Hawaiian Masquerade (Destination Billionaire Romance) (3 page)

Lexi took the photo and gasped at the pure beauty before her. The guidebook she had read had a couple photos and descriptions, but they didn’t come close to the depiction she held in her hand. Dozens of crystal-white waterfalls spouted from the mountain, made up of one dark green verdant ridge after another. A cloud hovered near the edges of the crater. Lexi could almost feel the moisture in the air. “This is breathtaking.”

“A lot of the rich people with too much money to burn take helicopter rides over this crater, but you can’t get a shot like this unless you’re standing still.”

Not missing the resentment in his description, Lexi asked, “So you hiked up to a vantage point for the shot?”

Derek nodded. “The hikes on this island are amazing.”

The photograph was twelve by sixteen inches and marked at fifty-five dollars. She wanted to buy it for her front entryway, but Derek’s comment about rich people made her hold back.

What would he think if he knew Lexi’s net worth was over seven hundred million dollars? Lexi wanted to be herself, but she also didn’t want Derek to think that she was just a rich tourist, because she wasn’t—she was so much more than the sum of her investments, and she was here to stay. With difficulty, she set the photo back on the table and looked again at her sea turtle picture. “I heard that Ke’e Beach is a good place to watch the sea turtles.”

“Poipu is nice, too,” Derek said. “It’s not far from here. A bit more rocky, but there is a great area next to the Beach House restaurant that always has turtles and fish.”

Lexi pulled her bottom lip through her teeth. “I’m a strong swimmer. Do you think snorkeling’s something that I could figure out on my own?”

“I could teach you,” Derek offered. “I’ve lived here for a couple years, and I go out at least once a week. I’d like to get a few more shots tomorrow. What do you think?”

She nearly took a step back. She’d barely met Derek, and he was already asking to spend time with her. Her gut reaction was to turn him away. But wait . . . he didn’t know who she was or that she was a multimillionaire. Derek wasn’t after her money. A thrill shot through Lexi when she realized he would never have to know. She could get to know him—or anyone on this island—without all of her money trailing along like excess baggage. Lexi pressed her lips together, considering his open face. The impact of his offer reminded her of why she’d decided to come to Kauai. She leaned forward and smiled. “Are you sure? It might be hard for you to get any good pictures if I’m sucking the ocean through my breathing tube.”

Derek laughed. “I think I’m a pretty good teacher. So do you want to meet at Ke’e Beach on the north shore?”

“Maybe?” Lexi drew her sandaled foot along the grass, letting the blades tickle her toes.

“Or we could meet here, and we can ride up together?”

Lexi liked how Derek wasn’t trying to get personal too quickly by asking to pick her up at her house. “Do you live close to here?”

He pointed a thumb over his shoulder. “Just a few blocks away.”

Again she hesitated, but Derek waited patiently, no flicker of frustration on his face. She swallowed and took a step forward. “I live in Princeville, so I’ll meet you at the beach.”

He nodded. “Do you know where to rent some gear?”

“Actually, I bought some in the hopes that I could figure it out.”

“Sounds like you’re ready, then. If you want to swim with the turtles, it’s best to go early. Can you be there by seven in the morning?”

“Yep. The birds around here make sure everyone is up early.”

“Especially the roosters.” Derek chuckled and held out a business card. “Here’s my number. If you have any questions, give me a call.”

“Thanks.” Lexi pocketed the card, again grateful at how easygoing Derek was. He hadn’t pressed her for her phone number or address. What a nice change from the speed-dating types who sought her out at every business function. “And thanks for sharing your talents. I’m glad you were here.”

Derek looked down with a half smile and murmured, “Me, too.”

Lexi meandered back through a few booths, all the time wishing she could be bold and go back and talk to Derek about snorkeling, photography, or anything. When she glanced back to find him watching her, she smiled. Tomorrow morning seemed like a very long time away for a snorkeling lesson with the good-looking photographer.

W
hen Lexi woke
up at five o’clock Saturday morning, she blamed it on Chicago, not a handsome photographer. Lexi unpacked another suitcase containing most of the toiletries she needed to finish setting up in her bathroom. After that she moved to the kitchen, admiring the white cabinets with teal handles that matched the backsplash—a mosaic of square tiles in teal, white quartz, and gray. The kitchen boasted a modern look that flowed throughout the house. Lexi took a moment to admire the home . . . her home.

Shawn had found the home, newly remodeled, mostly furnished, and two hours on the market. For that, Lexi would always be grateful. Lexi shook her head. She needed to stop thinking about Shawn and his attempt to form a serious relationship with her. She liked him, and at one time she’d experienced feelings for him during what she defined as stressful, mind-numbing work that left her defenses down. Shawn was handsome in a preppy sort of way and a good friend of Jordan’s, but even Lexi’s brother couldn’t convince her to stay and give Shawn or Burke Enterprises any more chances.

Lexi wiped off the kitchen counter, trying to wipe Chicago from her thoughts. She gathered her beach bag and snorkeling gear and loaded up her Jeep. It was barely six-thirty and the morning was quiet, save for the wildlife chattering in the trees. The air smelled faintly of plumeria, rain, and the red dirt on the roadside. Lexi rolled down her window and let the breeze tickle the tendrils of hair curling around her neck. Traffic was light, almost nonexistent compared to Chicago.

Ke’e Beach, in Haena State Park, was at the end of the highway; the road ended at the sand as though even Kauai knew that this was Lexi’s destination. She found a parking spot off the grassy shoulder and walked toward the constant rush of the ocean waves that called to her, drowning out the butterflies in her stomach.

Lexi took off her flip-flops and tucked them into her bag as the sand grew deeper. She strolled along the shore, admiring both the ocean and the trees behind her. Many of the roots were exposed, creating an odd-looking bramble of smooth red bones jutting from the grassy bank and trailing towards the finer sand of the beach.

“Aloha, Lexi.”

She turned to see Derek walking toward her, lugging a large bag of his own, probably filled with his photography gear. “Aloha.” Lexi admired Derek’s dark green board shorts, tight black swim shirt, and tanned bare feet. The messy, spiked look of his coarse dark hair set off the perfect contour of his dark eyebrows.
Yummy
was the thought that flitted through Lexi’s mind before she snapped out of the laser scrutiny of her sexy snorkeling teacher.

Derek was holding back a laugh as he waited for Lexie to snap out of her reverie. “I forgot to remind you about a rash guard. It helps you stay warm and keeps your back from getting sunburnt.” Derek held up a green swim shirt with his Fuse logo on it.

Grateful for the distraction, Lexi stepped forward, taking the silky shirt. “Thanks. I won’t confess that I feel like a fish out of water here . . . this is called a rash guard?”

“Fair enough. I won’t confess that I ate cold pizza for breakfast this morning.”

Lexi laughed and pointed to herself. “Granola bar and yogurt. My fridge needs help.”

“So you really did just move here?”

“Yeah, I stopped by the grocery store my first day here to grab a few essentials. I got lost twice already, but I think I’m figuring things out now.”

“Or at least your GPS has been updated,” Derek teased.

“Who needs GPS? I have pomaika’i.” She turned to survey the water. “So where’s the best place to snorkel?”

“You do have good luck.” Derek chuckled and pointed to a spot where the ocean crashed against a rugged-looking mountain. “Near the edge of the reef is where the turtles are, with tons more fish on the other side, but we won’t start there. I like to keep an eye on the water, make sure it’s calm enough; otherwise it isn’t safe to go outside the reef. The waves are wilder on the north shore.”

Lexi was about to ask why he thought a beach on the north shore was a good place to learn to snorkel when he motioned to a shallow pool in front of them. “The reef creates sort of a swimming hole, and in an hour or so, this beach will be absolutely crawling. Right now the water’s calm, and this is an excellent place to try on your gear. C’mon, I’ll show you.”

“I’m really excited, but nervous, too. I hope I don’t choke on salt water,” Lexi said as she trudged through the sand to the water’s edge.

“I always recommend not drinking the ocean.” Derek set his bag on the sand with a wink. Lexi put her bag down next to his, and they both pulled out snorkeling gear. “Now, this next part might not be for city girls, but I’m too cheap for anti-fog spray.” Derek spit right into his mask, rubbed it around with his fingers, and then rinsed it in the saltwater.

Lexi grimaced. Why didn’t anyone tell her about anti-fog spray? Now she would have to spit in front of a guy so good-looking, he even looked hot defogging his snorkeling mask. Lexi’s mouth suddenly went dry; she swallowed and spit a tiny amount into the mask.

“Here, let me help you.” Derek took the mask, wiped around the lens, and dipped it in the water. “See, now you can really say you’re not a tourist.”

“If that’s what it takes.” Lexi gripped the mask, knowing she was going to look like a complete dork.

Derek slipped his mask on easily and gave her a thumbs-up. “Yes. Snorkeling is not a sport for the vain, because everyone looks funny in this getup. Care to join me?”

With his nose blocked, he sounded funny, too. Lexi laughed and some of the tension eased from her body. Grateful that she’d taken the time to try on her snorkeling mask at home so she wouldn’t look completely inept, she blew out a breath and pulled on her mask feeling like an awkward teenager again. When she looked up at Derek wearing his mask, waiting to teach her how to snorkel and still looking hot, she bit the mouthpiece hard and reminded herself to pay attention.

Derek gave her a few pointers about sucking in air through her nose to provide a tight suction on her face which caused the mask to dig into her cheeks. Then they strapped on their flippers and waded backwards until the water hit Lexi’s waist.

“This is colder than I thought!” Lexi shrieked as a small wave pushed the water level above her belly button. She shivered.

“Once the sun moves out from the clouds, it’ll feel a lot better.” Derek pointed to a few rays of light streaking above the trees that surrounded the beach. “A wetsuit comes in handy if you’re going to be out longer than an hour, but I thought we’d just spend a little time this morning to get you started, see how you like it.”

Lexi shivered again. “Okay, I’m ready.”

“Kneel down here and put your face in the water. You don’t even need to worry about breathing this first time. Just test that your seal is tight so you don’t get salt water in your eyes.”

Lexi knelt down just as another wave rolled toward the shore. The water tugged her forward and Derek grabbed her hand to steady her. The sand shifted under her knees, and she gripped his fingers tightly, dunking her face into the water.

Thrust into a different world, Lexi widened her eyes as the silent layer of water just below the surface filled her ears. She scooped up a handful of sand, the grains drifting away with the tide. Derek squeezed her fingers, and she turned to see his head also underneath the water. She squeezed back and enjoyed the warm buzz of adrenaline surging through her body. The mouthpiece was snug against her lips, so she took one careful breath, hearing the hollow tube vibrate with air against the side of her head. She breathed in and out once more and then lifted her face out of the water, surprised at how a couple inches felt like she had been immersed in the ocean.

She pulled the mouthpiece out as Derek lifted his head. “I did it! I took a breath. Did I just snorkel?”

Derek chuckled, and his laugh whistled through his breathing tube. He moved it aside. “Great work for your first try. Now let’s swim a little farther out, and we’ll just float on top of the water. You can lift your head up anytime you get nervous. I think you’ll see a few fish closer to the reef.”

Lexi held on to him as they swam further toward the Ke’e reef. Her fingers tingled with his touch. Even though she knew Derek only held her hand to steady her, she enjoyed the strength in his grip. The shoreline fell away gradually until the water reached Lexi’s armpits.

“This looks like a good place. You ready?” Derek lifted his eyebrows and smiled.

When he smiled like that, revealing white, even teeth and a full bottom lip, the ocean felt ten degrees warmer. Lexi nodded and adjusted her mask. “Do I need to swim or tread water as we go farther out?”

“Nope,” Derek answered. “It doesn’t matter how deep the water is for snorkeling, because you’re floating on the surface.”

Lexi swayed with the constant roll of the waves. “Are you sure I won’t sink?”

“Here, watch me.” He put in his mouthpiece and ducked into the water. A second later, his body popped back up, floating still and golden with the sun reflecting off the waves. His calves were toned and lean. At first glance, Lexi had guessed he was Hawaiian, but the more she considered him, the less certain she was that he was a native to Hawaii. He’d mentioned living in Kauai for a couple years. His head popped back up. “See? Now it’s your turn.”

Lexi didn’t tell him that she’d been too busy admiring his physique to focus on how she would mimic his floating posture. With the constant motion of the water, the fish swimming below her, and the thoughts of turtles swimming within reach, Lexi’s insides tightened up into a ball of nerves. “You won’t let me get washed out to sea, right?”

Derek laughed, and the sound was an elixir for the tightness that had crept into Lexi’s shoulders. She blew out a breath, and put her head in the water. For one second, all was dark, and then she remembered to open her eyes. An entire world waited right under the surface. A black-and-yellow fish darted by, and she gasped. The sound in her tube jolted her brain, reminding her to suck in a breath. Her inhale echoed in the tube, and she glanced to the side to see Derek floating right next to her. She started to smile, but then remembered her mouthpiece and bit down.

A school of silver-and-blue fish darted past, and Lexi reached out in front of her. The fish were farther away than they appeared. The world just below the surface held every shade of blue, from almost white down to the cobalt blue near the sand. Rays of sunlight skimmed the surface and filled Lexi’s soul with joy in this moment of quiet peace where everything moved at the pace God intended. She marveled at the rocks with bits of coral, the fish darting in and out, the sand shifting along the bottom of the ocean. Everything so simple, yet so beautiful.

Derek took her hand, and she turned slowly to meet his eyes. He gave her a thumbs-up. She nodded and returned the signal, wondering if he could sense what she was experiencing as the power of the moment intensified. He pointed in front of him and gave her a little tug. With a kick of her flippers, she followed, gripping his hand tightly. Her heart pounded, every beat more exhilarating than the one before, as she watched a large rainbow-colored fish duck behind a rock.

One part of her consciousness focused on the glorious world around her, and the other part was aware of every movement of Derek’s fingertips as he gently guided her forward. She noticed a black-and-white fish glide past a piece of seaweed tangled around a rock; she also noticed the muscles in Derek’s forearms, the way his broad shoulders filled out his shirt. He turned back, and Lexi was grateful for the bulky mask—he didn’t know she was gawking at him instead of the fish.

Suddenly, he kicked his flippers and was at her side, pointing behind her. She swiveled and saw a sea turtle diving down from the surface. Derek put his hand on the small of her back and propelled her forward, in pursuit of the turtle. Lexi barely had to kick her feet; they must have been moving with the current for how quickly the rocks and schools of fish came in and out of focus.

Squeezing her hand, Derek came to a stop and pointed again. Three more turtles swam nearer to the surface and a fourth skidded along the bottom of the ocean. Lexi hung there, suspended between water and air by a few inches, and took in the scene before her. The turtles were absolutely delightful to watch as their flippers moved them gracefully through the water. The bulky shells confounded her because it seemed like the turtles shouldn’t be able to flip, dive, and move so quickly through the water. There was so much life around her in the wild ocean, and Lexi wanted to soak it all in. She wanted to be like those turtles and surprise everyone, but mostly herself, with an ability to relax and enjoy life like she’d never been able to before. She was living out a dream, and she didn’t want to wake up.

Derek motioned upwards, and Lexi lifted her head out of the water. The rush of sound, a stark contrast to the silence just below them, surrounded her, leaving her slightly disoriented. Derek let go of her hand to remove his breathing tube. “It makes you feel like you’re part of two worlds, doesn’t it?”

“Yeah, that’s exactly how I feel right now. Those turtles were so neat. I can’t believe that we just swam with sea turtles!” Lexi laughed, throwing her head back.

Derek joined her laughter, pushing his mask up on his head. “I’m glad I got to make this memory with you.”

Lexi pulled her mask down around her neck. She reached out and touched his arm. “Me, too.”

Derek glanced at her hand and then looked at her with an intensity that made her knees feel weak. His eyes looked lighter today under the sunshine. Lexi thought she saw flecks of gold interspersed with the brown. “You’ve been working hard for a long time, haven’t you?” His voice was quiet and his question was spot on.

Lexi sighed. “Too long. It’s like I don’t even know how to relax anymore. I feel like a naughty kid skipping school.”

Derek chuckled. “It took some time getting used to island life, and some of my buddies still razz me about working too hard, but I think I’ve found a pace that I like.”