“Does everyone know you on the island?” Bailey said as they walked to the small dock. “You know so many people here.”
“I’ve been coming here since I was thirteen.” Seth thought about the kid who came here so long ago. “I guess that’s a good seventeen years ago.” He shook his head. “Damn, that makes me feel old.”
“Yeah, we’ll be calling you grandpa pretty soon.” Bailey laughed as Seth grinned and got the canoe ready. “How’d you end up here?”
“My parents had a friend who suggested coming to Momi for the rodeo to benefit the hospital.” Seth set the cooler in the canoe. “My dad used to rodeo and it was a good excuse to take us all to Hawaii.”
Seth grabbed the newer of several well-used PFDs from Hui’s storage locker and tossed them into the canoe. He always made sure to bring personal flotation devices.
“That’s an awesome reason to come here.” Bailey stepped into the canoe while he held it steady.
“You’ve done this before,” Seth said as he observed Bailey climbing in.
She nodded. “Been canoeing since I was a teenager.”
“I can tell,” he said. “You’re confident and your movements are smooth and skilled.”
“Thanks.” She pulled the conversation back to where they’d been. “Did you participate in the rodeo when you came with your folks?”
“Sure did.” Seth readied himself to climb into the canoe. His shoe slipped on a rock below the surface, but he managed to keep upright as the cool water flooded his shoes. Bailey had done a better job than he did at getting in.
He climbed into the canoe before he continued talking. “I was big into 4-H rodeo back in Montana, and I had a blast participating in the event here. After that event, I was hooked.”
Seth settled in front and grabbed an oar. “Been coming back ever since.”
Bailey took the other oar. “I would have loved to rodeo here when I was a teenager.”
They guided the canoe into the current.
“Have to say I’ve been real fortunate in a lot of ways in my life.” He looked over his shoulder and watched her use the oar.
Perfect.
The canoe easily cut through the water and slid downstream.
The only problem with being on a canoe together was that he had to look over his shoulder to see her.
“How far is the grotto?” Bailey asked.
Seth gestured ahead. “We’re coming up on a bend. It’s a good mile after that.”
“It’s so beautiful on the river.” Excitement was in Bailey’s voice. He glanced over his shoulder and saw her smiling. “It’s peaceful yet energizing.”
Trees bowed over the river with vines hanging from the branches. Along the banks ferns, bushes, and flowering plants grew thick and lush.
Bailey’s paddle barely made a sound as she used it. “Tell me about your parents.”
Seth considered her question. “My mom is Wonder Woman. She can do anything, and do it better than anyone. She handles livestock, gardens, quilts, and helps everyone in the family.” He grinned. “Despite having four girls and one boy, there’s never been enough of us to keep her busy.”
Bailey laughed. “She does sound like Wonder Woman.”
“You have no idea.” Seth thought about his father. “My dad is a former rodeo cowboy, and he wasn’t home a whole lot when we were young. Mom more than made up for it, but it was hard not having our dad there.”
“When a cowboy chooses rodeo over family, that’s not fair to the ones he loves.” Bailey was frowning when he looked over his shoulder. “I just can’t agree with that choice. It’s one of the reasons why I shy away from cowboys who live that life.”
“I can understand that more than you know.” Seth thought about how much they missed their father when they were young. “I love rodeo, but I would never choose it over family. That’s why I am going into physical therapy when I retire. I’ll have something there when I walk away from the sport and still be able to support a family.”
Bailey remained quiet for a long moment. “When do you think you’ll retire?”
“The moment it’s right, I’ll know it.” Seth was certain of that with all his heart. “I won’t go back and forth trying to decide which is more important to me. I already know the answer to that question.”
“That’s good.” Bailey said the words quietly. “You have a level head and your priorities straight, at least in my opinion.”
Seth thought about the future and hoped Bailey would be in it. “You never know what fork will be on your path. All you can do is make a choice and head in the direction you want to follow. Sometimes it’s the right way to go, and sometimes you make a mistake and have to go back or follow a different road. At the end of the day, you have to feel right about what you’ve done.”
“The philosophizing cowboy.” Bailey’s voice held a teasing note.
He laughed. “I guess I have been going on a bit.”
“I like it.” Bailey was smiling when he looked over his shoulder. “I like who you are, Seth Greer.”
He couldn’t help a grin when he turned to face the front of the canoe. One step closer to Bailey realizing he was the one for her. He already knew she was perfect for him.
They left the shadows of the trees and paddled into the sunlight as the river widened.
“The sun on the water looks so pretty,” Bailey said. “Like diamonds glittering everywhere around us.”
“I never looked at it that way,” he said, “but I see it now.”
Bailey’s companionship made the journey more enjoyable than it had ever been, and that was saying a lot considering how much he loved canoeing on the river.
They took a fork in the river, which narrowed considerably as they slid beneath a tropical canopy. The air had been warm and humid, but it cooled as they paddled along the covered river.
“We’ll get out over there.” Seth gestured to the bank on the right.
A small, weather-worn dock was one of the only signs of civilization in the secluded area. Seth guided the small craft to the dock and secured the canoe. He grabbed the cooler and set it on the planks.
He positioned himself and climbed out of the canoe. He then helped Bailey, although she didn’t need it. She was skilled and athletic, and made the whole process look easy. It was easy to capsize a canoe, but with her it wasn’t a concern.
Seth grasped the handle of the cooler and gestured to an almost invisible path. “This way.”
Bailey’s gaze was on the path ahead of them. “This place isn’t touristy and it doesn’t look like a lot of people come here.”
“It’s a hidden gem.” He gestured for Bailey to walk ahead of him. “Mostly locals come here, but not often. Hui was the one to turn me onto this place.”
“I feel like an explorer.” Bailey moved forward, stepping over downed branches, dodging vines, and slipping past large-leafed bushes. “What kinds of wildlife are out here?”
“I’m sure you’ve noticed all the colorful birds.” He pushed a vine away from his face.
“They’re beautiful,” she said.
“Hawaii has no native land mammals, except for the Hoary Bat. It’s pretty rare to see one of those.”
“That’s too bad. I bet they’re cool.” Bailey flashed him a smile over her shoulder. “What can you find here?”
“Sea turtles, lots of seabird species, and of course the colorful forest birds, which you can only find in Hawaii’s native forests.” He stepped over a fallen tree. “You’ll see dolphins, whales, and Hawaiian Monk Seal in waters near parts of the island.”
“I want to do that while I’m here.” She looked over her shoulder. “You’ll have to tell me where to go.”
“I’ll do better than that,” he said. “I’ll take you.”
8
Bailey loved every single thing about today. All the things they had done and seen already were enough to fulfill her. Yet they continued on to one adventure after another.
She and Seth hiked up the steady in
cline completely shaded by tropical vegetation. Birds chattered and flitted from tree to tree, the vivid colors striking against the rich green backdrop of the forest.
A rumbling sound grew louder as they walked. They must be nearing the waterfall and grotto.
Ferns and bushes brushed her legs and the low hanging trees caught at her braid. She wondered what it must have been like to be the first person to hike this way, maybe in hopes of discovering something new.
They rounded a small bend in the path.
Bailey came to a full stop, her eyes widening.
For a moment, she couldn’t speak. She took in the thundering waterfall plunging down from the heights into a glittering pool. Water droplets sparkled as they flew up then splashed down.
The water churned, white and foamy beneath the waterfall. It gradually calmed as the water flowed into the pool and tumbled over rocks to travel on its way.
Cliffs rose up on three sides around the waterfall. Lush greenery clung to the sheer rock surrounding the hidden paradise. Flowers, so many beautiful flowers, hung from trees and grew in big clumps everywhere.
Bailey could barely catch her breath. “This is the most amazing thing I’ve ever seen.” She looked over her shoulder at Seth. “I can’t imagine ever seeing anything more beautiful.”
“I love to come here,” he said. “With you, it’s even better.”
She smiled and turned away, intent on exploring this wonderful place. Seth followed her as she climbed downward to the waterfall.
Several varieties of ginger in colors of blue, white, yellow, red, and pink filled the pristine area. The heavenly scent of the flowers filled the air.
“It’s like being in a fantasy novel.” Bailey stopped near the waterfall and held out her arms. She tipped her head back as a light mist coated her skin, her eyes closed. “Feel the water on your skin and smell the ginger.”
She glanced from beneath her lashes to see Seth do as she told him. He lifted his face to the moist air and closed his eyes.
The rush and roar of the waterfall reverberated through her as she breathed in all the scents.
The magic of the falls embraced her as she closed her eyes again.
“Magic,” he said out loud.
Bailey smiled and watched him lower his head and open his eyes. She laughed. “You romantic, you.”
He grinned. “I’m learning from you.”
“I don’t think I could get enough of this place.” Bailey stepped from rock to rock. “Does this water flow to the river?”
“Yep.”
“We should have brought a tent.”
Seth laughed. “That’s a good idea for the next time we come.”
Bailey paused before moving to the next rock and looked at him as she remembered reality waited for her when her friends arrived. “I probably won’t have time while Dara, Charlee, and I are on Momi, but it’s a nice idea.”
“I forgot your friends will be here soon.” He stepped among the rocks and came to a step where she stood. “Maybe they need a tour guide, too.”
“Hmmm.” She surveyed the area, not wanting to think about sharing this place or Seth with her friends.
Some kind of friend she was. Well, not about wanting to keep Seth to herself, but because she didn’t want to bring anyone else here. It was like it was hers and Seth’s secret.
“You haven’t brought any other girls here?” She glanced at him. “Tell me the truth.”
“Not one.” He looked a little more serious. “I will always tell you the truth.”
“I have no doubts at all.” She smiled before she continued to look around, searching the entire place with her gaze.
A space in a corner, where two of the rock walls met, caught her attention.
“The grotto.” She stared at it in awe. “It’s as if someone cut a piece out of the rock, like a huge slice of pie.”
Seth came up to stand beside her and studied the fern and flower-shrouded grotto. “Chocolate pie maybe?”
“Or coconut with chocolate shavings on top.”
She started crossing the rushing water to the other side, from one large rock to the next. She was surefooted, having done this many times before, although not over such a distance. But she could see a clear route ahead of her and kept going.
Bailey jumped from the last rock onto the bank. She pointed up to the grotto as she called back to him. “Let’s have our picnic up there.”
Seth gripped the cooler in one hand while following her path. She hoped he wouldn’t end up in the water because he was having to balance with the cooler while following her on her slightly reckless path.
She breathed a little easier when he reached the bank and jumped off the last rock. She smiled at him.
He caught her arm and brought her to a stop. “Your smile makes everything even brighter and more beautiful.”
She reached for his hand and he gripped it. “Come on, pretty boy.”
“Pretty boy?” He shook his head as he squeezed her fingers then let go when she started moving ahead. “I like Montana better.”
“This is so cool.” A fern brushed Bailey’s skin like a soft caress as she ducked into the cave cut into the rock. The air was cool and smelled damp and earthy. “I’ve never been in a grotto before,” she said. “Not a real one, anyway.”
She looked at Seth, who followed her inside. “I think I visited one in Disneyland when I was a kid. Ariel has a grotto, doesn’t she?”
“No idea,” Seth said. “But sounds plausible.”
She rolled her eyes before focusing on the cooler. “Lunch now would be great. I am sooo hungry.”
“Right there with you.” Seth knelt and opened the cooler.
A small lightweight blanket was tucked inside, on top of the food. He spread it on the cave floor and Bailey sat on it cross-legged. It wasn’t exactly smooth rock she sat on, but it wasn’t bad at all.
Seth knelt close to her and started unloading the cooler. He set the bag with the rest of the malasadas aside first.
“Mmmmm.” Her mouth watered at the sight of the bag. They had made an incredibly delicious breakfast. She was hungrier than ever now.
Four thick sandwiches wrapped in paper were the first offerings to the gods.
The sandwiches were followed by black styrofoam containers, each with a slice of pie with toasted coconut sprinkled on the merengue. Next, Seth pulled out two mangoes, then two large styrofoam cups of Hawaiian lemonade.
Seth sat cross-legged next to her as she opened one of the packages to find baked Hawaiian sweet roll sandwiches with poppy seeds on top. Bailey peeked inside one of her rolls to find it filled with deli ham, melted Swiss cheese, Dijon mustard, and minced onion.
This was going to be awesome, she just knew it.
She bit into the sandwich and groaned with pleasure.
“This is so damned good.” Seth held up the sandwich that now had a huge bite out of it. “I don’t know if it was the canoe ride and hike here, or if this happens to be the best sandwich I’ve ever had.”
“Could be both.” Bailey took a big bite of hers, chewed, and swallowed. She sipped her lemonade. “I know some girls will only eat one sandwich.” She pointed to herself as she added, “Not this girl—don’t think I’m going to offer you my second one.” She nodded to one of the wrapped packages on the blanket. “It’s mine.”
Seth laughed. “I wouldn’t dare.”
“Smart guy.”
The second sandwich was on a toasted white roll and filled with roasted pulled pork, guava BBQ sauce, and grilled onions.
“This is Heaven.” Bailey held her sandwich with both hands. “I can’t believe both of them are so good. I would do all this again in a heartbeat.”
Seth just nodded and ate, apparently serious about his meal.
Dessert was a slice of the heavenly coconut cream pie.
When they finished eating every crumb of their lunch and drinking every drop of their lemonade, Bailey laid back on the blanket and looked up at the
cave’s ceiling. She could imagine Hawaiian ancestors being here countless years before.
“Can you fathom how old this place must be?” She looked from the ceiling to Seth and gave him a teasing look. “You know, before the aliens cut this chunk out to make a cave.”
Seth snorted with laughter. “Aliens, huh? I thought this place is straight out of fantasy, not sci-fi.”
“Both.” Bailey looked back at the ceiling, her eyes tracing what nooks and crannies she could see in the dim light. “I mean, really. This island was formed by a volcano. To have this here is incredible.”
Seth lay down beside her. “Yeah, it sure is.”
She turned her head to look at him. He was staring up at the ceiling, his hands linked behind his head.
He was so handsome. She loved the strong lines of his face and jaw, and he had a smile that melted her… Every. Single. Time.
Not to mention his sexy, athletic build and nice ass. She couldn’t leave that out. He had big hands that were strong yet could touch her so gently.
Last night he had kissed her in a way that made her confused about how she felt about him. But it had also made her feel every bit of the woman she was.
She wondered if she was really confused, or if she knew exactly how she felt and just didn’t want to admit it.
A sigh slipped from her. To be kissed like she was the last woman Seth would ever be with—she wanted that again from him.
She wanted so much…to feel his firm lips on hers, to taste his masculinity.
Needed it.
Before she could think twice and stop herself, she rolled onto her hip, then onto him so that she straddled his hips.
He looked at her with surprise, then his eyes showed heat. He moved his arms from behind his head and settled his hands on her hips. “What are you up to?”
“I’ve got you now.” Her voice was breathy as she looked down at him. “What are you gonna do about it?”
“Question is—what are you going to do about it?” He said it like he was teasing, but his eyes told her he was serious.
“I’m going to kiss you.” Bailey lowered her head, whispered in his ear, and felt him shiver. “Here.” She kissed his earlobe. “Here.” She moved her lips to his jawline. “Here.” She kissed the hollow at the base of his throat.
Midnight with You Page 8