but I’m not quite there yet financially. Every day I do get closer, though.”

In my world, all this could be resolved without a second thought. A simple signature on a check could literally dissolve her issues. How much had I taken my success for granted? Here was this stunning creature who was probably stuck in a life with little hope for a better one in her near future—and I had pushed away a privileged life because it was suffocating me.

“I understand,” I said simply…because I did. I might not have been able to relate, but I understood completely.

Reaching past her, I snapped off a wild hibiscus and tucked it over her right ear. I then held her face and leaned closer, placing one last soft kiss on her lips. She smiled through it, and damn if that didn’t once again instigate thoughts of throwing her over my shoulder to keep her for myself.

“Thank you,” she said when I straightened. With the smile still firmly in place, she lifted Spike and sauntered toward the luau.

Her leaving me alone for a few minutes gave me an opportunity to adjust myself. If I were closer to my bungalow I’d consider jacking off. But I was too far away, and the chances of someone seeing me here were too great.

I sat on the beach, glancing her way as she reached the party. Had I known how young she was, would I have kissed her at all?

“Pfft,” I said out loud. Who was I kidding? Of course I would have.

A few minutes turned into fifteen, mainly because it took that long to settle my cock. The memories of how her lips felt on mine, the way her body pressed against me, and the way her hair felt in between my fingers were intoxicating to my libido. The desire to want more of her was seriously fucking with my head.

“Here goes nothing,” I said to no one. With each step closer to the luau, my apprehension increased. Had I been lucky with no one recognizing me up until now? With nightfall coming any minute, I couldn’t very well get away with sunglasses. I released a heavy sigh as I got closer to the entire town partying in the name of King Kamehameha.

Why am I subjecting myself to this again?

Zara.

In just a short amount of time she was already leading me around as easily as she led Spike on his leash. The difference: his leash was fastened around his neck, while mine hung from between my legs.

The festivities spread in all directions with people of all ages celebrating. Men wearing short sarongs slowly spun spindles holding half a dozen whole pigs over a huge fire pit. The heavenly aroma of roasted pork hung heavily in the air, causing my stomach to immediately rumble from hunger. Long tables holding platters and platters of traditional Hawaiian food ran perpendicular to the surf. The Lanai City Lovers held court on a makeshift stage, playing their music while four hula dancers entertained the crowd.

“Mr. Lance!” My name echoed loudly in spite of the combined volume of music, children’s laughter, and crashing waves.

I turned to see Palu waddling my way, smiling widely.

“Hey, Palu. How are you?”

“I didn’t get to see you at the parade, Mr. Lance. As mayor of Lanai City, I welcome you to the King Kamehameha luau.”

“Thank you.” I scanned the crowd looking for Zara. “This is quite a turnout, must have cost the town a lot of money.”

“Everything is donated, from the food to the entertainment. This one day a year we all pull together to make it a very special celebration.”

“If you are collecting donations, I’d be happy to contribute.”

“Oh, thank you so much, Mr. Lance. We would gladly add it to our next year’s fund.”

“Is Kaholo here?”

“He is here somewhere. Knowing Kaholo, he’s manning the pits because he thinks no one can roast a pig like he can.”

“It smells amazing, so I’d say he was right to brag.”

A dog’s barking drew my attention to a couple standing by the refreshments table. Over Palu’s head I could see a beautiful woman standing beside a tall black man holding a yipping white puff of fur. The man wasn’t familiar, but that was most definitely Spike. My buddy causing yet another commotion forced the man to look at what he was all riled up about. Our eyes locked as he said something to Spike to calm him down.

Palu followed my gaze, his smile returning full force.

“Would that happen to be Mr. and Mrs. Jobert?” I asked with my eyes scanning the crowd, once again looking for Zara.

“Yes, it is. Do you know them?”

“No. I met their dog and their daughter.”

“Ah, the beautiful Miss Zara. She has been a godsend to me.” The wistful tone of his voice forced my gaze back to his face.

“A godsend?” I remembered he’d used that term to describe his new assistant.

“Yes, at the town hall. She started working for me a few months ago, and has organized my mess superbly.”

So, Zara was the godsend he’d referred to. The day I’d arrived, she hadn’t been in that small archaic building because I most definitely would have remembered her. I continued to watch the couple when Palu asked, “Would you like an introduction, Mr. Lance?”

I had no idea where Zara was, and although part of me wondered if she would have done the honors, an introduction from the mayor could serve me well.

“Yes, I would,” I said, deciding to take the pressure off Zara.

“Come.” Palu and I walked over, and the couple turned when we reached them.

“Andres, Talia, this is Mr. Lance White. He is visiting with us.” Palu turned his chubby hand in my direction and added, “Mr. Lance, this is Andres and Talia Jobert…and you know Marshmallow.”

Spike went ballistic trying to get closer to me. “Hello, Mr. and Mrs. Jobert. It’s a pleasure to meet you.” I smiled at them and added, louder, “I already met this little guy.” Stepping closer, I then asked, “May I?”

Mr. Jobert nodded curtly. “Of course.”

I took hold of Spike to allow him to properly greet me. True to form, he couldn’t contain himself at seeing me again. The Joberts watched in awe as their dog molested me with his wiggling body and quick, stealthy kisses.

Mr. Jobert eyed me up as I exchanged idle chitchat with his wife. The lines around his eyes and the gray hair peppering his cropped black curls made Zara’s father look older than his wife by at least ten years. Zara shared the same honey eye color as her dad, but otherwise her skin tone, facial features, and hair were cloned from her mom.

Spike spent the entire time in my arms, complaining when Zara’s mom tried to remove him.

“He’s very fond of you,” she said with a smile so similar to Zara’s it freaked me out. She was as stunning as her daughter, and couldn’t have been much older than forty…which put her depressingly almost as close to my age as Zara was. “How do you know each other?”

“We bonded when he made his way over to my bungalow a few days ago.”

“Oh, yes. Zara mentioned he ended up in Hulopoe. Is that where you are?”

“Yes. Hulopoe Haven, actually. I’m renting a bungalow from Palu.”

“When did you arrive to Lanai?” Mr. Jobert asked in a South African accent that was much thicker than his wife’s or daughter’s. His baritone voice and facial expression held little levity.

“I arrived about a week ago.”

“Where are you from?”

I met his inquisitive gaze and responded. “New Jersey,” I lied easily. Well, kind of. Jersey was where I was originally from…via California.

He measured me up from head to toe and back up again. “What brings you to Lanai?” In the way he asked, it was obvious he was very skeptical of strangers.

“A much-needed vacation.”

“What do you do?” he countered.

“Accounting.”

“You don’t look like an accountant.”

“Andres!” He met his wife’s embarrassed scowl. “Don’t be so rude.” She turned her gaze back to mine. “Please excuse him.”

I laughed easily. “I actually take that as a compliment. Thank you.” She met my smile and nodded before her eyes landed behind me.

I turned to see Zara hovering with a blank look on her face. Waiting for her lead, I watched as she plastered on a fake smile that didn’t show the sparkle in her eyes or the dimples on her cheeks.

“Zara, darling. Is Mr. White the gentleman you met when looking for Marshmallow?” Zara nodded, cutting her eyes to mine before moving to stand beside her mother. “Marshmallow actually recognized him.” She motioned toward Spike, who was now chilling comfortably in my arms.

“It’s nice to see you again.” Zara nodded with a stiff smile. “I need something cold to drink. I’ll be back.” Her parents and Palu thought nothing of her quick getaway as they jumped into a conversation about how attendance was less than in previous years.

I barely listened as my eyes tracked her while she kept her distance. The woman I had intimately spent time with just a stretch up the beach was not the same woman who milled around the festivities. Each time she looked over, she caught me watching her. The look on her face was apologetic, but her actions betrayed the real reason she avoided me.

The situation with her father must have had more to it than simple overprotectiveness. I could tell after meeting him that he was most definitely suspicious of the stranger who’d landed in his town.

An hour later, after I had mingled, met some of the good people of Lanai City, and had a lengthy conversation with Kaholo about the art of fire roasting, I slipped away from the luau, deciding I’d wait for Zara to make the next move.