Chief Distraction (5 page)

Chief Kalani looked out toward the water as if
reminiscing. “I’ve had the pleasure of Peahi on more than one occasion. It’s a
totally vivid experience.”

“Spoken like a true surfer. Thank you for the
extinguisher, by the way,” Blythe swerved the conversation to something other
than future plans with the cursed hunk. “I hope I never have to use it. That
was very kind of you.”

He stared her down. “No problem. I felt it was
my duty to protect your stove,” he grinned boyishly and placed his hands on his
ripped hips.

“Funny!” Blythe pointed at him and smiled.

“Well, I’d better get back. Don’t want my board
to float away in the break. Nice to meet you, Rachel. Goodbye, Miss Davenport.”

“Bye.”

They greedily stared as he walked away until he
was out of earshot.

“He likes you, Blythe.”

“No he doesn’t,” she said a little too quickly, but
she knew Rachel had a radar for these things. “Doesn’t matter if he does or
not. Nothing’s going to happen. I’ll probably never see the guy again.”

Rachel leaned in to inspect Blythe’s face,
getting really close. Blythe didn’t engage her, only stared out toward the
waves until Rachel finally got the better of her. “Okay, what is it?”

“And you like him. Am I right?” Rachel bumped
into her shoulder. “Come on, spill it. This is me you’re talking to.”

“Maybe a little. But he’s cursed. Enough said.”

Jarrod returned and set the cooler down before
flopping onto the outstretched towel beside Rachel. “What I miss?”

Rachel and Blythe stayed quiet, their shared
secret locked in the sisterly vault.

“Nothing. Nothing at all,” Blythe said, silently
watching Chief Kalani mount his board and sail away, the action sending a
ripple of giddy desire to every cell in her body.

Chapter
Six

Mak realized Blythe Davenport was being thrown
in his path whether he liked it or not. For reasons unknown, images of her
beautiful face kept overpowering all other thoughts. The problem was, he could
do nothing about it. She’d obviously written him off thanks to the curse and
there was no getting around it. “Unless…”

He picked up the phone and called the television
station to request her number. He’d keep things professional, distant. That
way, he could be close without any risk of offending her.
 
It was a bold move, uncharacteristic.
Then again it was business…or so he convinced himself.

                 
<><><>

Blythe
closed her laptop and shoved it back on the outdoor table. Feeling satisfied,
her latest story was now complete, the looming deadline no longer a stressful
issue.

With Rachel and Jarrod out for a romantic dinner
date, she sat on the back porch that faced the ocean with the salty breeze
blowing wisps of hair around her face. She mentally pinched herself, feeling
fortune-full for this breathtaking view of paradise on earth. It was calming,
tranquil. And now, it was her permanent home. Sure, Chicago would always be
there if she wanted to go back. But there was something special about Maui,
something beyond words or fact. It was like a Jules Verne novel here. The place
seemed to exist beyond the day to day, beyond the mundane acts of life. Maui
was more intangibly exotic – even for those who lived here fulltime. The
island held endless possibilities of hope and renewal and…dare she say it?
Magic.

The view was only one of the reasons why she
loved it here. She loved the way the sun set all pink and orange on the
horizon, and the hint of orchid flower drifting in the breeze. Mornings when
the ocean was a turquoise mirror and the air so pure it tasted like saltwater
taffy on her tongue. On most nights, the stars were as thick as the seashells
on Makena Beach. With her tight work schedule and early wake-ups, Blythe had
little time for going out and socializing. Her evenings were spent doing
research or sitting on the porch, wondering where her life would take her.

Gazing out over the reef, Blythe knew letting
down her guard and allowing Maui’s magic in was asking the impossible. Her
workaholic mainland tendencies prevented any flights of fancy. And now, with
Fire Chief Kalani a living, breathing person instead of some newsworthy
headline, her defenses were up with a vengeance. A yearning to jump on a plane
and fly back to Chicago overpowered all logic. She wanted to flee Maui with her
figurative tail between her legs. But leaving wasn’t an option. It would mean
taking a step back on the career ladder. She had so much more independence with
her topic choices here, so much more control of her days.

Why did he have to be so
hot
?

His strong jaw line and rugged features were
softened by plump, inviting lips. His come-hither chocolate eyes and those
eyelashes, well, she could look at them for days. Although overtly muscular,
his taut physique suggested he spent as much time on cardio as pumping iron at
the firehall gym.
 
He clearly had
an athlete’s build, but there was so much more depth to him than just a body.
The way he’d been with his nephews, his take-charge actions at the sugar cane
field, even the warmth of his smile invited her in. Thoughts of Chief Kalani
came to a screeching halt as the phone in the living room rang. Blythe shook
her head, clearing the images of The Chief riding his surfboard.

                 
<><><>

“Hello?”

“Aloha, Miss Davenport?” Mak took a deep breath,
shoving down his nerves.

“Yes.”

“It’s Chief Kalani.”

Silence. “Oh, aloha.”

“I’m calling to arrange another interview. I realize
the other day didn’t work out as planned, but you still need an interview,
right?”

“Um,” she paused, probably considering it. Mak
got the impression she was racking her brain for an excuse.

“Listen,” he interjected, sensing the tension,
“I understand if you’re not interested. I think you and I got off on the wrong
foot. I’m trying to make up for that. Will you give me a chance?”

“Sure,” she said with a reluctance Mak couldn’t
overlook.

“Why don’t we meet at the Hali’imaile General
Store for lunch tomorrow. I have a proposition for you.”

“A proposition?” Her voice sounded laced with
alarm.

“I have the perfect location for our next
interview. I’ll let you know at the restaurant. And of course Big Lou is
invited too. Sound good?”

“Okay then, I’ll call him and ask. How about
noon?”

“I’ll meet you then.”

Chapter
Seven

Sitting on the porch of the Hali’imaile General
Store Restaurant, Blythe felt the cool breeze coming off the nearby pineapple
field across her face. In the heat of the blazing mid-day sun, it was much
appreciated. Easing back in the wicker chair, she crossed her legs one way then
another, unable to get comfortable in light of the circumstances. The suspense
behind the meeting was killing her and on more than one occasion she considered
darting for home – as in her Chicago home.

“Come on, Lou, where are you?” she said under
her breath. She was relying on him to be her buffer. As if on cue, her phone
beeped and she checked the incoming text.

‘Unable to make it, City Girl. Say hi to The Chief for me!’

Internally cursing Lou for abandoning her, the
realization that she and Chief Kalani would be completely alone for a good hour
– with nowhere to hide and no foreseeable excuses to leave – forced
her anxiety to spike.

A moment later, her stomach jolted at the sight
of the oncoming yellow Fire Chief’s SUV, right on time. He pulled into the lot,
parked and hopped out. Unaware of her stare from a safe distance, she enjoyed
an eyeful without feeling overt. His shirt pulled snuggly at his wide firm shoulders,
the rest of the material tapering down his tight torso in a natural athletic
‘v’. It wasn’t wise to get distracted by his killer body, especially since he
was riding the coattails of a powerful curse. She’d done her homework on one
said Fire Chief. Age forty-one, six years in the Air Force after graduating
high school, promoted to Fire Chief two years ago – one of the youngest
to make the cut. Well respected, all around likeable guy – with the worst
track record ever in the dating department. The curse was alive and kicking,
though she was convinced it was a self-fulfilling prophecy if ever there was
one.

“Hi!” he waved, finally seeing her.

Rising, Blythe brushed down the creases in her
cotton skirt before smiling brightly in his direction. For some reason, she
wanted to give him her full exuberance. As if her smile might take a bit of the
edge off the tension that resided between them, even if it was one-sided. She
knew the reason it was there, even if he was thankfully none the wiser.
 

“You found it okay?” he asked, putting out a
hand.

She shook it, feeling sparks. “Yes, I’ve been
here before. Wonderful food.”

“Where’s Lou?”

“He won’t be joining us. Didn’t give a reason.
Looks like it’s just you and me.”

He smiled at the observation and held the door
for her. She nodded a thanks as she entered, noticing how strong his hand
looked as it gripped the door handle on the way by. She took a few deep
breaths, calming the anxious fire of unease that crept up her body. Pure
tension. She felt exposed, like an imposter on the brink of being revealed.

They stood for a moment, waiting at the entryway
until Chief Kalani took charge and made pleasantries with the hostess who
showed them to a discrete two-seater by the window where he pulled out her
chair for her. A gesture Blythe noticed and appreciated. If he knew who she
was, she was certain he’d be far less gentlemanly.

Chief Kalani stretched out his long legs and
inadvertently brushed one against Blythe’s calf making her acutely aware of
their intimate proximity.

“So, I know you’re interested in a local story
about Maui fires and the MCFD,” he said, pausing.

“Yes,” Blythe opened her menu but was too
distracted to browse it just yet. He’d peaked her curiosity. “We’ve decided to
feature local heroes this month.”

“How about doing a story on Maui wildfires and
how we handle them.”

Blythe pondered the suggestion, wondering why he
was so eager to help her out. “I suppose we could. What did you have in mind?”

“Well, if you want to see the real damage and
ecological impact of fire, you should come out to…”

Chief Kalani held that thought as the waitress
approached their table. They sat back as she told them about the scrumptious
specials, their eyes playing a sort of cat and mouse game with each other as
they listened. When the waitress left, he leaned forward.

“Would you like to come to Kahoolawe with me
next Saturday and see the wildfire’s aftermath with your own eyes?”

“Wait, you mean that island in the middle of
nowhere? Isn’t it deserted?”

“Yes and no. It’s uninhabited and off limits to
visitors.”

“But not firemen?” Blythe sounded hopeful. This
could be a potential angle for a story, but being together on a deserted island
might be too close for comfort. She took a deep breath before meeting his gaze.
He’d put her on the spot and he seemed to notice.

“Big Lou could come too,” he added.

“Seriously?” Blythe asked with relief.
Unless the big
guy’s missing in action again
.

“Of course. We’ll need his camera skills.”

“Right,” Blythe bit her bottom lip. “Wait, isn’t
there a Fireman’s Convention next Saturday? The advertisements are posted
everywhere. Shouldn’t you be going?”

“Yep, but I could blow it off. I’ve gone every
year since I started this career. It doesn’t change much.”

“But you’re the Fire Chief.”

“Do you want to go or not?” he laughed.

She watched him watch her think it over. “I’d
like that.”

“Good. I’ll arrange a boat and meet you after
lunch this Saturday. I just have a few things to sort out in the morning.”

“On the peer?”

“The one and only. There’s just one thing, and I
hope it doesn’t frighten you off.”

Blythe’s heart raced. What was he about to say?
Had he found out who she was and what she’d done? “Yes?”

“The Kahoolawe Island used to serve as a target
range for ships and aircraft during and after World War II. It also served as a
prison back in the day.”

Blythe stared in silence, gaping.

“Even though the Navy has spent tons of cash to
clean up the bombs, there will always be an explosive threat on the island.
Target Island
can be a very dangerous and unpredictable place to visit.”

She swallowed. “Target Island?”