Groovin' 'n Waikiki (3 page)

“
We could always play it safe and dress middle-of-the-road. I’ll tell you what. Go up to your room, take a shower, then dress in a casual outfit for shopping. I’ll go back and ask Kino what the dress code is.”

“
Oh thank you.” She kissed Jessie on the cheek and ran for the elevator.

Chapter Two - Kino the Cocksman

Jessie headed back outside through the automatic door, around the pool to the cabana. At the bar, she turned a stool around to sit, and when she swiveled around to the bar, she came face-to-face, as Gloria had, with Kino’s bright white smile. He promptly stuck out a hand. “Hi, I never caught your name. I’m Kino Kanomona.”

She took his hand. “My pleasure. I’m Jessica Owens, Gloria’s guardian angel.”

His smile diminished. “Which means?”

She waved a hand. “We’ll get to that, but first, I told Gloria I’d find out how to dress for Rumours.”

He grabbed a handful of peanuts from the bar and flipped a few in his mouth. “Whatever you feel like, except grunge. Express yourself. It all flies.”

She lifted her brow and cocked her head. “What would you prefer?”

He popped a few more peanuts in his mouth, swallowing before answering. “Dressed-up. Sexy, but classy. High heels, but not platforms, and show your legs. I love legs and I couldn’t help but notice both of you have great legs. Now, what is it you want to tell me about Gloria?”

Jessie glanced around. “I just want to warn you that Gloria’s psyche is a little fragile.”

Kino picked up a wet bar cloth and began to wash the varnished bar top. “How so?”

Leaning forward, she spoke softly, “I won’t go into details, but she’s barely emerging from a shell she hid in after a traumatic event a couple of months ago. My requests are simple. Be kind to Gloria and treat her with respect.”

He stopped scrubbing the bar and frowned. “I don’t understand, you’ll be there if I misbehave.”

“
I might not. I might find someone interesting or she may just want to be alone with you, and if she does, I expect you to be gentle and considerate. We’ll see you at eight.”

She swung her stool around, planning to leave, when Kino said, “Wait, hold on. I have a question.” She swung back around and looked at him as if to say, ‘let’s hear it.’ “Why did you ask if I was involved?”

A sinful smile flashed across her face. “Because, dear Kino, it’s pretty obvious you are interested in my baby sister and I wanted to make sure you’re not somebody’s philandering husband.” She leaned forward and whispered, “Be nice to her!”

* * * *

By the time she made it to Gloria’s room, Glory was on pins and needles. “Well? What did he say?”

“
He said they wear anything—it all flies but grunge. But personally, he likes dresses and heels.”

“
We better get going then. It’s getting late.”

It was almost four o’clock. They didn’t have much time. “Baby, I saw a dress in the lobby that was you. Come with me and we’ll check it out.”

She smiled as they walked down the hall to the elevator bank.
With a little luck, Gloria will have a ball tonight
.

When Gloria laid eyes on the dress resting on the mannequin, she freaked. Her eyes and mouth opened wide and she raised her hands to the sides of her head. “Oh my God, Jess. It’s gorgeous. It must cost a fortune.” It was a white, knee-length, strapless creation, with a square neckline. In addition the front was fitted with a ruched texture, a high off-center slit and large floral accent.

They exited the store, dress in hand. “Oh, thank you, Jess, but you shouldn’t have.”

“
That’s what credit cards are for. You sure you have a pair of heels that can be worn with it?”

She nodded. “I have a pair of barely worn, open-toe gold Manolos packed.

* * * *

The sisters stepped into the newly arrived elevator. “Are you going to get something, Jess?”

Jess pushed the button for the seventeenth floor. “Nope, I have something I can get by with. We probably don’t have time anyway. It’s almost five, we should start getting ready. We’ll have dinner here in the hotel first and meet your date in the lobby by eight.”

They exited the elevator and headed the short distance down the hall to their rooms.

Gloria slid the card-key in the slot. The light turned green and she opened the door. “He’s not my date.”

“
He is too.” They both stepped into Gloria’s suite. That $450 dress you’re holding says he’s your date. You know it and he knows it. Now, do you prefer Chuck’s Steak House
or Duke’s Canoe Club Restaurant?”

“
You pick. Can you help me put the dress on?” Jessie helped her slip into the dress. After she zipped her in, she turned around and gazed into the full-length mirror. “Let me put the shoes on.” She sat down, slipped on the shoes then stood and once more scanned her reflection. “Oh, Jessie, I just love this dress. Thank you so much. I swear I’ll pay back every penny.”

“
Nonsense, consider it an early birthday present. You do look lovely in it.”

Gloria kissed her cheek. “Thanks.”

“
You’re welcome. I better head next door and get ready myself.”

When Jessie returned she was lovely in a low-cut black dress and black pumps. “You know, if you keep working out like you did this morning, plus dieting, you won’t be able to wear that dress anymore.”

“
Trust me, there’ll be a big smile on my face the day I’m able donate it to Goodwill.”

After deciding on Duke’s Canoe Club, they headed downstairs.

They had to wait to be seated so, by the time eight o’clock rolled around, they’d just cleared the dishes from our table. Jessie hadn’t received the check yet and their waiter was nowhere to be found. “Sweetie, you’re going to have to go out there and look for Kino. When you find him, take him into the Barefoot Bar. I’ll be along as soon as possible.”

She gave Jessie a nod, picked up her handbag, rose from the table and sauntered toward the restaurant entrance, where people were lined up to be seated. As soon as she passed through the portal, she spied him. He practically took her breath away. He turned slowly in the middle of the lobby, looking for Jess and her. He wore an ivory summer jacket, light brown slacks and a bright orange and white Hawaiian shirt.

She almost made it all the way to him before he saw her. As his vision narrowed in on her, she perceived a glint in his eye. A seductive grin appeared as his gaze turned vertical, starting with her shoes and lazily meandering upward, pausing at her waist and bust line. His eyes smoldered as they drank in her curves. When his gaze met mine, his sexy grin expanded into an endearing smile. “There you are. You look…smashing, though somehow I knew you would.” He held out his hands, an invitation to embrace, and she accepted. After he kissed her cheek, he asked, “Where’s your sister?”

“
You look wonderful, too—good enough to eat.” Realizing, too late, the implications of what she’d said, she blushed and stuttered as she tried to explain. “I meant I…I en…joy looking at you.”

Laughing he took her hand and kissed it, which made it feel warm and tingly. “Gloria. You’re a treasure.”

Even her kiss to
his
cheek warmed her lips. “Come, we must go. Jessica is waiting for the check, and she’ll meet us in the bar.”

Holding his hand, she led him toward the bar.

The bar was full with the overflow from the restaurant. Fortunately, a party of four in a nearby booth rose and left so they quickly claimed it. Gloria slid in and Kino followed.

He sat close enough to make her nervous. Not that she didn’t want to be close to him, but it had been months since she’d been out with anyone. “Well, here we are,” she ventured, unable to think of anything clever to say.

As if she wasn’t jumpy enough, Kino slid an arm around her shoulders and edged closer. He took a deep breath. “Mmmm. I love your fragrance.” She closed her eyes as shivers raced through her. “It’s sexy, turns me on. And your dress is gorgeous.” He chuckled. “Baby, you look good enough to eat.”

She felt a flush of warmth and was glad the bar and she were fairly dark. “Thank you. I think?”

Kino laughed. “So, are you having a good time?”

“
I am now. I’ve been a little bit in the dumps.”
Oh my God.
Her pulse sped up and her heartbeat thumped in her neck as his lips pecked tiny kisses in a downward pattern on her neck.
He’s very forward. Should I stop him?
It felt so good. She didn’t want to stop him.

When his moist kisses reached her collarbone, a voice interrupted his progress. “A-hem. Sorry to interrupt.” They looked up. Jess, wearing a bratty smile, said innocently, “I’m ready to go dancing, unless you guys want to forget about it and go up to Glory’s room.”

That didn’t sound like a bad idea, but she wasn’t about to let her know that. Besides, this was the first date.
Does the first date rule apply when you’re on vacation?
Probably not, but what about Jessie? Could she honestly have sex knowing her big sister was in the next room? “Jessie-e-e. How could you be so crude?”

Kino, acting as if he hadn’t heard, slid out of the booth and offered her his hand. “Are you ready?”

She took his hand and he helped her out.

* * * *

Rumours was a typical dance club. They seemed to know Kino, because he got them right in. After they found a booth, Jessie asked Gloria to accompany her to the restroom.

Jessie’s nostrils flared. “Look, we should’ve probably had this conversation before, but we damn well better have it now. I plan on having a good time while I’m here and that includes, God willing, should the opportunity arise, getting my itch scratched, so don’t give me no attitude.”

Gloria’s hands went sideways in supplication. “I didn’t give you attitude.”

She wagged a finger in her face. “Yes, you did. You put on the Little Miss Innocent show for Adonis there. I know you’re not innocent. I know about how you set up house with that white boy, and how crushed you were when he moved back to St. Louis.

“
We are three thousand miles away from where we live. Nobody knows us here, and the odds of us finding true romance and love are nil. If I had someone like that, hot on my tail, I’d be in bed with him faster than you could say
condom
. The memories alone are good for six months with a vibrator. And if you think you’d have trouble fucking someone while I’m in the next room, wait and see how much trouble I’ll have getting laid with you listening next door.”

She had no idea big sis was such a cock hound.
Must run in the family.

She snickered. “Can I at least have a drink and a few dances before I seduce his tan ass?”

“
You bet. Now you’re talking. Shall we get back to Adonis?”

She nodded.

She opened the door.

“
I thought you had to pee?”

She shook her head. “No, honey, it was steam I had to relieve myself of, not urine. Out of curiosity, how was that white boy?”

She felt her eyes tearing and the pain that accompanied when she remembered Joel. “He was very nice. Why?”

“
Like I said, curious. You neva know, maybe some white guy will come up to me and ask me to dance.”

She laughed, it was so funny. It was as if her sister was psychic. Some white dude reached out and snatched her hand as they walked by the bar. “Hey, baby, what’s your hurry?” He wasn’t in Adonis’s league, but he wasn’t bad; a little thin in the hair and a little thick in the waist, but otherwise nice looking. “Mercy! You with all those yummy curves, and me with no brakes…Grrr. What d’ya say. This white boy
knows
how to dance.”

Sis ran her hand tenderly along his cheek. “You can dance. What else do you do?”

“
Well, you have the wheel. I follow where you lead, and
if
you’re going to regret it in the morning, we can sleep until noon.”

Jessie threw her head back and laughed. “You do have a line of bullshit. What’s your name?”

“
Del, like the computer, but one L. What’s your name, hot stuff?”

“
Jessica, or Jessie. Take your pick. Shall we dance and see if you can close the deal?”

He grabbed her hand, “Ahh, the art of negotiation,” and disappeared onto the dance floor.

Gloria was still giggling when she got back to Kino. “What’s so funny?” He slid out to let her in.

“
Some guy waylaid my sister on the way back. He was cute. We may have seen the last of her for the night.”

She felt Kino’s right arm slide behind her neck, his hand draping from her far shoulder, inches above a breast. She sucked in a quick breath while her heart sped up ten mph. Then, as he laid his other hand on her thigh, she gasped. While erotic impulses centered in her core, a spark of desire flared into flame within her center. Thinking she might faint when his lips began kissing her visible cleavage, a voice saved her. “What can I get’cha?” They looked over and saw the cocktail waitress, her head leaning left, chewing gum.