Once a Hero...

by Jillian Burns

  “I’m not gaga. I just thought he was…intriguing. Leaving like that before he could be thanked.”

  Amy shrugged. “Maybe he was afraid of a lawsuit. You know what they say. No good deed goes unpunished.”

  “Wow. Cynical much?” Kristen worried about her friend’s hard-edged attitude toward life. “What are you getting all fixed up for?”

  Turning back to the mirror, Amy ran the brush through her long red curls. Kristen’s self-esteem took a hit every time she compared her own straight ordinary hair to those luscious red curls.

  “Didn’t you say Kekoa mentioned he might drop by sometime?” Amy dropped the question so offhandedly that Kristen knew it wasn’t a casual inquiry.

  “The guy who drives the boat I use? He might have mentioned he liked that Sneaky Tiki you made him last time he came in to bring me his new brochures. But we have to be at the dive site by seven to beat all the tour boats. I doubt he’ll show up now.”

  Amy visibly deflated, her mouth turned down. “Oh.” She dropped her brush back into her purse.

  “You like him!” Kristen shoved Amy’s shoulder with her own.

  Amy spun to face Kristen. “What’s not to like with that smooth, dark skin and those intelligent black eyes? And his broad chest and shoulders look like he could row a girl all the way to the Big Island if he had to. Don’t you think he’s the sexiest guy you ever met? You gotta invite me on a dive, Kris.”

  Kristen winced, hating to turn her friend down. “You know I’d love to, but, Kekoa isn’t just my boat driver, he’s my dive partner, too.”

  “Please?” Amy begged. “I promise not to distract him. I’ve been dying to see where you dive, anyway. And, hey, maybe you could invite Captain Mysterious along. I’ll bring my famous triple-berry muffins.”

  “Okay, okay.” Kristen chuckled, holding her hands up in surrender. “I’ll ask Kekoa. Maybe we could set something up for next week sometime.”

  Amy hugged Kristen. “Thanks, girlfriend. All I want is a chance.”

  “You might need more than that. Kekoa’s not easy to get to know.”

  “We’ll see.” Amy’s gaze slipped away and her expression softened. “He’s got a lot of passion lurking beneath the surface. I can tell.”

  “Kekoa?” Kristen didn’t see it, but…whatever. “If you say so. I’m off tomorrow, so I’ll text you if it’s Monday,” she said as she left the restroom, waved to her boss and headed for her bike.

  It was barely a third of a mile from the Tradewinds to her condo on South Kihei Road and she was at her building before she’d even thought about what she might say if she saw the stranger again. But then again, what kind of conversation could she have yelling up at him on his balcony?

  Wanting to soak her aching feet in the warm water before heading inside, she braked at the bike rack, swung her leg over the bike, took off her helmet and attached it to a handlebar.

  After going knee-deep in the surf and wiggling her toes into the soft sand, she headed back up to her bike. A dog barking to her right made her catch her breath and jump. Her gaze shot to a tan shepherd mix running toward her and the tall shadow following the dog.

  Her heart pumped stronger for one beat before she recognized it was him. Captain Mysterious.

  The dog reached her side and she hunkered down to let him smell her hand. He nuzzled into her chest and almost knocked her over. Catching herself with her hands behind her, she laughed as the dog tried to lick her face.

  “Hey, mutt.” The dark stranger grabbed the dog and held him away so she could get to her feet. “Sorry about that.”

  Kristen stood, wiping her hands on her shorts. “No worries. He’s sweet.” She smiled and looked the man in the eyes. She had to lift her gaze way up. Her five-foot-two height seemed even more petite against his six-foot frame.

  He dropped his gaze and wrestled the dog into sitting. “He’s not mine.”

  She hesitated. “Oh.” She stood there a second as he looked anywhere but at her. Was that a signal for go away? Or was he just shy? Is that why he’d ducked back inside his condo last night? Finally, she stuck out her right hand. “I’m Kristen Turner.”

  He cleared his throat and finally met her gaze. Kristen’s pulse fluttered. His eyes. Their deep brown color seemed to bear all the emotions his face refused to acknowledge. Despair. Dismissal. And hope. The despair drew her. The dismissal challenged her. And the hope cinched the deal.

  “Luke Andrews.” He let go of the dog, who he’d been gently petting, and slid his hand into hers. Heat. Energy. Smooth skin. Long, slim fingers. She held on, not wanting to let whatever was passing between their hands go just yet.

  He pulled his hand away.

  Did he remember her from the other night? Was that why he was acting so on edge? Only one way to find out.

  “I just got off work. I’m a cocktail waitress at the Tradewinds down the road. I…saw you save that man the other night.”

  He glanced up at her with apprehension lining his forehead.

  “Don’t worry. I’m not going to give away your secret identity.”

  He tilted his head, looking confused.

  She waved a hand. “You know, the whole save a life and then disappear thing?”

  “Oh.” He stuck his hands in his back pockets and dropped his gaze to the grass, studying it intently.

  “Anyway, if you come back sometime, my manager would love to comp you a meal. We have great chicken wings.” She smiled. “And they’re usually safe to eat.”

  One dark brow rose at that, but at least he wasn’t staring at the grass anymore. “Maybe I’ll try it sometime.”

  “So, you work nights, too?”

  She thought she heard a grunt as he spun at the waist to locate his dog, who’d trotted down to the beach and was sniffing at something in the sand. “You might say that. But I’m on vacation right now.”

  “Oh.” She nodded and the nodding turned into a slow head bobbing. Her gaze moved out to the ocean. Was he trying to be mysterious? Or was he trying to get her to leave him alone? “Well, I guess I should leave you to—”

  “I’ve only been here a few days, so… Can you recommend any sights I shouldn’t miss?”

  “Well, there’s the Maui Ocean Center.”

  He nodded. “Okay.”

  “And Mount Haleakala. It’s over ten thousand feet.”

  “Sounds ambitious.”

  She grinned. “And, of course, the humpbacks.”

  “Excuse me?”

  “The whales. You’re lucky to be here in February. Their favorite breeding ground is just off the coast of Maui this time of year.”

  “Really?”

  “Yeah, there’re several cruises that take tourists out to see them.”

  “Humpbacks.”

  “Of course, you’d have to put on your thick glasses and slump your shoulders for that.” She grinned.

  His brows drew together and he blinked.

  Her smile slowly faded. “You know, the superhero? When he wore his glasses he was the unassuming…”

  He squinted at her. “Are you comparing me to a superhero?”

  She rolled her eyes. “Like, duh! You’re Captain Mysterious. Able to perform the Heimlich and CPR all in a single bound!”

  “Oh, no.” Shaking his head, he rubbed his forehead. “You have a moniker for me?”

  Wishing she’d kept her mouth shut now, Kristen nodded. “Well, it wasn’t me. Everyone in the bar—”

  “The whole bar was talking about me?” His eyes were wide. This wasn’t going the way she’d planned.

  Maybe she should rethink her idea. Even if he were interested in her, she only had a few weeks before she had to return to San Diego and resume her real life.

  But in the two months she’d been here she hadn’t met any other guy she’d felt so drawn to. There was something about him. Something dark she recognized from her worst days in the hospital.

  And she’d promised herself at her last doctor’s appointment that, from t
hat moment on, she’d live life to the fullest. And that meant sometimes taking risks.

  So, maybe he’d tell her to get lost. After what she’d lived through? She could handle a little rejection.

  Decided, she drew a deep breath. “You know…just a bit farther from Tradewinds is a great seafood place I’ve been wanting to try. But I hate going to a restaurant alone, don’t you? If you like seafood, maybe we could go together sometime.”

  The crashing of the waves seemed louder in the long silence. Then he switched his gaze out to sea. “Uh, I’m not really good company right now.”

  Ouch. The fact that his answer stung a bit told her she really hadn’t been prepared for rejection. Seems her glass-half-full attitude needed a reality check. “Okay.” She nodded and waved a hand, took a step back, and then another, her sneakers sinking into the sand. “No worries.”

  She spun on her heels and jogged up to the street, yanked her bike from the rack and wheeled it across Kihei Road and into the foyer of the condominium building. Her cheeks were on fire, half embarrassed, half mad that she’d made a fool of herself. Boy, had she misread the signals.

  Digging in her backpack, she pulled out her mailbox key, mumbling to herself, wanting to smack her forehead. “What an idiot. You just had to go up to a complete stranger, didn’t you?” She inserted her key, yanked open the door and pulled out her mail. “Why do I do this to myself? I never learn—”

  “Kristen?”

  She jumped and gave a tiny shriek as she swiveled to face the voice. “Luke!” She pressed a hand to her chest and gulped. “Geez, you scared me.”

  “Sorry about that.” He winced and reached up a hand to rub the back of his neck. Her gaze was drawn to his bicep, which was clearly familiar with a set of weights.

  Then he lowered his arm and she took in the rest of him in the bright light of the lobby.

  Except for his broad shoulders, he was fairly slim. Did he scuba dive? He had the perfect swimmer’s body. His taut abs showed beneath his tight T-shirt and so did what looked like a set of dog tags on a long chain. Military?

  “Listen, can we start over?” His voice was smooth and yet rough. Not terribly deep, but not too high either. And she picked up a trace of a Southern drawl in his accent. Possibly Texan.

  It was her turn to blink at him. “Uh, sure.”

  A tiny smile curved the edges of his mouth. “Seafood sounds good. Tomorrow? Around seven? Meet you here?”

  She smiled and nodded, feeling euphoric, as if she’d already won the Geographic Universe photography contest. “As it happens, I’m off tomorrow, uh, you mean later today, right? Seven’s good. How about we meet at the picnic table?”

  He shook his head, then stopped and nodded with a small smile. “Uh, yes, today, this evening.” He stared into her eyes and his jaw shifted to the left just a fraction.

  Mesmerized, Kristen could’ve stood there forever noting every nuance of his face, absorbing him. But he bent down and picked up her keys, offering them to her. “You dropped these.”

  “Oh.” She hadn’t even noticed. “Thank you.” She took them from his outstretched palm and the same energy tingled her fingers as before. Maybe he felt it, too, because he glanced down at his hand and then back up at her, his dark eyes questioning.

  “Looking forward to tomorrow, Luke.” She dropped the keys into her pocket. “Good night.”

  He gave her a smile that was more of a grimace and waved a hand. “Good night.”

  She turned for the elevator, but peeked back in time to catch him checking her out. She smiled all the way to her condo.

  2

  LUKE CHECKED HIS WATCH again as he sat at the picnic table, elbows on knees, tapping his foot. Seven-twenty. Something told him Kristen had never been in the military. She’d have been court-martialed.

  Damn it. He’d shaved for this. He’d even bought a new shirt. But it was probably a bad idea to begin with. He was only going to be here a couple more weeks.

  Five minutes. Then he was out of here.

  The beach was fairly crowded this time of day. He watched swimmers and snorkelers in the ocean. A dozen or so young adults clad in bikinis and cutoffs engaged in a loud game of beach volleyball. And a few families with small kids played in the surf.

  All these people with normal lives. Happy lives. He remembered days like that when he was a kid. Before his dad died. He wanted normal. Happy.

  Ten minutes later he stood, a hollow feeling in his stomach, and headed down the sidewalk, not really thinking about where he was going. Just…away from here.

  “Luke!”

  He heard his name and glanced behind him to find Kristen racing across the street. She looked…worth waiting for. A pretty little dress that hugged her trim figure and then flared out all flirty at the bottom. High heels that made her legs look a mile long. And she’d curled her straight hair.

  His cock stirred behind his zipper. Until that moment he hadn’t realized how dead that part of him had been, for a long time now. He swallowed, his throat suddenly dry as she caught up to him.

  “I’m so sorry I kept you waiting.” Her delicate brows furrowed and she bit her bottom lip. “If I’d had your cell number, I would’ve called.”

  “It’s fine.” A ripe-berry scent came to him on the breeze from her shampoo and he hardened even more.

  “I have a totally great reason I’m late. I’ll tell you all about it at dinner.”

  He stared at her shoes. “You want to walk? Or, I’ve got a rental…”

  “We can walk.” But she didn’t move except to turn her face to the ocean. “What a spectacular sunset.”

  Luke glanced across the beach and concentrated on how the sun, surrounded by vibrant peach, pink and purple altostratus clouds, was just about to sink into the sea. It didn’t help his problem.

  “But, then, I haven’t seen one that wasn’t gorgeous since I’ve been here.” She abruptly turned and headed north. “So, have you, uh, been out on the beach at that time of night before?”

  He knew what she was fishing for. He nodded. “Once or twice.”

  “Ha! Well, I guess you were wondering about my behavior, huh?”

  He shrugged, reluctant to admit the words crazy and suicidal had crossed his mind.

  “There’s just something about the moon when it’s so big in the night sky. And especially here, it just seems huge, don’t you think?”

  Big. Huge. He closed his eyes and willed away the images those words conjured up. “I think…” He cleared his throat. “It’s the lack of anything to compare its size to, when it’s juxtaposed to a wide expanse of sea.”

  “Yes, exactly.” She smiled and touched his arm. He flinched and she frowned and removed her hand. “Anyway. I was just…enjoying life.” She lifted her arm and face to the sky as she had those nights.

  Enjoying? Oh, to be so carefree. In his world, life was more about enduring.

  “I guess that seems silly.”

  He glanced at her. Her voice had gone all quiet, and she was staring at her clutch purse as she picked at one of the seashell details covering it.

  “No.” He put his hand over hers. “That wasn’t what I was thinking.”

  Their eyes met and held and their steps slowed. And then she smiled, directly at him, only for him, and her blue eyes—a true sky blue—twinkled with happiness.

  Luke realized two things. First, his breathing had quickened when she smiled at him. Second, he wanted to see her do it again.

  She curled her hand around his and when she continued walking, she didn’t let go. Palm trees and lush bougainvillea lined both sides of the road as it curved and took them farther from the edge of the ocean.

  If anyone had told him a month ago he’d be strolling down the Maui coast holding hands with a gorgeous blonde, he’d have ordered them a brain scan. The scenario just didn’t fit with the world he lived in. But the longer his fingers stayed entwined with hers, the stronger the sensation inside him grew. It was warmth, and a longing to slide
his hand up her arm and pull her into him and hold her.

  He pictured his hands circling her tiny waist, sliding up her spine, lowering his mouth to hers....

  Settle down, Andrews. Think about something else.

  He took stock of his surroundings. The only place he’d been since he’d flown into Maui was the beach, but he remembered the shopping center they were passing from his drive from the airport. A grocery store, a surf and dive shop, a couple of fast-food chains and even a famous coffee shop. The next block sported several bars: The Tiki Lounge, The Flaming Flamingo and the Tradewinds Bar and Grill, where Kristen worked. Where he’d gone for a cold beer.

  Kristen passed that corner and turned east. About a block down was the seafood place. Once they were seated, she ordered a cola. “I serve cocktails all night,” she explained, then picked up her menu. Luke ordered a beer.

  “I’ve heard the lobster’s really fresh here.”

  He nodded. “Sounds good.”

  “And some shrimp scampi?” At his nod, she repeated the order to the waiter and handed him her menu. Once he left she pulled a sheepish expression. “I really don’t have a very good reason for being late except that I—I went shopping and had my hair done.”

  So, she’d bought this dress just for tonight? He liked that. And he didn’t. His condition worsened.

  She fiddled with the fork and napkin. “I didn’t get back from diving until after two—”

  “You’ve been scuba diving today?” Desperate for a distraction, he latched on to the topic.

  She nodded. “I dive every day, but usually only for a few hours in the morning. I’ve been diving since I could walk, practically. Used to go with my dad to San Onofre State Beach every Saturday morning. We still do. In San Diego.” Her expression turned wistful. “I’m living with my mom and dad at the moment. They love it, of course. But my older brother gives me a hard time about it. He’s been living in L.A. since he graduated high school. He just likes to tease me, though. He’s been doing that all my life. But I guess that’s what older brothers are for.

  “I’m only living here for a few months,” she added. “You’ve heard of Geographic Universe, right?”

  He nodded, but she’d already continued. “Each year they sponsor an international photography contest. I’m entering the nature category. The grand-prize winner gets their photo published in the magazine, ten thousand dollars and a chance to work with Geographic Universe’s head photographer.”