Hawaiian Holiday: Destination Desire, Book 2

by Crystal Jordan

  He shouldn’t ask. That kind of question invited someone to think he might be interested joining in on those plans, which he shouldn’t be. But he was. He didn’t bother lying to himself about it. He blew out a breath. Okay, so this island affair might be a little more involved than the occasional dinner and mindless sex whenever they weren’t otherwise occupied. Not what he’d thought at first, but he could adjust. He didn’t want this interlude to end. Being around her was too sweet to give it up just yet.

  Her mouth formed a thoughtful moue. “Well, I wanted to take it easy the first twenty-four hours. I don’t have anything solid on the agenda until tomorrow.”

  “What’s tomorrow?”

  She propped her head in her palm. “Pearl Harbor.”

  “Ah, the classic.” If it was her first trip, it was an obvious choice. He’d made that pilgrimage his first time too.

  “Exactly.” She wagged a finger at him.

  He thought twice before he opened his mouth, but then he said, “If it sounds appealing, you could join me today. I was thinking about catching a bus to go downtown. The Iolani Palace is there and I’ve never been.”

  “Oooh, so you’d be a virginal tourist like me, huh?” She waggled her eyebrows.

  He chuckled. “Care to lose your virginity with me?”

  She widened her eyes. “It has to be better than the ping pong table in my neighbor’s basement where I really lost my virginity.”

  A loud guffaw broke from him and he shook his head. “Any response I can think of to that is just highly inappropriate. Want to go for that swim now?”

  “I would, actually.” She winked. Tossing the towel aside, she stood.

  When he got a good look at what she was wearing, his jaw sagged. He gave her a more thorough and appreciative examination. Her hair was pulled into two short ponytails behind each ear, which made her look like a teenager. But that wasn’t what caught his attention. He waved a hand at her swimsuit. “What is this?”

  “A crochet bikini.” She ran a finger along the tie at one hip. “I designed the pattern for it over a year ago, but didn’t have a reason to wear it until now.”

  Slender crisscrossing strands formed tantalizing patterns that shaped around her breasts on top and over her ass and between her legs on the bottom. The whole thing was held together by braded cords that fastened at each hip and behind her neck. The cut wasn’t immodest, but it fit her every curve to perfection, and there was something about the material—as if it was so delicate it might tear away at any moment. He couldn’t take his eyes off it, hoping for that fateful moment.

  He licked his lips. “You made this?”

  “Well, yeah.” She shrugged. “What did you think a fiber artist did?”

  “I had no idea.” He reached out to slide his thumb along the same tie, dropping his voice to a low timbre. “But I’m in favor of any profession that creates something this sinful.”

  She flushed. “Thank you. I think.”

  “So tell me what a fiber artist does.” He slipped an arm around her waist and guided her toward the water’s edge.

  “Well, first and foremost, I run a fiber arts store.” She tucked a lock of escaped hair behind her ear. “Actually, since Aunt Eloise died, I guess I own and run a fiber arts store. It’s a business, like any other.”

  “A successful business, I’m guessing.” Especially if she sold confections like the one she was wearing. Every woman on the planet should have one.

  She shrugged modestly. “Purl Moon has done pretty well, even in the crappy economy. I took the business online in the last year, so we get orders from all over the world now. That’s helped boost our profit margin.”

  “You still haven’t answered my question. What exactly does a fiber artist do?” He kissed the side of her neck, just above the tie, and a shiver coursed through her.

  “Okay, the simplest explanation is: I get raw fibers from different kinds of sheep, goats, and even rabbits.” She lifted a finger. “Oh, and some plants too, like bamboo. I dye them by hand and spin them into yarn that I can sell or use to knit, crochet, felt or tat into products I can wear, give as gifts, display as samples, or sell to customers. That’s generally what a fiber artist does.” She tipped her head, eyebrows scrunching. “But I also buy and sell a lot of yarns that I don’t make myself. And I teach classes on how to do all of those things—spin, knit, crochet, etcetera.”

  He blinked. “Impressive.”

  “Thanks.” She dimpled. “This bikini is made of cotton, so it doesn’t get as waterlogged or stretchy as other fibers, which means you can actually swim in it, rather than just sunbathe.” She gave him a look. “Or pose for a gentleman’s viewing pleasure.”

  “It is a pleasure, indeed. You’re right about that.” If he didn’t stop staring at her soon, his cock would be straining the confines of his trunks in very visible ways. “Let’s test the swimability of your creation.”

  Maybe by the time they got out of the water, he’d have calmed down a bit. It was a pretty futile hope with this woman nearby, but he didn’t have much choice. The water closed around him, feeling far too cold against his heated skin. It would only take a few minutes to adjust, fortunately, because he shuddered at the first submersion.

  It wasn’t until he was waist-deep that he realized any fear he’d had about her being uptight over the passing-out-on-her incidents had dissipated. Being around her was…easy. Fun. He couldn’t remember the last time he could say that about any woman he had a romantic interest in. His past experiences had left him jaded and wary, but Julie was nice, for lack of a better word. She made him laugh. He didn’t know what that would mean, in the end, but if things kept going the way they were, it was going to be an unforgettable holiday.

  “Brr.” Julie shivered as she waded into the water next to Lukas, crossing her arms over her chest. Which covered her puckered nipples, thank God. The moment he’d looked at her bikini, fire had licked through her veins. She was honest enough to know she’d chosen to wear this suit because she’d hoped he’d have exactly that kind of reaction. A woman liked to be appreciated, but she’d underestimated her body’s response to the lust that had molded his sensuous features. The shock of ocean water was probably the best thing for her, or she might have jumped him right there on the lounger. The hotel probably looked unfavorably on that kind of public indecency. She rubbed her hands up and down her biceps, battling the goose bumps. “Okay, definitely warmer than California waters, but still chilly.”

  “Moving helps.” He kicked off, heading toward a pier made of piled volcanic rocks. He glanced back with a little grin. “Coming?”

  The low growl to the word made it sound far more like a sexual invitation than it should have, but that might just be her own lascivious thoughts giving it the prurient twist. “Right behind you.”

  The waves lapped around her shoulders and face, but the exercise dispelled the cold. Julie kept pace with him until they drew up at a reef that curved past the end of the pier. It seemed to be more volcanic rock than reef, but there were definitely plants growing in it and she could see a few small fish whipping through the clear water below her. She wished she had a snorkel and mask so she could see more.

  She pressed her hands to the top of the reef, steadying herself as a wave washed over it.

  “At low tide, the reef is barely covered by water and people can walk on top of it. They usually just hop down from there.” Lukas gestured to the pier. “I’ve never tried it since it looks rough on the feet, but the kids who come out seem to love it.”

  “The water is so clear, even this far away from shore. It’s almost gray in Half Moon Bay.” Julie swept her arm through the waves to demonstrate her point.

  “And much nicer to swim in than the Baltic, which is where we vacationed when I was a child.”

  The next wave came in a little rougher than the last, and pushed her toward the shore. He caught her around the waist and towed her into his embrace. A little hum of pleasure escaped her and she hooked
an arm behind his neck, pressing her front to his chest. This was where she’d wanted to be since the moment she’d woken beside him this morning. Back in his arms. He glanced down, and she was betting he got an eyeful of her cleavage. The heat in his gaze made it clear he liked what he saw.

  A quick glance told her there was no one else around them, though the beach had plenty of people on it. Still, not close enough to see anything. “Kiss me, Lukas.”

  “Yes.” Slipping his hand up her ribcage, he dipped forward to catch her lips. She met his tongue eagerly, and shivered when his fingers inched upward to curl around her breast.

  The taste of him was minty toothpaste and coffee and Lukas. She had to kick her legs to stay afloat, but she wanted to wrap them around his lean hips. Her heart pounded, and need roared through her. When his fingers dipped into her bikini top and stroked over her nipple, she shuddered, her body arching into his. She knotted her fingers in his hair, and kissed him fiercely. Suddenly, the cool water was a delightful contrast to her boiling hot flesh.

  High-pitched laughter ripped her back to the present. It was a strange déjà vu from the night before. Her lips left his as she turned to look toward the pier. The same group of tween girls stood there, hands covering their mouths, eyes wide.

  Incredulousness filled Lukas’s voice. “Are those the same—”

  “Yep.” Julie snorted on a laugh and held him tighter. He chuckled with her and the next thing she knew, they’d been engulfed by the next wave of water. She came up sputtering and only laughed harder.

  He shook the water from his hair, and drew her close again. “Those kids are the bane of my existence.”

  She nodded, arching a brow. “I found out this morning they’re on the same floor I am.”

  The tips of his fingers ran down her sides. “You remembered what they looked like? All I remembered was the interruption.”

  “Nope, but they remembered me.” She offered a rueful look. “The giggles were unmistakable. Fortunately, I don’t think they’re old enough to understand what it meant that I was wearing the same clothes as last night, or it would have been a walk of shame too.”

  “I’m going to have nightmares about them.”

  She chortled and popped a kiss on his mouth. “So, shower and figure out how to get downtown?”

  “Sex in the shower first?” A hopeful lilt filled his voice and he pulled her tighter to him, so that his erection was more than obvious. Want pulsed through her, and her pussy contracted on nothingness.

  “I think we can arrange that.” She grinned, letting her head fall back. Her grin widened when he brushed a kiss over her throat.

  In under twenty-four hours, everything seemed to have changed. She’d come here looking for an escape from her life, her grief, her memories. Looking for perspective and closure. Maybe she hadn’t found all of that—at least not yet—but she was smiling, laughing, having a good time. She hadn’t felt this free since the hospital had called her with the news that Eloise had had her first stroke.

  She’d spent the last year thinking about how much she hated change, how much it hurt, but Hawaii had definitely brought some good changes. Maybe they were temporary, but she’d take what she could get.

  Chapter Five

  “This traffic is awful.” Julie frowned, her voice fretful. “We’ll never make it to the palace in time for our tour. Maybe you should have made the reservation for later.”

  Something in her tone made Lukas’s muscles tighten in automatic reflex. He shook himself. Not every woman was like Lilith. Five years after the divorce and he still had to remind himself of that. Then again, he’d had seven years of conditioning before he’d finally called it quits. His ex liked to be on top of every detail. So did he, but he knew when and how to be flexible. She hadn’t. If he were with Lilith right now, he’d be in for a tirade. The whining would escalate and bam, the world would be ending because of a traffic jam. And somehow, it would all be his fault. Because he should have made the tour reservations for later.

  The bus continued to inch forward, and he made a non-committal noise. It seemed the safest response after Julie’s comment.

  She bumped her shoulder into his. “Well, if we miss it, maybe we’ll get lucky and the next tour will have openings. Fingers crossed.”

  Holding up her hand, she demonstrated the overlapping fingers. He glanced at her from the corner of his eye. Again, she seemed much more laid back than he anticipated. She looped her arm through his and swiveled her head around to watch the buildings and people that passed by. Not a glimmer of distress showed on her countenance. Yeah, he really needed to stop assuming that any woman he was attracted to would eventually melt down on him. But old habits died hard and his ex had trained him far too well to expect the worst and not even bother to hope for the best.

  He blew out a breath, forcing those thoughts down. It was rare for him to think about Lilith, but she’d cropped up more than once in the last day. Maybe because Julie was the woman he’d been most attracted to since his ex, which was disturbing to realize, but attraction did not equal anything more serious than that.

  An older man sitting across the aisle from them looked up from his newspaper. “Where you guys trying to go?”

  “The Iolani Palace,” Julie answered.

  “Oh, yeah. I went there on a field trip when I was a kid.” The man smiled, revealing a gap-toothed grin. “Mostly it’s for the haole tourists.”

  “We’re definitely tourists, you’re right about that.” Julie dimpled.

  “Where you guys from?” the man asked, folding up his newspaper.

  Lukas gave a neutral shrug. He’d never felt the need to share personal information with strangers. First, it could be dangerous, depending on who the person was. Second, if you answered one question, people often felt free to ask more invasive questions, which he wasn’t interested in answering. His private life was private.

  “We’re from California. The Bay Area.” Julie shifted her purse onto her lap. “I take it you’re from here, originally?”

  “Me? Oh, yeah.” The old man patted his chest with pride. “Kanaka Maoli. Pure Hawaiian.”

  Julie looked a little uncertain about how to respond to that. “Congratulations?”

  He nodded. “You know the palace isn’t that far from here.”

  “Really?” Julie dug around in her handbag, pulled out a map, and opened it up. She pushed one end of it toward Lukas. “Hold this, please.”

  Taking his end, Lukas helped her spread out the accordion-folded paper. They were silent for a few minutes as they studied.

  She tapped two spots on the map. “We’re here and we need to get here.”

  “Right.” He set his finger on a spot a short distance from where they were now gridlocked on Ala Moana Boulevard. “You know, if we get off at the next stop, it’s not that long of a walk.”

  “Yay, perfect!” She popped a kiss on his cheek, reached up to yank the cord to signal they wanted a stop, and then bounced out of her seat. “Let’s make a run for it.”

  “Have fun,” the old man said, and Julie gave him a parting wave. Lukas dipped his chin in acknowledgement but didn’t say anything.

  Ten minutes later, they still hadn’t made the twenty feet to the next stop. Lukas followed Julie as she worked her way up to the front of the crowded bus, squeezing between people and dodging feet that stuck out in the aisle. When she got to the driver, she offered up a luminous smile that made Lukas’s chest tighten. The woman was captivating.

  “Hi,” she addressed the bus driver. “We have an appointment and we’d like to get off at the next stop. Would you mind just letting us off here? We can walk.”

  The grizzled man looked like he was going to protest, but he glanced at Julie as her smile brightened. Lukas saw the moment the man gave in. Ducking his head, the driver pushed the lever that opened the door. “Go on.”

  “Thank you so much!” She clapped her hands in pleasure.

  Lukas suppressed a chuckle. It seemed no
one was immune to Julie’s brand of charm. He certainly wasn’t. So far, all she’d had to do was grin and look at him with those big brown eyes and he was toast.

  They stepped off the bus into the balmy air. She cast him a quick glance. “For the record, you’re going to need to lead the way. My sense of direction is atrocious, and we don’t have time to get lost. Should I get the map out again?”

  “No, I’ve got it up here.” He tapped a finger against his temple. “This way.”

  “Oh, thank God.” She scurried to keep up with his longer stride as they took off down the street and passed the bus. “If both of us sucked with directions, we’d have been so hosed.”

  He shook his head and grinned. He liked that she had a good sense of humor about her flaws. Sure, it could be an act, but everything about Julie had appeared genuine thus far. Being upfront about her issue with navigation meant they could work around it rather than ignore it. Her attitude was refreshing. He had far too many colleagues with more ego than good sense, and God forbid they should ever admit they didn’t know everything.

  They wove through the streets of downtown until they got to South King Street and turned left. On one side was the courthouse and on the other was the palace. They paused for a moment when they reached the front gate and gazed at the massive gray structure. Slender columns held up two stories of verandahs in the front, squares towers occupied each corner, and a wide drive lined with manicured lawns led up from the green and gold gates.

  Julie tilted her head. “Wow, that’s even prettier than in the picture on the website.”

  A glance at his watch showed Lukas they really needed to hurry. He started tugging her forward.

  “We need to head to the barracks to check in for our tour.” He pointed to a building off to the side. “We’re a little late, but hopefully they haven’t started without us.”

  “Let’s make a run for it.” With that, she surprised him by abandoning all pretense of dignity and dashing down the drive.

  What surprised him even more was that he went along and raced her to the barracks. Not his normal behavior, but it was fun. He grabbed her around the waist just as they reached the building, spun her around, and kissed her. Just because he could. Just because it felt good.