Heat Wave(83)

“Well she was hiding from me too, if that helps.”

“I think she was hiding from everyone. You, me, your mother, your father. I don’t think anyone knew the real Juliet. I don’t even think that prick she was with knew either. She died a mystery. And that’s a shame. But that was on her. The sad thing is, no one ever knows when we’re going to die. So it’s best to live life as open as you can. Juliet thought she was invincible, like we all do sometimes. I’m sure if she knew she’d die young…she would have made amends.” He runs his hands through my hair. I close my eyes. “You want the truth about me and your sister?”

I nod, closing my eyes.

“I loved her.” His words are a fist to my gut. “But I didn’t like her. Does that make sense?”

“Perfect sense,” I whisper.

“Look,” he says to me, leaning in so his nose is brushing against mine. “Sometimes you love someone but you don’t actually like them as a person. Like family, right?”

“Right.”

“I know this is hard to hear…”

I give him a small smile. “It’s not hard to hear. I would just rather not hear it right now.”

“Fair enough,” he says. “How about we save your dish for tomorrow night?”

“Then what’s on the menu tonight?”

He grins. “Do you even have to ask?”

He grabs my hand and hauls me over to the door.

“Wait,” I say, taking my hand out of his and untying my apron. “We can’t just go out there holding hands. Remember? You’re supposed to be an asshole and you’re failing at that.”

He’s still smiling. “I can’t help it.” He clears his throat and slides his hand over his face, his expression changing to stone. He looks burly and wild and fuck I want this man more than anything.

“Better?” he asks, voice low and rough.

“Yeah. In many ways,” I tell him.

“I’m going to head out the door. You do what you need to do. Meet me on the beach.” He pushes open the doors and steps out.

A thrill runs through me as I wait a few moments, hearing him say goodbye to everyone. Who knew sneaking around could be so much fun? I mean, with Erik it was the same idea but it was his idea we keep it a secret, mainly so he could screw other chicks on the side. Thank god I was smart enough to always use a condom with him and then had myself tested a few times after, just to be safe. An STD would have been icing on the cake.

I step out of the doors to see Kate, Johnny and Daniel all staring at me from the bar.

“Hey, get your butt over here,” Kate says, waving me over.

I sigh. This isn’t going to be easy.

“What’s up?” I ask, trying to keep my smiling to a minimum.

“What’s up?” she repeats. She’s tucked a red hibiscus behind her ear that matches her Moonwater Inn tank top. Which reminds me, I need to get one of those. “First of all, where were you last night?”

I roll my eyes and avoid looking at Daniel. “Why does everyone keep asking me that? I turned in early.”

“Did you really?” she asks. Because the light was on in your room all night,” she says. “And I called out to you but you never answered.”

Shit.

“I passed out. I don’t know what Dan was serving but they were just as potent as that fucking luau punch.”

“You did look really tired,” Daniel says carefully. “Must have been the turkey.”

“That’s exactly what it was,” I say, giving him a grateful smile. “Anyway, I’m zonked right now as it is. Think I’m going to go for a walk on the beach and clear my head.”

Then I get out of there before they can grill me anymore.

The rain has moved in again, a light drizzle that makes the night come alive. Everything smells like the world is being born again, every flower perfumes the air, making it sweet and heady. The earthy loam of the wet grass and soil, the tang of the waves.

I try to inhale it all but my breath is shaking. I’m too nervous, too excited. My heart is dancing, skipping, spinning around inside me.

My feet sink into the damp sand and I walk along the shore, going around the large dark lava rocks that dot the beach. Then I see him, up by the plumeria bushes, his tall silhouette backlit by one of the beach houses.

“Hey,” I whisper to him. “Sorry to make you wait in the rain.”

“I’ve been waiting for you for seven years,” he says, “a little rain is nothing.”

He reaches out and grabs my hand, pulling me to him. I breathe him in deeply, my nose to his chest. I can’t help but run my hands down his sides, kissing him, before I drop to my knees and sink into the wet sand.