by Jeny Heckman
“So, he just walked away then?” Que asked.
“What? No, he just…”
“That’s right, no, he did not. What’s he look like?”
“Oh God Que, he’s so beautiful. His hair’s long, and he puts it up in one of those bun things.”
“That’s kinda hot.” Que burst out laughing again.
“Right? And its super blond and he has a beard and the most incredible eyes I’ve ever seen. They honestly don’t look human. He’s got muscles everywhere.”
“So he’s like one of those droids?”
“No, it’s all real.” Raven laughed. “I could feel his stomach muscles, and they were very genuine.”
“What! You could feel his stomach muscles? Girl, what’cha doin’ with his stomach?”
“I was riding on the back of his motorcycle, Que.” She could hear the strangest noise and then her friend gasping for control to breathe. “Que! Are you okay?”
Her friend had swallowed wrong at Raven’s proclamation and was trying to cough up the coffee that traveled down into her lungs and spurted out across her kitchen table. When Raven realized there was no emergency, she started laughing too.
“I know, I know, but it was so fun. It took forever for me to decide to get on it but when I did, it was so much fun.”
“Well, I’ll be damned.” Que smiled, then asked with tenderness, “When do you see him again?”
“Oh, I don’t know if I will. We made no plans at all. He says he lives close by, so maybe I’ll run into him somewhere.”
“Well, he also knows where you live now.”
“Que, you don’t understand. This guy is so cool and amazing looking. He could have literally anyone he wanted.”
“That may be Rave, but last night he wanted you on the back of his bike. Don’t forget that you got the girl power too. I keep trying to tell you that. Not to mention your own rock star life and bank account. What did he think about hangin’ with the Raven Hunter?”
“I don’t think he knew who I was. I look a lot different from all that right now. It’s been like walking around in a costume.”
“Even better, that means he likes you for you.”
Raven just smiled and shook her head. She’d believe that when she saw it.
****
“Hawai’i relies heavily on imports for their energy.” Stuart King counted on his fingers. “Petroleum, coal, and electricity prices here are higher than anywhere else in the US. In fact, it’s doubled in more than thirty-nine of the fifty states.”
Finn’s eyes ran down the man in his flawless suit and determined it was official. He hated him. He glanced over at Alan Sunderland, the head of the SeaHunt Researching Institute, who merely sipped his coffee and smiled. A second man, Brian something-or-other, stood and Finn felt he was watching a tag team, hitting their stride.
“That’s what makes this region the best and biggest case study possible.” Brian walked to the window. “You have sun, wind, and wave technology at your disposal.”
“Gentlemen, no one wants to come to Hawai’i and see a bunch of massive equipment in the water,” Nate responded. Finn looked at him briefly, then back at the man for his response.
“Correct, but that’s not what we’re talking about,” Brian said, holding up a finger and clicking a remote with his other hand, causing the lights to lower slightly.
He clicked another button, and a chart appeared. Finn took his ankle off his knee and leaned forward in his chair as the man took out his laser pointer.
“Hawai’i is one of the pioneers of wind power. In fact, on Oahu, they housed the largest wind turbine in the world in 1987. The MOD-five B was a three-point two MW turbine.”
“Of course, now we have the Vestas, with a rated capacity of eight megawatts,” Stuart interjected. Finn thought the man was giving himself a hard on and laid his back on the chair again.
“You are also one of the leaders in solar panel technology.” Stuart continued. “In fact, Kaua’i instituted the largest solar project in all of Hawai'i two years ago with fifty-nine thousand solar panels across sixty acres of land. In fact, in 2012 Hawai’i paid for itself in just four years’ time and returned a profit of four times the cost over its…”
“I’m sure we could go into great depth of the advantages of alternative energy, Mr. King.” Nate could feel the man working into a lecture rivaling a fevered pitch. “However, we’re here to discuss the tidal turbines you want to install here on Kaua’i.”
“Ah, yes.” Stuart cleared his throat. “Sorry, but this is really exciting stuff when you think about the possibilities.” Finn rolled his eyes and exhaled forcefully as the man continued. “We want you to be the pioneers in the US again, for tidal technology.” He clicked the button, and the next picture came to life. Brian stood and walked to the screen.
“Now, what you have is a tube tower cantilevered from a base point.” Brian indicated the long pipe extending from the sea floor to the surface of the water. “On top is the hub and access point. In the center”—he indicated two blade-like propellers, slowly spinning—“are the turbines, which are located underwater.”
“And those turbines.” Finn nodded at the photo. “Exactly how do you keep them from hurting the sea life we have around here?”
Alan narrowed his eyes slightly at Nate and then at Finn but turned to listen to the presenters.
“Now, I’m glad you asked me that, Mr. Taylor,” Stuart responded. “I understand you’re passionate about your little sea creatures, and who wouldn’t be?” He turned toward the photo as Nate snaked out a suppressing hand on Finn’s shoulder.
“Think about it,” he murmured to his friend.
“You see, these turbines look like wind turbines, but they don’t move nearly as fast.” Stuart continued, not seeing the exchange or the effect of his words on the biologists.
“Seawater is almost eight hundred times denser than air,” Brian interjected hesitantly. It was obvious Finn’s anger hadn’t escaped his notice.
“Yes,” Stuart affirmed, “and this is important because it means the rate of speed is so much slower.” He looked over at Sunderland and said, “I do have some environmental impact statements here.”
He handed them to Brian, who in turn gave them to the men. Finn, exasperated, looked down quickly at the statement, then spun it onto the table.
“These statements are for Britain, Scotland, Ireland, and France. Last time I checked none of them had the climate of Hawai’i.”
“As I said, you would be moving into newer territory, and you have had a lot of success with…"
“Look,” Finn sneered, “my little sea creatures, as you so ineloquently called them, can’t even count fourteen hundred animals. It’s a species one hundred percent indigenous to the United States and these islands. Twenty percent of those ‘creatures,’”—he threw his hands up in quotation marks—“are here because of research, restoration, and refuge outfits, the bulk of which are located on Oahu. Kaua’i counts one, and you’re looking at it.”
The suits merely looked at him, perplexed at what to say.
“I can appreciate the enthusiasm for making us your little trial and error case study, or however the hell you put it,” Finn spoke with venom, looking from one man to the other and trying to contain his fury. “But my animals can’t recover if your product fails them.”
“Finn,” Nate said quietly.
“Hawaiian monk seals are some of the most curious marine mammals you’ll ever meet, and the noise of those things alone might attract them enough to wander over.”
“Mr. Taylor,” Sunderland warned. Finn looked at him and addressed the rest of his remarks to his boss.
“We’ve talked about this before, Mr. Sunderland. The seals are cut up in boat propellers all the time and when we get new pups”—his thoughts drifted to Kaimi—“they aren’t going to be able to stay away.”
“Mr. Taylor, could you please step out with Dr. Bowman? Thank you.” Without waiting for a response,
Alan turned his attention back to the presenters.
“All right.” Nate stood, advising, “Finn, let’s go.”
Finn eyed his boss angrily and then the presenters before rising and aggressively pushing open the door.
“God damn it!” Finn yelled when he got outside, walking across the gravel.
“I know,” Nate said.
“Oh, really? Really, Nate? Because I sure as hell didn’t hear you saying anything in there.”
“What are you talking about? I sure as hell did. Besides, it’s already been decided, Finn. I told you that. Sunderland was just showing us all of this as a courtesy.” Looking out at the water, he said, “You know, I’m pissed too.” Then glared back at his friend. “But I don’t get the luxury of spewing out whatever feelings I have every second I have them. Being pissed isn’t going to help and just might get you fired. That wouldn’t help any of them or me, and it sure as hell would suck for you. You wanna move away from Dee and your life to live on Oahu, in some aquarium?”
Finn turned and stared daggers, knowing what Nate said was true. He shook his head, and Nate pressed his lips together in a hard line.
“Look, why don’t you take off. They’ll be coming out here soon, and I’m sure you’ve had enough for one day. Not to mention, Alan probably doesn’t want to see you right now. If you want to come over for dinner, Annie's cooking steaks.”
“Isn’t that a man’s job, grilling steaks.” Finn attempted some humor by poking fun at his friend’s manliness.
“Ah well, she’s better at it than me,” the older man revealed without shame. He walked up the stairs and opened the door before glancing back with a smirk. “See ya tonight, then.” When his friend nodded, he went back into the building.
Finn drove back into town and made a spur of the moment decision that had him continuing to the beach and Raven’s street. He wanted to see if he could make her nervous or, failing that, blush again.
Knocking, he received a text at the same time, so he lifted his sunglasses to perch on his forehead. The door opened, and he looked up, smiling until he saw Jason standing on the other side.
He was wearing linen trousers and a white linen collared shirt, unbuttoned and untucked to fly open across his smooth chest. Having also toed off his shoes, he walked barefoot and laid a forearm against the open door. The breeze billowed open his shirt like something out of a Hawaiian vacation TV commercial, causing Finn to grin roguishly. The guy just made it too easy.
“Oh hey, Jim was it?” Finn said, successfully irritating the man.
“Jason,” he corrected, clenching his jaw. “Is this a freak of nature or are you stalking Raven?”
“Stalking?” Finn ran his eyes condescendingly down Jason’s outfit. “No, I was here last night, when I gave her a ride home.” He delighted in the look of sheer disbelief that crossed the polished man’s face.
“I see.” Jason regrouped quickly. “Well, I can speak for both of us when I say that was nice of you to do. What can we help you with today, Mr. Taylor?”
“Oh, you… Nothing. But I was gonna ask Raven to take a ride.”
The manager looked past Finn to the motorcycle and quirked an eyebrow.
“I think you may be overstepping the mark here, Mr. Taylor. One, Raven and I have a pretty close relationship that’s been progressing as of late. And two, I’m quite sure hell would freeze over before she’d get on that thing.”
“Hmm, well apparently, you need some skates. Maybe you can’t tell ’cause of that breezy get-up ya got going on there, but she was on the back of that bike last night.” The side of his mouth slid into a smirk as Jason evaded his gaze. “Funny too, but she never mentioned you once in that whole time.”
Jason’s gaze snapped back to Finn’s and, seeing the truth there, wisely didn’t comment. He lifted his chin and breathed in.
“I can see that you like her, Mr…”
“It’s Finn.”
“Right—Finn. I can see you like her. I like her too.” Jason smiled, genuinely trying to appease him. “I’ve been with her for nine years now. We’ve gone through a lot together, and she’s had a legitimately rough time of it lately.” He narrowed his eyes for emphasis.
Finn spread his feet apart a little, crossed his arms over his chest, and lowered his head, pretending he was listening intently to the asshole.
“She isn’t the kind of woman that says no easily, therefore can be easily taken advantage of. Maybe you’d be willing to move on from her?”
“Really? So, you’re implying that I’m after what, exactly? Sex?” Jason smirked at this.
“Well, I’m quite sure, we both know that’s on your mind, but no, I actually meant her money.”
“Money?” It was Finn’s turn to frown in confusion. “What money?”
“I think we’re done here, aren’t we, Mr. Taylor?” Jason said, somewhat nervously, as if he said too much and wanted the conversation over. Finn took a step forward, making it impossible to shut the door.
“I don’t know shit about any money, and as far as I can see, you might want something with her, but in nine years you’ve been unable to close the deal. So, consider my oar in the water, Mr. Crockett.”
Turning, he walked off the porch to his bike and threw a leg over, whistling. He kicked the machine to life and noticed Jason still standing in the doorway, maybe trying to figure out who Crockett was. Finn slid on his sunglasses and yelled over the engine.
“If you could tell Raven I swung by, I’d sure appreciate it.”
As he turned the bike and raced away, Finn smiled. Maybe the day wasn’t a total loss.
Chapter 9
Jason stood in the doorway, angrily staring after Finn. Oar in the water indeed, he thought with disdain. He was the one who put in the time with Raven. He’d been the sounding board when her overbearing asshole of a husband micromanaged everything she did. He tried to mentor her, pick up the pieces, gently coax and prod her into the direction she should go. He made it abundantly clear that he was ready for something more. Yet last night, she’d allowed a stranger to bring her home rather than him. Jason closed the door and went back to the contracts on the table, indignantly.
He’d been struggling with the language of them. Seeing only a handful of contracts over the years, the new agent had never had to read through them entirely. It was overwhelming and boring as hell.
The warm wind caught his short dark hair, blowing it back. Dark chocolate eyes looked out toward the ocean. There was no way he would admit to Raven that he was having difficulty and risk her losing confidence in him. He couldn’t go to Donovan. The man would eat him for dinner upon hearing she wanted to change things up. He picked up his coffee and sipped, breathing in the delicate but deep aroma.
Looking down, he frowned over the papers again, knowing he’d have to tread very lightly when it came to transitioning her style. The one thing he had in common with Donovan was a refusal to allow much change to occur. She became a wealthy woman on her ability to turn other people’s work into pop sensations. Her originals were too earthy and simple. Her fans may or may not follow the change of direction and tone, and he wouldn’t gamble any of their futures on it.
Jason threw the notepad down, distracted from Finn’s recent visit. Raven was into him too, he knew it. Maybe she just needed to see a little more of the fun and reckless side of him too. One thing he was entirely sure of was that he sure as hell wasn’t going to tell her Taylor sought her company.
By the time the singer returned to the bungalow, she was laden with bags, so Jason ran out to help her unburden the car.
“What’s all this?”
“Oh, well, I thought I’d make some dinner,” she replied, smiling at her purchases. “It’s been a long time since I cooked.” She considered him and resolved to be gracious. “You’re welcome to stay if you want.”
“I want. What’re we having?”
“Vegetable lasagna.”
“Sounds great. Do you have some wine I can open to
breathe?”
Reaching into a bag, she produced a Malbec. She turned all the bags over, and vegetables rolled out onto the countertops. As she began to organize and clean them, Jason poured out the wine and turned on some music.
The scent of her homemade red sauce and spices filled the air by the time they sat down to eat, lending and air of domesticity to the evening.
“So, I went over the contracts today for a couple of shows, but I wanted to ask what the publicist thought of doing some of the early morning programs here? Stir up some interest, throw a bone to the outlying areas?”
“Oh,” she quavered, “actually, I didn’t ask. I just thought they could call from Oahu or wherever and the interviews would be really brief, if at all.”
“Okay, well, I think it would be best to continue to run things through the publicist. There’s a reason we pay her the big bucks.”
“All right,” Raven said, feeling a little chastened. She probably should have thought about that for the flow of the brand, then stiffened at the direction of her thought.
“Now on to other things,” he said, laying the papers to the side, sipping some wine. “What d’ya say we get out of the house tomorrow, go to the other side of the island, maybe Hanalei?”
“Oh, sure, I guess so.”
“We can go swimming or hiking, just have some fun?”
“The Kilauea Lighthouse is over there, and some trails.”
“Perfect.” His cell phone rang and his brows furrowed. “Sorry, I’m going to have to take this.”
She waved her hand in dismissal. How many times had Donovan said those exact same words during dinner, movies, even sex? Relinquished to second place by a hunk of metal and plastic. She stood and rinsed the dishes, before placing them in the dishwasher while listening to Jason’s voice grow heated and more proprietary.
“I said no, Donovan.” Her head jerked up and walked over toward the man pacing the floor. Why the hell was Jason talking to Donovan?
“I realize that you managed her career for fifteen years, but that job ended the minute your marriage did. Raven is my responsibility now, and I don’t think that’s the right project for her.” He held the phone away from his ear, and she heard Donovan’s booming and condescending voice bellow out.