Life's a Beach (15 page)

It was strange not to wake up next to Dude, and even stranger to think how much everything had changed in one week. She stretched and made coffee for her and for Zarafina, who was still sleeping. After getting dressed, she went out on the lanai and called her folks before realizing they were still at work. Leaving a message to let them know she was still alive and loving Hawaii, Amelia figured she'd fill them in on the big news of her new job later in the week.

She saw Holt, the security chief, on the third floor of her building. He pinned her with a look, but he wore mirrored shades, so she couldn't see what his expression was. He reminded her of Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson.

“Good morning,” she said, trying to find any resemblance to Dude.

“Morning, ma'am,” he said politely, and nodded at her. He straightened when Joely came out of a room with a handful of dirty towels.

Amelia gave her the shaka and continued on. She saw out of the corner of her eye that Holt was going over to talk to her. Kai's text came back to her.

Your brother is driving us crazy. When are you coming back?

“Hey, look who's back from her vacation's vacation!” Kai said from the desk.

Makoa lifted her up in a bear hug and whirled her around. “Marcus told us the good news. Glad to have you on board.”

“You guys can't tell Dude yet. I'm going to do it later this week, okay?”

“Yeah, we got it,” Hani said.

They looked at her expectantly.

“What?”

“Did Dude say anything to you this weekend?”

“About what?”

Kai sighed, and Makoa shook his head.

Hani shrugged. “Guess not.”

“Tell me what?”

“He's probably gonna tell you later this week too,” Makoa said.

“What's the deal with the security chief? He's making Joely jumpy.” Amelia opened up her secret stash of coffee to make herself a cup and noticed it was getting low. She would have to find some transportation if she wanted to keep herself in quality coffee after she returned her rental car. Maybe Dude could get Marcus's permission to use Samuel's bike?

“I think he likes her,” Makoa said. “He watches her like he's going to gobble her up.”

“Is he a nice guy?” Amelia asked.

“Not really,” Hani said.

“In what way?”

Hani shrugged.

Amelia worried about Joely. If Holt was the type of guy who liked to throw his weight around, she didn't want him anywhere near Joely.

“Whatchu doin' later?” Kai asked, snapping her out of her dark thoughts.

“I was going to go do some shopping. Maybe at Whaler's Village and see if I can get some decent coffee a little closer than Maui Grindz.”

“Can you put that off until tomorrow?”

“I guess,” she said. “What's up?”

“My brother-in-law, Pika, just got the permits for his parasailing company.”

“That's great,” Amelia said. She had been trying to get one of the other companies to pick up on Palekaiko's beachfront, but none of the tours wanted to risk their contracts with the chain hotels. She could still have her guests walk down the beach, but she felt it was more convenient if they could get picked up somewhere recognizable, like Dude's palm trees.

“He wants to take us on the maiden voyage.”

“I've never parasailed before,” she said.

“You afraid of heights?”

“Not really. I'm afraid of
falling
from heights.”

“Not going to happen,” he said. “It's absolutely safe.”

“All right,” Amelia said. “Why don't we invite Marcus Kincaide?”

Kai groaned. “Do we have to?”

“Considering he's one of the big kahunas that own this place, yes. I think it's a nice gesture, and he can see how having new tours can really invigorate the resort. What room is he staying in?”

“The owner's suite.”

“Great. I'll buzz him and see if he's free.”

“You sure about this?”

“I am. Have your brother-in-law pick us up by Dude's palm trees. If this works out, that will be his spot.”

“Roger dat,” Kai said, and walked away to call Pika.

Amelia used the switchboard's phone to buzz the owner's suite.

“You have those numbers for me yet, Kai?”

“Aloha, Mr. Kincaide.”

“Who's this?”

“Amelia.” She bit her lip. Had he forgotten?

“I thought you weren't supposed to start until next Monday.”

“Oh, that—yes, I am. I just heard from a new parasail operator. He invited us out this afternoon, and I wanted to extend the invitation to you.”

“Parasailing? All right. It's been awhile. What are our insurance liabilities?”

“Minimal. I've seen the standard contracts, and the riders basically waive their rights. But we mandate that the equipment be inspected by the regulative authorities on a monthly basis. The company has to present a copy of the certifications and sign-offs or we don't give them people. And of course the ride is contingent upon the weather. In bad weather, they'll issue a certificate that can be redeemed for another day or time.”

“What's our take?”

“Fifty-fifty, with them keeping 100 percent of the tips and anything else they can sell on the boat, like pictures, T-shirts, and key chains.”

He grunted. “Sounds good. When and where?”

“One second—let me confirm.” She put him on hold. “Kai, when does he want us?”

“Two?”

“Two,” Amelia said. “By Dude's palm trees on the beach in front of the hotel.”

“See you then.”

Amelia went down early to let Dude know what was going on. He was drinking and swinging back and forth.

“Miss me last night?” he asked as she came up to him.

“I did,” she said, leaning down and giving him a kiss. She had just needed some space away from him to remember that she could live without him. It had been hard to fall asleep without him wrapped around her, and she did miss making love to him when she was barely awake. But that yacht was an even greater fantasy than the all-inclusive resort. Amelia needed to get her head together so that if things exploded messily this weekend, she could pick up the pieces. She couldn't do that if she was attached to his dick 24/7.

“So next time come back to my room with me.”

“You're not getting rid of me that easily. I'll be over after dinner.” That should give her stupid heart enough time to settle down and let her libido come out to play.

“Radical,” he said, and gave her the shaka.

“Speaking of which, Kai's brother-in-law is going to do parasailing tours for us. He's taking Kai, me, and Marcus Kincaide out today around two. If everything works out, we're going to have the guests pick up the Zodiac here. You might have to have them fill out waivers if Pika isn't on the beach yet, to save time.”

“Does Pika have his permits?”

Amelia nodded.

“What kind of captain is he?”

“Never met the man. I'll check him out this afternoon.”

“Mind if I go too?”

“Can you be nice to Marcus?”

“Marcus, is it?”

She rolled her eyes. “Not this again. I'm going to take a walk up to Whaler's Village. Come with me and I'll treat you to a shaved ice so you know I love you best.”

All the breath left her body, but she forced the smile to stay plastered on her face. She hadn't for meant that to slip out. Maybe he'd take it as a joke. He seemed to because he just smiled lazily at her. “I don't know, sistah. It's a long walk.”

She snorted. “I'll see you later.”

“Does that mean you're not going to bring me back an ice?” he called after her.

“It'll melt.”

“I'll lick it up.”

She blushed and hoped no one heard him.

It was fun to window-shop in Whaler's Village and casually walk around. She found some presents for her sister and parents, and as she was looking for someplace to have lunch, her phone rang.

“Hi, Mom,” she said, sitting on a bench.

“How's Hawaii? What's the weather like there?”

“It's beautiful. Just coming up to about eighty degrees.”

“Have you been over to Pearl Harbor yet?”

“No. I haven't had the time.”

“Well, maybe on your way back home?”

“That's actually why I called before.” Amelia took a deep breath. “I'm not coming back for a while.”

There was a long pause. Finally her mother said, “Are you pulling a practical joke?”

“No, I've got a job as a concierge down here and I'm going to stay for a while. I might come back for Thanksgiving. Or you're welcome to come down here anytime. I can get you a good rate.”

“Honey, people don't really stay in Hawaii after their vacation. They joke about it. You can't just uproot your life and live half a world away.”

“My world was already uprooted at the start of this vacation. No job. No boyfriend. No apartment.”

“You could have come home.”

“I like it in Maui.”

Her mother laughed. “Well, I can't argue with that. I imagine you don't have two feet of snow in your driveway.”

“I had two feet of sand in my bathing suit,” she admitted.

“I'll trade you.”

“See?” Amelia said. “I'm not crazy to want to do this.”

“I'm going to have to talk your father into taking a vacation soon.” She paused momentarily, then added, “Is there anyone special we should know about?”

Amelia's thoughts flickered to Dude. But what was she going to say—
In the week I've been here, I've been sleeping with a guy I know nothing about except he's fabulous in bed
? Not the conversation she was going to have with her mother.

“I just broke up with Jay. It's only been a week.” It had been an eternity as far as she was concerned.

“Well, I'm happy for you. I'm really jealous too. Do you want me to tell your sister or do you want to?”

“You tell her. I'm sure she'll blow up my phone as soon as you do. I've got presents for all of you, so that should ease the pain a bit. I'll ship them back.”

“Do you need anything?”

Amelia shook her head. “No, I'm good. I'm more than good. I'm happy.”

“Okay, love you.”

“Love you too.”

Hanging up, Amelia realized she didn't really feel like eating by herself. So she walked back home and had lunch with Zarafina and chatted until it was time to meet everyone for parasailing.

Zarafina grabbed her wrist as she went to leave. “Wear a life vest.”

Amelia gave a nervous chuckle. “Oh yeah, definitely.” Then she looked into the woman's worried eyes. “Is everything going to be all right?”

After a moment Zarafina's face cleared. “Yes. You are on your great adventure, remember?”

Still a little worried, Amelia nodded and headed toward Dude's palm trees. The men were already gathered and she was relieved that the only ones drinking beer were Marcus and Dude. Everyone, though, was wearing life jackets.

“Aloha,” Pika said, and shook her hand vigorously. “I can fit eight people and me in the Zodiac.” He handed her a life jacket.

“Really?” Amelia said, looking at the inflatable boat skeptically. She shrugged into the jacket, and Dude helped her with the buckles, accidentally-on-purpose fondling her breast in the process. She gave him a one-armed hug.

“Three on each side and two on the bow.”

Amelia thought that was a little cramped, but as they pushed the boat out she saw there was plenty of room. The men timed it so that they jumped in as a wave went out, Dude hauled her in as a wave came in, and they were off.

The ride to the parasailing boat was fun. She wanted to sit on the floor, as she had when Dude took her to the yacht, but this time he made her sit on the side next to him. His strong arm locked her in place.

“This is Amelia's first time,” Kai said.

“Oh, you'll love it. Do you want to go up tandem or solo?” Pika said.

“Your first time should be solo,” Dude said, his eyes twinkling. “But I'll go up with you if you need me to hold your hand.”

“How far up do you go?”

“We can do six hundred, nine hundred, or sixteen hundred.”

“Feet?” she squeaked.

“Roger dat.”

“No one will think you're scared if you only do six hundred,” Dude teased.

“You might as well go all the way up. The aerial views of all the islands will be magnificent. Clear day like today, you'll be able to see the volcanoes and Molokini,” Marcus said.

“It's safe, right?”

“ 
‘Ae.
Since it's your first time, we won't dip you,” Pika said.

“What the hell does that mean?” She had visions of the motor being shut off and herself plummeting into the water.

“It means we slowly drag you into the water. First your toes, then you go up to your waist, and then we pull you up and you walk back on the boat.”

“I don't have to do that, right? I didn't wear my suit.”

“No, you won't ever touch the water. I'll pull you back so you come down from the air onto the deck like a fairy princess.”

Tingles ran up and down her spine, and she bit her lip. As Pika secured the Zodiac to the boat, his other two helpers, who were already on the boat, helped them aboard.

“I'll go up with you,” Dude said. “I was just joking.”

“No,” she said, squeezing his hand. “I have to learn to do things on my own.”
Because you might not be around in a few days.

“You'll be fine. It's beautiful up there.”

Pika turned the big boat around and piloted it over the waves, going farther out into the ocean, but not too far. His crew did a radio test and a line test, and then it was time for her to be buckled into the rig. It was like sitting in a big swing. Pika checked that she was in securely, and Dude double-checked it. He winked, stealing a wicked tongue kiss just as they lifted her off.