A Daring Affair (14 page)

“All I have to do is look at you and I’m aroused,” he admitted wryly.

“You’re kind of hard to resist yourself.”

Eric grinned at her before he lay back on the beach blanket and closed his eyes. Mia stared up at the leaves of the palm tree above her, marveling at the incredible chemistry between them. She had never experienced anything so intensely stimulating with anyone in her life, and she had a feeling that she never would again.

As Eric took her limp hand and entwined his fingers with hers, she wondered if she was becoming addicted to him. Her body certainly was, as was her heart.

* * *

Eric listened to Mia’s steady breathing as she napped. Their passionate lovemaking had been wild and spontaneous, thanks to her tiny bikini, but her sexy figure wasn’t the only reason he couldn’t resist her.

On some deep level, just being with her was an exhilarating experience. He wondered at this need he had to always be near her. Never before had his happiness been dependent on another human being. The growing tenderness he felt toward Mia shocked his normally unshakable self, and he wasn’t sure how to categorize his feelings. All he knew was that he couldn’t imagine not being with her, and that thought alone was very disconcerting. He wasn’t ready to examine his own feelings - it was much too baffling.

* * *

“Darling, how are you?” asked Victoria in a three-way call with Mandy and Mia.

“I’m in Kauai, Mom.”

Mia sat on the sofa in the living room while Eric was in the shower. They had returned from the beach a while ago, and she had just finished taking a shower herself. She had wrapped a fluffy, white towel around her, and was still drying her hair with another towel when she had decided to ring her family.

“In Kauai? That’s a beautiful island. Are you taking a break from work in Maui?”

Mia hesitated, but decided it was best to tell her mother the truth.

“Well, yes, I am. I’m just here for the weekend…with Eric,” she said reluctantly.

“A weekend getaway with Eric? That’s awesome!” yelled Mandy, causing Mia to hold her cell phone a little away from her ear.

“Who is Eric?” Victoria asked quizzically.

“Umm, well, he’s my boss,” Mia answered slowly, “we’re kind of dating at the moment.” She winced at the sudden silence on the other line.

“Your boss?” asked Victoria after a few seconds. “At the risk of sounding too old fashioned or judgmental, don’t you think that dating your boss is a bit risky?”

“It’s complicated, but he’s a really nice guy, Mom,” Mia answered in a rush.

“Darling, I’m sure he is, but there’s a reason people always say don’t mix business with pleasure.”

“I know that, Mom, but this just kind of happened,” Mia said, biting her lower lip.

She was met with a short silence, which made her squirm.

“She can handle this, Aunt Victoria. She’s a tough cookie,” chimed in Mandy calmly. “Right, Mia?”

Mia could have hugged her cousin.

“Right,” Mia said firmly. “I’m aware of what the risks are, Mom, so please, don’t worry about me, okay?”

“Hmm, well does he make you happy?”

“Yes, very much.”

Victoria sighed, “Well, then I guess that’s all that matters, darling. I definitely want to meet this Eric when you come home.”

Mia’s eyes widened at her mother’s request. She didn’t know if Eric meeting her mother was something she could arrange. After all, her relationship with him was still unclear, and she wasn’t sure if it would continue once they were back in Edmonton.

“We’ll see, Mom,” Mia said carefully.

“Where are you staying?” asked Mandy.

“We’re staying at Eric’s family home,” answered Mia. “It’s in the North shore, near the town of Hanalei.”

“Is his family there?” asked her mother hopefully.

“Well, no,” answered Mia regretfully.

She knew what her mother was thinking. If Eric’s parents were there, then that meant he was introducing her to his family.

“His parents live in Vancouver. This is just their vacation home.”

“Oh,” said her mother in a disappointed voice.

“His house is beautiful, though, and we’re within walking distance of a gorgeous beach,” Mia said, trying to sound enthusiastic.

“That sounds pretty great,” said Mandy. “Send me a postcard.”

“I will. How are you both doing?” asked Mia.

“We’re fine, darling,” Victoria answered. “We’ve had lots of customers lately, and I have several new shipments of designer dresses from the States.”

“Ben is organizing a weekend of R and R in Banff with hotel employees,” Mandy said. “Elaine asked me if I wanted to tag along.”

“Sounds like fun. Are you going?” asked Mia.

“I wouldn’t miss it,” answered Mandy. “We’ll be staying at the Fairmont, and plan on canoeing at Lake Louise. I want to go just to see him wear a life jacket. The droll man would probably wear a tie with it.”

Mia chuckled. “He would definitely balk at wearing a bright orange, puffy life jacket.”

“I think he’d rather drown,” said Mandy dryly.

“Well, have fun,” said Mia. “I miss you guys. I’ll be home in three weeks.”

“We miss you too, dear. Do be careful,” said Victoria, a note of worry in her voice.

“I will, Mom,” Mia reassured her. “Love you both.”

“Bye,” they said in unison and ended the call.

She looked up and found Eric standing at the doorway, a towel wrapped around his waist. His inscrutable expression made her wonder if he had heard part of her conversation.

“Missing home?” he asked.

Mia nodded. “I’ll see them soon enough, though.”

Eric walked over to her and she couldn’t help staring at his brawny, six-pack chest.

“I hope to meet your family one day,” Eric said.

Her eyes widened. “You do?” she asked. His willingness to meet her family gave her hope that he wanted to deepen their relationship.

“Yes.”

“I can certainly arrange that,” she said happily.

* * *

“Aloha ahiahi, good evening,” greeted a pretty, young Hawaiian woman in a cotton, pink muumuu with a floral print of plumeria flowers, “Mahalo no kau hele ‘ana mai, thanks for coming.”

“E komo mai, welcome, Eric and Mia. Mia, let me introduce you to my wife, Olina,” Mano said as he walked over to them. He, like Eric, wore a T-shirt and cargo shorts.

With a warm smile, Mia greeted Olina, who was heavily pregnant.

“By the way, Eric,” said Mano, “please tell your parents mahalo nui loa for the box of baby clothes and toys they sent us.”

“When I tell them you’re having twins, they’re going to send you another big box.”

“Eric, your girlfriend is very pretty and slim, unlike myself,” Olina said as she gave Eric a hug.

Mia’s white, cotton, strapless mini dress showed off her figure.

“Mahalo, Olina,” Eric, said grinning. “You’re pretty and glowing. Impending motherhood seems to suit you.”

Olina plucked at her muumuu and grimaced. “Even wearing this, I still look like a whale,” she muttered grumpily.

Mano let out a short bark of laughter as he placed an arm around his wife’s shoulders. “Nonsense, ku’ uipo,” said Mano lovingly. Ko aloha makamae e ipo.

“Mano, please try speaking English more, so Mia will understand,” Olina admonished. He said, ‘sweetheart, you are so precious.’”

Before Mia could protest, Mano nodded his head. “I’ll try, but I’m also going to teach her a few Hawaiian words.”

Eric placed his arm around Mia’s shoulders. “Before you know it, I’ll have myself a regular island girl here,” he said, smiling at Mia tenderly.

“The braddah has it bad,” chortled Mano, while Olina elbowed him in the ribs.

“Go check on the imu, Mano,” ordered Olina.

Mano grinned at her before doing her bidding.

“Are you cooking kalua pig?” asked Eric, following Olina to her large backyard. Colorful Chinese lanterns hung from the trees, giving the yard a festive look.

“Yes, the pig has been cooking for almost eight hours now. My cousins were here earlier helping out with the food, but they left to get more beer. We’re expecting quite a few people tonight. I also told Mano that you guys can hit the water, but only after dinner.”

“Yes, ma’am,” Eric said before turning to Mia. “Olina was always a bit bossy even when we were kids.”

Olina rolled her eyes at him and looked at Mia. “I swear Eric and Mano did nothing but surf when we were growing up.”

“You exaggerate, Olina,” Eric said. “We also ate.”

Mia and Olina laughed, then Eric left them to join Mano. Mia sat next to Olina on a comfortable, rattan chair.

“You have such a pretty home,” Mia said, admiring the abundance of purple, pink and white orchids growing wildly in Olina’s backyard.

“Mahalo,” Olina said, pleased. “We love it here. Mano did a fine job fixing up this hale, house. It’s been in the family for generations, but it was falling apart. When I inherited it a few years back, it was a mess. Now it’s ready for future keiki, children.”

The house was farther inland, away from the beach, but the small cottage was charming. A lanai graced the front yard, and tropical flowers of every color bloomed around the house. Several hens and a rooster wandered around the yard, and Mia smiled at the cacophony of sounds they made.

“That’s Paniolo, meaning cowboy. He’s as maverick as they come,” pointed Olina to a large rooster strutting near them. “He’s wild, but he’s lived with us for several years now. He always has his harem with him.”

Mia laughed as she watched Paniolo and half a dozen hens cluck nearby.

“I’ve seen so many chickens here in Kauai. Why is that?” Mia asked curiously.

“Ever since Hurricane Iniki hit Kauai in 1992, the chicken population has exploded. The hurricane destroyed a lot of chicken farms, and the chickens ran free. They don’t have any predators, although we locals sometimes catch them for food. However, their meat is tough, even when boiled.”

“Have you always lived in Kauai?”

Olina nodded, patting her protruding belly. “I was born and raised here, but my grandparents came to Kauai from the Philippines. They worked at the Kilohana plantation, a sugar plantation.”

“You and Mano have known each other since you were children?” asked Mia, remembering what Eric had said about them hanging out together when they were kids.

“Yes, but I didn’t think of him in a romantic way until we were much older,” laughed Olina. “My mother was a kumu hula, a teacher of hula dancing. One of her haumana, or students, was Mano’s sister. One day, Mano came by to pick up his sister and looked at me differently. I suddenly noticed how handsome he was. We started dating soon afterwards. That was about seven years ago.”

“I’ve seen hula dancing at the hotel, and it’s a beautiful and graceful dance,” Mia said admiringly.

Olina smiled. “Hula is like poetry in motion. Would you like me to teach you some movements?”

Mia nodded enthusiastically. “I would love it.”

Olina stood and said, “There is kahiko, which is the traditional, ancient style of hula, and there is ‘auana, which is the modern style. I’ll show you the ‘auana. These are the basic steps.”

Mia stood and followed Olina’s graceful movements as best she could. She felt awkward at first, but after a short while, she began to follow the hula steps with more ease.

“You’re doing well,” approved Olina as they danced together.

“This is called the kaholo. One, two, three, four,” instructed Olina, watching Mia’s feet. “Remember to bend your knees, so your hips sway.”

“This is fun,” Mia said as she tried to mimic Olina’s steps and hand movements. “You’re so good at this.”

“Mahalo, thank you. I should be, since I competed in the Merrie Monarch Festival hula competitions in Hilo for several years. This is called the ami. Rotate your hips in a circular motion like this.”

Eric and Mano joined them. Eric brought a tray of appetizers and Mano held a ukulele. Mano began to play a tune while Olina and Mia continued their hula lesson.

Eric sidled up to Mia and whispered, “Your hip rotations are turning me on.”

“Stop it,” she whispered, biting back a smile.

“Pau, finished,” said Olina as she swayed to a halt. “You’re naturally graceful, Mia. Oy, I’m a little out of breath. I think I need to sit down now.”

“Sorry, Olina, I didn’t mean to wear you out,” apologized Mia, helping Olina settle back down on her lounge chair.

“No, it’s okay. Na keiki, the children, are kicking and are probably excited about the party. Speaking of, where is everyone?”

Eric and Mano drew some rattan chairs near the women.

“You know our family and friends. They’re on Hawaiian time,” Mano answered, strumming on his ukulele.

“Meaning they’re always late,” explained Eric to Mia.

“Is the kalua pork ready?” Olina asked her husband.

“One more hour,” he answered.

“Here, have some coconut shrimp,” Eric said, holding the tray out to Mia and Olina.

“Mmm, this pupu, appetizer, is so onolicious,” Olina said appreciatively.

“Everything you eat is ‘ono lately,” chuckled Mano teasingly.

“I can’t wait to try the pork,” Mia said, her stomach grumbling.

“We also have poi and lomi lomi salmon, a cold salad made of tomatoes, salmon and onions. Mano did most of the cooking,” Olina added proudly. “He loves to cook, and he’s really good at it, too.”

“I also prepared Filipino chicken adobo,” said Mano, rubbing his belly in anticipation.

“What’s that?” asked Mia curiously.

“It’s chicken cooked in soy sauce, brown sugar, vinegar, garlic, black peppercorns and bay leaves, served over a bed of steamed rice,” he answered. “It’s delicious.”

Mano began to play a lively tune on his ukulele, while Olina sang a traditional Hawaiian song.

Mia smiled at Eric, her smile deepening as he took her hand in his and weaved his fingers through hers.

One hour later, the party was in full swing. Over fifty people had arrived, most of whom were Mano and Olina’s extended family of aunts, uncles, cousins and close friends. All were enjoying the plentiful food and beer. Children ran around the yard, chasing the chickens, while musicians played traditional Hawaiian music on guitars and ukuleles.