Her Hawaiian Homecoming (Mills & Boon Superromance) (8 page)

She walked slowly down the main street of Kailua-Kona, with its brightly colored storefronts facing out to the ocean. Lines of green palm trees swayed against the blue sky nearby, and the sidewalk looked pristine, bathed in bright Hawaiian sunshine. Hula Coffee sat sandwiched between a salon and a little sushi restaurant. Painted a bright baby blue with white trim, the shop boasted an old-fashioned wooden sign carved into the shape of a Hula dancer, a Hawaiian woman wearing a white-flowered lei and green grass skirt, a halo of white flowers in her jet-black, waist-length hair. The small coffee shop was bustling even at two in the afternoon, the window-seat benches filled with people of all stripes. A handsome guy in his midtwenties, wearing board shorts and a tank top, opened the door, holding it for her.

“After you,” he said, taking in her sundress, his eyes lingering on her legs. She ignored him. She didn’t need complications right now. She saw Kai talking to his sister, Jesse, at the register and waved.

“Allie!” He motioned her over. “Come in. Say hi to...”

He hadn’t even got out Jesse’s name before the tanned, petite brunette had launched herself over the counter and clobbered Allie in a huge hug. “
Why
are you never on Facebook?” she scolded. “Seriously—we
need
to catch up! It’s been a
thousand
years!”

Allie had forgotten about Jesse’s bubbling enthusiasm for everything. She and Kai had the same mom and different dads, but they both had their Irish mother’s warm, hazel-colored eyes. She was two years younger than Allie and Kai, and what Allie remembered was a fierce little girl who wanted to climb every tree they did.

“This is a great place,” Allie said, meaning it as she looked around at the warm koa-wood tables and the easy conversation happening across the various nooks in the small but surprisingly open shop. Pastries of every kind called invitingly from behind a glass counter, and the air smelled like coffee and vanilla.

“Thanks,” Kai said, standing a little straighter, clearly taking pride in his establishment. “I never imagined having a life other than surfing, but my finance guy said it’s good to diversify.”

“That’s only because surfing is probably going to kill you,” Jesse scolded. “
This
guy liked to surf the big waves. Like seventy feet!”

“Seventy...?” Allie’s mouth dropped open in shock. Kai had always been fearless, even as a toddler, but somehow she couldn’t quite imagine his muscled body handling such serious surf.

“That was on a slow day,” Kai said, half teasing, half not. He pointed to the espresso machine. “Care for a cappuccino? On the house.”

“Well, I...” Allie hesitated for a split second, but before she could even properly answer, Jesse had bounced over to get started.

“You don’t want him making one. He doesn’t know how,” Jesse explained.

“I do so!”

“You’re only here a couple days a week,” Jesse teased, as they bickered warmly like the siblings she remembered. “During the
slow
times. Ask him where he is in the morning, during rush time?”

“Hey! I surf mornings!” Kai protested. “Got to keep giving those young kids a run for their money on the circuit. I just come in here to supervise, make sure you’re not sleeping on the job.”

Jesse snapped a dishrag at him, and Kai just laughed. In a few moments, she handed Allie a lush cappuccino.

“This is the second time this week someone put coffee in my hands.” Allie inhaled the rich aroma and then took a sip. It was the richest, most delicious thing she’d ever tasted. Nothing bitter about it, just dense, lush goodness.

“This is amazing,” Allie said, dumbstruck that she actually
liked
coffee without a sugary shot of vanilla or caramel.

Kai grinned, ear to ear. “Made from one hundred percent Kona Estate coffee.”

“My grandmother’s coffee?”

Kai nodded.

“Wow, this stuff is
really
good.” Allie took another sip, relishing it.

“The best Kona
on
Hawai’i,” Jesse said.

“Your grandmother’s coffee
made
this place,” Kai seconded.

Allie felt a shudder of guilt as she glanced around at all the happy patrons in Kai’s shop. They all seemed to like the coffee so much, and she could understand why. It was delicious, like none she’d ever tasted. But she had no intention of growing coffee, at least, not with her share. What would happen to Kai’s shop, to these patrons drinking her coffee, if they sold the land? Developed it for condos?

Not your problem
, Allie thought.
Your problem is Dallas McCormick and that smug smile he wears on his face.

“You said someone else gave you coffee?” Kai asked. “Where did you get it?
Please
don’t tell me it was
you-know-what
down the street.
Please
don’t!”

“Kai won’t even say their name, it’s that personal,” Jesse said.

“Don’t get me started on
why
,” he said. “Big corporate lattes! Wouldn’t know good coffee if it bit them in the...”

“Oh, no, don’t worry,” Allie said. “I haven’t been to any competitors. Your aunt gave me coffee grounds, actually.”

Kai immediately relaxed. “You saw Auntie K? She’s always had a soft spot for you. Did she make you a lei?”

“Uh, yes, actually. Gorgeous.” Allie cleared her throat. “I wanted to talk to you about her, actually. Grandma Misu wanted me to talk to her about the estate if I was going to sell, so...”

“She did?”

“Yeah, and I didn’t have much luck. She, uh...she...pretended not to know English.”

Kai and Jesse exchanged a meaningful glance. “
That
wasn’t very nice. Let me go talk to her,” Kai pronounced, like a big brother ready to go to bat for a little sister.

“No, that’s okay. I mean, I know she probably didn’t want to talk to me about selling Grandma Misu’s land, so I get it. But now she won’t answer the door, and...”

“That’s none of her business whether you sell or not,” Kai muttered. “That’s
your
choice, not hers. You should be able to sell if that’s what you want to do.”

Jesse didn’t say a word. Allie could tell she didn’t approve of selling, but she was grateful Kai didn’t judge her. “I just feel kind of stupid. I fell for it. I really thought she didn’t know English.”

“Aw, she does that to everyone,” Kai said. “Hell, the postal carrier didn’t know for
years
, and I don’t think the tax assessor
still
does.”

They all laughed, and Allie felt an easy kinship between them that she hadn’t felt in...years. She liked Jesse and Kai a lot. They felt like long-lost family.

“Hey, want to come to dinner tomorrow? We could help you talk to Aunt Kaimana. Maybe get this all sorted out.”

“Oh, I don’t want to put you out.”

“You won’t,” Kai assured her. “I’m barbecuing, and we’re having a few friends over anyway, at Aunt Kaimana’s house. One more is no big deal!”

For the first time since Chicago, Allie actually
did
feel like getting out. She ignored the little voice of warning at the back of her head. She was on a mission: sell the land and get out.

But, what would one little barbecue hurt? Besides, if she could convince Kaimana to sign her paper at the party, all the better.

“Sure,” she said. “I’d love to.”

CHAPTER FIVE

A
 
F
EW
PEOPLE
turned into more like a hundred. By the looks of Kai’s crowded backyard, he’d invited every local on the island for his little barbecue. Allie stood awkwardly near a banana tree, clutching a frosty mai tai, wondering whether or not she should leave. It had been so long since she’d actually been at a party that wasn’t a bridal shower, she wasn’t sure she remembered how to mingle. Kai was busy manning the grill, and Jesse had her hands full with mixing drinks, and she’d not even seen a trace of Kaimana. She glanced down at her white striped maxi dress and high-heeled wedge sandals and suddenly felt overdressed. Everyone else wore colorful board shorts, tank tops and flip-flops. Allie was the only woman not in an above-the-knee sundress. But she had her reasons. Her legs were bright lobster red after she’d forgotten to apply sunscreen before she’d fallen asleep lying on her stomach on her grandmother’s reclining lawn chair in the backyard.

Her shoulders still radiated heat. They were so burned that even the thought of putting a strap or sleeve on them made her want to cry. The dress was the only sleeveless one she had, so she’d gone with it. Luckily, her front side was only marginally burned. In a day or so, she’d have a new golden tan. But right now, all she felt was agony.

Allie sipped at the sweet drink and glanced around, looking in vain for a familiar face. Just as she was considering knocking back her drink and bolting, she felt something pounce on her skirt. She looked down to see a fluffy brown Labrador puppy with steel-gray eyes.

“Poi! Down, boy, down!” An Asian woman about her age ambled up, deeply tan with her hair up in an elaborate do, a large white flower in her hair. She wore a black tube top and khaki shorts. “I am so sorry,” she said, grabbing the dog by the collar. “He’s not people trained yet.”

“No problem.” Allie grinned and knelt down, scratching the pup behind his ears. The dog reminded her of the lab she’d had growing up. “He’s friendly, aren’t you, Poi?”

“I’m Minnie,” she said. “You must be Allie.”

“How did you...”

“You’re the new girl,” Minnie said and grinned. “I know everybody here but you, so I just figured. Plus, the sunburn gave you away.”

Allie shifted uncomfortably. She realized she was the only one in the yard who didn’t have an all-year tan from years living here. It would take her quite a long time to work up to that, she thought. Her shoulders hadn’t seen sunlight for eight months, and even an hour of sun had burned her to a crisp.

“You need some aloe? I may have some in my car,” Minnie offered.

“I bathed in it before I came here. Don’t worry. I’ve got plenty.” Allie fidgeted. Her right shoulder blade in particular throbbed.

“Mind if I say, your eyebrows are...amazing. Where do you get them done?” Minnie studied Allie’s forehead. Minnie still held the puppy’s collar, trying to keep him from lunging again.

“I did them, actually. I used to do eyebrow sculpting in Chicago.”

“I
have
to introduce you to Teri, then,” Minnie said. “She owns the best salon in town.” Minnie glanced around and then waved to a platinum blonde in her midforties who was wearing a bright coral-colored blouse and white Bermuda shorts. Minnie waved her over and Teri came, carrying a nearly empty mai tai glass.

“Teri! This is Allie. You know, Alani Osaka—Misu’s granddaughter.”

“Oh, honey! So glad to meet you!” Before Allie knew it, she was enveloped in a big hug.

“Misu was my favorite customer. She always gave the best advice.” It seemed as if Teri didn’t want to let her go. Allie didn’t mind, though. Instead of an awkward outsider, she was starting to feel like a prodigal daughter returned. In Chicago, she’d always lived in big, populous neighborhoods and gone to overcrowded schools, walked busy city streets, where it was easy to blend in. She wasn’t used to being noticed or singled out. Small island life was a different kind of existence, she was quickly finding out.

“Teri, you won’t believe this. She does eyebrows!”

“You do?” Teri asked, taking the last sip of her mai tai. “Threading or waxing?”

“Both,” Allie said. “And facials, too.”

“I
just
lost my eyebrow girl, and I haven’t found a good replacement yet.” Teri studied Allie’s face. “You did your own eyebrows?”

Allie nodded.

“That’s good enough for me! They look great. You might be too busy with Misu’s place, but if you want a job...” She raised her glass as if a paycheck were inside.

Allie’s first impulse was to jump at the offer, but then the small voice in her head told her she ought not to get too comfortable. She wasn’t putting down roots. Here or anywhere else, she vowed.

“Oh, I’d love to, but I’m not sure how long I’m staying, actually.”

“You’re not staying?” Minnie asked, surprised. Teri and she exchanged a quick glance. “You’re just going to let Dallas run Misu’s place?”

“Or sell,” Allie said. “One Realtor told me it was good land for condos, maybe.” The mixed feelings that passed across Minnie’s and Teri’s faces told her they liked that idea about as much as Dallas did when he first heard it. “But I haven’t decided yet,” she finished quickly. Both women looked relieved.

“No need to rush something like that, honey,” Teri agreed. “Take your time. And hey, stop by the salon anyway. You want to just work something totally temporary until I can find a permanent replacement, that would be great. The tourists wait for no one! Just think about it, okay?”

“Sure, I’ll think about it,” Allie said, realizing it would be the perfect way to make a little extra cash while she waited to get her ducks in a row to sell. But only if Teri didn’t expect her to stay long-term. She was still planning to sell and get out—quickly.

“By the way, how
are
things going with my boyfriend, Dallas?” Minnie asked, her eyes bright.

Allie felt a ripple of shock. “
Your
boyfriend? Dallas... Uh, I didn’t know...”

“Don’t listen to her,” Teri quibbled, giving Minnie a shove. “That’s how she talks about Dallas, but they aren’t...”

“Hey, a girl can
dream
, can’t she? Besides, my boyfriend is the best kind imaginable: hot and completely imaginary. If I ever had a real conversation with him that wasn’t a passing hello, it would ruin the whole fantasy. So how is it living next to one of the hottest guys on the island?”

“He’s got an ego to match,” Allie grumbled, feeling a flash of annoyance at the mere mention of the man’s name.

“Ha! Lady after my own heart.” Teri grinned her approval. “Thank God you didn’t fall for that Texas charm. Dallas is bad news.” Teri rattled the ice cubes around her mai tai glass.