by Susan Stoker
And his kisses were like nothing she’d ever known. She wasn’t inexperienced, but she’d felt like a virgin when he’d kissed her. Simply because she’d never felt with anyone the way she did when his lips touched hers.
She’d also chosen Honolulu because the giddy feelings inside her hadn’t subsided since she’d said goodbye to Midas on that ship. They’d only gotten more intense. He sent her funny memes, was super sweet in his texts, and sent long, rambling emails about what he did each day. He definitely wasn’t acting like a man who was only interested in sex. She’d met more than her fair share of men like that. And none had tried to get to know her like Midas was.
She wanted, and deserved, a good man. One who went out of his way to make her happy. In return, she’d do the same. And so far, nothing had made her think Midas wasn’t that man.
She’d been super nervous when she’d called to tell him that she had the option of going to Honolulu. If he didn’t think it was a good idea, then she’d choose her second choice, Paris. She’d never been to France, and figured it was a place she needed to experience at least once in her life.
But the second she’d mentioned to Midas that she was considering Hawaii, he’d sounded like a kid on Christmas morning. He was so excited, telling her without hesitation that he would absolutely love it if she came to Honolulu.
So here she was.
Lexie felt like a teenager with her first crush. Every time her phone vibrated or dinged with a message, she smiled like a loon. She’d given Midas her travel schedule but didn’t expect him to meet her at the airport. She’d planned on going to the small studio apartment Food For All had procured for her and sleeping for twelve hours straight. Then she’d clean herself up and see if Midas wanted to meet.
But the second she entered the baggage area of the airport, she saw him.
And he was even more good-looking than she’d remembered.
Midas was standing in the middle of the walkway, not caring that travelers had to steer their luggage around him. He was tall enough to see over most people, and his piercing eyes met hers as she walked toward him.
He wore a pair of jeans that seemed to be molded to his muscular frame. He looked as if he’d been born to wear the Hawaiian shirt he had on, as well. The large blue hibiscus flowers adorning the cotton shirt brought out the color in his eyes. On his feet were a pair of flip-flops. The entire ensemble, along with his tanned skin, made him look like he belonged here in this Hawaiian paradise.
He was also intimidating like this. In the desert, when he was wearing his uniform, a Kevlar vest, night-vision goggles, boots, and covered in dirt like she’d been, she didn’t feel as self-conscious, for some reason. But seeing him now, all six feet, four inches of extremely handsome man, stopped her in her tracks.
He was on the move before Lexie realized that she’d stopped walking, then he was there in front of her. Without hesitation, he pulled her into a huge bear hug.
And just like that, all Lexie’s insecurities vanished.
She fit against him perfectly, just as she had back in Somalia. Sure, they were standing now, and not lying in a tiny little hole in the ground or a small twin-size hospital bed, but the feeling was the same.
“Welcome to Hawaii,” he said as he pulled back, not taking his arms from around her.
“Thanks,” she whispered.
“You look…” His voice trailed off as if he was searching for the right word.
“Tired? Rumpled? Like one of the homeless people I serve?” she asked with a scrunch of her nose. She’d dressed in comfort for the very long flights to Hawaii. The elastic-waisted cotton pants and thin long-sleeve blouse weren’t exactly the height of fashion. But they were comfortable, which was her goal.
“Fucking beautiful,” Midas said as his eyes roamed from the top of her head, all the way down her body. His hand brushed up her arm and he fingered a lock of her out-of-control brown hair. She’d done her best to tame it before she’d left Germany, but after so many hours of traveling, and sleeping in uncomfortable airplane seats, she was sure it was just as crazy looking as it had been when she’d first met him.
Lexie’s belly clenched as he simply stared at her. The look in his eyes told her all she needed to know. That he was just as glad to see her as she was him. Some of the anxiety over whether or not she was doing the right thing in coming here dissipated. If Midas was playing her, he was an absolute master. But she honestly didn’t think so. It was refreshing to know a man so open about his feelings.
Then slowly, as if waiting for her to rebuff him—which definitely wasn’t happening—Midas bent his head toward hers. Lexie went up on her tiptoes and met him halfway. Their kiss was tender and sweet, and way too short for her liking. But all the sparks she’d felt a month ago were still there.
“I got you something,” Midas said, letting go of her reluctantly and bending to pick up the paper bag at his feet. Lexie hadn’t even noticed him holding the bag earlier; she’d been too busy ogling his body.
He pulled out the most amazing-smelling lei and smiled at her. “May I?” he asked.
Lexie didn’t know why she was blushing, but she could feel the heat on her cheeks. She nodded and dipped her chin as he brought the necklace of flowers up and over her head.
The second the flowers settled over her shoulders, she was surrounded by the smell of plumeria.
She ducked her head and buried her nose in the petals, then smiled up at him. “I love it. Thank you.”
“Of course,” Midas told her, then gently pulled her hair out of the lei. The petals were chilly against her neck, but it was the feel of his fingers against her skin that made her break out in goose bumps
“Your stuff should be on carousel three,” he said, reaching for her with one hand, and her small carry-on suitcase with the other.
Lexie couldn’t stop smiling as they walked through the airport side-by-side. It was silly, but she’d never been met at the airport before. She’d always gathered her own bags and made her way to the taxi line to go to whatever accommodations Food For All had made for her. She could get used to this. Very used to it.
And that made Lexie a bit nervous. It would be beyond painful if things with her and Midas didn’t work out. She knew he would set a high bar for any future boyfriends she might have. He already had with his emails and phone calls, meeting her at the airport, the lei.
Shit, maybe this wasn’t the best idea after all.
“I know you’re probably exhausted, so I put off the guys and their big ‘welcome to Hawaii’ party they’ve planned for you.”
Lexie blinked. “What?”
“They’re excited that you’re here. Not as happy as I am, but close. So they planned a barbeque on the beach to welcome you to town. Aleck’s condo complex has a great private beach and grills we can use. And Elodie agreed to cook for us, not that it was hard to convince her. It’s gonna be this weekend instead, on Saturday afternoon. Is that okay? If not, we can reschedule. I told them you’d have to check in with your bosses here and see what your schedule is like.”
Lexie’s mind was spinning. “Um…wow. Okay.”
“What’s wrong? Is it too much? The guys can be a bit…enthusiastic sometimes. And we tend to come up with any excuse to get together during our downtime. If you don’t want to—”
“I do,” she reassured him quickly. “It’s just that I’ve never had a welcome party before.”
Midas smiled down at her. “I’m glad I can be your first.”
Shit, that sounded so dirty coming from his mouth, but Lexie merely smirked.
“Ha. Sorry. That sounded perverted,” he said as they approached the baggage carousel. He let go of her suitcase and pulled her into him again. Lexie landed against his chest with a small oof. He grinned. “I can’t believe you’re here.”
“Me either,” she said as she rested her hands on his chest.
His grin faded as he got serious. “I’m so damn thankful though. This isn’t casual for me. I know i
t’s fast, but I haven’t been able to stop thinking about you since I left that ship. I’ve loved every conversation we’ve had, and I’ve lived for your messages and emails. You’re different, Lexie. I don’t know why, but you are.”
She swallowed hard. How he knew she needed reassuring, she had no idea. But then again, maybe he didn’t, and was just as nervous as she was about this. But she appreciated him not beating around the bush and saying exactly what he was thinking. It was refreshing, and she hoped it boded well for their relationship.
“Same for me. I was nervous about what I was going to do after Somalia. Without you and the lady from Food For All, who basically held my hand as far as telling me what would happen next and helping me with the media, I’m not sure what I would’ve done.”
“You would’ve figured it out, I have no doubt,” Midas told her. “And the few interviews you did were perfect. You did an amazing job in condemning the kidnappers, while still bringing to light the plight of the less fortunate around the world. Your organization should be very proud of you.”
Lexie shrugged self-consciously. “You were there. You saw how desperately the people want to provide for their families and live a life without constantly having to worry about corruption, where their next meal is coming from or having a roof over their heads. I don’t agree with kidnapping for profit, but I understand it.”
“Well, there will be no kidnappings here in paradise,” Midas said firmly.
“Good,” Lexie said.
They stood there staring at each other for a long moment, ignoring the hubbub of people chattering around them.
“Mustang was right,” Midas said after a moment.
“About what?”
“He said if things were going to work out, they’d work out.”
Lexie scrunched her nose. “Um…that sounds like a vague saying people put inside fortune cookies.”
Midas laughed, and Lexie could only stare up at him. He was so damn good-looking, even more when he laughed. And she was in his arms. Damn, she felt like the luckiest woman in the world.
“That’s basically what I told him. But, here you are.”
She could’ve said something about how there was no guarantee things would work out between them. Relationships were hard work, and they might find out that they weren’t as compatible as they’d hoped. While she loved talking to Midas and they seemed to click, in a few months, things could be very different. But she’d never regret taking a chance and coming to Hawaii. If a relationship with Midas didn’t work out, it would gut her, but she’d be okay. She was in Hawaii, she was doing a job she loved, and she didn’t need a man to be happy, she’d already proven that.
But she couldn’t deny that having Midas by her side felt pretty damn good.
The suitcases began to appear on the conveyor belt, and Midas turned her in his arms so her back was against his chest, his hands draped around her waist. She pointed out her suitcase and he hefted it off the belt without even a grunt. Lexie was impressed; she knew firsthand how heavy that sucker was. She’d had to pay a fee in Germany because it was overweight.
She grabbed the handle of her carry-on as Midas pulled the heavy suitcase toward the exit. He once again took her hand in his and smiled down at her before heading out the door.
Lexie inhaled deeply, loving the smell of the tropical air. She couldn’t believe she was really here. In Hawaii. Yes, she’d picked this assignment because Midas lived here, but she couldn’t deny she was excited to experience everything the island of Oahu had to offer. Hiking, swimming, boogie boarding, snorkeling, sightseeing, going to a luau…she wanted to do it all.
“You look happy,” Midas remarked as they approached his vehicle.
Lexie simply stared at the Ford Mustang convertible Midas was putting her suitcase into.
“Is this yours?” she asked.
“Nope. I just decided it looked cool and wondered if your suitcase would fit in the back seat,” he said with a straight face.
Lexie turned her startled gaze to him.
He laughed. “Yes, of course it’s mine. I know it’s a little over the top, but when I first arrived here, I couldn’t imagine not having a convertible. Got a good deal on this since it’s a few years old.”
“It’s…holy shit, Midas, it’s perfect.”
His grin widened. “I take it you like it.”
“Like it? I love it!”
He took her carry-on from her and added it to the suitcase in the back. “You got something to tie your hair with? I love your hair when it’s all out of control, but I’m thinking you might not be as happy when we get to your place and you have to try to get a brush through it.”
Lexie nodded. She usually had a hair tie handy. She dug in her crossbody purse and came out with an old fashioned fabric scrunchie. She knew it was so ’80s, but she didn’t care. They worked best with her hair since it was so thick.
She quickly twisted her locks into a messy bun at the nape of her neck and wrapped the material around it. “Ready,” she declared happily.
“Come on, let me show you my island,” he said, opening the passenger door.
“Your island?” Lexie teased as she sat down. “I didn’t know you owned the whole thing.”
He chuckled as he headed around to the driver’s side. He got in and put an arm on the back of the seat behind her. “Lex?”
“Yeah?” she asked.
“I’m gonna do everything I can to make sure you don’t regret coming here.” He looked completely serious.
“I’m not going to regret it, no matter what,” she said.
“I’m so damn happy you’re here,” he said, before leaning toward her.
Once again, Lexie met him halfway. She could get used to kissing this man whenever she wanted.
This time, their kiss was long, slow, and deep. Lexie was breathing hard when Midas pulled back. He lifted his hand and ran his thumb over her bottom lip sensually, smiling at her gently before reaching for the ignition.
As they navigated the parking garage and headed toward the interstate, Lexie tried to figure out what was so different about Midas than anyone else she’d dated. Maybe it was the way he was totally keyed into her when they were together. He wasn’t looking around to see who else was nearby. He wasn’t lost in his head, thinking about something or someone else. He was focused on her, and what she was saying and doing.
It was a little intimidating, but extremely flattering at the same time.
Maybe that was because he was larger than life. Not only tall, but muscular and obviously able to deal with anyone who might want to say or do anything rude. Maybe it was because she’d known him as a teenager and they had that as a base for what they were feeling now. Maybe it was simply a matter of intense chemistry and sexual attraction.
Whatever it was that connected them, Lexie wasn’t going to question it.
She couldn’t stop smiling as they headed toward downtown Honolulu. The wind whipped around her head and face, the sun beat down on them, and even though she was tired from traveling, Lexie felt buzzed.
Together, they figured out how to get to the building where her small studio apartment was located downtown. It wasn’t anything special to look at, and the area around the building wasn’t the best part of town, but Lexie had lived in worse. Much worse. Nothing could disappoint her right now.
They checked in with the building manager and, after he’d looked at her identification and she signed some paperwork, he gave her a key to her new place. Midas came up with her to check it out. She was on the twentieth floor and luckily not too near the elevator. Lexie eagerly unlocked the door and stepped inside.
The décor was probably from the seventies, and there was a slight mildew smell in the air, but she wasn’t too concerned. The kitchen was to the immediate left when they walked in. There was a small sink, a microwave, a two-burner stove top and what looked like a tiny oven. A small refrigerator was against the wall and a bar long enough to seat two people comfortably se
parated the kitchen area from the rest of the small space. There was what looked like a double-size bed in the middle of the living area, a small dresser against the far wall, a tiny desk, and that was about it.
But Lexie didn’t care about any of that. She immediately went to the window and threw back the curtains, eager to see the view.
For a second, she just stared at what she saw. Then she chuckled. And that turned into a giggle. Then she was flat-out laughing.
“Um…wow,” Midas said as he came up next to her.
Lexie was laughing too hard to respond immediately. She looked out the window again, and instead of the ocean in the distance, or even the mountains from the interior of the island, all she saw was the building next to hers. Her room was right across from another apartment in that building.
Where an elderly man was walking around his living room in nothing but a pair of tighty-whities.
She immediately shut the curtains and turned to Midas. He was staring at her with a mixture of amusement and pity.
Lexie got herself under control and shrugged. “Well, the view isn’t what I’d hoped, but I’m still here in Hawaii,” she told him.
“Always optimistic, aren’t you?”
“How can I be anything but?” she asked seriously. “I’m healthy, I have a roof over my head, a job, and I’m in freaking Hawaii. If I want to see the beach, I can get there in minutes. And…you’re here,” she finished shyly.
“I am,” he agreed, stepping toward her.
Lexie’s heart rate increased as she stared up at Midas.
He reached for the scrunchie she’d put in her hair and gently pulled it out, being careful not to pull on her hair. Then he fluffed the curls and smiled. “Fuck, I love your hair,” he muttered before leaning down and kissing her. But instead of the long make-out session that Lexie craved, he ended the kiss all too soon.