Pleasure in Hawaii (Kimani Romance) (4 page)

“So you’re really into this island thing, huh?”

He grinned crookedly. “You could say that. Ever since my first visit to Hawaii—Honolulu—with my mother and stepfather back in the day, I’ve always had a fascination with the islands. Now one of the islands is home for me.”

“For both of us,” Sloane added.

Gene liked the sound of that. “So you’re planning on sticking around for a while then?”

“Yes, at this point. It’s still early in my move to Maui, but I expect the job to keep me here for some time. I’d love to acclimate myself to Maui like you have. Besides, I hate to move if I can help it.”

“I hear you. Packing up and unpacking can be a drag.”

Sloane faced him. “Does that mean you’d never consider moving back to the mainland?”

Gene paused contemplatively. “Not at all,” he said. “If there is a good enough reason for me to return to the mainland, I’d be happy to.”

“Maybe there will be someday,” she hinted. “You just never know.”

Gene could well imagine moving back to the continental United States for someone as compelling and beautiful as Sloane. Even if marrying again seemed like a long shot—and he was pretty sure Sloane was just as opposed to it at this time in her life—it didn’t mean there couldn’t be a compromise in building a steady relationship if both parties were on the same wavelength.

“I agree,” he told her. “Keeping an open mind makes anything possible.”

She sighed. “I’m afraid that some things in life are set in stone.”

Gene cocked a brow over the steering wheel. “You mean death and taxes,” he half joked.

“Yes, that and keeping an eye on one’s priorities in life,” Sloane said.

He forced a chuckle. “Spoken like a true businesswoman.”

“I’m not all business,” Sloane said defensively.

Gene considered that they had just cozied up together at a luau. Then there was that sweet kiss. “I can see that.”

“All right. Just wanted to be sure.”

He met her eyes. “I am sure. You’re willing to let your hair down for a good time. I commend you there.”

“I guess I should commend you back for being willing to step outside of your box too from time to time,” she told him.

Gene couldn’t deny the obvious symmetry. “Looks as though we have something in common.”

Sloane laughed. “Just one thing?”

Gene cracked a smile. “How about a few things?”

“That sounds better.”

It did to him as well, giving them something to build upon.

He pulled up to the Island Shores, wondering if Sloane would invite him up for a nightcap.

“Thank you for a nice evening,” she told him.

“It was only nice because you were there,” he said truthfully.

“I’m not sure about that.”

“I am. Those hula dancers can’t hold a candle to you,” Gene assured her.

“I could say the same thing about the male dancers,” Sloane said.

Gene took that as his cue to make a move. He leaned over and moved toward Sloane’s alluring mouth, staring into her delicious dark eyes. When she showed no desire to stop him, he kissed those luscious lips. Sloane opened her mouth, allowing him to slip his tongue inside. His tongue danced with hers as they circled one another’s desirously. He could taste the remnants of Sloane’s mai tai, turning him on even more and heightening his desire.

Sloane sucked greedily on his lower lip as Gene sucked her upper lip appetizingly while the sexual sounds reverberated in his ears. Gene loved kissing and being kissed by Sloane. His erection pounded against his trousers, begging to come out and make its way deep inside her. Fighting the urge, Gene kept his focus and enjoyment on the moment at hand as their kissing picked up in its intensity.

Sloane’s tongue whipped in and out of his mouth, teasing and tasting him while Gene pressed his lips to hers tightly in a feverish kiss that left him breathless yet wanting so much more. Sloane wrapped her hands around his head, opening her mouth wider and drawing him in with utter abandon.

They were both panting and the temperature rose to a dangerously high level in the car as Gene nibbled on the inside of Sloane’s lip, wanting to experience every piece of her kiss. He put his tongue between her lips again, enjoying more of what she offered to him as a man hungry for passion with a lovely and immensely sexual woman.

He brought one hand up to her breast, reveling in the fullness and feel of it. His finger fell across her hard nipple and Sloane jerked. Gene gripped her entire breast through her blouse, caressing joyously before stroking Sloane’s nipple up, down and sideways. Her breathing quickened and she bit into his lip, causing Gene to wince.

The kiss continued unabated for several minutes, and Gene became lost in Sloane and her swollen lips. After she gave him a final powerful smooch, she pulled back, releasing his head from her firm grip.

“Getting a bit toasty in here,” she murmured with a long sigh.

“No complaints here,” Gene said, coming back down to earth.

“Or here. You’re a terrific kisser, which I believe was already established a couple of days ago.”

“Takes one to know one,” he uttered, licking his lips and tasting hers.

“I’m glad you feel that way.” Sloane ran two fingers across her mouth. “As much as I’d love to go further, I think we’d better leave it here tonight.”

A slice of disappointment crossed Gene’s face, but he quickly overcame it, exercising patience. “Probably a good idea.”

She smiled. “I’ll see you later.”

“When?” Gene pressed, hating to think that later could be longer than he could manage to stay away from her.

Sloane paused and took out her cell phone. “What’s your number?”

He gave it to her, taking the opportunity to add Sloane’s number to his cell phone.

“We’ll be speaking soon,” she said.

“That a promise?”

She grinned. “Yes, it’s definitely a promise, especially now that we’re both just a phone call away.”

“Do you want me to walk you up?” Gene thought to ask.
And maybe stay for a while.

“That won’t be necessary, but thanks for the offer.” Before getting out of the car, Sloane gave him another stirring kiss that Gene felt all over.

“Good night, Gene.”

“Good night.”

He watched briefly as she approached the well-lit hotel before driving off, the kiss very much on his mind, as well as the lady herself.

T
he next morning, Sloane was awakened by her cell phone chiming. After dreaming about Gene and the potent kiss that left her nerve endings tingling, she thought it might be him telling her he’d had the same dream.

When she dragged herself out of bed and grabbed the phone, Sloane saw from the caller ID that it was Gail Littleton, her good friend from Raleigh.

“Hey, girl,” Gail spoke spiritedly. “Hope I didn’t wake you up?”

“You didn’t,” Sloane lied. She needed to get up anyhow.

“I wanted to check in with you to see how things are going in gorgeous Maui.”

“Just fabulous so far,” Sloane said.

“Darn, I was afraid you’d say that.” Gail chuckled. “Please tell me you miss Raleigh at least a little bit.”

“I do—a little,” Sloane didn’t mind saying. “I miss my friends like you and the sense of familiarity. But…”

“But Hawaii is…well, Hawaii.”

Sloane smiled. “You took the words right out of my mouth. With the perfect weather and beautiful setting, what more could a person ask for?”

“How about a man?” Gail spoke bluntly. “Of course, I’m sure there is no shortage of fine-looking, fit men roaming the beaches in skimpy swimsuits.”

“You know I’m here to work,” Sloane said as if to convince herself.

“So work. That doesn’t mean there’s no time for play with the right playmate. Or have you sworn off men for good these days?”

Sloane mused about Gene’s kiss, which had seared her soul. And when he’d stimulated her nipple, she’d nearly screamed, it felt so good.

“No, I haven’t sworn off men,” she told her. “As a matter of fact, I am talking to one guy…” And maybe a bit more than talking.

“Mmm—” hummed Gail.

“Nothing serious. We’re both busy individuals, but found time to spend together. It’s still early though.”

“What does he do for a living?”

“He owns a bed-and-breakfast,” Sloane answered.

“Interesting.” Gail took a breath. “Maybe I’ll stay there whenever I can save up enough money to fly to Hawaii.”

“Great. I’m sure he’ll be happy to have you as a guest.”

They spoke for a few more minutes before Sloane gracefully cut short the conversation. “I have to do my daily run,” she told her. “I’ll talk to you soon.”

“Count on it,” Gail said.

Sloane washed her face and threw on running attire. She was out the door and on the beach in no time flat. When she passed by Malloy’s Bed and Breakfast, Sloane wondered if Gene was a runner. He was obviously in tiptop shape, but maybe he got that way through lifting weights or swimming. Or did his conditioning come naturally?

She thought about detouring to visit him, but decided it was best to keep up with her routine and give the man a little breathing room. Even if Gene Malloy and his expertise as a kisser was very much on Sloane’s mind. Along with, she suspected, his strong skills in the bedroom.

In the afternoon, Sloane met with a rental agent to look at a Wailea condominium, her second one of the day. It was a one-bedroom, fully furnished, air-conditioned unit on the sixth floor in a gated community. The condo was on the beach and walking distance from the Island Shores Resort. All in all, it seemed like the perfect place for Sloane.

“The condo was recently renovated,” the rental agent, Betty, told Sloane as they toured it. “The rent includes free cable TV and high-speed internet.”

“Those are definite plusses,” Sloane said, though she rarely had time to watch TV. Being able to work from home online seamlessly was certainly a good thing.

“Most of our renters agree with you there.” Betty opened the vertical blinds in the small living room. “All your utilities are also included in the rent, along with a state-of-the-art security system. It’s doubtful you’ll ever need the latter, as this is a very safe area.”

Sloane smiled. “It’s sounding better all the time.” She took in the furnishings, which were casual and neatly arranged, blending in well with the lighter shade of gray walls. There was a ceiling fan overhead.

Betty turned on the kitchen light. “Everything you need to produce some authentic Hawaiian dishes is at your disposal.”

“I can see that.” Sloane glanced at the new stainless-steel appliances and granite countertops. She imagined cooking Gene a scrumptious meal, even if it would take a while to get the Hawaiian cuisine down pat.

They went to the bedroom. It was small, but large enough for a single woman to get around in comfortably. Sloane liked the rustic log furniture, including an Adirondack bed, bamboo grommet panels and valence window treatment, along with a ceiling fan.

Sloane was shown the beautifully manicured grounds and flower garden on the premises before they went back inside.

“So what do you think?” Betty asked anxiously.

“I love it,” declared Sloane, more than ready to have a place—this one—of her own.

The rental agent beamed. “Then let’s get you into this unit and it’s yours to enjoy.”

“Sounds like a great idea!”

Sloane filled out the necessary paperwork, knowing that her references were impeccable and a nice-paying job ensured that she could afford the luxury condo. Someday she wanted something with a greater sense of permanence and attachment to hang her hat. But for now, this was more than enough to make her feel right at home in Maui.

The phone was ringing off the hook this morning with calls coming in from as far away as Australia and as near as Oahu. Gene was glad that Dayna was on hand today to handle most of them. He was aware that in many instances callers were merely inquiring and comparison shopping. Some opted for the traditional hotel, while others sought something farther away from the water or less cozy. Gene was cool with that. He understood it was a competitive environment and only wanted to get his fair share of business while continuing to attract new guests and repeat visitors.

Standing in his private suite, Gene looked at his cell phone, hoping Sloane might call. There was no message. She had promised to ring him soon for their next get-together. But maybe the following day was too soon for her, if not him. He had a mind to call her and tell her he was thinking about her, especially that kiss that had rocked his foundation and left him wanting her in the worst way.

Maybe that wasn’t such a good idea. He didn’t want to crowd the beautiful lady, scaring her off. While the thought of Sloane caused Gene’s stomach to tie up in knots, he had to respect that she had other things on her mind right now than him. Whether or not he would ever move to the top of the list remained to be seen.

When his cell phone rang, Gene’s heart skipped a beat. He saw that the caller was Walter Griffin, his best friend from Detroit.

“What’s up, man?” Walter asked routinely.

“I’m good.” Gene stepped by the window, which gave him a bird’s-eye view of the sea and sand. “How are you?”

“Same old, same old. The job brings in a paycheck and the wife is still keeping me up late into the night.”

Gene smiled. Walter was a law professor and his wife, Talia, a high school teacher. They had been married for nearly ten years and neither seemed to be able to get enough of the other.

“The job aside, lucky you, Talia keeps the fires burning,” Gene told him enviously, and couldn’t help but consider Sloane keeping him up making love into the wee hours of the morning.

“Oh, yes, on fire all the time,” Walter said with a chuckle. “And have you landed one of those Hawaii mermaids yet?”

“Not exactly,” Gene responded thoughtfully. “But I’m working on it.”

“Cool. No reason to go it alone.”

“I know. That won’t be the case forever. Right now the B&B keeps me going.”

Walter paused. “I run into Lynda every now and then.”

“Good for you,” Gene muttered with regard to his ex-wife.

“She’s been seeing a local city councilman.”

“I’m happy for her.”

“Really?”

“Why not?” Gene said defensively. “We’ve been divorced for two years. What she does with her life now is her own business.”

“Yeah, I guess,” Walter said. “Anyway, the main reason I’m calling, other than to catch up, is that Talia’s been bugging me to take her to Hawaii ever since, well, you decided to go into business there. So I’ve finally given in and thought maybe we should take a week in Maui to celebrate our anniversary.”

“That’s sounds fabulous. What a way to celebrate the occasion.”

“Of course, we’d want to stay at your bed-and-breakfast.”

“You are more than welcome,” Gene told him, making a mental note to keep a room open. “It would be great to see Talia again, too.”

“I was hoping you’d be open to it.” Walter took a breath. “I didn’t want things to be awkward with Lynda out of the picture.”

“They won’t be,” Gene assured him. “I’ve moved on since then.” If he played his cards right, Sloane just might command all of his attention in the romance-and-passion department.

“All right. I’ll let Talia know that her dream is about to come true. Who knows, maybe we’ll even renew our vows while we’re out there.”

“What a wonderful idea. I’ll be happy to help set that up for you.”

After the call, Gene got back to playing host for his current guests, even if his mind was still very much on Sloane and the sexual chemistry between them that was so red-hot he knew it was only a matter of time before it exploded into some dynamic sex.

Kendra was the first person Sloane told about her new condo, sharing the news over lunch that afternoon.

“Sounds like you found the perfect place,” Kendra said.

“I think so, for the time being.” Sloane forked some of her Caesar salad. “At least I won’t have to live out of a hotel room, albeit a very nice one.”

“I’m jealous already,” Kendra teased. “The only ocean view in my house is a picture hanging in my living room.”

Sloane laughed. “You can come by whenever you like and see the ocean or whatever,” she offered, hoping she wouldn’t abuse the privilege.

“How sweet. I’ll keep that in mind.” Kendra dabbed a napkin to her lips. “I suppose now that you’ve got your own place, things will really heat up between you and Gene.”

“Maybe,” Sloane said, as she could hardly think of anything else. “First, I’d like to invite him over for dinner and see where things go from there.”

“Well, you know what they say about food being the key to a man’s heart and all that.”

“I’m not exactly reaching out for his heart,” Sloane said with a playful grin. “At the moment, I’m much more interested in other parts of his anatomy.”

Kendra chuckled. “You’re so bad.”

Sloane colored. “Just being honest. Neither of us is looking for love so much as lust and friendship. It’s easier that way, and no one gets hurt.”

“In my experience there’s a fine line between love, lust and friendship.”

“It’s a line I’d rather not cross while I get where I want to with my career,” Sloane told her.

“Do you think you can really differentiate your feelings so easily?”

“Why not? I have so far.” Sloane had to admit that she had never before met anyone like Gene, whose powerful, manly presence and damned good looks made her at least have second thoughts about her long-held rules. In the end, she wanted to remain steadfast, so neither of them ended up regretting whatever they seemed on the verge of starting.

“Hope it works out the way you want,” Kendra said.

“Me, too.” Sloane lifted her glass. “First things first. I’ll see if Gene is agreeable to dinner and whatever else may end up on the menu.”

At 8:00 p.m., after spending hours getting situated in her new home, Sloane called Gene. She was uncharacteristically nervous as his phone rang, as if he had given her any reason to be. She sucked in a deep breath, hoping she wouldn’t have to leave a message, preferring to actually talk to him.

“Hello, there,” Gene answered, his smooth voice deep and sexy.

Sloane folded her legs beneath her in the chair. “Hi. Are you busy?”

“Not really. Just hanging around the house socializing with my guests, sometimes playing babysitter, other times referee.”

“Does it ever get old, not being able to separate your personal and professional life?” Sloane asked curiously as she wondered if she could do the same.

“Actually, it’s just the opposite,” he claimed. “Running a bed-and-breakfast, each day brings about new adventures and sometimes challenges, with a constant changeover of guests. Everyone has a story and they’re only too happy to share it with the others. It’s almost like being at summer camp where the campers are essentially one big happy family.”

“I never went to camp,” Sloane admitted, but almost wished she had. Especially if he’d been one of the campers. “But I see your point.”

“Thought you would.” Gene paused. “So how did your house search go?”

“Better than expected. I found a nice beachfront condo.”

“Great! Congratulations.”

“Thanks.” Sloane stilled her nerves. “If you’re not busy, I’d like to invite you over for dinner tomorrow night.”

Gene didn’t hesitate. “I’d love to have dinner with you at your new place…on one condition.”

“Which is?”

“You let me bring the wine.”

She brightened. “You’re on.”

“Then it’s a date,” Gene said sweetly.

“How does seven-thirty sound?”

“Like music to my ears. I’ll be there.”

“Wonderful,” Sloane told him. “Hope you still like good old-fashioned continental U.S. dishes?”

“Of course,” he assured her. “Feel free to make whatever you’re good at and I’ll be only too happy to eat it.”

Sloan laughed. “Sounds like a can’t-lose proposition.”

“Maybe because that’s what it is,” Gene spoke confidently. “We’re both on the winning team here. All we need to do is play the game.”

“I see.”

Sloane thought the metaphors were cute. Were they really embarking on a game—perhaps of truth or dare? Or engaging in something with much more substance? She gave him her address, which was only a few blocks away from his bed-and-breakfast. Sloane could imagine that with the short distance, they could easily go back and forth if this were the direction their burgeoning friendship was headed.