by Tara Lain
“You really like him.”
It wasn’t a question. Rand looked at her. “Yeah. Great guy. I admire anyone who takes such good care of children.”
“How come you don’t have any?”
Okay, off this subject. “I think it’s best if a kid has two parents when possible, and I’ve been too busy to look for a significant other. Maybe someday I’ll foster high-risk kids or something.”
She smiled. “So, my class is at noon. Come on down and swim if you want.”
“Uh, actually, I’m checking out and moving to a cheaper place.”
“Oh, where?”
“A guesthouse down the road a little ways. It’s not Hana Maui, but I just need a place to sleep.” Do not turn red. Do not turn red.
“You got some insider information there, son. Who told you about it?”
“Kai.”
She smiled, and the expression managed to convey interest, speculation, and amusement. Or maybe that was just his imagination. “You have my number. Call me if you want anything.” She waved and walked away, leaving him standing with a lei around his neck.
Chapter Thirteen
“I want to stay here and do nothing but eat more of these for, like, a year, okay?” Aliki leaned back on the raised wooden sidewalk in front of the bakery, closed his eyes, and slowly bit into the half-consumed donut-on-a-stick.
Lani licked some cream from her cream puff. “This is amazing too.”
Rand patted his stomach. “You’re going to make us all fat.” He sighed and munched another bite of donut. “But worth it.”
Kai glanced at that flat belly and flashed on the feel of Rand’s cock rubbing between them while they fucked. Whew. New topic. “Yeah. They say this is the best bakery in Hawaii and maybe far beyond.” He looked around the eclectic little town of Makawao. “What do you want to do next?”
Aliki yelled, “Another donut!”
Lani glanced back toward some of the art galleries.
“Want to go in those shops, Lani?”
Aliki screwed up his nose. “No. No shopping. It’s for girls.”
“You go shopping for video games. That doesn’t seem to be for girls.”
“That’s different.” He licked the last bite of donut like he’d never have another.
“How about we visit a few shops, get some lunch and maybe another donut, and then visit the rodeo site? We missed the rodeo. It was earlier this month. But at least we can see where it’s held.” He glanced at Rand. “Largest rodeo in Hawaii.”
Rand nodded. “One of my ranch hands is a rodeo rider.” He seemed perfectly happy to be with Kai and the kids. Funny, most gay guys wouldn’t want to hang with Kai’s brother and sister unless they figured it would get them more blow jobs, but Rand wasn’t most gay guys. Of course, it would also get him more blow jobs.
An hour later, Aliki had changed his mind about the shops. “Man, this is rad.” He stared up at a huge painting of paniolos on the high Maui ranches, then slid his gaze down to gape at a statue of a cowboy on a bucking bronc. “Look, brah, that could be you.” He pointed at the face of the cowboy in the statue.
Rand leaned over Kai’s shoulder. “He’s right. It really does look like you. You been modeling in your spare time?” He laughed.
Lani glanced at Kai. “Kai’s bloodline goes way back on this island. He’s probably related to the model for this statue.”
Aliki pumped the air. “Radical out! We should buy it.”
Kai tapped the tiny little price tag sitting on the front of the stand the statue sat on. “You got an extra four thou’ lying around, Aliki? ’Cause if so, we need it for college.” He grinned but looked up to catch a small crease between Rand’s brows. “Okay, let’s go to lunch.”
As they walked to the small Mexican restaurant on the corner, Rand glanced at Lani’s pretty face. “Is your mom Hawaiian also?”
Her eyes flicked around but she said, “Uh, yes, mostly. A little white somewhere back there.”
A few minutes later they happily dug into cheese enchiladas and chile rellenos.
Rand wiped his mouth. “Man, this is at least as good as California Mexican food.”
“We’ve got closer ties to Mexico than you do—well, aside from them owning California and you haoles taking it from them and all.” He laughed.
Rand twirled his fork. “Speaking on behalf of the white scourge of the earth, this is darned good.”
Lani snorted, and he nudged her and winked. Kai took a slow bite. Maybe encouraging Rand to stay was a bad idea. In addition to the obvious possibility of exposure, it meant the kids would get even more attached to him. Hell, it’ll be really hard for them when he leaves.
They left the restaurant with full bellies and walked toward the rodeo grounds. As they passed one of the popular clubs, line-dance music poured out the front door. Kai looked in. “They must be having some special entertainment for the holidays. They usually don’t line dance until nighttime.”
Rand lit up like the Christmas tree on the front lawn of the church. Yes, that cowboy does love to dance.
Lani took Kai’s arm. “Can we go in? I think Rand wants to.”
Aliki dropped his shoulders. “Dancing? Jeez! I thought we were going to the rodeo grounds.”
Kai looked up at Rand’s sparkling blue eyes. “No. I think we should go in for a little bit.”
The place was crowded and dark compared to the brilliant sun outside, but his eyes got used to it, and Kai noticed other kids in there as well. Good sign. A woman with three other people waved at Kai and made a motion like they were leaving. He slipped through the crowd, dodged some dancers, and got to her table. “Thanks a lot.”
“Hey, for such a handsome cowboy, any time.” She winked and walked after her companions. Rand herded the kids to the table and went to get them all soft drinks.
Lani poked at Aliki. “Don’t be a pain. Rand’s done a lot for us, and I think he must love to dance.”
Aliki looked around. “How’s he gonna dance here? He doesn’t know anybody.”
Kai smiled. “That’s the great thing about line dancing. You can do it anywhere with anyone.”
Rand shouldered up to the table and deposited frosty root beer bottles. “The great thing about line dancing is we’re going to teach it to you.” He grabbed Aliki by the hands and pulled him out of the chair.
“No way!”
“Yes way.” He looked at Kai and Lani. “Come on, you guys.”
Rand created a separate line at the back of the dancers and put Aliki beside him. Kai marched Lani next to Aliki and stood beside her. Rand clapped his hands to the rhythm. “Okay. Country Slide. That’s just step, together, step, touch. Watch.” How he could make that big body so damned graceful qualified as a mystery, but shit, was he sexy. Aliki followed Rand clumsily at first, but then his natural enthusiasm took over. Lani glanced up a couple times to be sure no one was watching her, but then slid into the dance like she’d been doing it forever. A couple of minutes later, the two kids were clapping and dancing with the best of them.
The music changed, and Rand quickly went back to teacher mode, showing off the steps to the Cowboy Charleston. Having some basics down and a general lessening of inhibitions meant the kids caught on quick.
Then “What Was I Thinkin’” started playing, and Rand glanced at Kai. Still keeping up the basic steps he’d taught Aliki and Lani, he started throwing in variations—twirls, kicks, and two-steps. Kai picked them up. They wove around and between the kids, who laughed and clapped. Other people started clapping, and one woman whistled. Aliki stopped dancing, then Lani, leaving Rand and Kai circling each other. Oh man, look at that butt. Rand turned and danced away, giving his ass an extra sway. The combo of the narrow hips and the high, tight ass cheeks in the worn denim sent Kai’s dick on its own bull ride with no timer in sight. He could feel the tip of his cock rubbing against the rough denim as he danced. Rand’s eyes dropped, widened, and then met Kai’s with a look that about melted his belt bu
ckle. Shit, he could start fucking Rand now and finish next Christmas.
Kai glanced around. People watched fixedly. Get off this dance floor. He spun, slid, and landed in the chair at their table. Lani and Aliki already sat there, applauding, but Lani looked at him with a smile and big, interested eyes. Shit, she’s twelve, not blind. Be more careful, man.
Rand danced back to the table and collapsed, laughing as people waved and whistled. “That was fun. Did you guys like it?”
“Yeah. Rad to the max.” Aliki threw himself back in the chair. A convert with all the enthusiasm of the breed.
Lani glanced at Rand, then back to Kai. “I loved it. But you two should dance together all the time.”
Kai controlled the frown that wanted to take over his face. She doesn’t mean anything by it. “Yeah, well they wouldn’t let us dance together in many cowboy clubs, you can be sure of that.”
“What a shame.” She sipped her root beer like she hadn’t just struck a blow for gay rights.
Rand’s phone rang. He cocked his head. “Wow. This thing has barely worked all week.” He glanced down and frowned. “Excuse me.” He clicked the phone. “Mrs. Orwell, is that you?” He listened. “No, I’m still on Maui. Yeah, I decided to stay a few extra days.” He smiled at Kai. “Is everything okay?” The crease between his brows sank in like a crater. “It’s no bother. No. I’m not in Hana, I’m in Makawao.” He listened intently. “Mrs. O., hang on.” He put his thumb over the speaker. “How far are we from Paia?”
“About fifteen minutes.”
“No kidding? Would you mind going there? My friend has a big problem. She—”
Kai held up a hand. “We’ll be right there. Tell us more on the way.” Only Rand could make a friend who would call him for help over anyone else on an island where he knew no one.
Kai started to reach for money when Rand grabbed the check, walked to the counter, and paid. Kai gathered the kids, and they all rushed out the door to the rental car parked several blocks away. As they piled in, Kai chuckled. “I should auction off this parking space. Nothing’s more golden in Makawao in the middle of the day.” Kai backed out and headed down the mountain on a different road than the one they’d come in on. “So what’s happening?”
Aliki strained against his seatbelt in the back to get closer to Rand. “Yeah, Uncle Rand, what’s up?”
Uncle Rand? Whoa. Heart stop.
Rand just smiled like it was the most normal thing in the world for Kai’s kids to call him uncle and half turned toward Kai, letting him look into the back seat. “This is my friend who I met on the plane coming to Maui. Mrs. Orwell. I told you I hate heights? Well, that includes flying, and I’m not sure I would have made it here without her.” He laughed, and the kids joined in. “She’s, like, eighty or something. Anyway, her daughter, who I met briefly, is married to a military guy who’s on deployment. She used to be married to this really bad dude, and apparently the guy just called them and is throwing his weight around. Mrs. Orwell remembered I was leaving sometime around now and thought I might be driving the road that goes by where she is. She thought maybe having a big guy around would scare this dude into leaving them alone.”
“Why doesn’t she call the cops?” Kai slowed as they pulled into the outskirts of Paia. “Which way?”
Rand looked at his phone. She must have texted directions. “Go right.” He pointed. “The bad dude is military too, and I guess laws and justice are a little, shall we say, not skewed toward women in these situations. Anyway, I may have to just call the cops since we can’t stay here long, but I told her on the plane if there was anything I could ever do for her, I’m there.”
“Man, she really must have saved your butt.”
“You have no idea.”
Funny. Rand was so cool and calm under pressure. Hard to imagine him ever scared.
Rand frowned. “When we get to the house, let me scout out the situation, because I don’t want Lani and Aliki in any danger.” He pointed again. “Go left here.”
If Makawao was all about cowboys and art, Paia defined surf culture—on a small scale. Though the population only amounted to a few thousand people, the shops sold surf wear, and surfboards for sale lined the walkways.
They pulled through the downtown into a small subdivision and up near a two-story house built on block columns so it stood a good two and a half stories above the ground at the front door. A large balcony on the second floor must have an amazing ocean view. Still, it wasn’t fancy, and toys on the lawn gave it a homey look. Kai nodded. “That’s the address you gave me.”
“Looks right. Stay back here, and I’ll go up to the house.”
“No. I can leave the kids in the car. They’ll be fine. If the dude is watching, we might as well give him double trouble.”
Rand gazed at him, then nodded sharply. He opened the door and slid out. Kai looked back at the kids. “Stay here. Lock the doors, okay?” He didn’t have to say anything else. Lani knew it all better than him.
He climbed out, slammed the door, adopted his most badass expression, and fell in beside Rand. Okay, Rand has three inches and about fifty pounds on me, but hell, I’m mean. He smiled, then dropped it fast.
Rand raised his hand to knock, and the door flew open. An elderly lady rushed forward and hugged Rand. “I’m so sorry to disturb you, dear. I just took a chance you might be nearby.”
“Perfect timing.” He turned to Kai. “Mrs. Orwell, this is my friend Kai Kealoha.”
“Another cowboy. Who would have dreamed you’d find each other on an island in the middle of the Pacific?”
Uh, what did she mean by that? Kai extended a hand, but she hugged him instead.
“Kai thought seeing two of us would be a bigger deterrent than one.”
A stressed-looking woman in her forties walked out from what must be the kitchen with her arm around a teenage girl. Two more girls, probably a couple of years younger than Aliki, peeked down from the stairs to the second floor.
Mrs. Orwell said, “This is my daughter Genevieve and her girls, Katie”—she nodded to the girl with her mother—“and up there are Olivia and Melissa.”
Genevieve pointed to the couch in the living room. “Please sit down. I’ll get us something to drink.”
Rand put up a hand. “First, tell us what the situation is. Kai’s younger brother and sister are in the car. Is it safe to bring them in?”
Mrs. Orwell frowned. “We haven’t seen any sign of him today. He called Genevieve last night and told her he’s back on the island. He called today sounding drunk and rambled on about how he was coming here to get Katie. He may not know where she is, but we can’t be sure.”
Rand glanced at Katie. “Do you think he’s, uh, likely to do something unexpected?”
Genevieve hugged her daughter. “Unfortunately, Katie knows all about him. He’s a batterer, so we can’t discount—” She shrugged. “—much of anything….”
“Are all the girls his children?” Rand smiled at them.
“Katie is. Olivia and Melissa are my second husband’s children.”
Rand looked at Kai. “What do you think?”
Kai nodded. “I’ll go get them.” As soon as he opened the door, Lani and Aliki hopped out of the car. They definitely wanted to be included. He brought them inside and introduced them to Mrs. Orwell and her daughter.
Mrs. Orwell said, “This is Katie. And back there are Olivia and Melissa.”
Kai grinned. “You’re outnumbered, Aliki.”
He shrugged. “That’s okay. Who likes video games?” He pulled out his game player, and the smaller girls raised their hands instantly. “I’ll teach you, okay?”
Kai smiled. The kid had secret depths. He must have sensed the girls were nervous. Kai glanced up and caught Rand giving Aliki a warm smile too.
Lani stepped beside Katie. “Hi.”
Katie smiled back. “Hi. Want to see my room?”
“I’d love to.”
All the kids headed upstairs. Good.
If some asshole showed up, they’d be away from it.
Genevieve waved toward the living room. “Please, sit down. I’m sure you can’t stay long, but Mom thought if my ex happened to be watching, seeing some big men in the house would discourage him.”
Kai grinned. “One big man.” He pointed at Rand. “One medium-size man.” He gave a little bow.
His joke dispelled some tension. The kids’ laughter from up the stairs seemed to relax everyone a bit.
Mrs. Orwell asked, “Have you all had lunch?”
Rand nodded. “Oh yes. Kai showed us the inherent superiority of Mexican food in Makawao—and my waistline will never recover.”
“Nothing wrong with your waistline, cutie.” Mrs. Orwell laughed. Man, did she have that right. “So it must be time for dessert. I made some oatmeal raisin cookies last night, and I suspect they’re likely to be a hit upstairs.”
Kai and Rand followed Mrs. Orwell and Genevieve into the kitchen, and twenty minutes later emerged with dishes of vanilla ice cream topped with cinnamon and garnished with the best-smelling cookies he’d ever seen. They carried them on trays up to the second floor, where the kids’ rooms flanked a hall that led to the balcony doors. Lani and Katie sat deep in conversation in Katie’s room. They got quiet when Rand walked in but happily received the goodies.
The smaller kids bounced and cheered, led by an enthusiastic Aliki. Everyone got quiet as they left, engrossed in vanilla and oatmeal. Kai and Rand walked to the top of the steps, and Rand turned, glanced toward the kids’ rooms, then grinned and slid a hunk of cookie between Kai’s lips.
“Tease.” Kai let his tongue accept the cookie and managed to suck a little of Rand’s finger inside. Oooh, warm and sweet—and he didn’t mean the cookie.
Rand’s eyes instantly glazed, which reminded Kai of Rand’s ass when he was dancing, which reminded Kai’s cock of how badly it wanted in Rand’s ass, which—yeah, chain reaction. Kai sucked Rand’s finger harder.
Rand whispered, “Wish that was another body part.”
“That makes two of us, baby.”