Black Dahlia (The Dahlia Trilogy of The Gilded Flower Series Book 2)

by Winslow, Vivian

  Chapter 16

  Kai leads Dahlia away from the party to a small, non-descript door on the other side of the house. It could easily be mistaken for a coat closet, except it opens onto a narrow footpath. “This is the service entrance,” he explains. “As you know, the houses are mostly glass, but the owner built this one a bit differently.”

  “Why?”

  “For his mistress.”

  Dahlia laughs. She can’t help herself. Sneaking around the side of the house reminds her of the many times in high school when she’d slip out of their apartment through the maid’s quarters. Not that she really needed to since her parents weren’t home much. But there’s something about breaking rules and defying expectation that always gave her a bit of a rush.

  “Where are we going?” She asks.

  “You’ll see,” Kai replies, turning back at her and smiling, his high cheekbones and chiseled jaw illuminated by the Moroccan lanterns hanging from the trees.

  “Does the owner still come here with his mistress?” She asks, stumbling over rocks on the path that’s become steeper.

  Kai shakes his head. “He was some Singaporean billionaire who bought the island as a retreat for his family. Every member got his or her own house. Turns out he was sleeping with his wife’s sister. Needless to say, she caught them out here. His wife got the island in the divorce.”

  Dahlia stops cold in her tracks. The story’s an uncomfortable reminder of what she had done to Lily. While she could justify sleeping with Lily’s fiancé, Jack, to get her sister to see what a cheater he was, it was still a betrayal that broke her sister’s heart. Thankfully Lily forgave her. Dahlia shakes her head to rid herself of the memory. She laments the reckless person she’d been the past several years.

  “Are you okay?” Kai asks. “We’re almost there.”

  Dahlia smiles and nods. “Yeah, I’m fine.” She takes a deep breath, realizing they must’ve been walking for at least fifteen minutes. “You’re not bringing me out here to kill me or anything?”

  Kai laughs. “I’m not sure why you seem inclined to think the worst of me. I don’t see how I could’ve given you the impression that I’m some nefarious guy.” He holds out his hand to help her over a deep crevice.

  “I don’t need any help,” Dahlia insists, leaping over the crack. Just as she’s about to land, her right foot slips out from under her. She reaches out her hands to try to catch herself. Luckily, Kai grabs hold of her arm and reaches for the other one to pull her up.

  Dahlia lets go of his hand and smoothes out her blue silk Isabel Marant dress. Adrenalin from the near fall courses through her, making her hands shake. “If I’d known I was going to go hiking I would’ve worn better shoes,” she notes, taking off her gold Prada sandals.

  Without replying, Kai turns around and shakes his head, clearly exasperated by Dahlia’s stubbornness. He continues to lead her up the steep path until they reach a clearing. The view takes Dahlia’s breath away.

  In front of them lies a waterfall unlike anything she’s ever seen. Buried within the tropical forest, the approximately forty-foot waterfall drops into a beautiful pool. A sliver of moonlight over the water gives it an iridescent quality.

  “It’s stunning,” she whispers.

  Kai smiles. “Worth your near-death experience?”

  Dahlia laughs quietly and nods. “Totally worth it. Why did you bring me here?”

  He shrugs. “You strike me as someone who would appreciate something like this.” The sincerity in his voice stirs a longing in Dahlia. She feels her heart begin to race.

  “We should go back,” he says, a few minutes later. “The mosquitoes will eat us alive if we stay out here too long.”

  Chapter 17

  “D, don’t get up,” Lily whispers to her sister. “You were asleep by the time I came back last night. I just came to say good-bye.”

  Dahlia rolls over and rubs her eyes. “I thought your flight wasn’t until later.”

  Lily smiles. “It is later, you slacker. You’ve been sleeping in a lot.”

  “Yeah well . . .”

  “Don’t worry, D, I get it,” Lily reassures her.

  Dahlia props her head on her elbow. “Get what exactly?”

  Lily sighs. She doesn’t really want to get into this. Dahlia’s made it clear she doesn’t want to talk about Shane and life without him.

  “That you’re depressed, D. You’re grieving. If you need to sleep to cope, so be it. You don’t need me to talk to you about being productive or keeping busy or planning your future. I just want you to start embracing life again, whatever that means to you.”

  “I think it’s time you go back to New York, Lil. You’re starting to sound like Vi.” Dahlia falls back onto her pillows.

  “You asked, D.”

  Dahlia looks away in response.

  “Anyhow,” Lily says, “Take care of yourself. I’ll call you as soon as I land in New York. Hopefully you’ll come visit me in Miami when you get back to the States.” She leans in to kiss Dahlia on the cheek then closes the bedroom door softly.

  Dahlia doesn’t go back to sleep. Lily’s words are like a marble rolling around in her head. Depressed . . . grieving . . . coping. Dahlia’s never appreciated or accepted labels. She always fought to defy them somehow, perhaps because she feared that they would box her in and eventually suffocate her. She hated living in New York for this reason, which made being in California so appealing. But now, California will always remind her of Shane. And with Lily out of New York, she has nothing to tie her to the city. Will I ever find a place that feels like home? She wonders.

  The sound of Vi shouting forces Dahlia out of bed. She rushes downstairs, so focused on the expletives coming from outside that she doesn’t register the tall, half-naked muscular guy descending the stairs ahead of her. She crashes into him, catching herself on the rail while he tumbles the rest of the way.

  “Oh my God,” Dahlia screams. “I’m so sorry, I d-didn’t see you.”

  He quickly stands, looking as embarrassed as Dahlia. “No worries,” he replies.

  Her eyes linger a bit too long on his bare sculpted chest. She instantly recognizes him from the party last night.

  “Oliver, right?”

  “Ollie,” he corrects. “And you’re Dahlia.” He gives her a wide smile.

  Vi’s yelling distracts Dahlia. She spots her friend outside on her phone, pacing and smoking a cigarette. “Did you post bail?. . . Why the hell not?. . . Where in the fuck is the lawyer?”

  “Your friend always this high-strung?” Ollie asks Dahlia.

  She turns her attention back to him and shrugs. Vi’s one of the most unflappable people she knows. But what she’s hearing doesn’t sound like the same woman who’s been lecturing her about finding internal peace.

  “This is your goddamn mess!” Dahlia overhears.

  “You didn’t stay long,” Ollie says, leaning forward and closing the distance between them.

  “I came home early. Didn’t feel like hanging out,” she replies casually. Dahlia steps backward to get a bit of breathing room.

  “Vi,” she calls out, heading toward the terrace. She glances back at Ollie, who grins at her as he puts on his t-shirt. “What’s up?”

  Vi holds up a finger as if to say, “Give me a minute,” then walks to the gazebo at the edge of the infinity pool to continue her conversation.

  Dahlia sighs. She’s never seen Vi so tense. She stands there another minute, not wanting to go back into the house. By his body language and too friendly personality, Dahlia could tell Ollie wouldn’t mind seeing if he could hook up with her as well, or maybe even go for a threesome. The thought makes Dahlia nauseous.

  “Good morning, Erica.” Dahlia jumps when she hears Kai’s almost too cheerful voice call out.

  She spins around to see Kai approaching them through the kitchen. Dahlia smiles a bit too brightly, relieved to have an excuse to get away from Ollie.

  “Ready for the beach?” He asks.

/>   Dahlia nods, playing along. She’d gladly be anywhere but here. Vi is about to combust, and Ollie seems to want to get a bit too friendly.

  “Two minutes,” she says, racing up the stairs.

  Chapter 18

  “So that’s twice you’ve helped me when I’ve been confronted by snakes,” Dahlia says as she follows Kai down to the beach.

  He looks back at her and laughs. “At least you weren’t barefoot or underdressed this time.”

  Dahlia raises an eyebrow. “Not to sound ungrateful, but why’d you show up at the house? I thought you were supposed to be a ghost or something.”

  “The housekeeper saw Ollie walking around naked and called me. Made her nervous not having a guy around. She just asked that I come around and check things out. She’s from a small village and isn’t used to women with, umm, you know, male guests.” Dahlia could only imagine her horror if the woman took care of her New York apartment.

  They continue in a comfortable silence. Eventually, Kai moves aside a large palm frond for Dahlia, and they emerge onto a small stretch of empty beach. She digs her feet into the cool white sand and closes her eyes. After a deep breath, she opens them to take in the view, captivated by the way the sun glints off the water.

  “It’s breathtaking,” she whispers. The calm, crystal blue water crawls slowly toward the shore, only to be swept out in a perfectly, unhurried fashion. It’s not the intense rush of waves of the Pacific Dahlia’s used to. “And I thought the waterfall you showed me last night was spectacular. I’ve been to a lot of islands, but I’ve never seen a beach quite like this. There’s so much beauty in this one place. I can’t believe it’s taken me this long to notice it.”

  Kai smiles, showing his two deep dimples. “On Maui, we have beautiful beaches. I’ve seen plenty of islands as well, but this is by far my favorite.”

  Dahlia nods and slowly walks toward the water, kicking off her sandals. She wades in up to her knees, the water lapping up her legs and soaking the bottom of her sundress.

  “You know you could surf out here. In the afternoons, the waves break about thirty feet out. They’re not huge, but you can have some fun.”

  “Why would I want to do that?” Dahlia asks bitterly.

  Kai crosses his arms across his broad chest and shrugs. “Why not? Your own private beach. What could be better?”

  Dahlia turns around and fishes her sandals out of the sand.

  “Like I told you, it was a lifetime ago.”

  “Just something the Old Woman said, that’s all,” he replies innocently. But Dahlia recognizes something in his deep brown eyes. Pain? Pity? No, but it’s eager and intense.

  “What did she say?”

  Before Kai can respond, Dahlia hears Vi call her name.

  “There you are,” Vi says, out of breath.

  “Yeah, I’m here,” she replies. Could her timing be any worse?

  Vi stops when she sees Kai and Dahlia standing two feet apart. “Darling, I’m headed back to New York. Something’s come up. You want to come back with me?” Then she smiles slyly. “Or perhaps you want to stay on a bit.”

  Dahlia looks at Kai and frowns. “Tell me now. Turns out I’ve got to go.”

  “I’ll tell you tomorrow. But you’ll have to surf with me first.”

  “But . . .”

  “Guess you have to decide what you want.” Kai rubs his finger along his smooth chin.

  Dahlia shakes her head, exasperated, and begins walking back to the house, Vi on her heels.

  Chapter 19

  Vi throws her suitcase on her bed and unzips it. Dahlia leans against the doorframe and watches as she begins to haphazardly fill it with her dresses and swimsuits. When she finishes tearing through her closet, Vi sits on the edge of her bed and lights a cigarette.

  “I can count on one hand the number of times I’ve seen you smoke.” Dahlia walks around the bed and sits down in a white, leather Eames chair in the corner. “What gives?”

  Vi shakes her head. “Not right now, D.”

  “Come off it, Vi. I’ve had to endure endless lectures and clichés about finding my happiness, my peace, and dealing with grief from you and Lily for weeks now, and you take issue with my commentary about you smoking?”

  Vi takes a long drag. “It’s not the same.” She stands and walks out onto the balcony.

  “So you’re not going to tell me?”

  “Nope.” Vi raises the cigarette to her lips.

  Dahlia sighs. “Fine, then I’m staying here. I can’t follow you to New York. Clearly, you’re going to be shitty company, and God knows with the way you’re acting, you’ll fall off the radar. Besides, I don’t want to go back to my old life right now.”

  Vi stubs her cigarette out on the balcony and smiles at Dahlia. “That’s the smartest thing I’ve heard from you in weeks.”

  “You’re such a bitch sometimes.”

  “I’d say it’s one of my more positive qualities,” Vi says sarcastically. She walks back to her suitcase and pulls out a deep purple bikini. “Shame I didn’t get to wear this.” Then, peeling off her dress she says, “Let’s go to the beach after lunch. I want one more swim before I have to go face the sharks.”

  Dahlia opens her mouth to reply but quickly closes it, knowing the subject is off limits. Vi has her secrets—always has. She heads to her room, frustrated and resigned.

  Chapter 20

  “Isn’t that your friend Kai?” Vi points out in the distance.

  Dahlia brings her hand to her forehead, shielding her eyes from the sun. “Sure looks like it,” she replies casually, although deep down she’s feeling anything but calm. Butterflies fill her stomach when she considers the offer he made. Stay and he’ll reveal what the healer said. Then what? Will he think I’m staying for him? Am I staying for him? Where would I go if I leave? She wonders to herself.

  Dahlia sits down on the sand and buries her face in her hands.

  As if anticipating her question, Vi places a gentle hand on Dahlia’s back. “No, you don’t have to have it all figured out right now,” she says quietly. “You have the luxury of time, D. Just trust that you’re where you’re meant to be in the moment. Tomorrow doesn’t matter.”

  “So easy for you to say.” Dahlia watches Kai paddle out to a wave.

  “No, it’s not. Trust me. I’d give anything to not be in the mess I’m in.”

  Dahlia eyes her warily.

  “Nope. Still not going to tell you.” Vi shakes her head. “Kai seems like a nice guy,” she says, deliberately changing the subject, “And pretty damn hot. Just look at those abs, D.” Vi pauses and points. They watch as he takes a flawless bottom turn into a perfect roundhouse cutback.

  “I have no idea what he’s doing, but it’s impressive.”

  Dahlia nods. “He clearly has some moves.”

  “You’re not the least bit interested?”

  “Should I be?” Dahlia tries to sound nonchalant. Deep down a part of her is most certainly interested. His reserve, the self-possessed way he carries himself endows him with some mystery, which Dahlia finds undeniably sexy.

  “You don’t need to bullshit me, D. I have a sense about these things, you know that.”

  Dahlia leans back on her hands. “I’m intrigued for sure. But I’m not ready for a relationship, Vi. God knows how long it will be before I can open myself to someone.”

  “Of course. Kai isn’t a forever guy. But he can certainly be for now. Especially when you look at those lips. Consider him a gift from the universe. Someone who can help you open your heart, at least a little. Happily ever after’s aren’t guaranteed. Sometimes you have to take the happily for now.”

  “Okay, wise madam,” Dahlia puts her hands together and bows jokingly at Vi.

  Vi laughs, standing up and heading toward the water. She continues until the water reaches above her waist. “It’s glorious in here. Paint this for me. I want to remember this place.”

  Dahlia dives into the waves and joins her friend. “There’
s probably a reason he’s a surfer,” Vi says, when Dahlia surfaces. “You can’t resist or put walls up to block your fears, or the things you fear most will keep coming at you. Just embrace what comes your way.”

  “Says you—the woman with impenetrable walls.”

  “Yeah, and they’re closing in on me. Trust me, D.”

  Dahlia looks back at Kai who’s sitting up on his board, staring out into the horizon. Is he looking for something too? She wonders.

  Chapter 21

  For the first time since arriving on the island, Dahlia doesn’t sleep late. Instead, she’s up with the dawn, anxious to see Kai and unlock whatever vision the Old Woman had of her. But more than that, finding herself alone in a beautiful setting stirs something inside Dahlia. She’s finally able to breathe again. No well-intentioned friend and no sister suffocating her with their concerns. She smiles as she welcomes the sunrise, recognizing the glimmer of joy she’s feeling for the first time in a long time. Pure freedom.

  “So you decided to stay,” a voice interrupts her thoughts. Dahlia looks up from her sketchpad.

  She nods and returns to finish a drawing of Vi in the water.

  “You’re quite talented,” Kai observes.

  “Thanks,” Dahlia murmurs.

  He sits quietly and watches as she works.

  A few minutes later, she sets down the pad and pencil. “Ready?” She asks with more enthusiasm than she’s feeling.

  “Look, if you don’t want to do this . . .” Kai says.

  “We made a deal. I’m ready to fulfill my end and surf with you.”

  “Cool,” Kai says, taking off his shirt.

  Up close, Dahlia can see every well-defined muscle of his chest and abs. She swallows and looks out at the waves, trying to contain the fire that’s beginning to grow inside her.

  She fastens the leash to her right ankle. “This better be worth it,” Dahlia says, following him into the water.

  Kai smiles back. “It always is.”

  “You’re not tired yet?” Kai calls out.