Life's a Beach (6 page)

Samuel's smile burst forth at her pleasant sunshiny tone, which belied what she really wanted to say to him. He also noticed she didn't answer his question. He pictured her sassing him from behind the desk. It wasn't a lanai, but he had thoughts of coming up behind her and finishing what they'd started last night. He wondered what she was wearing. Was she in khaki shorts and a Hawaiian shirt to match the boys? Or maybe a wrap dress that he could peel off her…

“Are you still there, Mr. Kincaide?”

Shaking himself out of the erotic daydream, he said, “I'm pretty sure you're not on my payroll. So why are you answering my phone?” But he eased off on the hard-ass tone in his voice. She was a guest, after all.

“I'm helping out a friend.”

“Kai's your friend?” Jealousy slammed through him. Had she left him last night to warm Kai's bed? He shook his head. No—if she had, they'd still be in bed. Besides, Kai had a girl and she was expecting. Kai might be a slack-ass, but he wasn't a cheater.

“Mr. Kincaide, I hate to rush you, but we are short-staffed and I don't want to keep a guest waiting. What can I do for you?”

“Where's Hani?” So help him, if he and Kai were fishing again, he'd fire them without severance.

“Hani is setting up for the afternoon tea.”

“The afternoon what?”

She kept speaking as if she didn't hear him. “And Makoa is with the washer repairman. I think Dude is on the beach.”

“He is?” Samuel looked through the binoculars, but his hammock was empty.

“Would you like me to get him for you?” she asked sweetly.

He wondered if she suspected he was Dude and was trying to catch him.

“No, that lazy bum is probably drunk.”

“He's not lazy,” she said. “He's a valuable member of this staff. Did you know he saved a woman from drowning yesterday?”

Samuel was touched. No one had ever stood up for him before. “I wasn't aware of that.” He cleared his throat to get rid of the huskiness. “No, I don't need to speak with Dude. Tell me about this afternoon tea.”

“Oh, that.”

Yes, that. Because he was damned sure there wasn't an afternoon tea scheduled today—or ever, for that matter.

“The ladies from Ohio were going to have their bridge game at the Marriott, but the hotel was going to make them rent one of the ballrooms. Isn't that ridiculous? So I told them they could bring their friends here. We would set up a pavilion out by the pool and serve an afternoon tea for fifteen dollars a head.”

“Fifteen dollars a head?”

“It works out,” she assured him. “Most of them are guests, so the food and drink would have already been included, and the sixteen guests from the other resort more than pay for themselves.”

“That's not a big profit margin for the amount of setup and cleanup we're going to have to do.”

“Well, it was last-minute and I kind of panicked.”

“You shouldn't have panicked.”

“I didn't mean it like that,” she was quick to assure him.

He hadn't meant it as a criticism. He had meant that she was on vacation and shouldn't have to worry about things like making money.

“What profit margin should I be looking to get?” she said.

“Mark it up a hundred percent,” he told her. “We're on an island. It would still beat the Marriott's prices.” Renting a ballroom for a few old ladies…he rolled his eyes.

“Well, I can't do anything about the price after I already quoted them. But I was planning on upselling them on one of our excursions. If I can get them to go on the lavender farm tour, we'd pick up the additional sixteen women who aren't staying with us. I might even be able to schedule a stop at the winery for a percentage of sales, and that's pure profit since we've got them out there anyway.”

Samuel grunted. Smart and sexy. Still, he had to get off the phone. The more she talked to him, the more he ran the risk of her recognizing him as Dude. He'd have to really play up the stoner idiot routine, as his brother called it, the next time he saw her. “Please have Kai call me when he returns.”

“He's not in trouble, is he?”

“Why? Did he save a lady from drowning yesterday too?”

“Not to my knowledge. But he works very hard. You should think about adding on to the staff.”

“Are you looking for a job?” Then he winced. Of course she was. He didn't mean to throw that in her face.

“You couldn't afford me,” she retorted.

Good for her. But he couldn't stop himself from taunting her a bit. He liked getting her riled up. “I can afford a lot of things.”

“No doubt. What number can Kai reach you at?”

“He knows it,” Samuel said, not wanting to get off the phone with her, even if it was the smart thing to do.

“Very well, I'll give him that message. Aloha.”

“Aloha,” he said warmly before hanging up.

He could do two weeks. It sure as shit wouldn't be boring. Someone needed to get Amelia to relax and enjoy her vacation. He'd make sure sweet thing had the time of her life and got back on the plane with nice memories and without pining for that jerk who'd screwed around on her.

“I can't believe you forgot the coffee,” Amelia moaned as Kai shuffled his feet.

“E kala mai,”
he said. And he looked sorry too.

Oh, well, the pool would have to wait. She was not going to spend another day drinking Folgers. “This place better be spectacular.” Amelia waved the piece of paper with the address of Maui Grindz on it.

“Be back here before dark,” Makoa said.

“Why? Is my car going to turn into a pumpkin?”

“Nah. It's just that the roads are easier in the daylight.”

Great. She'd probably end up in a ditch or over a cliff, the way her luck was running. “I'll keep that in mind.”

“
Wahine,
you goin' somewhere?”

She'd been wondering when Dude would show up. Amelia had prepared herself to see him at lunch, but he hadn't appeared. “I'm on a mission.”

“You need a co-pilot?” He smiled at her.

He was wearing a shirt, which was a shame, and board shorts. Amelia had been hoping that with a full night's sleep and a decent meal, he'd be less attractive. But unfortunately, she still wanted to jump his scruffy-looking bod.

“I booked you three lessons for tomorrow,” she said.

“What?” The smile slid off his face.

“Nine-thirty, eleven, and three.” Amelia handed him a clipboard with the guests' information on a piece of paper. It was easy to be all business. If she thought of yesterday at all, she would die of embarrassment.

“In the morning?”

“The three o'clock one is in the afternoon,” she said with an apologetic shrug.

He glared at Kai.

“Don't blame him. I booked you. Look at it this way—it's some extra money in your pocket.” Amelia took a bottle of water from the cooler. “Anyone want anything from Maui Grindz?”

“I wouldn't turn down a slice of pineapple banana cake,” Makoa said.

“Tropical muffin,” Kai piped up.

“Maple bacon glazed doughnut.” Hani raised his hand.

Everybody stopped and looked at him. “Are you serious?” Amelia said.

“Oh, yeah. It's new.”

“I'll get a dozen.” Amelia wrote it all down on one of the hotel's logo notepads. “What about you, Dude?”

“I'm comin' wit.”

“Wit?”

“You,” he clarified. “I'm going to drive.”

Yeah, that'll be an uncomfortable ride.
“Have you been drinking?” She leaned in and took a sniff, but he just smelled like lime and coconut, which shouldn't be as ridiculously sexy as it was.

“Not yet.” He winked at her. “I just got up.”

Amelia gaped at him. Maybe he hadn't been alone last night after all. She was surprised at how hurt she was that he'd easily replaced her. Taking a deep breath, she focused on the task at hand: coffee.

“I don't think you're covered under my rental agreement,” Amelia said. Maybe they could just forget last night had happened?

“Did you drive a car in New York?” he challenged, a determined glint in his eye.

“No. That's what the bus and subway are for.”

Kai and Hani winced. Makoa shrugged. “Your funeral,” he said.

“I'm a very good driver.” Amelia wondered if she sounded like Rain Man.
Yeah. Really good driver.
She sighed. Might as well get it over with on the way to coffee. “Fine, you can come with me, but no backseat driving.”

“Sweet thing, if I'm in the backseat we won't be driving.”

“I'll keep that in mind.” She jangled her keys. “Let's go. Coffee's brewing.”

“Okay,” Dude said, shrugging. “You can pull over after the first hairpin turn.”

“Ha, what do you take me for?” Amelia motioned him to follow her to the parking garage. “I'm a New York chick. Nothing scares me.”

The ride out started beautifully. She rolled down all the windows. “Man, I wish I'd rented a convertible.”

Dude put on a local station and they rocked out for a bit. She was glad he didn't start in on the questions or explanations right away. It was fun to sing off-key with him to Jimmy Buffet. It started to feel like a vacation.

“Okay,
wahine,
” he said. “Get ready. There's no visibility coming your way. This time of day, you'll probably only get a few locals on motorcycles or scooters. Stay the course; they'll veer around you. If we meet a truck, stop, and back the heck up.”

“Who has the right of way?”

“The bigger car. There's not enough room for you to go around it. Next time I'll put you on the back of my bike.”

Two hairpin turns later, she pulled the car over. “You can drive.”

They switched seats quickly, and Dude pulled them back onto the road.

“That's pretty intense,” she said.
“Mahalo.”

“One day working at the resort and you're a native.” He gave her the shaka.

“Use both hands,” Amelia screeched.

“That's what she said.” He winked at her.

Amelia settled into the seat and tried to rub feeling back into her knuckles. “How did you know I was working today?”

“Your name badge kind of gives it away, sunshine.”

“Oh.” Amelia blushed and put it in her purse. “Makoa's sister makes them.”

“Yeah, I know her.”

“How well do you know her?” Amelia arched an eyebrow at him.

“Why do you care?” he returned.

Here it comes.
“Yeah, about that…”

“No worries, sistah. I get it. A girl like you and a guy like me…” He lifted a shoulder in a half shrug.

“No, don't be silly.” Amelia waved her hand to dismiss the thought. “I came on like a ton of bricks. I don't blame you for not coming back.”

“Wait,” he said. “
I
came back.
You
weren't there. I looked all over for you.”

“You came back?” It was ridiculous to want to cry just because Dude hadn't run out on her. “I thought I scared you off. You took so long at the bar I thought that was my cue to leave.”

“No.” He shook his head. “You got it all wrong. I got stopped a few times by the boys. Next time, I'll tell them to leave me alone because I got a hot number waiting for me. Went to sleep thinking about your sweet kisses, sunshine.”

That soothed any residual hurt feelings. “It was probably for the best. I needed a solid twelve hours of sleep. But I'm sorry I didn't stick around.”

“So, you sayin' if I can find a lanai tonight…?” His lips quirked up.

“I think I'm ready to be your two-week stand, if you can handle that type of commitment.” From the sudden silence, Amelia thought she'd shocked him. But it could be he was concentrating on the white-knuckle turns.

“I figured you'd go down to Honolua Bay and pick yourself up a pro,” Dude finally said.

“Pro as in a hooker?” she asked, astonished.

He snorted. “Pro surfer. One of those rich boys.”

“Ugh.” Amelia shuddered. “I hate rich guys.”

“What?” Dude gave her the side eye.

“I mean it. I'm never dating a rich man again.”

“Again?” he asked.

She shook her head. “Jay and I didn't live in the same world, even if we shared the same bed. He's never worked a day in his life.”

Jay was used to money solving all his problems. Girlfriend pissed off? Offer to pay her back for the vacation she spent her life savings on. Caveat: she had to agree to an open relationship. Jerk.

“Not all rich men are like that. Some are rich because they worked their asses off.”

“Sure,” Amelia agreed. “But they're all old men. I don't have daddy issues. I want a guy my own age, you know?”

“I hear you, but there are younger men with money.”

“Yeah, entitled assholes who think they can buy everything and everyone. No way. Been there, done that. Worked like an indentured servant to prove I wasn't mooching off him.” She shuddered. “All the while, he was doing the humpty dance with Jiggly Boobs the barista.”

“You need to move on.”

“Dude, it was two days ago.”

“Life's too short.”

“I am moving on,” she said, waving her hand out the window. “I'm expanding my coffee horizons and considering a two-week fling. Are you in or out?”

“You sure you don't want a surfer? All the tourists go wild over the bad boys.”

“I'm not sure I could take their egos. Besides, I'm not really the surf bunny demographic. Wrong color hair. Tits are too small. Hips too big.”

“Hey, I like your tits and hips.”

“You're a charmer,” she told him.

“I call it like I see it,” Dude said unapologetically. “Your hair is
nani
too.”

“Does that mean snarly and hard to control?”

“No, it means ‘pretty.' ”

Amelia beamed. “You think I'm pretty?”

“Among other things.” He reached over to hold her hand, but she put it firmly back on the wheel.

“We'll have plenty of time for that later,” she said, pushing her hair back over her ear, suddenly feeling shy. “I'm not usually like this. I just want to be reckless and carefree. I really would like to be your lover for the next two weeks. But this is the last time I'm asking.”

“Sunshine, it was a done deal as soon as you smiled at me.”

“I wish we weren't on such a curvy road,” she said. “I'm feeling a little naughty.”

“And there goes my hard-on again.”

“Now who's being a tease?”

Kai had failed to mention that Maui Grindz was next to a coffee plantation. She made Dude go on the self-guided tour with her and held his hand as if they were newlyweds. Amelia told herself she wasn't going to fall in love with his beach-god looks and his sexy innuendos. This was a casual affair. She was a modern woman. But damn, it would be easy to forget that this was temporary. He made her laugh, and her heart beat faster when he looked at her with those ever-changing hazel eyes. Amelia could barely wait until tonight.

“You should have gotten an SUV,” Dude said on the drive home.

“Why? Are the roads going to be that bad?” She squinted through the windshield. It hadn't rained. Amelia couldn't imagine these roads slippery and crumbling with mud.

“No, you bought out the entire bakery section, and most of the coffee section.”

Amelia held up a hand. “That was in self-defense. Do you know Makoa buys the coffee at Office-freaking-Max?”

“That's why I drink the beer.”

She couldn't argue with that. “Just remember to be sober for your scuba lessons tomorrow. I don't want to have to rescue
you
this time.”

“Are you going to be my assistant?” he asked. “You can rub waterproof sunscreen all over me.”

“As tempting as that sounds, I'm actually busy tomorrow morning.”

“Doing what?” Dude frowned. “You're on vacation. You should be relaxing in a lounge chair.”

“Makoa, Hani, and Kai wanted some help organizing some of the new tours the hotel is doing.”

“You should be going on tours instead of setting them up.” He blew the horn at a motorcycle that passed them on the right.
“Pupule!”

Amelia shuddered. “What's that mean? Or do I want to know?”

“It means ‘crazy.' ”

“You got that right.” There was a difference between being a daredevil and being flat-out suicidal.

“What new tours?” Dude asked when they reached flat road again.

“Ever since Kincaide announced he was selling the hotel, all of the good tours put Palekaiko Beach Resort at the bottom of their lists. We get the newest drivers and the worst buses, and it's starting to wear thin with the guests.”

“The hotel is going to be closed in a matter of weeks.”

“I know,” she said. “But there are people here like me who are only going to get to Hawaii once in their lives, and they deserve to have it be memorable. Besides, Kai tells me that the buyer is dicking Kincaide around, so that he lowers his price by a few million.”

“What?” Dude whipped his head around to look at her.

She swatted his arm. “Keep your eyes on the road.”

“I can't believe Kai told you that.”

Amelia nodded. “Yeah, it's painfully obvious that Kincaide wants to sell. So the buyer is just waiting for him to lose patience.”

“I see.” Dude glared out the windshield.

“What are you going to do when Kincaide caves?”

“What?”

“Another ‘what' out of you and you'll be a lightbulb. Dude, I know work talk bores you. I'm just concerned, that's all.” She stroked her hand down his arm. “When Kincaide capitulates, what happens to you? From what I understand, the buyer is going to raze the hotel and build condos in its place.”

“Don't worry about me, sunshine. I'll manage.”

“Okay.” Amelia backed off. What she wanted to do was make sure he had an updated résumé, but then she figured people who lived in glass houses—or in this case, grass tiki bars—shouldn't throw stones. When he wasn't looking, she had grabbed a local paper and an apartment guide. The more she walked around that coffee plantation, the more she realized she didn't want to go back to New York. If she was going to start over, why shouldn't it be in Maui? Of course, Amelia didn't want to mention anything like that to Dude. He'd freak. If she could find an apartment and a job in two weeks, she could leave and just not tell him where she was going. Let him assume it was back to New York. And if they ran into each other on the island, she'd play it cool. She wanted him too much to risk having him get cold feet about their affair if he got a whiff she might not leave at the end of her vacation.

When they got back to the hotel, Amelia stored some of the goodies in the employees' break room for tomorrow. Dude helped her carry her personal stash up the five flights to her room.