Groovin' 'n Waikiki (2 page)

One of them spoke up. “I swear to God, it really is beer. It’s just recycled.” They all started laughing.

She lowered the can to waste level and rapidly moved it back and forth, dousing them in their own urine. When the can was empty, she threw it at the brother. “I’m disappointed in you.”

She noticed him wince out of the corner of her eye as she walked away.

Someone said, “She’s a fiery one. Let’s get her.”

But the brother said, “No, leave her alone.”

Shortly after that, big sister caught up to her. “Hey, Glory, wait up.”

Having a natural tan, she was not too big on lying in the sun, so they waded into the surf and played around. It definitely cooled her off, but after thirty minutes in the ocean, she was bored. “Let’s to do something else.”

They started walking back when they passed the surfer boys again. The brother smiled and gave her a salute. Gloria assumed it was a sign of respect.

Jess elbowed her. “Did ya see that brother eyeing you?”

“
Yeah, we had a little disagreement earlier. No harm.” She bobbed her head in acknowledgment as they passed.

When they were almost back, Jessie suggested, “We need to get our purses anyway, so while we’re at the cabana bar, let’s get something to drink. I’m thirsty—hungry, too. I’ll bet we could order some appetizers there.”

“
I’d like that. That sounds like fun and I’m getting hot again.”

They sauntered the short walk to the open cabana and sat at a table near the beautiful palm trees that divided the pool area from the beach. Jessie came back with our handbags. Jessie handed hers to her, and as she sat, said under her breath, “That bartender is really something.”

Gloria turned halfway to see if she could see what ‘really something’ looked like. “I don’t see him.”

“
He’s stepped away now. Too bad. He was a doll.”

“
Hmmm. He’ll be back. It’s not very crowded,” she noted.

“
Well it is summer, and most of the guests cluster around the pool or spread out on the beach.”

“
I don’t see a server anywhere.” She scooted her chair back and rose. “I’ll get something from the bar. What do you want?”

“
Iced tea and an appetizer menu.”

The Hawaiian bartender was definitely cute. It must have been him Jess talked about. He was taking the order of a rail-thin elderly man in a white linen suit. After a few seconds, he left to make the man’s drink and flashed an endearing smile at her as he passed by. “I’ll be right with you, ma’am.”

She smiled and nodded.

In a shaky voice resembling a witch’s cackle, the sickly looking customer said, “You are very pretty.”

She should have ignored him but turned toward him. “Thank you.”

“
Could I buy you a drink?”

She didn’t want to be bothered, but was polite. “No, thank you, I’m here with my sister.”

“
Yes, I saw her. She’s pretty also. I’d like to buy you both a drink.”

Before she could decline, the bartender returned and set a drink in front of him. “Joe Crow margarita on the rocks. That’ll be seven and a quarter.”

The man pulled out a thick wad of bills and peeled off two Abe Lincolns. “Keep the change,” he said in his creepy voice.

“
Thank you, sir.”

The customer spun his forefinger in a circle. “And I want to pay for whatever these ladies order.”

She shook her head. “That’s all right. We’ll charge it to our room, and our husbands will take care of it.”

The bartender frowned and looked at her empty ring finger before turning to the cash register. He opened it, inserted the ten dollars in the bill tray, retrieved the two-seventy-five change and dropped it in an old-fashioned
tips
glass. He turned to her. “What can I get for you?” Once again, he scanned her left hand.

He’s interested.
His nametag read
Kino
. She winked at Kino and tilted her head toward the old man.

He smiled and nodded. She looked at him—really looked at him. The most obvious thing was his bright white Donny Osmond–style smile. The second thing was how perfect, except for a little crook in his nose, his features were. He had long jet-black hair, eyes like pools of liquid gold and a square-ish face. The man was a hottie.
Probably married
.

“
Miss? Can I get you anything?”

She snapped out of her reverie. “Ah, yes. My sister and I would like something to drink and maybe some appetizers, but there’s no one to wait on us.”

He glanced in the direction of Jessie, then back. “I’m sorry. We’re short a waiter today and the remaining two servers are very busy with the patrons at the pool and along the beach. I guess you’re stuck with me.”

Oh, that’s too bad.

Just then, a couple took a seat at the bar. Kino glanced at them. “As soon as I finish with them. Go sit at your table. I’ll be with you shortly.”

She nodded and headed back to their table. Jessie looked at her and waited for an explanation as she sat. “The bartender will serve us. They’re short a server today.”

“
Okay. Tell me, what did you think of the bartender?”

“
He seemed pleasant.”

Jessie raised her brow. “Is that all?”

She leaned forward, claping her hands together. “Yes, why?”

“
Because, I watched you. The only times your eyes weren’t following him was when you turned your back to come back here.”

All of a sudden, the subject of our conversation showed up, handing them appetizer menus. Her pulse quickened when he asked, “Do you need a few minutes or do you
know
what…you want?”

Jessie opened her menu. “There aren’t a lot of choices. I think we’re ready. I’d like the crab & mac nut wontons, the wild shrimp cocktail and iced tea.”

“
Very good, ma’am.”

He Turned to Gloria. “And you, ma’am?”

“
Her name is Gloria,” Big sis chirped.

Gloria could have crawled under the table. She looked at Jessie with what she hoped were daggers in her eyes. “I’m sure Kino…I mean, the bartender, could care less what my name is.”

Jessie wagged her eyebrows up and down and mouthed, “I’m doing this for you.”

Kino smiled. “Actually, it is nice to know the customer’s name. Let me help you, Gloria.” He pointed his pen at the opened menu. “My favorite is this one right here. It is fit for a queen, or ladies as pretty as you and your sister.”

She leaned back and slid lower in her seat.

Jessie continued her little game. “Why, thank you, Kino. I think my sister is curious, but too shy to ask, are you’re involved?”

Gloria interrupted her buttinski sister. “Yes, thank you, Kino. I will take your advice. The coconut shrimp sounds delicious. I’ll have lemonade to drink. Please hurry, I’m starved, so the sooner you get that order in, it may save my…life.”

He smiled. “As you wish. Do you know you are beautiful when you’re agitated?” Before she could say a word in return, he turned and walked away.

“
Why didn’t you let him answer?” Jessie stared past her left ear. “Oh my God. Check out his ass.”

She turned and looked, and felt the flutter of imaginary butterfly wings in her stomach.

“
Glor, baby. No wonder you couldn’t take your eyes off him. He is seriously beautiful. And he likes…” she pointed right at her, “you, girl, I can tell.”

A short time later, Kino returned with their drinks. “Here you are. Iced tea for you.” He set the glass down in front of Jessica. “And lemonade for you. Your appetizers will be ready in ten minutes. Is there anything else I can do for you?”

Jessie raised her hand to her face. “There is one thing.”

Gloria rolled her eyes, wondering what would be coming next.

“
Gloria and I are looking forward to going out tonight. Would you know of any clubs where we could go?”

“
Of course, what are your interests?”

“
Well, I’m separated and theoretically getting a divorce, so I’m just tagging along with my sister, Gloria.”

Here it comes.

“
But, I know she is interested in meeting men.”

This is mortifying.

His beautiful brown eyes stared into mine. “Ahh, you are looking for love?”

Gloria shook her head exaggeratedly. “Not hardly. More like fun.”

He nodded as if he agreed. “All the big hotels have clubs or club-like bars, but before my last girlfriend moved to the mainland, we liked to go to a club in town called Rumours. It would be my pleasure to show you.”

Jessie’s eyes widened perceptively. “You mean take us there? That would be fabulous.”

Gloria squeezed her lips together, tightly. “Let me think about it.”

“
Fine, I’ll see if your order is ready.”

As Kino walked away, Jessie confronted her. “Are you crazy? What’s there to think about? The best-looking guy in Hawaii, who also seems nice, wants to take you clubbing and you put him off.”

“
There’s plenty of time to accept his offer. I don’t want to seem too anxious.”

“
Games. Why must people play games? You know men get tired of games after a while.”

“
Darnell didn’t.”

Jessie’s jaw dropped. “That wasn’t a game. I was seriously confused, but it did work out, didn’t it?” She winked.

“
Then why’d he move out?”

“
It’s none of your business.”

Kino opened a tray stand beside them and set a tray down. Then he hung something purple and white around Jessie’s neck.

It was a lei of orchids. “Oh, that’s beautiful, Jessie.”

She lifted the bottom, examined it, and watched as Kino placed a similar lei around Gloria’s neck, except her flowers were pink instead of purple. “Thank you, Kino. These are lovely.”

“
As are you two.” Then he retrieved two dishes from the tray and set one in front of Jessie. “Crab & mac nut wontons.” Then he announced, “Wild shrimp cocktail,” as he set another beside the first plate. “Enjoy.”

Next, he set the coconut shrimp in front of her. “You will love it. I guarantee it.”

Jessie took a bite from one of her wontons. “Umm, yummy. Tell me, Kino. If we went with you to Rumours, would we love it?”

She couldn’t help but notice the mischievous smirk that formed on our waiter’s face. “Of course, you can count on it.”

“
Then we accept. Right, Gloria?”

She’d just taken a bite of shrimp and swallowed. “This is fabulous. Try this, Jessie.” She handed a giant shrimp to Jessie and smiled at Kino. “We’ll be looking forward to it.”

“
Great, I’ll pick you ladies up at eight.”

“
Where?” Jessie asked.

“
Is the lobby all right?”

They nodded.

* * * *

Returning to the bar, Keno snuck more than a few surreptitious glances at the pretty African American sisters. He was especially interested in the younger one, Gloria. God she was pretty and sexy in her minimal bikini. Five-five, with captivating warm brown eyes, full sensuous lips, a regal pointed nose, she was a tempting, vivacious morsel of womanhood.

He headed back to their table carrying the iced tea and lemonade pitchers. “More iced tea?”

Jessie looked up smiled. “Thank you.”

After filling sister’s glass, he addressed Gloria, “More lemonade.”

Smiling warmly, she picked her glass up and raised it to be filled. “For a bartender, you’re a pretty good waiter.”

Gloria. He even reveled in her name. “I’m glad you think so. Is there anything else I can get you?”

“
No, I think we’re all set.”

God, that microscopic bikini she wore showed almost everything. Kino smiled. With her shapely lean figure, he could almost picture her naked in his bed. “I’ll bring your check then.”

Back behind the bar he realized he’d gotten hard. Not surprising considering the effect Gloria seemed to have on him. And it wasn’t just the idea of fucking her. Only Karen, his former girlfriend had ever affected him that way.

Trying to hide his erection, her donned a bar apron before dropping their check off. “Here you go. Thanks for stopping by. I’m looking forward to tonight. I’ll see you ladies at eight.”

* * * *

After finishing their tasty meal, they walked arm in arm into the hotel proper. There was a lilt in Gloria’s gait, and for the first time since Joel moved away, she felt everything was going to work out for the best. Then as they walked through the rear sliding doors, she paused. “Oh my God.”

Concern etched into Jessica’s pretty face. “What?”

“
I’m going to be with ‘Adonis’ and I don’t have anything to wear.”

Jessie arranged a wayward strand of her hair in place. “Don’t worry, sweetheart. We can always buy something.”

Panic edged her voice. “I don’t even know what they wear at Rumours. We should have asked Kino how we should dress.”