Paradise Wild (Wild At Heart Book 2)

by Christine Hartmann

  “I love cats.”

  Ellie opened the door and Viv ambushed her legs, embracing them with his paws. When he registered Olivia, he dropped his behind and busied himself licking his tail.

  “He’s embarrassed you caught him acting silly. Come here, Viv.” Ellie snapped her fingers. “Meet Olivia.”

  Viv sidled up to her.

  “Oh, you cutie.” Olivia swept him into her arms where he snuggled, tummy up, like a baby.

  “Now that’s unusual. His mother told me he doesn’t usually like strangers. But he likes Devora. He likes Celine and me. Now he likes you.”

  Olivia buried her face amid the black spots. Viv arched his back with contentment. “Maybe he didn’t like his mother?”

  Ellie snapped her rag in the air. “Funny you should say that.”

  Brandon yelled down the hallway a few hours later. “Olivia? We’ve got to go. The guys are packing up.”

  Ellie hurried to the front. “She’ll be here in a second.” She handed Brandon a red Target bag. “Take this.”

  “What is it?”

  “I got way too much stuff this weekend. You know how Costco is. Too much of everything. I should get a grip and not go.”

  Brandon’s expression was uncertain. He looked in the sack.

  “Seriously. Take it. My mom raised me not to waste food. Please?”

  Brandon’s face relaxed. “Okay. Cool. We can help you get rid of it.” He dropped his voice. “No sign of Noa?”

  “No. I don’t know what you told him, but he hasn’t come around. I’m still locking everything at night though.”

  “Should be fine. He’s moved on to something else by now.”

  Olivia appeared and Brandon almost dropped the bag. “Dude, you look so much better.”

  Olivia beamed. “Ellie’s got a cat.”

  Ellie looked toward the kitchen. And food. “It was great to hang out together today. I’ll text you about sushi with Jacqui.”

  Olivia gave her a quick squeeze. “Thanks, Ellie.”

  “Thank you. I’m not the one who crawled under the sink to find Viv’s dead roach supply.”

  Brandon grinned. “Ah. Cleaning. That explains her good mood.”

  Chapter 9

  Ellie returned to the counter at the sushi bar and sat between Jacqui and Olivia, fanning her hands in the air. “The bathroom dryer’s broken.” She glanced at Jacqui. “What’s she gotten you into?”

  Jacqui chuckled. “Who me?”

  The chef at the sushi bar placed two pieces of a gelatinous orange mass on a rectangle of rice and wrapped it with paper-like seaweed. Jacqui’s eyes sparkled as she watched. Olivia appeared to cringe.

  “I know you well enough by now to understand you’ve got a big streak of mischief.”

  Jacqui took a sip of sake. “I aim to broaden people’s world views.”

  Ellie turned to Olivia. “Don’t let her bully you into anything just because she’s older.”

  Jacqui put her elbow on the counter, forearm up. “Who are you calling old?”

  Ellie shook her head. “Uh-uh. I’m not testing you. I’ve seen your muscles in yoga class.”

  The chef placed two jiggling orange pieces in front of Olivia with a slight bow. Olivia groaned.

  “You’re going to love this, honey.” Jacqui poured more soy sauce into Olivia’s small container. “Sea urchin’s one of my favorites. The perfect way to end a long meal.”

  Olivia lifted her beer and sipped. “I’m not sure. I’m a California roll kind of girl.”

  “You’ve known me for…what?” Jacqui peeped at her phone. “Over two hours. Don’t you trust me by now?”

  Olivia grinned over her glass. “Maybe?”

  “Nobody’s forcing you.” Ellie patted her hand. Jacqui leered over Ellie’s shoulder. “I got you two together because you’re my only girlfriends on the island.” Ellie flashed Jacqui a mockingly stern look. “I didn’t think about the consequences.”

  Olivia gulped the remainder of her beer. She shot Jacqui a defiant look, grasped a piece with chopsticks, dunked it in the soy sauce, and plopped it in her mouth, closing her eyes as she chewed.

  Ellie followed Olivia’s movements. Jacqui poured herself more sake.

  Olivia’s eyes popped open. “I like it.”

  “See?” Jacqui turned to the chef. “Two more uni, please. For my other friend here.”

  Ellie laughed and shook her head to negate the order. “No, I’m good. We just need the check.”

  “Spoil sport.”

  Outside, Ellie scanned the dark streets. The sidewalks were bare. Only an occasional car rolled by. “It’s only nine o’clock. Where is everybody?”

  “Nine p.m. is the new two a.m., Maui time.” Jacqui’s flowing tunic fluttered gracefully in the soft night air.

  Ellie directed them to her car. “Good thing we’re heading to my house to continue this party. I operate on California time.”

  Olivia tottered slightly. “How does California help?”

  “Never mind.” Ellie opened the door for her. “This designated driver needs a drink.”

  The moon shone low in the sky above the unlit street. Ellie pulled in front of her gate and climbed out. Her bright blue dress radiated in the glow of the headlights against her long, dark hair. She bent and tilted her purse toward the light. After a long search, she got into the front seat and reversed the car onto the road.

  Olivia hummed to herself in the back. Jacqui turned in the passenger seat. “Forget the gate key?”

  “Yep.”

  “Uh-huh.” She waited for Ellie to park on the side of the street. “Got the house key?”

  Ellie pursed her lips. “Nope. But I think the house is open. If we can get over the gate, we’re in.”

  In front of the gate, the three of them stared at the tall metal bamboo shoots. Olivia reached her hand to the top. “Looks smaller when you’re in a car.”

  Jacqui stepped forward and interlaced her fingers. “Step in here.”

  Neither Olivia nor Ellie moved.

  Jacqui pointed at Ellie. “You. I’ll boost you over. Then Olivia.”

  “And what about you?”

  “I’m a yoga instructor, remember?”

  Ellie hopped one foot in Jacqui’s sling, pulled herself over the gate’s large hinge, and jumped to the ground on the other side.

  “Wait here. I’ll run in and get the key.” She dashed to the house.

  When she emerged through the front door, gate key in hand, Olivia and Jacqui were sitting on the front steps.

  “How’d you get here so fast?”

  Jacqui looked smug. “I helped the twenty-one-year old over. Then I jumped it alone.”

  Olivia stared with alcohol-blurred eyes at Jacqui. “I hope I have your muscles when I’m in my thirties.”

  “Yoga, clean living, and lots of sex.”

  Olivia blushed up to her forehead as Ellie led them inside.

  ***

  Four hours later, Jacqui took a key from Ellie and inserted it in the lock for the driveway gate. She heaved the heavy metal to the side with a flip of her arm.

  “Wow. Okay.” Ellie watched the gate collide with the shrubbery. “I have to shove it with my shoulder to move it. Maybe I should come to your yoga classes more, after all?”

  Jacqui grinned. “Just saying. If you don’t use it, you lose it.” She gently put her hands on Olivia’s shoulders to steer her down the drive and to Jacqui’s car. “Honey, I’m taking you home.” She winked at Ellie, who followed them. “Drive safe.”

  Ellie laughed. “Very funny. I just have to move my car up to the front of the house. You’re the one behind the wheel for the next hour.”

  “I’ve lived Upcountry fifteen years now. Could do it in my sleep.” Jacqui protected Olivia’s head as she flopped into the passenger seat of the Civic.

  Ellie waved them off and sat behind the wheel of her Sentra.

  What’s that?

  She rubbed her eyes and got out. The driver’
s side wiper pinned a piece of notebook paper to the windshield. She removed it and read the untidy print.

  Know what you’re up to. Bitch.

  Ellie shuddered, suddenly cold. She scanned the dark street, ripped the note in quarters, and jogged to her garbage can, which stood waiting for the next morning’s pickup at the edge of the street. She lifted the lid and threw the note in.

  “Disgusting.”

  Once inside, she texted Brandon.

  Ellie: Olivia’s on her way home. Noa left a note on my car. It was outside my gate for a few hours.

  As she locked the living room windows for the night, she studied the metal bamboo blocking the driveway exit.

  Jacqui thought it was nothing to climb over it…

  But in bed the alcohol helped Ellie drift away despite images of Noa leaping from the shadows. She was fast asleep when her phone pinged.

  Brandon: Keep the note. You might need it for the police.

  ***

  Ellie awoke to the clattering of a garbage truck. She pulled a pillow over her head.

  Damn Maui sunshine.

  The truck rattled down the street. Viv pawed at her arm.

  She mumbled from under the sheets. “Go away.”

  Her phone pinged. The unmistakable sound of Viv knocking it to the floor followed.

  “I give up.”

  She stretched her legs under the sheets and massaged her temples.

  What was that yoga pose for headaches again? Warrior Twenty-five?

  She crawled out of bed. With her back to the window, she wiggled one bent knee forward and extended the other leg behind.

  I can hear Jacqui now. Breathe in freshness. Expel toxins with your exhalation. She coughed, lost her balance, and tried again. Doubt this’ll work. Don’t think ancient yogis knew about hangovers.

  The phone pinged from the corner, where Viv played, ricocheting it off the wall.

  Ellie ignored the noise and concentrated on steadying her wobbly posture.

  Inhale the Maui magic.

  The phone rang. Viv jumped back. Ellie untangled herself and picked it up without looking at the screen.

  “Hello?”

  “Hi, Ellie. It’s Denver.”

  Oh, crap.

  She contemplated her reflection in the full-length mirror. Tousled hair. Streaked make-up. A pink ‘smile if you love Hello Kitty’ nightshirt.

  Please, please don’t ask me to video chat.

  “Ellie?”

  “Sorry. I’m just waking up.”

  “Want me to call back?”

  “No.” Her chin dropped to her chest.

  Just tell him.

  “But I’m not exactly ready for prime time video.”

  “I’m sure you look great.”

  She fingered a hole in a shoulder seam. “Don’t be so sure.”

  “Well…maybe you can work yourself up to seeing me in person?”

  Ellie bounced on her toes. “Are you coming back to Maui?”

  “I’ll be back tomorrow. I was thinking maybe we could get together on Tuesday?”

  Ellie gripped the phone between her chin and shoulder and did a quick ‘Single Ladies’ dance in front of the mirror.

  “Ellie?”

  “Sorry. That’s awesome. I’d love it.”

  Calm it down a bit, Ellie.

  “Have you had loco moco yet? There’s a great place in Wailuku.”

  What is it with guys and that stuff?

  “I had some in Kihei. But I’m willing to compare.”

  “I could pick you up.”

  A vision of his arriving early and finding her without makeup flashed through her mind.

  “How about if I meet you there?”

  “Okay. Let me give you the address.”

  After they made the arrangements, Ellie hung up and immediately dialed Jacqui.

  “Quick. I need the name of a salon that’s open tomorrow.”

  “You don’t even let a girl finish her morning yoga routine.”

  In the bathroom, Ellie put the phone on speaker and splashed water on her face. “I did my yoga already. Now I need help.”

  “I’m impressed with your dedication. So I’ll help. The salon in the hotel should be open Mondays. If they say they can’t get you in, talk to Heather. Tell her I sent you.”

  Ellie toweled her face dry. “Bless you. My hair looks like something out of Planet of the Apes.”

  “Let me guess. Mr. Snorkel Rescue called.”

  “Yes. And he wants to get together on Tuesday.”

  “Way to go.”

  Ellie closed her eyes. “What if he doesn’t like me in person?”

  “Ellie, honey, he met you in person already. And he liked you.”

  Ellie shrugged. “I was the damsel in distress. Maybe he won’t like the independent me.”

  “Breathe in some of that Maui confidence, darling. Men like women who believe in themselves. Trust yourself. Trust him. Now…tell me about your yoga poses.”

  ***

  Ellie maneuvered her car into a space at the back of the restaurant, taking in the pickups, police cars, and shiny sedans parked around her.

  He has his own business. Which car is his? She eyed a Porsche convertible nestled between two SUVs. Probably that one.

  Her heart pounded more than she wanted as she rounded the front corner of the building. Denver, in a muted Aloha shirt, tan shorts, and beach sandals, glanced up and smiled.

  Awesome. I’m over dressed.

  She brushed the front of her short, white skirt and pulled at her silk blouse. Denver held out his arms and kissed her on the cheek.

  “You look great.”

  A jolt of adrenaline propelled her heart into overdrive and she suddenly didn’t know what to do with her arms. He pulled open the door and, with his hand on her back, ushered her inside, where he stepped forward to talk with the hostess. Watching his athletic back, he struck Ellie as the kind of person who would age elegantly, the type who would go skiing and horseback riding with his grandkids, who’d whisk his white-haired wife around the dance floor on their fortieth wedding anniversary.

  The lightly air-conditioned room smelled of burgers, fries, and something vaguely Asian. The interior reminded Ellie of an old-fashioned diner. At a long counter, customers in black t-shirts and work boots sat on round silver stools next to police officers in uniform. Families with young children chatted at long communal tables in the back.

  But the conversations near them paused as they were ushered to a booth. Ellie noticed she and Denver were the only haole in the restaurant.

  She glanced at the waitress, who beamed at them.

  “First time here, yeah? Welcome.”

  Ellie scanned the menu, avoiding Denver’s eyes.

  What are we going to talk about?

  “They serve breakfast all day if you’re not in the mood for loco moco.” He pointed to the top of a page. She could tell he was trying to make eye contact, but she buried her head behind the plastic menu. The swiftness of the waitress’s return surprised her.

  “Ready to order?”

  Ellie chose banana pancakes, Denver the loco moco.

  “I can’t help it. I always get the same thing. My parents used to take me here when I was a kid.”

  Ellie stared at the mound a heavy-set man was attacking at a neighboring table. “You finished all that as a kid?”

  “I think maybe they gave me a small portion. But, yeah, I remember cleaning my plate.”

  “You didn’t live on Maui, did you? I looked you up online. Your parents have an avionics company in Seattle, right?”

  “I’m flattered you looked me up.”

  Ellie blushed.

  If he only knew how many hours I spent.

  “My parents had a small house here. A vacation place. We used to come at Christmas. Maybe a week in the summer. They rented it out the rest of the time.”

  “Was Maui the same back then?”

  “You mean way back in the 1990s?” Denver’s f
ace relaxed into a grin that emphasized his deep brown eyes and sparkling teeth.

  Ellie leaned back. I could get used to looking at those eyes.

  “I mostly remember the beaches. Driving around dirt roads in the sugar cane fields. There were fewer people around, that’s for sure. And fewer hotels. More places like this.” He nodded at the older Asian couple in the booth next to them. “More places where people knew each other. I hate the box stores you see here now.”

  Ellie cringed. “You mean Target? I’m a loyal customer at the Kahului branch.”

  Denver laughed. “Of course you are. It’s probably not fair, anyway, my saying what should be here and what shouldn’t. That’s for the locals to choose.”

  Halfway through the large stack of pancakes, Ellie noticed she was no longer tense. By the time Denver had polished his bowl clean, they were laughing.

  “So if Aliens is your favorite movie and Love Actually’s mine, what’s that say about us?” Ellie spun her spoon absentmindedly on the laminated wood.

  “Our second date shouldn’t be a movie?”

  Ellie flicked the spoon and it flew into Denver’s lap.

  She closed one eye and pulled up the corner of her mouth. “Sorry.”

  He held onto the spoon. “Okay, next topic. Your most embarrassing moment.”

  She covered her face with her hands. “Anything but that.”

  “No way. Come on. Give.”

  She stared into his eyes. “This one.”

  He lifted his eyebrows and peered at the spoon.

  “Not the spoon. That I have to tell you my most embarrassing moment.”

  “I don’t get it.”

  “I don’t have just one moment, Denver. I have a list. It starts in kindergarten and gets longer every day. And that’s only what I can remember myself. My parents say it started before they took me home from the hospital.”

  “I don’t believe it.” Denver’s face registered genuine puzzlement. “You’ve got poise. Some kind of natural…energy.”

  “Misdirected energy. Normally described as clumsy.” Ellie hiccupped and covered her mouth, blushing red to her hairline. “Want an example? How about the eighth grade musical. I can’t carry a tune, but they needed someone flexible to play a rabbit. A non-speaking role. I was supposed to hop across the stage. Not difficult. I did fine in the dress rehearsal.”