White Ginger (12 page)

Amelie nodded. “Girl time is good.”

“See you at five.” Lili waved goodbye then gunned the motor. Her pickup roared down the track.

Walking back into her little cabin was like going through a time warp. It seemed like months, not days, since she’d left.

She packed her overnight bag with more clothes, and another bag with painting equipment. Tomorrow she would have to arrange a trip to town to replace damaged items. For now, just getting her hands back on her sketchbooks calmed her lingering unease. She placed them on the cleared kitchen counter, and then turned to survey the mess that was her living room and studio.

A shiver flittered down her spine. If she’d been here when the burglar arrived… Her skin prickled. Closing her eyes, she pressed both hands to her stomach and forced herself to take a deep breath. Straightening her shoulders, she shook back her hair and humphed.

Nobody’s scaring me away from my home. Nobody!

With single-minded determination, she spent the afternoon cleaning and restoring the cabin to its former state.

Mid-afternoon, she returned to the kitchen for a drink. Her sketchbooks lay on the counter beside the tea caddy. Itching to capture images of Lani in costume, she flipped over pages, pausing at the sketch of Arne. With a fingertip, she traced the angle of his jaw and the curve of his lips.

Lani’s face as she danced came to mind. Her features were softer, but no less determined than her uncle’s. With deft strokes, Lani’s regal pose came to life, her face and hands in fascinating detail but her ti-leaf skirt suggested rather than delineated.

“You’ve caught her exactly.”

Amelie dropped her pencil and spun around at Arne’s voice.

“You’re back!” She flung herself into his arms, hugging his waist and pressing her face into his chest. The tang of lime and sandalwood and hot, hot male filled her senses.

“I’m glad you made it in time.” Her lips brushed his red Hawaiian patterned shirt. It showed off his tan, and, oh boy, did he fill the slim-fitting cream trousers. She smoothed the lapels. Would he kiss her now?

He ran slow hands over her shoulders and stepped back.

“I decided to poke my nose in on the way to the luau. Thought you’d be on your way there by now.” He frowned. “You’ve got smudges on your face. Aren’t you coming?”

“Of course I’m coming.” She rubbed at her cheeks and noticed smudges of black powder on the back of her hand.

Really cool, Melie. Greeting him in your cleaning clothes.

She glanced at the clock.

“Oh no, is that the time? I’ll be ready in ten minutes.” She dashed into the bathroom, and emerged
 
ten minutes later, refreshed and with slightly damp hair. Had he missed her? Two days and two nights away from him underlined how irresistible she found him.

“You’re beautiful.” Arne drew her close, his hands warm on her hips. “I missed you.” His lips brushed her ear and trailed to her mouth.

She’d missed his touch, the way he looked at her, and the way her breath seemed to catch in her throat when she looked at him. She tilted her head back and parted her lips in invitation. Forget the luau. This was what she wanted to do tonight. Would he be tempted to stay with her?

Barely had his lips touched hers than a car roared up the track and pulled up in front of the cabin. Arne heard it too.

“Damn. Lili’s here.” He turned apologetically to Amelie and slung a casual arm around her shoulders and they strolled onto the veranda.

Lili’s truck pulled onto the grass beside Arne’s jeep and a small bundle of energy jumped from the back seat and hurled herself at Arne’s waist. “You made it; I knew you would.”

Arne tossed her high in the air and Lani squealed delightedly. After a quick hug, he put her down.

Stepping back, Lani examined Amelie then turned to her father. “Told you so, Daddy. I said she was as pretty as Mom. ’Course Melie’s blonde and Mom’s dark like me, but she’s still one of the prettiest ladies on the island.”

Two male heads nodded agreement and Amelie ducked her head. “So, what do I need to bring to this luau?”

“Your appetite.” Arne tugged her down the stairs. “Come on, let’s get going.”

“Can I ride down with you and Melie? Please?” Lani bounced up and down beside them as they walked to the jeep.

Lili agreed and lifted her into the back. “Okay, Miss Muppet. Put that seat belt on.”

Lili and Kevin followed them into town while Lani prattled on from the back seat about the cooking of the pork in the ground, and the music and the dancing to follow the feast.

As she listened, an ache lodged in Amelie’s heart. Briefly, she closed her eyes, envying what they had together. If only she belonged somewhere too, to someone special. To Arne.

Chapter 10

A bonfire lit the sands, and the sky was aflame when they rounded the last bend to the point. The rosy clouds low on the horizon were edged in gold. Colored lanterns and tall flambeaux would soon completely take over the task of illumination. All around them, people were dressed in casual Hawaiian shirts or sarongs. Young girls in Hawaiian grass skirts greeted new arrivals with floral lei. Roasted pork aromas wafted on the breeze, blending with the perfume of night blossoms.

Arne took her arm as they walked across the still warm sand, Lani holding his other hand tightly, her eyes huge and bright with expectation. “See the stage, Melie? That’s where I’ll be dancing after the feast. Mom’s got my costume in our car. Did you bring a camera?”

“It’s in my bag.” Amelie patted the side of a geometrically patterned cloth tote hanging from her right shoulder. “I’ll take lots of photos of you and print them off.”

Lani clapped her hands and scampered off to tell her parents.

As Amelie straightened, she felt Arne stiffen. His gaze was on someone out of Amelie’s line of sight. With admirable restraint, she turned slowly. “I guess everyone in town is here tonight.”

She scanned the crowd and found the woman Lili called the bitch, who’d thrown Arne over for the billionaire. Dressed in a tight red halter-necked dress, she hung onto the arm of an impeccably tailored man of average height in his early forties. He wore an Armani suit, silk shirt and Italian leather loafers; his only concession to the beach location was the lack of a tie. An expensive gold watch reflected the last of the sun’s rays when he tipped Marita’s chin up. She laughed, sliding her hand possessively up his chest and leaning her body in close.

Like an alley cat marking its territory. Oh, Melie, when did you become so catty? Remember, that’s the woman Arne was in love with.

Schooling her expression, she gestured toward the couple. “Is that Sanderson?”

“That’s him.”

“Arne, do you really think he’s behind the sabotage and–everything?”

“I can’t see who else would have the money or the motive. We’ll just have to wait on the police reports from Honolulu.”

A young man stepped between them and their view of Sanderson, a broad smile on his face.

“Hi, Amelie. Remember me? Tom, from the real-estate office?” Amelie blinked as she refocused to the present.

“Of course I remember you. Hello.”

“Glad to see you made it here.”

“I wouldn’t have missed it, not after you made it sound so interesting.” She offered a smile and her hand, which he held too long for her liking. She’d pegged him as friendly in the Realtor’s office, not gauche.

“Hello, Tom.” Arne held out his hand.

“Arne, how are you?” He stammered slightly, shifting from one foot to the other. Arne’s reply was pleasant, but he casually dropped an arm around her shoulders.

“Well, well.” A husky female voice drawled over Tom’s shoulder. “The little Australian visitor.” Marita slid into their group. “I see you’ve met the local talent. How are you, Arne?”

“Fine. Where’s Sanderson?”

Marita slipped in beside him. She walked her fingers up his arm and bent toward him, pouting. “He’s gone to talk business and left me alone. Dance with me?”

Gracefully inserting herself between Arne and Amelie, she pulled Tom over. “Why don’t you dance with–Emily, isn’t it?” And with a wiggle worthy of a Hollywood starlet, she led Arne off to dance.

“Shall we?” Reluctantly, Amelie took Tom’s arm and joined the swirling couples. Through the crowd, she caught glimpses of Arne. He and Marita looked good together. Both tall, and dressed in red that could have been deliberately chosen to complement one another, they looked like the perfect couple. Arne tilted his head closer to Marita’s, his gaze fixed firmly on his partner. Was Marita trying to win him back? Amelie wished she could hear what they were talking about.

“Are you okay?” Tom stopped dancing and looked at her with concern.

“I’m sorry. That pork smells heavenly. How long do you think it will be before we eat?”

Fixing a smile in place, she concentrated on her partner. No one would know her feelings for Arne were anything more than amicable. Tom took her hand and swung back into the crowd. He was a capable, if somewhat
energetic
dancer. She had even begun to enjoy their dance when Arne and Marita came up beside them. Arne tapped Tom on the shoulder.

“Your turn now I think. Amelie?”

Marita frowned as Arne contrived to swap partners, relinquishing her hand to Tom. With seeming good grace, Tom bowed out, offering Marita his hand. She stood a moment watching Amelie step into Arne’s arms, then smiled a social smile at Tom.

“Do you have any more competitions coming up?” Marita asked Tom before other couples moved between them.

Expertly, Arne picked up the beat. “Sorry about that. I think Sanderson sent her to keep me occupied. I saw him talking hard with the head of the civic council. I came back as soon as I could.”

Amelie’s heart danced a jig as her feet picked up the new rhythm.

He ditched her. He came looking for me.

“She’s a wonderful dancer.”

“She’s stilted. She worries about putting a hair out of place. But dancing with you…” His hands caressed her hips. “You’re so much a part of the music, so smooth…” Their hips moved together, their steps matching.

“I could watch you all night, except that I want to feel you in my arms,” he whispered.

Kevin and Lili cruised up to them, more intent on covering the dance floor than accuracy. “Found you! Gosh, you two are amazing together. Where did you learn to dance like that, Amelie?”

That was the end of flirting with Arne. Through the next dance, they stayed within conversation range. But Amelie floated in his arms, until the crowd moved to the pit area when dinner was called.

Arne’s hands rested lightly on her waist as they joined the line to the food tables and he introduced her to many people as friends joined them. Tonight was for relaxation, good conversation and laughter. And she pushed the thought of danger from her mind, determined to enjoy the fun.

“What do you think of our luau?”

Eating with her fingers, she licked the juices running down her hands. “I love it. What’s next?”

Arne took her banana leaf plate and wrapped it with his.

“A fresh drink, then the entertainment.”

Taking her hand, Arne tossed their plates in the bin and headed for the drinks tent. Coconut halves in hand, they strolled back toward the stage and joined Lili and Kevin on a large tartan picnic rug close to the front. Arne eased in behind Amelie and sat with her back against his shoulder.

Lights dimmed and a hush fell over the audience. Off stage, a conch sounded, long and low, eerie in the darkness. Thunderous drumming heralded the beginning of a happy and fast-paced celebration of Hawaiian dance and music. Amelie’s feet twitched, and she swayed against Arne’s chest. The music seemed familiar, the supple hands and hips speaking more eloquently than words ever could. How could she translate that into her painting?

Lili leaned over. “Now it’s Lani’s turn.” Pride in her daughter shone in her eyes as Lani glided to center stage and struck a pose. There was a moment of silence as the music paused, then drums and guitars joined in a rhythm as old as the islands. Slowly, Lani danced, grass skirt swaying as her feet stamped out the joy of the dance. She was no longer a nine-year-old child but the embodiment of Hawaii, proud, graceful in her expression of her love for her island home.

As she swirled to a finish, her family sprang to their feet in applause; Lani was the star of the moment. The image broke when she jumped from the stage into her father’s arms.

“You were wonderful, darling!” He spun her around.

“Oh, Lani, that was truly beautiful! I’m so glad I got to see you dance.” Amelie began planning the painting she would make of Lani dancing. Maybe she could give the original to Lili and Kevin as a thank you for having her to stay.

Families drifted away as the luau drew to a close.

“We should be going too.” Arne exerted a gentle pressure on her arm.

Lani bounced in between them, grabbing her hand and turning imploring eyes up to her uncle.

“Unca Arne, I want to drive home with you and Melie. Please? Please?”