She rang the doorbell of the Okina Inn and waited, the waves in her stomach rising with each second that passed.
Moments later, the door opened, and Pele stood before her.
The older woman looked her up and down.
“You’re still too skinny.”
Ophelia broke into a laugh, and she knew the sound must be a mixture of relief and giddiness.
“You’re still too bossy,” she shot back.
Pele pursed her lips at this sassy comeback, but then, to Ophelia’s surprise, the other woman grinned. Before either of them could speak further, Leilani ducked around her grandmother and threw herself into Ophelia’s arms.
“You made it!”
Ophelia tightened her grip on Leilani and looked at Pele over the younger girl’s shoulders.
“I did,” she confirmed.
Just then, Keahi appeared behind Pele, his round face all smiles. “Aloha, Ophelia Reid.”
“Aloha,” she greeted.
Keahi swept her into one of his bear hugs, and she felt a swell of homecoming—of belonging.
“Tutu has been cooking like crazy for you! Banana-nut pancakes with coconut syrup and pineapple wedges, huli huli chicken, taro rolls, haupia...”
“All at the same meal?” Ophelia asked in astonishment.
Leilani giggled. “Of course not! We’ll have plenty of meals together, now that you’re here to stay.”
“It all sounds delicious.”
Ophelia surveyed her new family: Pele’s sturdiness, Leilani’s bubbly nature and Keahi’s warmth. There was only one person missing.
“I can fix you a plate right now,” Leilani rushed on, but Ophelia shook her head.
“Not now. I wondered...if he’s here.”
All three of them grinned at her, like children waking on Christmas morning, knowing the best was to come.
“He’s here,” Pele assured.
“We didn’t tell him you were coming, just like we talked about,” Leilani said. “It’s our surprise.”
“He’s in the orchard,” Keahi said. “I’ll bring in your bags. Go find him.”
Ophelia felt a swell of anticipation wash over her. “Thank you. I’ll see you all later.”
When she looked back over her shoulder, all three of them were standing on the porch, watching her walk away.
* * *
DANE FELT SLIGHTLY guilty for all the time he was spending in the orchard. He had informed Keahi that he wanted to run yet another test on the pH level of the soil, just to be on the safe side, but in truth, the dirt’s acidity was perfectly balanced. Dane simply needed more time to himself these days.
Since he’d returned to Hawaii, things were both better and worse. His mornings were devoted to brainstorming and consulting calls and emails with Bianca and her team, while his afternoons on the plantation were productive and energetic. It was a perfect balance, and he felt confident that after this autumn’s harvest, the plantation would remain permanently in the black. His debt to Masters had been paid within the first few days of his arrival in New York, and while it obviously chafed at the other man, he appeared to have decided to let bygones be bygones.
Everything had turned out better than Dane could have expected with one exception.
Ophelia.
He missed her more than he wished to admit to anyone. In such a short time, she had completely changed the balance of his world. And even though he still loved Hawaii, and more than ever, it felt like home, he couldn’t help feeling that there was a small piece of paradise she had taken with her.
And he feared he would never get it back.
His thoughts were so intent on Ophelia, wondering where she was right now, whether in Paris or New York, that it didn’t surprise him at all to see her walking toward him through the coffee orchard’s lanes. He found himself staring, welcoming this mirage, until he realized...
It was really her.
He closed the distance between them in several measured strides.
“You’re here,” he whispered in disbelief.
Her smile was the most beautiful thing he could ever remember seeing.
“I’m here,” she confirmed.
“But...Paris?”
If possible, her smile grew even wider. “But you’re not in Paris.”
“Me?”
She lifted a hand and rested it against his chest. “You.” She drew a breath. “I love you.”
His heart thundered against her palm.
“Pele’s going to insist we get married, you know.”
She leaned into him, lifting her face to his. “Well, we wouldn’t want Pele to be unhappy.”
He knew then that it was true. She was staying here in paradise, with him.
“I don’t suppose your mother took the news very well.”
She lifted her arms to wrap them around his neck. “Better than you’d think. But she’s already insisting we fly to New York for the holidays. She refuses to spend Christmas in ‘the tropics,’ as she put it.”
He laughed at this. “It’s okay. We’ll bring her back a muumuu.”
“Those long dresses like Pele wears?”
“One with big orange flowers.”
Ophelia shook her head. “Have you learned nothing?”
He wrapped his arms around her waist. “I guess you have your work cut out for you.”
“More than you know. I spoke to Bianca Towers, and I already negotiated a deal for the Towers Resorts in Waikiki to exclusively serve Kona coffee from your plantation.”
He felt a swell of tenderness toward her. “You’re really all in with this, aren’t you?”
“Completely.”
“And you have no regrets...about Paris? You’re sure?”
She met his eyes and held them. “I’m sure. I don’t need to go to Paris to find out where I belong.”
He took another moment to savor the feel of her in his arms.
“You belong right here. With me.”
“I wouldn’t have it any other way. Now kiss me and remind me why it’s called paradise.”
He did exactly as she commanded.
* * * * *
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ISBN-13: 9781460323496
GENTLE PERSUASION
Copyright © 2013 by Cerella Delbaugh Sechrist
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