Pleasure in Hawaii (Kimani Romance)

by Archer, Devon Vaughn

  “I guess…” Sloane sighed. “I’m not sure where we’re headed, if anywhere. He’s divorced and not interested in marriage. I’m single and open to—”

  “Whoa—” Kendra’s eyes widened. “You’ve already got marriage on your mind?”

  “I didn’t say that.”

  “But you aren’t denying it?”

  “All I’m saying is that I’m keeping my options open,” Sloane said. “What will be, will be, whether it’s a long relationship or…whatever.”

  “But what if you two aren’t on the same page?” Kendra asked curiously.

  Sloane paused. How would she handle that? If she decided she wanted more than an out-of-this-world sexual relationship, would Gene come around to her way of thinking? Or was his position set in stone regarding tying the knot again someday? Sloane imagined the whole issue was probably all for naught since she was still holding true to her own plan of succeeding in her career and not allowing something such as marriage to detract from it. Or had her resolve begun to weaken, whether she cared to admit it or not?

  “Then I suppose I might need to find a new book,” she remarked, though doubting it would come to that anytime soon.

  Kendra grinned crookedly. “In that case, good thing there are lots of great reads out there in the form of eligible, gorgeous men.”

  Sloane could barely conceive that anyone could captivate her the way Gene had. She only hoped it wasn’t the recipe to set her up for a fall.

  Sloane’s cell phone rang. She took it out of her purse and saw that it was Gene calling. Should she answer it?

  “Don’t mind me,” Kendra told her. “While you’re passing sweet words to your man, I’ll text Edy. He loves it when I tell him how hot he is.”

  “Okay.” Sloane clicked on the phone. “Hi.”

  “Hey,” he said. “Busy?”

  “Not right now.” She took a sip of tea, happy to hear his sexy voice.

  “My buddy, Walter, from Detroit and his wife, Talia, are flying in this weekend for their anniversary.”

  “How nice,” Sloane said thoughtfully. “I take it they’ll be staying at your B&B?”

  “Yeah.” Gene paused. “If you don’t mind, I was thinking that it would be nice if you spent some time with Talia, maybe show her around a bit.”

  “I’d be happy to do that.”

  “Thanks. I’m sure they will be googoo-gagaing each other most of the time, but that might grow old, and I just want them to have a good time.”

  “Does anyone ever not have a good time when visiting Maui?” questioned Sloane. She wondered if he had always been so cynical about romance between a husband and wife. Or had his perception changed after his divorce?

  “Probably not,” Gene allowed. “I guess I thought this would be a great opportunity for my best friend’s wife to hang out with my girlfriend.”

  Sloane’s brow rose when she heard him describe her as his girlfriend. “So I’m your girlfriend now?”

  He chuckled with embarrassment. “Do you have a problem with that?”

  Sloane glanced at Kendra, who seemed to be hanging on every word. “Not if you don’t.”

  “I don’t,” Gene said. “In fact, I like the sound of it.”

  So did she. At least it gave them a foundation to build on. “I’ll try to think of something special to do with Talia,” she told him. “Do you know what kinds of things she enjoys?”

  “She’s a runner,” Gene mentioned. “Talia would probably find it a big thrill to run alongside the ocean. Just be sure to stay away from those sneaker waves,” he added with a laugh.

  “I’m sure we will.” Sloane forced a smile, though she wished someone had given her the same advice beforehand. “Anything else?”

  “Talia loves to shop. Walter tells me she’s never entered a store she didn’t like. No telling how much she’ll run up the charge cards while here.”

  “I know a couple of stores she’d probably like.” Sloane thought it might be the perfect time for her to build up her own wardrobe, as she had been too busy to do much shopping for nonessential clothing to this point.

  “Sounds good,” Gene said. “You and Talia will get along great. You’ll definitely leave an impression on her.”

  “Hope you haven’t gotten too carried away in your praise,” Sloane told him and saw Kendra suppressing a giggle. “I’m not sure I want to be put on a pedestal.” Certainly not by trying to impress his friends.

  Gene laughed easily. “Don’t worry, I managed to contain my enthusiasm where you’re concerned. Walter and Talia are very down-to-earth people. They’re also close friends and always like to know how I’m doing, who I’m seeing, what she’s like—all that stuff.”

  “I see.” Sloane thought about her friend Gail, in whom she’d confided about Gene and who always wanted to know more. Not to mention Kendra, who had finished her text and was seemingly itching for Sloane to hang up and fill her in on the details. “I’m looking forward to meeting your friends.” Maybe they could even give her a few tidbits about the man that he had chosen not to provide.

  “I can assure you the feeling is mutual.” His voice dropped a charming octave, causing Sloane to react. “I’ll let you get back to what you were doing.”

  “All right,” she agreed, even if she would have loved to talk longer and more about their relationship.

  “Talk to you later,” he said and made a kissing sound that managed to reach through the phone and warm Sloane’s soul.

  Gene was a trifle nervous as he watched through the window for the rental car to pull into the driveway. It wasn’t every day that someone from his hometown visited. In fact, he could probably count on one hand those who had and stayed at the bed-and-breakfast, and that didn’t include Walter and Talia Griffin. Till now.

  He wished Sloane were there with him to greet them, but understood that she was busy working. At least she was willing to get together with them and show Talia around. Gene was glad they seemed to have gotten past a small bump in the road and were moving to a new level of dating. He had referred to Sloane for the first time as his girlfriend, a term that he hadn’t used since before his marriage. He liked the sound of that where it concerned Sloane and was sure she felt the same with him as her boyfriend. Where they went from there was anyone’s guess. The one thing Gene knew for sure was he wanted Sloane to be a part of his life, be it as a steady romantic mate and best friend or possibly more down the line.

  Gene was all smiles when the red Nissan Sentra drove up to the bed-and-breakfast. He stepped outside to welcome his hometown guests.

  “If it isn’t Mr. Bed-and-Breakfast himself,” said Walter Griffin, grinning. “What’s up, man?”

  “Aloha,” Gene offered the taller, wider man, giving him a big hug. He stepped back and studied his friend. “Do I detect a little gray in that closely cropped black hair?”

  Walter squared his shoulders. “Maybe just a little. What can I say? That’s what being a hotshot law professor does to you.”

  Gene laughed, running a hand over his shaved head. “The same might be true for a bed-and-breakfast owner if he had any hair.” Smiling, he turned to Talia. She was small-boned and attractive with bold brown eyes, and her black hair was done up in a corkscrew-braid interlock. “Hey, Tal.”

  She grinned broadly. “Aloha, Gene.”

  “Aloha.” He gave her a hug. “Good to see you again.”

  “You, too.”

  “How was the flight?” Gene asked her.

  “Bumpy at times, smooth at others, and very long,” she responded. “But the important thing is we made it here in one piece.”

  “There you have it,” Gene agreed, and gave Walter a pat on the shoulder.

  “Your house is huge,” Talia proclaimed. “The brochure and pics you sent don’t do it justice.”

  Gene grinned. “Let’s go inside and I’ll show you around.”

  “Sounds like a plan,” Walter said. “And I can’t wait to meet this lovely lady you’ve been going on a
bout.”

  “She feels the same way,” Gene said, knowing they would have to wait a little while longer to meet.

  Sloane decided to take the afternoon off to hang out with Gene and his friends. She was sure it would mean a lot to Gene, and this would give her the opportunity to spend more time around him while in the company of people he cared about aside from his guests. She wasn’t certain what to bring to his house, figuring that Gene likely had everything they would need as far as food and drink. In the end, Sloane settled on some gourmet chocolates and Maui Blanc pineapple wine.

  She parked behind another car in the driveway of Malloy’s Bed and Breakfast. After checking her hair, which was hanging loose as Gene had said he liked, and the little makeup she wore, Sloane emerged from the car. She still had on her work clothes of a gray ruffle-collar skirt suit and matching open-toe pumps. Hope I’m not overdressed.

  She entered the house, hearing chatter and laughter. An older couple approached her wearing colorful matching Hawaiian shirts.

  “Aloha,” the man said. “I’m Roger Deeds and this is my wife Bonnie.”

  “Aloha,” Sloane said to them with a smile. “I’m Sloane.”

  “Are you looking for Gene?” Bonnie asked.

  “Yes.”

  “He’s on the lanai out back with his friends.”

  “Thanks,” Sloane said, and watched them go out the front door. She sucked in a deep breath and made her way through the house to the lanai, where she saw Gene and two people seated around a bistro table. “Aloha, everyone.”

  Gene beamed, immediately getting to his feet. “Sloane! I wasn’t expecting you this early.”

  “I’m full of surprises,” she said, trying to maintain her poise. “I wanted to come as soon as I could to meet your friends, so I came here right from work.”

  He gave her a quick peck on the lips. “I appreciate that,” he said with a twinkle in his eye.

  “I brought these,” she said, handing him the chocolates and wine.

  “Good choices, thanks.” Then came the introductions as his guests stood. “This is my best friend, Walter Griffin, and his wife, Talia,” said Gene. “Sloane Hepburn.”

  “Nice to meet you both.” Sloane gave each of them a little hug as if they were old friends. Seemed like a nice way to break the ice, especially in Hawaii, where everyone was big on hugs over handshakes.

  “Same here,” Walter said, grinning. “Been hearing a lot about you.”

  “Oh…” Sloane glanced at Gene, realizing he had failed to ever bring up his friends until he told her they would be there in two days. She could only imagine what he had told Walter about her…them.

  “All good, I promise.” Gene chuckled unevenly as though reading her mind.

  “He’s telling you the truth.” Walter backed him up. “Gene clearly thinks the world of you. Just as I do my baby.” He gave Talia a nice kiss as if to prove his point.

  “I think highly of him, too,” Sloane said sweetly.

  Talia brushed her hair away from her face. “I hear you’re from Raleigh?”

  Sloane met her eyes. “Yes.”

  “A girlfriend of mind teaches at North Carolina State University.”

  “Great school,” Sloane said, and then proudly mentioned the University of North Carolina, where she attended college. She learned that Talia got her degree from the University of Michigan and Walter received a law degree from the University of Detroit Law School.

  “Why don’t I pop open this bottle of wine so we can all enjoy it?” Gene suggested.

  “Good idea.” Walter grinned. “I wouldn’t mind sampling those chocolates, either.”

  Gene handed him the box. “Help yourself.” He gazed at Sloane. “Do you want to get the wineglasses?”

  “Sure, I’d be glad too,” she said.

  “Be right back,” he told his friends. “Make yourselves right at home, as my place is yours for the next week.”

  Sloane followed him into the kitchen. “Since when did you need help with wineglasses?” she asked, batting her eyelashes.

  Gene gave her a devilish smile. “Since the moment you stepped onto the lanai.” He tucked his arms around Sloane’s waist and pulled her closer. “The truth is I was just looking for an excuse to do this in private…” He bent his head down and kissed her liberally on the mouth.

  Sloane kissed him back and found herself lost in the depths as their mouths joined, arousing her. She used all of her willpower to unlock their lips and slow down her heart rate. “Very enjoyable, but we shouldn’t neglect your friends, who came all the way to Maui to see you.”

  “Not exactly.” Gene wiped his mouth. “They’re celebrating an anniversary and came to paradise for that. I just happen to have reasonably priced accommodations for their stay.”

  “They could have stayed at the Island Shores,” Sloane pointed out. “I could’ve given them a great rate.”

  “You would have done that?”

  “Of course. They’re your friends, so naturally they would have gotten favorable treatment from me and the entire staff.”

  Gene grinned. “Better not tell them that,” he kidded quietly. “Otherwise they might still be willing to jump ship.”

  Sloane chuckled. “I doubt that. I’m sure you will treat them like royalty, and they won’t wish to be anywhere else.”

  “I know I don’t wish to be anywhere else, so long as you’re here,” Gene said.

  “Is that so?” He always seemed to find the right words to tug at her heart.

  “Yeah, it is. So don’t even think about moving to Oahu or some other island in the sun if another opportunity comes your way.”

  “And if I did, would you come after me?” she challenged him, knowing they were still getting used to being an official couple. Maybe this was where he drew the line.

  Gene smiled crookedly. “I think I’d follow you to the end of the earth and back, if I had to. You mean that much to me.”

  Hearing Gene’s words made Sloane feel even closer to him and made her believe that all things were possible within their relationship. But she wouldn’t push it.

  “In that case, good thing I am here to stay,” she told him. “Wouldn’t want you trekking across the planet and leaving your guests minus a host. Speaking of which, we’d better get back to Walter and Talia.”

  “I suppose you’re right,” he groaned.

  “Now where are those glasses?”

  “In that cabinet up there.” He looked over her shoulder.

  Sloane got the wineglasses and hoped to familiarize herself more with the surroundings, perhaps as a prelude to spending more time there in the future.

  She cast her eyes at Gene affectionately. “Now let’s show your friends from Detroit how to have a great time in Maui.”

  “I like the way you think,” he said, grinning. “But then I like everything about you.”

  “Save that thought till later,” she told him, anticipating the prospect of making love tonight just as she knew he was.

  Chapter 9

  The next day, Sloane took Talia shopping after Gene fixed a scrumptious breakfast. They went to some of the hottest boutiques and stores on the south side of the island that Sloane had wanted to check out. She came away with several business outfits, some running attire, and sexy lingerie that she was certain would turn Gene on. Talia was just as intent on spending money to make herself look great and impress her husband.

  “We’re going to be the hottest ladies in Maui,” declared Talia as they left a shopping center with bags in hand.

  “That we are,” Sloane agreed. “Not to say we don’t already fit the part.”

  Talia laughed. “Like two pieces of a beautiful puzzle in a beautiful place.”

  “Exactly.” Sloane chuckled, feeling uplifted being with her.

  Afterward, they went sightseeing, checking out some of Maui’s attractions such as Front Street in Lahaina, Makena Beach, and Iao Valley State Park before finishing with a stroll along Wailea Beach Walk.


  “I can’t believe you get to see all this every day of the year,” Talia uttered, glancing at the ocean. “Must be nice.”

  “It is pretty cool,” Sloane admitted, feeling at times as if she were in dreamland. “I haven’t really gotten used to it yet.”

  “I doubt that I ever would.”

  “Maybe you guys should think about relocating,” Sloane suggested. “There’s always room for two more new residents in Maui.”

  “I wish,” Talia said, her lashes fluttering with disappointment. “But Walter’s tenure at the university and my job seniority make it hard to start over. I just don’t see it happening. But that doesn’t mean we can’t come here more often now that we’ve taken the first big step.”

  “You should,” Sloane said in a friendly voice. “There’s plenty to see and do.”

  “I believe you, and I’m definitely envious.” Talia looked at her. “So how did you and Gene meet?”

  Sloane was surprised that he hadn’t told the tale of his heroism. Obviously he’d downplayed the entire thing, which she commended him for, though it had seemed like a matter of life and death when the wave took her feet out from under.

  “Wow, that’s amazing and romantic at the same time,” Talia said. “Especially with the beach and ocean as part of the equation, along with being in Maui.”

  Sloane laughed. “I guess so, when you put it that way. When I took a spill, I was just hoping I wasn’t washed out into the ocean. Then Gene came along and made sure that didn’t happen.”

  “And from that, a romance in paradise was made.” Talia grinned.

  “Well, let’s just say it was the start of something,” Sloane told her.

  “It wasn’t quite like that between me and Walter. We met at a film festival in Detroit. We both love movies and wanted to help support up-and-coming local filmmakers.”

  “How nice.” Sloane slowed down, realizing she had slipped above the speed limit. Last thing she needed was a speeding ticket. “I didn’t realize the film industry was a big thing in Detroit.”

  “It’s not, but they’re trying,” Talia said. “Anyway, Walter and I hit it off, and a year and a half later we were married.”