Life's a Beach (12 page)

“Check the bed for bugs.”

He whipped off the covers. The sheets smelled of bleach. They were as soft as sandpaper, but bug-free. “No critters.”

“It's fine, Dude. I love it.”

He looked at her as if she was crazy.

“Okay, maybe that's a stretch. But it's only for one night, and it's going to be a beautiful place to sightsee tomorrow. The gardens by where we parked looked gorgeous. Besides, we weren't planning on sleeping much.”

“You deserve so much more than this,” he said.

“I know you wanted this to be special.” Amelia walked into his arms. “It is. Jay never did anything like this for me.”

“I bet,” Samuel said with a humorless laugh.

“The most he ever did was level up my priestess while I was at work and trick her out in epic armor. But I suspect that was so I didn't die in the fifty-man dungeons and leave him without a pocket healer.”

“I didn't understand a word of that.”

“It doesn't matter,” she said. “It's the thought that counts. And you know what? If Kincaide owned this hotel, it would never look like this. His staff would take pride in the cottages. You don't have his number, do you?”

“Why, you want to call him? I thought you hated him.”

“I don't hate him. I think he's an entitled shit with his head up his ass.”

Ouch. But he was beginning to think she wasn't wrong.

She held out her palm.

“Now?” A hysterical giggle threatened to escape from his throat. It had been too long a day for this.

“His whole thing is that the Palekaiko is too run-down. He needs to see this place. This place makes Palekaiko look like the freakin' Ritz-Carlton.”

“I'll take pictures for him. There's no need to disturb him.”

“You don't understand. Once he sees this place, he'll be more inclined to fix up his own resort. And if he's any kind of an entrepreneur, he'll see if he can wrangle this place away from Tetsuo Hojo and show him how it's done.”

“Samuel Kincaide isn't an entrepreneur. He's a stock broker. His brother, Marcus, has all the hotel experience.” Samuel couldn't believe he was now reduced to talking about himself in the third person.

“Do you have Marcus's number?”

“It'll keep. It's been a long day. Why are you so gung-ho about saving the resort? This time next week you'll be up to your ankles in snow.”

Amelia made a face. “But you'll still be here. And Kai, and Joely, and Zarafina.”

“Your aunt is staying?”

“She figures it beats suffering through a New York winter.”

“I don't blame her.” Samuel wondered if the resort needed a fortune-teller. “What else can she do?”

“I'm not sure, but I'm going to go look at some of the more affordable housing.”

He snorted. “Good luck with that.”

“Maybe around the university?”

Samuel held the door open for her as she swept the dirt and other stuff out. With the ocean breeze clearing out the musty smell, his blood pressure was settling down a bit. She was right. It was only for one night.

“Yeah, there's bound to be some kids looking for a roommate. But she's a little old for the college crowd, isn't she?”

“Maybe,” Amelia admitted, pulling the wine bottle out of her bag. “Now, I'm going to take a shower and then we're going to drink wine and put the scarves to good use.”

“I think I could live with that.”

She handed him the bottle and opener and took her backpack into the shower.

Her muffled shriek had him intercepting her as she flew out of the bathroom. “I thought you were exaggerating about the B-52 cockroaches.”

Samuel poked his head in. “Day-um. Where's my phone? I need a picture of that.”

“Don't make him mad.”

“I think it's a she and she's pregnant.”

“And I'm done.” Amelia walked out of the cabin.

Amelia woke up to Zarafina making the Kona coffee.

“Bless you,” she muttered, and rolled over.

“You're usually up before me. Or usually come in before I'm awake. What happened?”

“Long day. Just wanted to sleep.” Amelia pulled the covers over her head.

“What's wrong with sleeping in with the hottie?”

“I didn't want to get up early.”

“He doesn't strike me as an early riser.”

Amelia sat up and yawned. “He's not, but I hate the morning-after awkwardness. I'd rather just go than be kicked out or left alone when he left.”

Zarafina shook her head. “Stay the night and the morning.”

“I can't,” she whispered.

“Why?”

“Because I'll fall in love with him if I do that.” Amelia plucked at the blanket. “And he only wants a few more days.”

“Listen to the cards and to me. You will have more than a few more days. Don't wall off your heart. You're not going to find him in bed with a failed actress turned coffee clerk.”

“Quinn was a failed actress?” Amelia mused. “That explains why she was so pretty.”

“That one had a path, but it was too much hard work. So she chose another.” Zarafina shrugged. “You are on the right path. Don't let anyone knock you off it.”

Amelia accepted a cup of coffee from her. “What did you used to do before you became a fortune-teller?”

“I was always a fortune-teller,” she said.

“I mean, if we were going to do your résumé, what would be on it?”

“That I've owned my own business for the past ten years.” She held up her tarot cards. “Anything beyond that doesn't matter.”

“But—”

“Don't worry about me. I have it all under control. You need to concentrate on you.”

Amelia nodded. “I'm going to take a shower and then go see what the boys are up to. If you're not going to need the room, I might see about convincing Dude to spend the afternoon with me.”

Zarafina waved her hand over her cards. “There's something else afoot. You will not need the room this afternoon. However, I have a private party to attend, so I will not be here.”

“Oh, yeah?” Amelia leaned forward. “What type of party?”

“It's a bridal party. I met the bridesmaids yesterday. I'll be doing readings during the shower.”

“That sounds like a lot of fun.”

“Your day will be better.”

“Then I'd better get out of here.” Amelia took a nice long shower, after checking for bugs. Dude had been nice enough to drive them all the way back home last night, but she didn't have it in her to go back to his room. She tried to assure him she wasn't mad, just exhausted. But she didn't think he bought it 100 percent.

As she walked to the lobby with her second cup of coffee, Amelia realized that she had stopped wondering what the people in New York were doing or what time it was back east—unless she had to call her family. She hadn't told them about her great plan to stay in Hawaii, mostly because she hadn't found an apartment or a job yet. She was going to scope out a couple of Craigslist postings, but she wanted to take Makoa with her for that. The big guy's presence would make anyone planning on robbing her think twice. But so far they hadn't been able to arrange a time when they were both free. It was going to have to be a priority this week; otherwise she'd be booking another hotel room and stretching her credit cards even further when this vacation was up.

Her phone buzzed, and she looked down, expecting it to be Dude. But the number was New York. She picked it up. “Hello?”

“How do you stand his juvenile bullshit?”

Quinn?

“
Uh, trouble in paradise?” Amelia managed to say, without snarling at the sheer balls it took for Quinn to be calling her for relationship advice.

“He doesn't want to go out. All he wants to do is play video games all day and eat pizza.”

“What happened to fucking? I seem to remember you guys liked to do the wild thing.”

“Yeah, once a week. I thought that was because he was afraid of getting caught. Nope.”

“Gee, Quinn. I'm not at all sorry.” Amelia wondered where this conversation was going.

“He's a cheap bastard too. I have to pay for delivery.”

“Yeah, but you're living there rent free,” Amelia pointed out.

“No, I'm not. He needs his space, he says. He needs time to mourn the death of your relationship.”

Amelia snorted. “No, he's probably fucking the maid. Come by on one of the cleaning days.”

“He wouldn't dare.” Quinn's voice shook.

“I always wondered why he took a shower and shaved on Wednesdays. And Connie's got some serious badonkadonk.”

“I've got to go. Thanks.”

“No problem,” Amelia said, and hung up. Pressing a few buttons, she muttered to herself, “Blocking that bitch so that doesn't happen again. Talk about harshing my buzz.”

“Trouble in paradise?” Rosalie was smoking against one of the chipped stone tiki gods.
Speaking of maids who are probably banging their bosses…

“What?” Amelia asked as she walked by.

“You and Dude break up?”

She stopped dead in her tracks. “That's none of your business.”

“What do you see in him? He smells.”

“He does not. I like him. He treats me nice. This isn't any of your business.”

“Sistah, you need to raise your standards. You also should start thinking about being a little more discreet. The Kincaides frown on fraternization.”

“They're not here, are they?” Amelia resisted the urge to stick her tongue out at the hateful woman. How sweet and kind Joely dealt with this bitch on a daily basis, she'd never know.

“Maybe someone will tell them.”

“I'll jump off that bridge when I get to it.” Amelia made a note to ask Dude if he was going to get in trouble for screwing around with her. She had a feeling he wouldn't give a shit, but she'd try to convince him to keep it on the down-low.

Amelia knew something was wrong when she heard the yelling even before she got to the lobby. She rushed in and saw Hani and Kai trying to calm down a family. The kids, preteens, were rolling their eyes and playing on their phones. The mother was shouting at Kai about how he had ruined their vacation. The father was grilling Hani about how something like this could have happened. She sidled up behind the counter, but the movement caught the mother's eye.

“Who are you?” she asked.

“I'm Amelia Parker. Can I help?”

“No,” the mother said, and Amelia could see she was trying not to cry. “We were supposed to get a wake-up call and we didn't. Now we've missed the bus to Hana. It was the only day we were able to make it.”

“I'm sorry,” Amelia said. “What were you looking forward to seeing most? I'm familiar with Hana, and maybe I can find something similar to help you out. I realize it's not going to take the place of going there yourself…”

The father pulled himself away from Hani. “I want you to book us a rental car and we'll make the drive ourselves.”

Hani and Kai were shaking their heads at her from behind the family.

“We could do that, sir. But it's a three-hour drive to go fifty miles. You'll be traveling over bridges and six hundred switchback turns. It's also raining there right now.” Amelia had no idea, but it was a good guess.

“Raining?” the mother said. “Well, that will ruin everything.”

“It's a rain forest,” Hani said, but he got smacked in the head by Makoa, who had just walked into the lobby. He had the security chief, Holt Kawena, with him—for what reason, Amelia didn't know, unless they thought this was going to get ugly.
Amateurs. Wait until they have a sold-out Broadway play that Little Miss Pet Food needs to see or she's going to throw a fit to rival an opera star's aria.

“I can offer you a free barbecue
pikiniki
at D. T. Fleming Beach. Our caterers will pack a complete lunch, blanket, umbrella, and chairs. We'll drop you off and pick you up. D. T. Fleming has a lifeguard, and we've had sea turtle sightings this week.”

“Cool,” the boy said, looking up from his video games.

His parents gaped at him.

The girl even chimed in. “I want to see a sea turtle.”

“When can we leave?” the mother asked.

Amelia looked over at Kai.

“We'll meet you out front here in twenty minutes,” he said as Hani scrambled to the kitchen to put together the items. “In the meantime, you can wait at the buffet. I'll make sure your waitress knows you have a bus to catch.” Kai escorted the family into the restaurant.

“Kai was trying to do that,” Makoa said. “But they wouldn't listen.”

“Sometimes they need someone new to yell at. I hope I didn't overstep myself?” She'd hate it if Kai or Hani got mad at her.

“Hell, no. In fact, I think they gonna owe you one.”

“That was nicely done.” A handsome American stepped forward. He had his luggage on the rickety rolling rack. She hadn't noticed him, but he must have seen the whole thing.

“Checking in, sir? I can take you over here.” Makoa gestured without looking up from his clipboard.

“I'm Marcus Kincaide.”

“Oh, shit.” Makoa looked up and recognized the owner. “I mean, aloha.”

“Yeah,” Marcus said. “Just give me the keys to the owner's suite and take my luggage up to my room.” He held up a twenty, and Makoa tossed him a set of keys and then took the rickety cart away. “I don't believe I know you.” He held out his hand to her. “And I thought I knew all of the staff.”

“I'm Amelia Parker.” She shook his hand.

Kai came out of the restaurant. “Mr. Kincaide.
Kanapapiki.
” He groaned.

“He means aloha too,” Amelia said with a frown. “I'm very surprised to see you. It's an interesting coincidence. I was in Hana yesterday with Dude and we were talking about how nice it would be to show you the hotel we stayed at.”

“You were in Hana? Yesterday? With Dude?”

She blinked.
Oh, shit. Fraternization.
“Yes, if that's all right. I think Dude took a personal day. I know he didn't have any snorkeling workshops lined up. And if he did, he's very good about getting Hani to cover, right, Kai?”

“Yup.”

“Do you work here?” Marcus asked.

“Not really,” she said at the same time Kai said yes.

“Which is it?” Marcus leaned against the desk. He must have traveled as far as she had, but he looked much less crumpled than she felt. Still, she could sense the weariness in him. She poured him a cup of Kona from her special stash under the concierge desk.

“I haven't had a time to tell her this, but I got the kahuna to agree to give her a 15 percent commission on the trips she books.”

“Samuel agreed to this?” Marcus raised an eyebrow.

That was news to her. Maybe Samuel Kincaide wasn't all bad. “I used to be a concierge in Manhattan,” Amelia said, handing him the cup. “You take it black?”

“As my soul,” he said, and took a sip. His eyes widened and he took a larger one. “Which hotel?”

“The Goldfish, but I was let go rather abruptly. So when I came down here, it was fun to help out.”

“You're one of my guests?” he asked.

“Yes.”

“And Dude's girlfriend?”

“Oh, I wouldn't go that far.” She laughed. “Dude's not one for commitment, but I think he's a great guy. He works very hard and would never let our friendship get in the way of his duties.”

Marcus laughed. “I've known Dude a long time. Why were you let go at the Goldfish?”

“It's kind of embarrassing. I had booked this vacation and put in for these two weeks over a year ago. But the night before I was supposed to leave, my boss told me to cancel my vacation.”

Marcus tilted his head. “Why?”

“The other concierge had quit that morning and he couldn't spare me.”

“You told him to shove it and he fired you?”

“I was a little more polite than that. I offered to stay late to train a temp.” She might have sounded a little defensive, because he held up his hand.

“I get it.”

“Thanks. Well, anyway I think you have a lot of potential in this property. Kai and the guys have a lot of great ideas. They just don't know how to implement them with the short staff they have. Joely, one of the maids, provides excellent customer service. I even think you have an opportunity to expand in Hana. Dude and I stayed at one of Tetsuo Hojo's places, and it was a nightmare. We wound up turning back and coming home. I'd like to show you the pictures sometime and maybe tell you some of my ideas about this place.” Then she remembered how she felt after an eleven-hour plane ride. “I'm sorry. I didn't mean to jump all over you.”

“No, that's okay. Your enthusiasm is refreshing. How about having dinner with me tonight at the Sand Castle? It's up the beach by Whaler's Village. We can walk there from here.”

“That sounds great!” Amelia was shocked. She hadn't had a chance to go there yet, and a nice dinner would be fantastic after that belly bomber in Hana.

“I'll meet you here at eight o'clock.”

“Thank you, Mr. Kincaide.” She resisted the urge to curtsey.

“Call me Marcus.”

Amelia watched him walk down the path that Makoa had taken. “Kai, this is great. Marcus sounds much more reasonable than Samuel.”

Kai snorted. “If you're pretty and have great legs.”

She swatted him.

“Otherwise, you just agreed to dinner with the biggest shark in Hawaii. Are you sure Dude's going to like that? You having dinner with another man?”

“It's just business. But you're right. I should tell him. And have him email me those pictures he took from his phone.”