by Susan Stoker
“I’m gonna head out. You probably want to unpack, and I know you’re tired. I’ll call you later, if that’s all right.”
Lexie nodded eagerly. “Yes, it’s more than all right,” she told him. “I’ll check in with my new boss and see what my schedule will be like so I can let you know about Saturday.”
“Sounds good. What do you want to do first, now that you’re in Hawaii?” Midas asked.
“Eat a shave ice,” she said immediately
Midas laughed, and the sound echoed throughout the small space. “Out of everything you can do, that’s what you pick?”
“Well…yeah. I’ve heard they’re awesome.”
“They’re overrated,” Midas countered. “But if that’s what you want, that’s what we’ll do.”
“Thanks,” she said, overwhelmed with this man’s generosity.
“I’m looking forward to showing you around,” he told her. Then he leaned down, kissed her forehead sweetly, and headed for the door. Before he left, he turned and said, “First things first, we’ll go shopping for some blinds that’ll still let in some light, but won’t allow anyone to see in. Okay?”
“Okay,” Lexie agreed.
The door shut behind Midas with a small click, and Lexie realized that she was still smiling like a crazy person.
Every time she came to a new city or country, she was apprehensive about everything. This was the first time she didn’t feel that apprehension as sharply. And Lexie knew it was because of Midas.
She was looking forward to spending more time with him and seeing his friends again. She’d liked them from the little she’d spoken to them, and she couldn’t deny she was interested in meeting Elodie. It was a bit intimidating, thinking about how strong the other woman was. She’d been through some pretty harrowing stuff, and on top of everything, she was apparently a renowned chef. Lexie had barely graduated high school, and she didn’t have any skills she could boast about. But after everything she’d heard about Mustang’s wife, she hoped they might still be friends.
Lexie headed for her suitcases that had been left by the door. She should go to the grocery store she’d seen outside her apartment building, but for the moment, she needed a nap more than she wanted to eat. She’d unpack, take a shower, then a long nap. Then she could begin her life here in Hawaii.
Her phone vibrated with a text before she reached her suitcase and she pulled it out of her pocket.
Smiling, she read the text that Midas had just sent.
* * *
Midas: I’m very glad you’re here. Welcome to Hawaii.
* * *
Lexie knew she had another huge, sappy grin on her face, but she couldn’t help it. She brought the phone up to her lips to dictate a return message.
* * *
Lexie: Thanks. Me too. Thanks for picking me up at the airport.
Midas: Anytime, Lex. Anytime. Get some sleep. Talk to you soon.
* * *
Just as she was about to put her phone down on the counter, she noticed that she had an email message she’d missed earlier. It had probably come through when she was on one of her flights. It was from Magnus Brander.
She’d emailed the man a couple of times, wanting to offer her condolences. She hated that she hadn’t been able to get to Denmark for Dagmar’s funeral.
* * *
Ms. Greene,
Thank you for your correspondence. You are correct, I miss my brother fiercely. It has taken me this long to be able to answer messages. As you were one of the last people to see him, I would very much like to talk to you. To find out more about your time in the desert. I will be in touch.
Sincerely,
Magnus Brander
* * *
She was relieved Magnus had emailed her. She’d gladly talk to him about his brother. Dagmar didn’t deserve what happened to him, and it was still hard to believe he was gone.
Making a mental note to reply to the email later, Lexie put her phone on the small kitchen counter and grabbed her suitcase. It was still hard to believe she was in Hawaii, in the same city as Midas. Life was definitely looking up.
Chapter Nine
“Stop pacing, man. Jeez, you’re making me nervous,” Aleck complained.
Midas frowned at his friend. “I’m not nervous.”
“Whatever,” Aleck said with a roll of his eyes.
“Okay, fine. I’m a little nervous, but it’s just because Lexie wouldn’t let me pick her up. She said she wanted to learn the bus system, so she’d meet me here,” Midas finished.
It had been three days since Lexie had arrived in Hawaii. He’d talked to her every day, and seen her the first two. This would be the third day, and he was anxious to be with her again.
Lexie was…fun. Not like jump-up-and-down, bring-attention-to-herself fun, but Midas found that when he was with her, he smiled all the time. He loved watching her experience what Hawaii had to offer for the first time. He was also making a mental list of all the things he wanted to show her.
But today, she was coming over to Aleck’s condo complex and they were having a cookout with the rest of the team and Elodie. Lexie had told him she was excited to meet the other woman, but also nervous. He was one hundred percent sure she had nothing to worry about. Elodie was just as anxious to meet her. He had no doubt the two women would get along great.
Everyone was outside in one of the pavilions near the beach. Elodie was already hovering near the grill, making sure Mustang and Pid didn’t “mess up” the burgers. She was very particular and protective of her food, which Midas thought was hilarious. The team loved to tease her by pretending they were going to do something outrageous when they cooked, just to see if they could rile her up. It worked every time.
At one time, Midas had thought having Elodie hanging around with them would change the dynamics of the team, but that hadn’t happened. She’d become a natural addition to their group, and he could only hope the same happened with Lexie.
He wasn’t ready to pop the question or anything, but there wasn’t a doubt in Midas’s mind that he wanted a long-term relationship with Lexie. He felt comfortable around her, as if they truly had known each other for years. She made him laugh, turned him on, and he wanted to spend every free second of his time with her. The latter was the biggest clue that she was different from any other woman he’d gone out with.
He’d even told his mom about Lexie just the other night. She’d called to check in and see how he was doing, and Midas hadn’t thought twice about telling her all about the woman from high school he’d reconnected with.
He’d blabbered on for twenty minutes straight before his mom had finally burst out laughing.
“What?” Midas had asked.
“I’ve never heard you talk about someone like this before,” his mom replied.
“Like what?”
“Nonstop. As if she can do no wrong.”
It wasn’t as if Midas didn’t think Lexie had faults. He knew she did. As did he. But he wasn’t all that concerned about them. Her good qualities would far outweigh whatever negatives he might discover over the next few weeks and months.
Of course, his mom was thrilled for him and said she couldn’t wait to meet Lexie. Midas had no idea when that would happen, as his parents were in Portland and he was over here in Hawaii, but they did make the effort to come visit him every now and then. It wasn’t as if vacationing in Hawaii was a hardship. And if they could combine a trip to see their son with a romantic getaway, all the better.
His phone vibrated in his hand and Midas immediately looked at it.
* * *
Lexie: I just got off the bus. I’m headed your way.
* * *
“Lex is here,” he told his friends. “I’ll be back.”
Everyone nodded, and Midas took off at a jog. He headed through the condo lobby and exited out the front doors. To his right, he spotted Lexie, and he started in her direction.
She had her hair tied back in a low ponytail today
and wore a pair of tan shorts and a tank top with a large pineapple in the middle of it. She was smiling at him, and she literally seemed to glow.
The second he got within arm’s reach, he acted without thinking. He pulled her close and kissed her. He literally couldn’t resist.
She melted into him, holding on to the front of his shirt with both hands.
Every time he touched her, kissed her, she seemed to sink further into his heart.
“Hey,” he said after forcing himself to lift his head.
“Hi,” she returned.
“Any issues with the bus?”
“Nope. The public transportation system here is really good. Did you know I can take the bus all the way around the island?”
“Yeah, but it would take twice as long than if you let me drive you around,” he said.
Lexie smiled up at him.
“Anything new happen since I talked to you last night?”
She chuckled. “What, you think I might’ve won the lottery or something in the few hours since we last chatted?”
“I never know with you. You might’ve gone out to take a walk and ended up saving the governor’s life or something, and been invited to the mansion and now you’re BFFs with his wife.”
Lexie rolled her eyes. “Whatever. I did go down to the grocery store last night after we talked.”
Midas frowned at her. “It was late,” he stated.
“I know, but I wanted to bring something today.”
“I told you not to worry about it.”
“I know what you said, but it’s just not in me to show up with nothing. I got stuff to make some cookies.”
“Cookies?” Midas asked, looking down at the bag she was carrying.
“Yes.”
“What kind?”
She tilted her head and smiled up at him. “You like cookies?” she asked, instead of answering his question.
“Of course I like cookies,” he told her.
“I’m just asking, because it doesn’t seem to me as if you eat anything that’s bad for you,” Lexie said, patting his flat stomach.
Midas grabbed her hand and brought it up to his mouth, kissing the palm before placing it on his chest, keeping his hand on top of hers. “I eat junk food,” he said. “I just exercise a lot to work it off. Now what kind of cookies did you make?”
“If I say oatmeal raisin, are you going to be disappointed?”
“Hell no. Why would you ask that?”
“Some people hate raisins.”
“Not me. Is that what you made?”
“No. I mean, I like any kind of baked good. You already know all about my sweet tooth. But I decided to make my favorite, pumpkin spice with cinnamon cream cheese frosting.”
Midas’s mouth watered. “Can I have one?” he asked, reaching for her bag.
Lexie laughed and twisted out of his reach. “No, they’re for dessert.”
Midas pouted, making Lexie laugh even harder. “Wow, is that a pathetic look,” she told him.
“I didn’t know you could cook,” he said, turning her toward the building.
“Believe me, I’m not an expert by any means. But this recipe is super easy.”
“Well, I know they’re gonna be a hit. The guys are suckers for home-baked goods.”
“I hope they like them. I know not everyone is a fan of pumpkin spiced anything. I would’ve tried to make something Hawaiian, but I haven’t had time to research it.”
“They’ll love them,” Midas reassured her. “And you’ve been busy at work since you’ve gotten here.”
“I have. But I really do love the people I work with,” she said.
Midas listened fondly as she rambled on about the people she’d met at Food For All. The building the organization worked out of was only a couple blocks from her apartment building, and she’d spent the last two days getting the lay of the land at her new job. She’d met the other full-time men and women who worked there, some of the part-timers and volunteers, and had definitely jumped in with both feet as far as the people who came for food and assistance were concerned.
She’d told him last night about a woman who’d come by inquiring about free food for her and her husband, who were living on the streets. They usually earned enough to get food by panhandling, but they’d both been laid low by the flu recently and hadn’t had the energy to sit out in the sun, begging for spare change from tourists. So they were rundown, sick, and hungry. Lexie had packed up food for them and had walked with the woman back to where her husband was resting.
On one hand, Midas hated how often Lexie put herself in danger, but on the other, he was so damn proud of her. She saw people that most of humanity did their best to ignore. She saw them as the human beings they were and treated them with respect.
He held open the door to the condo complex and followed Lexie inside.
“Wow,” she exclaimed, looking around at the opulent interior of the building.
“Yeah, it’s a little over the top. We give Aleck shit about it all the time.”
“How in the world can he afford to live here on a military salary? Unless I’m totally confused and you guys are making a lot more than I think you are.”
Midas chuckled. “We aren’t. I can assure you of that. Aleck’s loaded. Well, his parents are. They’re in real estate, and they bought the penthouse in this place and kind of insisted Aleck live here. He’s working on paying them back for it, but they aren’t being very gracious about taking his money.”
“Oh, wow, the penthouse?” she asked.
“Yup.”
“I never would’ve guessed,” Lexie said.
“Yeah, he’s completely down-to-earth,” Midas said. “But I have to say, we sure do love coming here for our get-togethers. Wait until you see his balcony, the view is amazing.”
“Not like what I see when I open my curtains, huh?” Lexie teased.
It was Midas’s turn to wrinkle his nose. “Um. No.”
She giggled as Midas held open the door on the other end of the lobby that led out to the grassy area behind the condo complex, where the pavilions and grills were located.
As natural as breathing, Midas reached for her hand as they walked toward his team.
Slate was the first to see them. “Thank God,” he said, loud enough for everyone to hear. “Now we can eat.”
“Remember, he’s the impatient one,” Midas told Lexie as they approached.
“Wow, everyone looks so different with clothes on,” she mused.
Midas bit back a laugh.
“Oh shit, I didn’t mean it that way,” she said almost immediately. “I meant with real clothes on. You know, like shorts and T-shirts, not the uniforms they were wearing when I last saw them.”
“I knew what you meant,” Midas said, amused.
“Jeez, I’m totally gonna say something else to embarrass myself, I know it.”
“Naw,” Midas told her. “You’re good. Besides, I’m sure one of the guys will say something stupid before too long, so no worries.”
“Good to see you again!” Aleck told Lexie as they entered the pavilion.
“Yeah, you don’t look quite as much like something the cat dragged in,” Pid agreed.
Jag smacked his friend on the back of his head. “That was rude, asshole,” he said.
“Told you,” Midas murmured to Lexie. He was glad to see she was smiling and not at all offended by Jag’s sincere, if awkward, statement.
“Hey,” Slate said with a jerk of his chin.
Mustang walked over to them with a smile. “I’m thrilled that you were able to work it out to come to Oahu. When my men are happy, I’m happy. And believe me, Midas is fucking thrilled.”
“Scott, you probably shouldn’t swear when you first meet someone,” Elodie scolded.
“I’m not meeting her for the first time,” Mustang protested. “Besides, Midas is fucking thrilled. He’s been in a much better mood since she arrived.”
“Mustang,” Midas warned,
seeing the blush that crossed Lexie’s face.
“All right, sorry. I’m just saying…it’s very nice that you’re here,” he told Lexie.
“Thanks, I’m glad to be here,” Lexie said politely.
“And I’m Elodie,” Mustang’s better half said, holding her hand out. “Scott told me all about what happened to you. Okay, not all of it, because he can’t legally do that, but he told me enough. It’s crazy that we both had a run-in with Somalis.”
“Not all people from Somalia are bad,” Lexie said immediately. “I met some amazing men and women there.”
“Oh, I know, I didn’t mean to imply differently,” Elodie said with a small frown.
“It’s just that poverty is so rampant over there. Most people don’t have the opportunities that we have here in the States, or in other countries. Fathers and mothers have to feed their families, and they’ll do whatever it takes to be able to do that.”
“I understand. I do,” Elodie insisted. “Shoot, now you must think I’m a horrible person. I’m not, I swear.”
Midas saw Mustang frown and take a step closer to his wife, as if to protect her.
“No! I don’t think that at all,” Lexie said, her brow furrowing in consternation. “I’m the one who’s sorry. I tend to go on and on about things I’m passionate about and don’t take into account the connotations of what I’m saying. I don’t condone what the pirates did to your cargo ship, or the men who kidnapped me and Dagmar, not in the least.”
“Whew,” Elodie said, pretending to wipe sweat from her brow. “For a second, I thought I’d really put my foot in it.”
“No, not at all,” Lexie said.
“Good. Now, if our guard dogs will stand down, we can head over to the grill and make sure Slate isn’t squishing the hamburgers. I’ve told him a hundred times not to do that, but he literally can’t seem to help himself.”
Lexie smiled, and Midas relaxed.
Mustang stepped away from Elodie as well, and Midas let out a small whoosh of relief. Never in a million years would he have thought he’d go toe-to-toe with one of his teammates, but when it came to Lexie, he realized he absolutely would. Though, he should’ve known Lexie wouldn’t let things get to that point. She was kind from the tips of her unruly hair down to her toes. She’d do whatever it took to smooth things over, just as she’d done here.