Deadly Wipeout (Aloha Lagoon Mysteries Book 3)

by Beth Prentice

  Mum lived on the outskirts of town in a small three-bedroom, timber-clad house. Driving, it would only have taken me five minutes to reach my destination. Riding the bike it took me closer to twenty, but I couldn't complain. The landscape was magnificent. I took some deep breaths and enjoyed the fresh air as I smiled. I listened to the birds calling each other and looked at the backdrop of lush green mountains as I pedaled along the road lined with palms and pines. We had palms in Australia, but I'd never seen any as tall as the ones in Hawaii.

  My mind drifted to Mum and how all those years ago she'd left the States to follow Dad across the world to Australia and how hard that must have been to leave her family behind. I remembered how hard it had been for me when she'd left Australia and moved to Hawaii, but I understood her reasons. Now I was just glad that I'd eventually followed her.

  I pulled my bike to a stop outside Lahela's Surf, got off, and leaned it against the wall, the sweat tickling my face as it ran its way down my cheek. Lahela's wasn't a big chain surf shop. It was a small shop founded by Lahela herself. I'd called Mum earlier asking her where the best place to buy a bikini and wet suit was, and this shop was what she'd recommended. Apparently Lahela was now a resident of the nursing home where Mum worked, but the business was still family-owned and operated by her granddaughter, Alani.

  I heard the little jingle of a bell as I opened the door and entered. Thank goodness she had air conditioning.

  I looked around the racks of T-shirts, spotting a couple I liked. I was definitely a T-shirt kind of girl. I picked up a hanger and found some shorts to match, wondering if my budget could stretch to paying for them. I was just browsing the bikinis when a woman about my age popped her head up from between a pile of boxes at the back of the shop.

  She screamed. "You scared me!" She stood, dropping the bag she held. "Darn it," she cursed, bending to retrieve it.

  I took the few seconds to assess her. She was short—well, a lot shorter than I was anyway. She had sleek black hair, islander dark skin, and was completely gorgeous. I blinked in the wattage of her smile.

  "Sorry," she said. "Can I help you with anything?"

  "Oh. Yes, please. I'm looking for a wet suit."

  "Sure. What type were you after?"

  "Umm, what types do you have?" I had no idea there was more than one type.

  "We have the wet suit jacket, the Short John wet suit, Long John wet suit, the Springsuit with short and long arms, the Short Arm Steamer, and the Full suit."

  She stood looking at me, smiling, obviously waiting for my answer. To be honest, I had no idea what she'd just said. After a minute of awkward silence, she stepped out from her pile of boxes and moved toward me.

  "How about I show you. They're all on the wall at the back of the shop."

  "Thank you," I mumbled, following her through the store. We stopped at a rack overflowing with wet suits of all different sizes and styles. Even though the beach was a very popular place I'd visited as a teenager, in the last few years, I hadn't spent too much time there, and I'd never worn a wet suit. I coughed, clearing my throat.

  "What would you recommend?" I asked, my tone sounding much more professional.

  "I'm assuming you want it to use immediately?"

  I nodded.

  "And for surfing?"

  I nodded again.

  "Are you here on vacation?" she asked, flipping through the suits as she spoke.

  "No. I just moved here a week ago." I quickly brought her up to date with my current living situation.

  "That's so exciting! Oh, you're going to love it here. Mostly everyone is just so friendly."

  That was definitely the impression I'd gotten so far.

  "Okay then," she said, turning back to the wet suits, "I'd suggest the Short John, which has no arms, or the Springsuit, which is short in the leg with the full arm coverage. Or did you want full sun protection? If so, definitely the Full suit. Only not too many people want the full suit, as the water is always warm."

  "I'll try the short one with the long arms, thank you."

  She looked me up and down and chose the appropriate size for me. Walking me to the changing room, she ushered me in.

  "We ask that you leave underwear on, but if you need any assistance, just call me. I'm Alani," she said as she pulled the curtain closed.

  Okay. I could do this. I did think she had chosen a size too small, but I'd take that as a compliment. I peeled off my shorts and tank top, leaving my push-up bra and G-string on. I didn't normally wear G-strings, but this morning I hadn't wanted any underwear lines in my jeans for my interview, and even though I'd changed my clothes, I'd left the underwear on. Now I wished I hadn't. I checked that the curtain was pulled all the way over.

  Taking the suit off the hanger, I stood on one foot and pushed the other into the suit. It was a bit of a squeeze, but I guessed they were meant to be tight.

  Two feet in—it was time to pull it up. I pushed my arms into the sleeves and attempted to pull the suit up past my thighs. Okay, don't panic. It'll come up.

  Finally. Now all I had to do was pull the zipper up. I reached behind me and grabbed at the extra-long end on the zipper. I wiggled and jiggled, and as the zipper got higher, the suit got tighter. Was it meant to be this tight? Halfway up, I gave up the fight and called for Alani.

  She came immediately and stuck her head inside the curtain. "Oh wow!" She sounded happy, but I could see the shock in her eyes. "That's great. Let's see if we can get the zipper all the way up." Alani stepped into the changing room, and after a few minutes of me wiggling and her huffing as she pulled on the zipper, she gave up. "Maybe we need the next size," she said, wiping her brow.

  You think?

  She pulled the curtain back, and I attempted to pull my arms out of the suit, but after ten minutes of sweating in my attempt to get it on, it seemed that it was now not coming off. Oh geez. Did I mention I was claustrophobic?

  Sweat dripped down my temple toward my neck. My reflection in the full-length mirror was not a pretty one. My face was red and blotchy, and my eyes were wide and showed a hint of hysteria. I hoped the job would be a lot easier than buying the outfit.

  Thankfully, Alani returned quickly with another suit, and after a few more minutes of pulling and tugging in the opposite direction, I was free.

  "Now would you like to try the next size up?" she asked.

  "No!" I yelled a little too vehemently. "Sorry, I mean no," I finished in a much more civilized tone. "I don't think I'll worry about a wet suit after all. Surely a surfing instructor can just wear a bikini. In fact, look at this one right here. It's super cute and no-nonsense." I grabbed at a bikini on the nearby rack. It was navy blue and white and had a very nautical theme to it.

  "Are you a surfing instructor?"

  "Yes. I'm the new children's instructor at the resort."

  "Oh wow. That's awesome," she replied excitedly. "You'll love it there."

  "Thanks. I hope so." Somehow, I doubted it.

  CHAPTER TWO

  I opened my eyes and looked at the clock next to my bed. It showed 4:30 a.m. I didn't normally wake up that early, but my body hadn't adapted to the time change between Sydney and Hawaii yet. I groaned and rolled over, closing my eyes tight and willing sleep to come back to me. What would today hold, I wondered as I lay there in the dark. It was then that it hit me. Today was the start of my brand new job.

  I sat up in bed and rubbed my eyes as my stomach did a gymnastic routine. I groaned. What the heck was I doing?

  No, that was not the attitude to have. I needed to be positive! Today was going to be amazing. It was the start of my new life.

  I found my new bikini and the uniform I'd been given by Human Resources and got dressed. The uniform consisted of khaki-colored shorts and a polo shirt with the resort logo embroidered over my left breast. I then pulled on some sandals and made my way out to the kitchen.

  Mum's house wasn't flash. In fact, in my opinion at least, it really needed to be renovated. Not
because the fixtures and fittings were old and decrepit but because they were old and ugly. Nevertheless, Mum loved it, and as she was still only a few years into paying off the mortgage, I figured it would stay like this for a while longer yet.

  Luke stood in the kitchen, pouring a cup of coffee. He looked over his shoulder as I approached.

  "Morning," he mumbled. He wasn't a morning person.

  "Morning," I sang.

  "Do you have to be so cheery?" he asked. I smiled. Even though I was now an adult, I still loved annoying him.

  "I start my new job today. Why shouldn't I be cheery?"

  "Should I remind you that you can't surf?"

  "I can surf! In fact, I used to be better than you. I just haven't done it in a while," I added quietly. The coffee smelled delicious, so I pushed past him and poured myself a cup. My stomach was still tied in a very elaborate knot, but coffee might help that.

  "Whatever you need to tell yourself to get through the day, I guess."

  Humph. I wouldn't let Luke's mood influence my day. Instead, I ignored him, poured my coffee into a travel mug advertising the resort, and quietly opened the back door.

  "Have a good day!" I sang to Luke, waving. He grumbled something incoherent back as I shut the door behind me.

  It was still quite dark, but the sky was a lighter shade of dark than it had been an hour ago. It wouldn't be long until the sun broke the horizon. I really loved being up to see the sunrise—I just normally hated getting up to see the sunrise, which seemed to be a bit of a problem.

  I grabbed Mum's bike and swung my leg over it, balancing the travel cup in between my fingers and the handlebars. Not my best move. Within minutes I had tipped it over, and it scalded my legs as it trickled to my ankle.

  Argh!

  The Aloha Lagoon Resort was probably the most beautiful place I had ever visited. Its size and luxury should have made it feel unfriendly, but instead it felt almost village-like with its shops and restaurants. The walls were rendered cream cement, the roofs were terra-cotta tiled, and the pools were crystal clear and blue. And that was just the man-made stuff. Nature outshone it in spades. Every time I caught a glimpse of the ocean, I found myself stopping what I was doing just to stare at it.

  I felt the nerves settle in place as I locked the bike up in the staff parking area. It would have been good to have a practice surf before I started, but I figured I would keep the kids out of the water today and get Luke to tell me where to find a good beach that wasn't visible from the resort. I'd borrow his board and head there straight after work for a much-needed practice.

  Yesterday HR had handed me the keys to the surfboard shed, so I pulled them from my pocket, found the resort map they'd also given me, and headed there.

  The shed was located not too far from The Lava Pot tiki bar, which was probably so that parents could enjoy a drink whilst watching their kids in the water. Or maybe it was for the stressed beach staff at the end of a long day. Who knew? I unlocked the door and flipped the light on. And then sucked in my breath at the number of boards I saw there. Geez, did a resort really need this many boards? My mind ran at a thousand miles an hour, trying to remember which board was which.

  I grabbed the trolley used to transport the boards and loaded it up with what I remembered to be a suitable range for kids. I then grabbed one for myself. I moved it all out of the shed and down the cement path leading to the sand. Daylight had broken even though the sun had not shown itself yet, and I smiled at a few early morning joggers. It actually felt good to be holding a board again.

  By the time I had everything set up and all the boards waxed, I checked the time on my watch. Ten past seven. At least the sun was up now, but I still had fifty minutes before I had to start work, and an hour and fifty minutes before any kids were to arrive.

  I adjusted my uniform and looked around me, pulling my sunglasses on against the glare of the morning sun. The Lava Pot came into view, and I remembered the disaster of the broken glasses from the day before.

  The bar didn't officially look open, but I did see the tall timber-and-glass paneled doors had been partially pulled back, opening it to the beach. I could also see staff moving around, so I headed across the grass to it, ignoring the landscape gardener walking my way. He looked pretty friendly with his dark hair and beard. At first glance I guessed him to be around my age, yet he had a self-assurance and presence that was unusual for twentysomething.

  "Hi," he said, smiling and stopping on the path in front of me.

  "Hi," I said, giving him a small wave.

  "I haven't seen you around here before." He was still smiling, so why did I feel like I was about to be told off?

  "No. It's my first day," I answered, stopping next to him. On closer inspection he was actually quite good-looking in an intense kind of way. I gulped.

  "Ah. Well, I'm Nick, head of landscaping and gardens." He offered his hand for me to shake.

  "Pleased to meet you, Nick. I'm Samantha, the new children's surf instructor," I replied, accepting his gesture. I hoped to portray confidence, but even I could hear the nerves in my voice.

  "I'm not sure if you've had a chance to read the staff rules yet," he continued, letting go of my hand, "but the resort likes the staff to walk on the paths. They think it looks more professional." He shrugged when he said it, and I got the impression he was happy for me to enjoy the grass.

  "Oh, I'm so sorry," I said, quickly jumping off the grass and onto the cement path he was on. "I haven't had a chance to read them yet. I only got hired yesterday."

  "That's okay. I only mentioned it because Human Resources has been clamping down on staff rules lately. If it's your first day, you'll be wanting to make a good impression."

  Geez, I hadn't even officially started work yet, and already I could have annoyed HR.

  "Thanks for the warning," I said appreciatively. "I'll make sure I read the rules tonight. I definitely don't want to upset anyone." Especially Human Resources. They were, after all, the ones responsible for my pay.

  "Enjoy your day, Samantha. I'll look forward to seeing you around." Nick smiled and continued down the path. I sighed and moved in the direction of The Lava Pot.

  The bar didn't look quite as intimidating as it had yesterday, but I figured that was because yesterday I was waiting to meet Mr. Mahelona, my fingers crossed that he would employ me. If I kept walking on the grass, maybe he'd change his mind. Then again, he hadn't seen me teach yet, so walking on the grass could be the least of my worries.

  Reaching the bar, I saw the same lady vacuuming the wooden floors who had been there the day before. Casey worked behind the bar, restocking the shelves, lining up bottles as he moved. I actually didn't really think I'd find him here this early. I wondered if I could pluck up enough courage and actually buy him the drink I'd promised myself I'd buy him.

  He noticed me and smiled. I smiled back, slightly breathless.

  He waved to me. I waved back. I should move my feet either away from the bar or into it, but somehow they didn't want to move. Casey's smile had stopped me in my tracks.

  He was, without a doubt, the best-looking guy I had ever seen. He stood over six foot tall, had light brown-blond hair, and even from this distance I could see his amazing blue eyes. He wore the Aloha Lagoon uniform, and I was mesmerized as it pulled tight over his biceps as he moved.

  "Would you like a drink?" he called to me.

  "What?" I replied. Focus, Samantha, focus.

  "A drink. Would you like one?" he asked, his thick English accent rolling off his tongue.

  "Isn't it too early to be drinking?" My watch hands were pointing at the seven and the three. "It's not even seven thirty yet."

  "Nah," he said, waving his hand in front of his face. "It's five o'clock somewhere in the world. And it's not every day you start a new job."

  He remembered today was my first day. My stomach flipped, but I was sure that was from nerves. For the job. Not for anything else.

  My brain finally got a mes
sage through to my feet, and they moved closer to him. "You're here early."

  "Yeah, got a delivery coming in, and the geezer couldn't come any later in the day."

  I nodded, smiling at his colloquialism. "Are you allowed to serve alcohol before opening hours?"

  "No, but it can be our secret." He winked, and I actually stumbled over my own feet.

  "Sorry. Wet floor," I mumbled, my cheeks flaming. The cleaning lady looked at me and scowled.

  "That floor is not wet," she snapped.

  Casey laughed. "What would you like?"

  I managed to reach a barstool and get myself onto it without falling on my ass, but hearing his laugh, deep and masculine, I felt myself slip. Good God, girl. Get a grip!

  "I probably shouldn't have anything alcoholic anyway," I managed to say. "I'm going to be responsible for a group of kids soon." And even though I hadn't read the employment contract, I'm sure there would be a clause in there stating I must be sober.

  "Okay. How about I make you a Coffee Cola Cooler?"

  "A what?"

  Casey laughed again. It seemed to be something he did a lot. "It's just coffee and cola with a splash of maple syrup. It'll give you a boost for the start of the day." I thought about the disastrous cup of coffee I'd had on the ride in to work.

  I nodded, thinking Casey's offer sounded good. Caffeine and sugar—what more could a girl want first thing in the morning? I looked at Casey's back as he turned away to make the drink. Well, I could think of something…

  I groaned, disgusted with myself.