Paradise Wild (Wild At Heart Book 2) (7 page)

People have drinks. And they’re eating. I probably want to avoid both unless I’m looking to get kicked out for spilling something on a fancy painting.

“Ellie.”

She turned to see Baby Hater with a buff, beautiful blonde on his arm, his female twin in all things perfectly surfer.

“Epic. Here’s the person next to me on the plane. Brigie, meet Ellie. I’m getting you two drinks.”

Ellie waved to deter him but his back was turned. She faced the stunning Brigie.

Oh, great. What’s Baby Hater’s real name again?

Ellie fumbled. “It was awesome of…your husband to invite me here. I don’t know anybody on Maui yet except…your husband.”

“He’s always stoked to make people feel at home.”

“He’s a great introduction to Maui. Perfect for the plane. Gave me a really awesome picture.”

Brigie smiled as though she understood exactly what Ellie was talking about.

Which is good, because I have
no
idea what I’m talking about.

Baby Hater appeared fortuitously with champagne. Ellie buried her face in the glass. She grinned at his explanation of the octopus in the window and then dove, drink in hand, into the heart of the gallery.

A marine theme dominated the displayed art. Ellie marveled at the mediums used to depict creatures of the deep and at the imagination that morphed a turtle into a coat rack and a humpback whale into a miniature piano.

“Do you like cephalopods?” An eerily tan man of about fifty materialized at her elbow.

“Cephalopods?” Ellie blinked and tried not to scratch her head. “Sure.”

“Which do you prefer?” The man leaned toward her.

Her eyes flicked from his to the glass in her hand. “Uh, they’re all kind of nice?”

“I agree. Everyone likes Nautilus. But I prefer octopuses.” He took a step forward, nearly rubbing arms with her.

“Oh.”

He inclined his head conspiratorially and whispered in her ear. “Did you know they’re a kind of mollusk?”

“Gosh, no.” Ellie looked around for Brigie.

“Most people don’t know they’re related to clams and oysters. But if you visualize their construction…”

Ellie suddenly jumped. Champagne splashed on her dress.

Did he just pinch my butt?

Mr. Octopus stared blankly. He solicitously proffered his napkin and reached forward as though to help wipe the front of her dress. Ellie pulled back. As she did, her bottom collided with a zebra-painted sculpture of two dolphins cavorting with a ukulele.

“Whoops-a-daisy. Don’t want to break this one.” A smiling woman in flower-print leggings and a cropped dark top steadied the black and white creation. “It’s worth more than you think.”

Ellie shot her a grateful glance. When she pivoted to glare at Mr. Octopus, he had disappeared into the crowd. She swiveled back to the woman.

“Thanks for the save. I have a history of being clumsy.”

The woman took a sip from a Perrier bottle. “You should try yoga.”

Ellie searched for a tray on which to deposit her glass. “For my history?”

“For moving effortlessly through space.”

“That’s a nice way of putting it.”

The lithe woman stretched out her hand. “I’m Jacqui Novotny. I teach yoga here at the hotel.”

“I’m Ellie Atherton.” Ellie shook the proffered hand and bent to examine the price tag of the piece she almost knocked to the floor. She stood quickly, her face drained of color. “I’ve got to go. I have no business being in a room where I could break things worth that kind of money.”

Jacqui grinned. “I’ll walk you out. I’ve done about all the schmoozing I can stand for one evening.”

Near the exit, Jacqui grabbed two fresh Perrier bottles from the buffet and handed one to Ellie.

Ellie unscrewed the top and took a long gulp. “You don’t drink?”

Jacqui raised an eyebrow. “Oh, I drink. But not on the job.”

Ellie stood at the wide stone railing opposite the gallery and looked out over the manicured garden with palm trees surrounding a Maui-shaped swimming pool. “You work at the gallery?”

“At the hotel. Tonight’s not part of the formal job description. But if they think there might not be enough guests at something like this, the word’s passed around.” She rubbed her hands through her short, bleached hair, making it stand in all directions. “Like stuffing the bottom of the tip jar before you put it out.” She regarded Ellie. “Why are you here? You don’t look like a hotel guest.”

“What gives that away?”

“You’re unattached, for one. Not many single women come to Maui without girlfriends in tow.”

Ellie explained her circumstances, giving Jacqui a brief history of Vivyenne and Viv. Jacqui leaned against a carved pillar, listening and nodding.

“Sounds crazy, right?” Ellie laid her purse on the broad railing and put her hands on her hips.

“I’d have made the same choice.”

“I got totally suckered by the money.” Ellie flung her hands wide. Both women both watched Ellie’s purse sail a graceful arc into the garden below.

“It’s Maui, honey. We’re all suckered by something.” Jacqui took Ellie by the arm. “Let’s go find your purse. And then I’m giving you a free yoga lesson.”

Chapter 7

Later that evening, Ellie’s white Sentra pulled over crushed vines into her uninviting driveway. She parked the car and locked the gate. The house looked dark and uninviting after the lights and excitement of the hotel.

When she pushed open the heavy door, Viv sat statuesque in the wooden foyer. She slung him over her shoulder.

“I sometimes wish you were a big, scary German shepherd.”

Viv rubbed his face against her cheek and purred.

“I know.” She stroked against the grain of his fur. “Nobody protects me from creepy crawlies better than you.”

She laid her phone on the kitchen counter. The screen indicated two text messages from an 808 number.

Great. More creepy crawlies to worry about.

Viv hopped from her arm and batted the phone across the granite surface. Ellie rapped his paw.

“Bad cat. This is
not
an eight-hundred-dollar cat toy.”

She spun the phone around and read the first message:

Hey it’s Noa. Hope 2CU soon
.

And the second:

JTOU
.

Well, I
wasn’t
thinking of you, Noa. What I
was
thinking about was how you got my number.

She swiped delete and jumped as the device jiggled with a new text from another number she didn’t recognize:

It’s Denver. JTOU.

Sounds much better coming from you.
She added him to her contact list.

Ellie: Thx. U busy?

Denver: At work. As usual.

Ellie: Not me. Gallery opening tonite.

She poured cat kibble into Viv’s bowl and got herself a bottle of beer from the refrigerator.

Denver: Jealous.

She used one finger to punch her response as she fished in a drawer for an opener.

Ellie: Would have been more fun if u’d…

Don’t go there. Keep it light.

Delete.

Ellie: Was fun. Did yoga.

Denver: At gallery?

Ellie: Private lesson in ritzy spa.

Ellie gave up the search for the opener and put the beer back in the refrigerator, bumping the door shut with her hip.

Denver: Now really jealous.

Ellie: Might go back. Liked the instructor.

Ellie sucked on her little finger.

Denver: Was it a man?

She grinned.

Gotcha.

Ellie: Woman. Jacqui.

Denver: Glad u made a friend.

Ellie followed Viv to the master bedroom and flopped on the comforter next to him.

Ellie: Me 2.

Denver: What u doing now?

Ellie rolled to her side and fondled the cat. She slowly typed a response, closing one eye as she pushed
send
.

Ellie: In bed.

She flipped quickly onto her back and nervously tapped her feet on the mattress. Viv glared at her and hopped from the wiggling surface.

Denver: Sweet dreams.

Ellie’s feet stopped their thumping.

That’s all you have to say?

Ellie: U2.

She boosted herself off the bed and headed back to the kitchen.

Where’s that damn bottle opener?

***

Chimes woke her the following morning. Her hand fumbled across the nightstand until she found the phone. She held it to her ear with her eyes still closed.

“Hello?”

“Hey. It’s Noa.”

“Noa?” She sat up and quickly tugged her nightshirt up under her chin, hiding her cleavage, feeling as if he’d invaded her personal space.

“You get my texts? Just calling to say hi.”

Ellie felt exposed as she looked around the room for a long-sleeved shirt. “Hi. How are you?” She found one, pulled it over her head, and sat on the edge of the bed, legs tightly crossed.

“You coming by the store today?”

Are you kidding?

“Uh. Sorry. I’m busy.” She bit her lip. “And, by the way, how’d you get my number?”

“Your registration. We keep them here at the store in case we have to check up on anyone.”

I don’t need you checking up on me.

Ellie stood. “Look. I’ve got to go. There are people at the door.”

“Yeah. Catch you later then.”

“Bye.”

Ellie threw the phone on the bed and wiped her hand on the sheets as though she’d just touched something dirty.

A car honked. She pulled apart the heavy venetian blinds. Palm fronds blocked her view. More honking accompanied her frantic dressing. She ran in bare feet across the lawn and tiptoed across the vines to the gate.

A young man leaned against it, smiling. She read the name of the landscaping company on his shirt through the iron bamboo fronds.

“Sorry. I forgot you were coming.” She looked down and fiddled with the key in the lock.

I’ve got my shirt on inside out. Sweet.

“Mahalo.” The young man waved his thumb and pinkie at her and climbed into a black pickup. A caravan of three trucks and two trailers with machinery drove through. Ellie waved at the muscular youths inside.

What did Celine say about my not being lonely?

She picked her way back across the vines toward the house as a burly, gray-haired man with a kind face approached. Six men fanned out across the property behind him. Ellie signed the proffered paperwork and handed the foreman a spare gate key. She skipped up the porch stairs and had her hand on the door when renewed crunching of tires sounded from the drive. A white van pulled up behind the trucks.

The cleaners.

Ellie gave the crew of four Asian women a quick tour of the house. Then she retreated to her bedroom to change. But a knock caught her in the act of raising her t-shirt. She pulled it down and answered the door.

“Man at door. Say you want to buy apply ants.”

Ellie laughed. “Apply ants? What are those?”

The young woman nodded seriously, stepped to the side, and motioned for Ellie to go to the door.

“Got it. I’ll just change.”

The young woman shook her head and tugged Ellie’s sleeve.

“Okay. Ants first. Changing for hot studs later.”

The woman’s brow wrinkled. “Excuse?”

Ellie grinned. “Never mind.”

A warm morning breeze blew down the hall. Strands of hair drifted across Ellie’s face and she brushed them out of the way, feeling tangles tug at her fingers.

Celine would not approve of the first impressions I’m making.

The middle-aged Caucasian at the door looked as though he belonged in Iowa. His skin was pale and his plaid button-down short-sleeved shirt was tucked into khaki shorts secured with a web belt that looked like it had come from an army surplus store.

“Mrs. Atherton?”

Ellie glanced at his serious face and bit back a laugh.

“Kind of.”

“You called. Said you wanted to buy some appliances. You wanted…” He checked a computer printout. “An estimate for a refrigerator, stove, microwave, dishwasher, and disposal.”

“I want to buy
apply
-
ant
-ces. I get it.”

A weed whacker revved to a screeching start in the garden, followed closely by the roar of two rider mowers.

Ellie sighed and nodded. “You might as well come in.”

Two hours passed before she re-entered her bedroom suite. There, the shining bathroom floor, glittering mirror, and sparkling chrome made her grab her purse and run.

“Wait.” She beckoned to the women in the white van backing cautiously around the gardeners’ trucks. The driver lowered her window.

“House okay?” Her glance at Ellie betrayed an anxiety to please.

“House is fantastic. Amazing. You did an awesome job.” She gave a thumbs up.

The woman showed a row of brilliantly white teeth.

“Here.” Ellie fished five twenties from her wallet. “A tip.”

The woman’s seat belt constrained her attempt at a bow. “Mahalo.”

Ellie inclined her head. “Mahalo to you.” She stepped back. The women in the back of the van beamed at her.

She waved and spoke softly to herself. “I think Viv’s never going to forgive you, though, when he figures out you cleaned up all his dead roaches.”

Ellie strolled toward the house and suddenly stopped.

The vines are gone.

The entire driveway, previously choked with green tangles, was now bare. Its cracked, dingy asphalt and crushed gravel lay exposed, a dull charcoal gray. Sharply manicured grass edged its sides. Ellie closed her eyes and inhaled air tinged with the scent of freshly mowed lawn. Her shoulders relaxed. Then a leaf blower exploded into life, driving her back into the house.

Before noon, the kitchen overflowed with dirty bowls and spoons. White flour dusted the counters. The air smelled of baking cookies. Viv lay on the windowsill, blinking at Ellie who flung open cabinet after cabinet.

“Where’d I put that stupid serving tray?” She stood still, hands on hips. “What’s the logical place for that?”

She scanned the enormous room. “Who needs fifty cabinets in a kitchen? This isn’t a freaking hotel.”

She finally found it over the oven and piled it high with warm chocolate chip cookies. After hesitating, she removed a few and put them on a plate.

“No point in giving away
all
of them.” She bit into one and peeked at herself in the shiny surface of the large but defective refrigerator.

Hair brushed. Bikini on. Sarong tied provocatively. Celine would be happy.

Outside, she stepped carefully while investigating the uneven ground for stumbling hazards and simultaneously watched the tray for signs it might topple. Gardeners clustered near their trucks eating lunch. They ignored her until she came close, when one of the young men caught her eye.

“These are for you.” Ellie proffered the tray, which tipped dangerously.

The man jumped to his feet and relieved her of the load.

“Wow. Thanks.” His accent indicated he wasn’t a local. He brought the food back to his co-workers. Ellie she fended off a volley of
thank yous
with a wave of her hand and a smile.

The youth sauntered up to her again, amid some muted whistling from his friends. He munched a cookie and held two extra.

“We’re going to devour that.” He jerked his head back at the others. “I thought you might want some yourself.”

Ellie declined.

The youth looked hurt. “My hands are clean. I used hand sanitizer before I touched them.”

Ellie blushed. “It’s not that. I dropped a whole sheet of them on the floor earlier. I didn’t have as many as I’d planned, so I took some from your tray before I brought it out.”

“Bummer about the accident.”

“You’re telling me.”

The youth blinked in the sunshine and shielded his eyes.

He looks like a high schooler. Can’t be more than twenty-one.

Ellie pulled her sarong higher, covering her cleavage. “Can you show me what you’ve done so far?”

“Sure.” He stuffed another cookie in his mouth. “I’m just part-time. But I know what everyone’s up to.”

“Great. I just want to get an overview, so I can tell the owner.”

“Sure.” The final cookie disappeared with remarkable speed. “I’m Brandon.” He held out his hand.

She shook it. “I’m Ellie.”

Brandon strolled over to the fountain on the ragged lawn. “Here’s what I’m doing. We don’t know if we can get this to work.” He pointed to a concealed pipe and on-off handle. Will probably take a plumber. But I’m in charge of rebuilding the wall.” He kicked some loose lava rocks. “Got to take most of it apart first. There’s vines all in it.”