Groovin' 'n Waikiki (4 page)

She felt relieved. She needed something really cold to cool off and stiffen her resolve, but Kino didn’t look too happy to see the waitress.

She set a coaster in front of each of them. “Do you have frozen margaritas?”

“
This is Honolulu, hun, not Juarez. How about a piña colada?”

Gloria’s fast rising temperature made her want to do something to cool off.
Picking up the coaster, she began to fan herself. “A piña colada sounds fine.” That helped, but
she really needed to fan under her skirt too to quench the fire there
.

“
Get’cha warm, did he? He’ll do that to you. We call him One-Shot Kino around here.”

“
Sherri!” Kino bleated.

“
Yeah, I know what you want, cutty and water.” Acting as if he couldn’t hear, she continued, “Gives you one or, if you’re lucky, two shots. He makes the rounds. I had my turn eight weeks ago.
Two
shots!” She winked.

Kino is a lothario? This could be perfect.

“
Sherri. Damn you, this is very unprofessional of you. You want me to report you to Brad?”

“
Yeah, you’re right. Sorry, I’ll get your drinks.”

After the fountain of information known as Sherri left, her cell phone rang. “Hello?”

“
It’s Jessie. How’s it going?”

“
Fine, why?”

“
Just checking. Del is a card. I’ve always been a sucker for someone who could make me laugh.”

“
Hold on a minute, will you? Kino, could you let me out? It’s Jessica and I need to talk with her.”

He slid out and stood. “Sure.”

She followed him out and kissed his cheek, so he knew she was still interested, despite what Sherri said, then stepped near the bar entrance and out of Kino’s view.

As she was about to speak to Jessie, Sherri stepped up to her. “I hope I didn’t scare you off. Kino is very good. I don’t regret a second of it, you’re in for a real treat.”

“
I’m only visiting the island. You didn’t scare me off. Thanks for the heads up. If anything, you’ve made him sound irresistible.”

“
Perfect, you’ll be a happy camper in the morning.” Sherri wagged her eyebrows then departed.

She went back to the phone she’d been holding. “Jessie, are you—”

“
Yeah, I’m here and I heard. Is Kino some kind of libertine?”

“
It looks that way. Jessie, would you think I was slutty if I just took him up to my room?”

“
You keep thinking that. No one back in Vegas or LA would know a thing; women do stuff like this all the time. What matters is what you think. If you dig him and you’re okay with it, go for it.”

“
Oh yeah, he rings my bells. Thanks, I know just what to do.”

“
I might be right behind you with Del.”

Chapter Three - Sinning is Such Fun

She stood at the table beside Kino. “Hi. I’m back.”

Kino rose and she slid in the booth. When he sat back down she pecked him on the cheek. “Did you miss me?”

He smiled. “Of course.”

The drinks they ordered rested on the table. She plucked the palm tree decoration from the piña colada and took a sip through the miniature straw. “Mmmm, that hits the spot.”

Kino slipped his arm back around her and this time his hand rested on her thigh, even closer to her fast-warming clit. “I hope you don’t take all that stuff Sherri said seriously.”

She glared at him. “Why? Did she lie?”

Kino’s brows dipped at her apparently difficult question. “Well, no, but she exaggerated.”

She laid her hand over his. “Hmmm. Did she exaggerate when she told me what a fantastic lover you are?”

He blinked. “She said that?”

“
Uh-huh. I’d like to ask a question and I want you to answer honestly. If you do, you can ask me one. I’ll answer you honestly.”

“
Go ahead.”

She wondered if she surprised him by sidling in closer. “Did you have plans of scoring tonight?”

He ran long, thick fingers through his coarse, wavy hair. “The truth, huh?” She nodded. “Okay, yes, I had designs on you. You’re hot.”

“
Ah-huh. I thought so. Typical male. Now, since you were truthful, you can ask me a question.”

His fingers and thumb cupped his jaw in a thoughtful pose. “Hmmm…would you like to have sex with me?” Before she could answer, he leaned in and his lips picked up where they left off at Sherri’s arrival. Tormenting my neck, he switched between nibbling kisses and soft bites, as his teeth sank into my skin as an obvious inducement to say
yes
.

“
I could answer that question with a single word, but let me give an explanation. I’m in love with someone. We lived together until three months ago when he moved back to his hometown—St. Louis. That was very bad for me. I sulked for over two months, then some good things started to happen. My sister won this trip and brought me to Hawaii, and just before we left, I was promoted to lead dancer and assistant choreographer.”

Even in the darkened room, his wide eyes were visible. “Wait, hold on. You’re a dancer?”

“
Yes. In one of the girly shows in Vegas—
Zumanity
.”

“
Wow. That’s something. I’ve never done anything professional, but I’ve been involved in dancing since I was eight.”

“
That’s fantastic.”

“
You know. I really like you. Yes, I’d like to go to bed with you. Why shouldn’t I, you’re gorgeous and truthfully, I’m a little curious about the alleged sexuality of black women. However, I’m willing to wait until you want to, if ever.”

I want to now.

“
If we make love, wonderful, and if we don’t, that’s okay.”

No it’s not, dammit.

“
I don’t need any more notches in my headboard.”

Yes, you do. You need mine.

“
I have an idea. Tomorrow, I want to take you to the dance studio I use. We’ll work out together. Would you like that?”

She shook her head. “I didn’t bring a leo or shoes. I have nothing.”

He looked so animated, so happy, she just had to go along. “I’ll tell you what. I have a friend about your size. I’ll stop by her place on the way in and borrow some from her. Is that all right?”

Hoping her disappointment didn’t show, she nodded.

“
Do you use leg warmers?”

She nodded. “If she has them.”

“
Great. It’s a date. Let’s finish off the night by dancing a set, then I’ll take you back to the hotel so you’ll be nice and fresh in the morning. I’ll pick you up at nine.”

Just like that, her date with the Hawaiian hottie ended disappointedly with her honor for the night intact.
Tomorrow will be another day.

* * * *

She opened her eyes to the squawk of gulls and sat up. She walked out on the balcony in her nightshirt and inhaled a deep drag of ocean air. It was so beautiful here, she could almost feel the presence of the creator.

She’d hoped to wake up naked in Kino’s powerful arms, a satisfied woman who had once more known the pleasure of a man—a godlike man.

Jessie
. She wondered how she ended up? It was still early, but she decided to knock on the door to our adjoining rooms. “Jess, are you there?” No answer, she turned the doorknob and peeked inside. The bed had not been slept in. There was no sign of her.

Jessie, you sly dog. I hope you fucked his socks off.

She picked up the phone, thinking she’d call, then decided it was still too early to call her.

* * * *

She knew Glory was in good hands, so she didn’t feel bad leaving her with Kino. After a couple drinks and a half dozen dances, Del took her to his room at the Ala Moana Hotel. He really was a good dancer, better than Darnell. Of course, recalling the rumor ‘good dancers make good lovers’ had her dying to check him out. The conclusion? She was a believer. Del was attentive and sweet, and a devilishly good lover.

She glanced at him. He was still sleeping. The clock read 7:15. She laughed silently. She must not have regretted it, because she was up early. Quietly slipping out of bed, she took her phone into the bathroom. She needed to call baby sis and find out if Kino lived up to their lofty expectations. Sitting on the toilet, she dialed her number.

“
Hello.”

“
Was the Hawaiian bartender as good as he looked?”

There was silence and then, “Oh, Jessie! I was having an internal debate about calling you. How was your paleface?”

“
Better than expected. I’ll tell you about it, but I’m dying to know how your hunk of a date was.”

“
I’m afraid I don’t know. I may never find out. I was about to close the deal and slam him into bed, when somehow, I screwed it up. I started to give this long, detailed explanation of why I wanted to fuck him. When I told him I was a dancer, you would have thought a halo formed around my shoulder-length curly do. After that, he went from Casanova to my best friend and said he was willing to wait until I was ready. He likes me. Do you believe that? He said he likes me as if that’s a reason
not
to have sex with someone. Silly me, I thought you had sex with someone
because
you liked them.”

“
I don’t get it, baby. What does being a dancer have to do with this change in attitude?”

“
I guess, we’re soul mates, not like a sister or a brother, but as dancers. He’s been dancing since eight and apparently he loves dancing more than he loves sex with
moi
. So here I sit, half wound up, then wound down, hornier than a monk at Beltane, frustrated, waiting for my Polynesian dreamboat to take me to his dance studio. I swear, I hope they have a shower there, because like me or not, I’m going to ambush that boy.”

Jess laughed.

“
Damn it, Jessie, it’s not funny. I better hang up and get ready. He’s going to be here in an hour. Hopefully I’ll have more to report in my next phone call.”

“
Bye, baby, I’m sure he’s worth the wait.”

“
Hope you’re right, Jess. I love you.”

“
I love you, too. Bye.”

“
Bye.”

* * * *

At nine sharp, Kino rapped on her door. When she opened it, a big, white, beatific smile stared her in the face. “Hi, I have your dancing clothes right here.”

She lowered her gaze and saw a white leo, purple leg warmers, dance shorts, toe shoes and modern dance shoes. “Ballet, too?”

He nodded.

“
I haven’t practiced ballet in ten years.”

“
Good, maybe you won’t show me up too bad then.”

“
Just because I make a living at it doesn’t make me a star.”

“
Sure, they take any old dancer and make them lead dancers. And while they’re at it they take the worst ones and let them do the choreography.”

Gloria pursed her lips. Noticing he already wore his dance paraphernalia, she decided to change there, rather than at the studio. “I’ll change into these, then we can leave.” She went into the dressing alcove and took off her robe. As she put it on a hanger, she scoped Kino gaping at her in the mirror.
At least he has enough interest to steal a look at me naked.
She took her time dressing, but unfortunately, after donning the first item, the leotard, she was effectively dressed. Wearing everything but the dance shoes, she stepped out wearing tennies. “I’m ready.”

* * * *

They pulled up to Dance Hawaii, as they called the dance center. It was in a warehouse located in an industrial area, as many are. She stepped out of the Jeep and accompanied him. Surprisingly, being there invigorated her. Dancing was her life and that life had begun in a dance/gymnastics studio not unlike this in Compton, California, when she was six. She hadn’t been to a dance center for three years when she’d moved to Las Vegas. Nostalgia came flooding back to her as she walked through the front door. Kino grasped her hand and led her toward a tiny Asian woman in the center of the dance group. “Keko, I’d like you to meet Gloria Owens.”

She bowed her head. “Much pleased to meet you, Gloria.”

“
Thank you. I too am pleased, but I must tell you my last name is Carter.”

Kino frowned. “I’m sorry. I never thought your sister’s last name might be different.”

She nodded. “It’s all right.”

“
Gloria, Keko is native born but Japanese. There are many Japanese here.”

“
Keko, Gloria is visiting from the mainland. She is a professional dancer in Las Vegas. She must be very good because they just named her lead dancer. In a
Cirque du Soleil
show.”

Keko nodded and bowed. “Yes, very good. I be happy to watch. There so little opportunity for dancers here—except hula.” She tittered.

“
I would imagine. I see everyone is warming up for ballet. I must tell you, I haven’t practiced ballet in ten years.”