A Little Harmless Addiction(15)
“Sure.”
“Gotta get back to work.”
She watched him walk back to the helm, chatting with the tourists as he went. She slipped her gaze down his back to his fine ass and amazing legs. She also noticed a few of the other women noticing, and she tried to squash the jealousy that surged. She had no business being jealous. Flirting was fine, almost mandatory to her recovery. But she knew she wasn’t ready for anything more than that.
Even if her body was throbbing and begging her to be bad. She wasn’t ready, only a month from being the zombie her drugs had made her. No. A nice uncomplicated day with Kai exploring the island would be fun, and that was all.
He turned to start talking to the crowd. But in one instant, he looked at her, and even without seeing his eyes she knew he had zeroed in on her. He gave her a slow, sexy smile she felt all the way to the tips of her toes.
For the first time in a long time, she realized she looked forward to time alone with a very attractive man.
She leaned back again and closed her eyes. This had been a banner day.
Chapter Four
Three days later, Jocelyn stopped cold when she saw the crowd that was gathered in the diner. She knew when her brother had invited her, but maybe he hadn’t expected Kai Aiona there. From the muttered curse behind her, she figured not. She tossed him a look over her shoulder and saw the frown he was trying to hide.
She tried to ignore it and gave the table a smile. Dee and Micah were there, along with May and Evan. There were two chairs on one side, and an empty one beside Kai.
“I didn’t know if we would see y’all tonight,” Evan said as they approached.
“I had a nap this afternoon, and now I am famished,” Cynthia said.
That much was true. While Chris had been at work, Jocelyn had stopped by their house for some baby talk. Within thirty minutes, Cynthia had been falling asleep. The four-hour nap had left her soon-to-be sister-in-law alert and hungry. Which sort of amazed Jocelyn knowing how her illness in the morning went. Chris, being the way he was, couldn’t say no to Cynthia when Evan had called them up.
“Plus, I wanted to see the best place to eat in Honolulu at closing time,” Jocelyn said.
Micah laughed. “It is that. Not really good for the cholesterol, but damned fine food.”
She inched around the table, making her way to the empty seat beside Kai. He stood as she approached. It shouldn’t have made her heart go pitter patter, but it was hard for her to ignore her upbringing. She was her own woman, but she’d been raised on Southern manners. When a guy held doors or stood when she approached, it got to her.
“So I take it we are the fifth wheels?’
He laughed. “Of course. But then, they’re stuck with the same person forever. We have variety.”
“Yeah, you got that right.” She looked around the diner that was in the heart of Honolulu. The red booths were worn but clean, and the bright overhead lighting, along with the soda-shop counter and outfits worn by the staff, reminded her of Al’s from Happy Days. “I haven’t been here yet.”
He shook his head. “Best place to eat in the area. Onoliscious,” he said, using the word Hawaiians used to describe the most delicious food. “Of course, diners usually are.”
The waiter came up asking for her drink order and asked if they had decided on food.
“Have the burger. It’s one of the best, greasiest things around.”
She smiled at the waiter. “I’ll have a cheese burger.”
He wrote it down, collected her menu and moved down the line.
“So is this the drunk gathering?”
He nodded. “I haven’t been here in a while, but we used to come later at night.”
As if to prove his point, a burst of laughter filled the diner as a group of twenty-somethings—if that—crowded the lobby area.
“Are you getting settled in?” he asked, leaning closer.
She nodded. “I think I’ll be taking you up on that tour. I don’t want to do the touristy thing any more. I’m ready to learn where the locals go.”
He smiled and her heart turned over. Kai was Laid-back so a smile was normal to see on him, but he had different smiles. Some were innocent, but this one was lethal to her libido. It warmed his eyes as he leaned closer. “Tomorrow should be a good day. Weather’s gonna be nice.”
She laughed. “The weather is always nice. It’s Hawaii.”
“Right. But the wind will be light which will make for an easier sightseeing tour.”
“So, Jocelyn, what are you planning on doing?”
The abrupt question came from May, and she thought she heard Micah laugh. Subtly apparently wasn’t something May was good at. She took her time to look away from Kai and face the long table of couples.