her head and sunglasses on. She looked like a fifties movie star. Glamorous, sexy and downright tempting.
“Ready?” she asked with a smile.
He nodded.
“You can lock up, right, Chris?”
Her brother looked from one to the other, then said, “Yeah, I can lock up.”
Kai took her by the elbow and led her out of the house and down the steps. A few minutes later, they were speeding down the road.
“Sorry about that.”
He shrugged, trying to ignore the way it had made him feel. He never saw color, just the person beneath.
“All of my brothers have been insane since I was in the hospital.”
He nodded. “I said I understood. You know, when you were in the hospital, so was May. I know what it was like.”
“Yeah, but I hate that they question my ability to be able to make my own decisions.”
He shot her a smile. “We always secretly think that. We just keep it to ourselves.”
She laughed as he’d hoped. “I always thought that. I figured they were always thinking it when I was at culinary school.”
He turned onto Kam Highway and headed to Kaneohe. “I thought I would show you some pretty scenery, including where they filmed part of the first Jurassic Park.”
She smiled. “That sounds fabulous.”
“And then maybe we can hit some of the lesser known beaches, just so you can get a feel.”
She was quiet for a few moments, then asked, “Is there a reason you’re doing this?”
He didn’t answer as he passed a slow compact. “What reason would I have?”
Again, she paused. “Not sure.”
He looked at her then and noticed that the smile she’d had before had dimmed.
“Listen.” He waited until he felt the weight of her gaze on him. “I am doing this for a few reasons. One, you don’t know anyone. Since I grew up here and know just about everyone on the island, I can’t even imagine what you are feeling. Two, I know what it feels like to be the third wheel.”
“Kai Aiona doesn’t have a problem getting dates.”
He shot her a quick look. “What do you mean by that? I don’t even know you.”
She laughed. “Honey, I grew up with three brothers and I work in an industry dominated by men. I know your species. I can tell you don’t have too many problems getting dates. You’re hot, you’re nice and I saw the way women reacted to you the other day on the boat. You have your pick of women.”
He could feel heat in his cheeks, but he tried to ignore it. “Oh, I thought maybe you had heard rumors.”
She laughed. “Cynthia said you do have a steady stream of women.”
Anger surged, but he tamped down on it. The truth was, he had been that way for a long time. But something had changed in the last six months. Part of it was May’s marriage, he knew that. But the other part of it had been Keisha.
“Truth is, I haven’t had a date in over a month.”
Silence greeted that comment.
“I’m telling the truth.”
“Why?” she asked quietly.
He shook his head. Today wasn’t supposed to be a day they told their sad pasts. It was supposed to be fun and relaxing. “It’s a long, sad story.”
“And you’re not going to tell me.”
“Why don’t we save both our long, sad stories for later and just enjoy the scenery.”
She chuckled and he could feel her relax. “That sounds like a plan I can get behind.”
By the time Kai pulled into a shopping center for lunch, Jocelyn was in love with Hawaii. Many people said they loved it, she knew that. More than one of her family had been here to visit Chris, but this was something different. It wasn’t the kind of admiration she’d had the first few days after she arrived. It was like she had seen a different island. Gone were the posh hotels and all the touristy stores. It was different being with a local who knew how to show you everything.
“I have to say, I don’t know if I am ever going to be able to leave.”
Kai put the car in park then looked at her. “Why would you?”
She laughed. “That’s true. I didn’t
“Ready?” she asked with a smile.
He nodded.
“You can lock up, right, Chris?”
Her brother looked from one to the other, then said, “Yeah, I can lock up.”
Kai took her by the elbow and led her out of the house and down the steps. A few minutes later, they were speeding down the road.
“Sorry about that.”
He shrugged, trying to ignore the way it had made him feel. He never saw color, just the person beneath.
“All of my brothers have been insane since I was in the hospital.”
He nodded. “I said I understood. You know, when you were in the hospital, so was May. I know what it was like.”
“Yeah, but I hate that they question my ability to be able to make my own decisions.”
He shot her a smile. “We always secretly think that. We just keep it to ourselves.”
She laughed as he’d hoped. “I always thought that. I figured they were always thinking it when I was at culinary school.”
He turned onto Kam Highway and headed to Kaneohe. “I thought I would show you some pretty scenery, including where they filmed part of the first Jurassic Park.”
She smiled. “That sounds fabulous.”
“And then maybe we can hit some of the lesser known beaches, just so you can get a feel.”
She was quiet for a few moments, then asked, “Is there a reason you’re doing this?”
He didn’t answer as he passed a slow compact. “What reason would I have?”
Again, she paused. “Not sure.”
He looked at her then and noticed that the smile she’d had before had dimmed.
“Listen.” He waited until he felt the weight of her gaze on him. “I am doing this for a few reasons. One, you don’t know anyone. Since I grew up here and know just about everyone on the island, I can’t even imagine what you are feeling. Two, I know what it feels like to be the third wheel.”
“Kai Aiona doesn’t have a problem getting dates.”
He shot her a quick look. “What do you mean by that? I don’t even know you.”
She laughed. “Honey, I grew up with three brothers and I work in an industry dominated by men. I know your species. I can tell you don’t have too many problems getting dates. You’re hot, you’re nice and I saw the way women reacted to you the other day on the boat. You have your pick of women.”
He could feel heat in his cheeks, but he tried to ignore it. “Oh, I thought maybe you had heard rumors.”
She laughed. “Cynthia said you do have a steady stream of women.”
Anger surged, but he tamped down on it. The truth was, he had been that way for a long time. But something had changed in the last six months. Part of it was May’s marriage, he knew that. But the other part of it had been Keisha.
“Truth is, I haven’t had a date in over a month.”
Silence greeted that comment.
“I’m telling the truth.”
“Why?” she asked quietly.
He shook his head. Today wasn’t supposed to be a day they told their sad pasts. It was supposed to be fun and relaxing. “It’s a long, sad story.”
“And you’re not going to tell me.”
“Why don’t we save both our long, sad stories for later and just enjoy the scenery.”
She chuckled and he could feel her relax. “That sounds like a plan I can get behind.”
By the time Kai pulled into a shopping center for lunch, Jocelyn was in love with Hawaii. Many people said they loved it, she knew that. More than one of her family had been here to visit Chris, but this was something different. It wasn’t the kind of admiration she’d had the first few days after she arrived. It was like she had seen a different island. Gone were the posh hotels and all the touristy stores. It was different being with a local who knew how to show you everything.
“I have to say, I don’t know if I am ever going to be able to leave.”
Kai put the car in park then looked at her. “Why would you?”
She laughed. “That’s true. I didn’t
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