Courageous Love: A Christian Romance Novel (The Hawaii Love Series, #1) by Kelsey MacBride Page B

before, not even Kimberly. He found the hotel, checked in and made his way to his room. Once inside, Daniel locked the door, threw the bag on the bed and walked outside to the balcony. He put his hands on the railing and looked at God’s handiwork.
    He thought about the wedding, thought about Kimberly and their future together. And then he thought about his hesitation to return home to that life. “Is this your answer to my prayer? Relaxing in the beauty of your creation?” Daniel tilted his head back as he waited for a divine revelation from God about his marriage to Kimberly. “Is this the sign?” But only the sound of the distant ocean waves answered his cry for help.
    Daniel laughed and shook his head as he sat back in the chair. Maybe God knew this side trip was what he needed. No wedding distractions, no job distractions, no Kimberly distractions. Just Daniel, God, the island. And a beautiful stranger named Michelle.

Chapter 7
    M ichelle got off the shuttle and found an empty bench at the bus stop. She had about an hour until the bus for Haleiwa and decided to take the time to get prepared for the encounter with her parents. Even though her beloved Lilo was a patient at Kahuku Medical Center, Michelle thought it best to wait and go with the support of her mother or sister rather than visiting alone.
    A few locals and tourists meandered past the bus stop. Michelle could spot the visitors right away. They wore straw hats and brightly colored Hawaiian shirts. She thought how funny it was that people thought locals wore Hawaiian shirts the same way they assumed all Jamaicans wore dreadlocks. It just wasn’t so. Haoles was what the locals called tourists, whether they were from the mainland or another country. Anybody not of Hawaiian, Japanese or Samoan descent was referred to as a Haole. But because Michelle was a native or kama’aina, she blended right in.
    She found a bench at the far end of the covered entrance to the bus station, piled her belongings next to her and pulled her sunglasses over her eyes. The past 24 hours had been a whirlwind of emotions, and Michelle was utterly exhausted. She thought about checking in with Tracy while on the bus but knew the cell service might be spotty. She decided it would be better to call her friend now while she was still in the city and there was a strong signal.
    Michelle sat up and began digging through her bag for her cell phone as two men sat next to her on the bench. At first, Michelle was unaware as she focused on the contents of her purse. But within seconds, the conversation of the two men sent a chill down her spine.
    “Look at you, you are one ‘ono wahine!” The men stared at Michelle, pointing and giggling. The larger of the two got up and walked around to the other side of the bench, catching Michelle in the middle of both men. At first, Michelle wasn’t too startled. They had merely called her a beautiful woman.
    “Hey sweetie, you want to spend some time with a real kane?” The man on the bench pushed his legs firm against Michelle’s, the coarse hair on his sweaty legs scratching her delicate skin. She could feel her heart race faster.
    Michelle looked up, trying her best not to show that she was scared. Her cell phone shook in her hand as her eyes darted across the concrete, and she realized they were the only people outside. Michelle knew she was in a desperate situation and needed to think fast to avoid becoming another island statistic. She had her hand on her cell phone and was ready to dial Tracy. But what could her friend do so far away? She knew there was no other option but to dial 911, but before she could press a button, the man standing next to her reached down, knocking her phone down and back into her purse.
    “Don’t even think about it.” The wrestler-sized man pulled up a corner of his lip, flashing her his brown jagged teeth. “Now,” he said, breathing heavy into her ear. “You do as we say. You’re gonna stand up and give us