“Oh, that,” he said, resting his forehead against hers.
“Come on,” she said, leading him into the kitchen. “You can tell me about it while I make dinner.”
“Can I at least help with dinner?”
“I’m not letting you anywhere near my knives until I know what’s going on.”
She wound up making a spaghetti dish with a light oil sauce and vegetarian meatballs. Blaine didn’t dare make a comment. As they prepared dinner together, he told her everything that happened after his ukulele lesson.
“Is the car totaled?” she asked.
“It’s spare parts at this point. Production is going to have to work overtime for us to still show it in February.” He gave a shaky sigh. “It doesn’t look good. Our competition is going to beat us to market if we don’t have it at the expo. We’re going to lose a lot of money.”
“I’m so sorry,” she said.
“That’s why I was on your phone and the internet all day. I’m sorry. If I had known it was going to blow back on you, I would have gone to the Hyatt like I had planned. But I didn’t want to waste the time.”
“Were you able to accomplish anything?”
“Not as much as if I had been there in person.”
“You deserve this vacation. You need to take care of you. It’s just as important as the February expo.”
“I can wait until after February. The car can’t.”
“Can you?” Selena handed him his bowl of pasta. “Maybe. Should you? No.”
“I know you think I’m backsliding, but I’m not. You and I have a date to go zip-lining through the jungle tomorrow.”
“I don’t see how me screaming over a one-hundred-and-fifty-foot drop is going to relax you.”
“What can I say? I like to hear you scream.” He took a deep breath. “Besides, depending on what I hear in the morning, I might be cutting my stay short.”
“You can’t,” she said, clasping his hand.
“Offer still stands to come back to Detroit with me.”
She laughed, but realized he was serious. Whoa. Selena didn’t dare hope he meant that he wanted her as anything other than a chef with benefits.
“You were hired to be my chef, right? I’ll fly you down.”
Figures. “My contract says Maui,” she said quietly.
“I’d like to continue to still see you,” Blaine said. “Even if you’re not my personal chef.”
Wow.
“That’s one heck of a long-distance relationship. Especially when I don’t know where I’m going to be from week to week.” She was stalling and she knew it. She wanted this. She didn’t want whatever this was to end, but she wasn’t sure they had enough to last being apart.
“Are you willing to try?” They held hands across the table as he looked deep in her eyes. She could see the affection and sincerity in them.
“Yes,” she said simply. Of course, she had doubts but she wasn’t going to jinx this.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
WHILE DRINKING HIS morning coffee with Selena, all Blaine wanted was to call his brother or get on the internet and check out what progress had been made in the past twelve hours. It didn’t matter that it was a Saturday. It didn’t matter about the time difference. It certainly didn’t matter that they couldn’t fix a car in less than twenty-four hours. He felt powerless, useless and it made him angry. But he recognized that being four thousand miles away in Maui with a beautiful woman by his side and an adventure of a lifetime ahead of him, that he just needed to let go.
“I figured we take a breakfast to go,” Selena said. “I made spam, eggs and cheese on a toasted English muffin.”
“You put spam in my eggs.” He kissed her hard on the mouth. “You must love me.”
The fiery blush in her cheeks, and the fact that she didn’t correct him, warmed his heart. Maybe they didn’t need to go zip-lining to have a fantastic adventure. He was about to suggest staying in bed all day when her phone rang.
Rolling her eyes, Selena picked up the phone. “Yes, Titus. I finished with Mr. Stephens’s breakfast. Right now I’m at Whalers Village doing some shopping. I’m sorry, I’ve got plans for today. Maybe next time.”
“That’s sexual harassment,” Blaine said. “You should tell your boss what’s going on.”
“It’s nothing I can’t handle. He doesn’t ever cross the line. And I should be more firm with him and reject him. But he doesn’t take rejection well. And I really don’t want to deal with the little ways he could make my life a living hell. At least if he thinks he still has a chance, he won’t pull the dick moves I’ve seen him pull on other people.”
“That is illegal,” Blaine said. “What the hell is your boss’ name? I’ll tell him.”
“Just mind your business. Be thankful that he accepted that you calmed down and are no longer a rage machine, so he feels he has to linger downstairs to make sure that you don’t Hulk Smash everyone you come in contact with.”
“Blaine Smash.” He slammed his fists on the table, making the coffee cups jump.
“The zip-line company provides us lunch. So, I’ll just pack snacks and our water bottles.”
“Okay, let me carry the backpack this time.”
“Sure,” she said.
She left the penthouse first, dressed in her chef jacket. He hated that they had to hide their relationship from Titus. But he understood that when he went back to Detroit, she still had to deal with him. But hopefully not for a while. He didn’t know where she’d be sent to next.
He didn’t want to ruin their day, telling her that he had decided no matter what news he got he was going to go back home. He was going to miss her.
If she didn’t want to stay the extra week in Maui, he’d make sure that she got home to Florida all right. Part of him wished that she could go home and spend Christmas with him. But after knowing each other only a week, it seemed a little premature to ask. Still, he knew he’d be thinking about her all during Christmas dinner, and probably would spend most of Christmas Eve night FaceTiming her, if she allowed it.
Selena wasn’t waiting for him in the lobby, but he wasn’t expecting her to, just in case Titus didn’t buy the fact that she was in Whalers Village. Blaine headed down the strip where the van was picking them up to take them to the zip-lining tour in Makawao. Climbing into the air-conditioned van, he was happy to see that she was already there. He dropped down into the seat next to her and took out the brochure to look at the farm where they would be doing several zip lines.
He wished his phone wasn’t blocked. He was determined not to ask Selena if he could use her phone to call his brother, but he was thinking about it. The only things that stopped him were that her hand felt good inside his, and that he didn’t want to subject the other passengers in the van to the loud argument he was going to have with his brother if he hadn’t done the things Blaine told him to do.
After forcing himself to put the sight of the spinning and demolished car out of his mind, he could still see it when he closed his eyes. It replayed in his mind over and over again. They had been able to salvage the engine. Most of the electronics had been smashed to smithereens and Paul Miller was given strict orders to remain out of Blaine’s sight for the time being.
“Stop thinking about it,” Selena said.
“What gave me away?” He smiled ruefully at her.
“All your muscles are locked. Your jaw is tense. And I swear you’re grinding your teeth.”
“I should’ve brought my ukulele.”
“We can try meditating,” she said.
“I’ll just fall asleep.”
“That might help out too. After all,” she leaned in and gave him a lingering kiss. “We didn’t get much sleep last night.”
“You’ll never hear me complain about that.” Especially since after he left Maui, the sex would be
few and far between.
He forced himself to admire the view outside the windows. Everything was green and blue. When he went back to Michigan, he was going to miss that almost as much as he missed Selena. Right now, everything there was gray, white and frigid. And indoors. Blaine’s whole life was going to be indoors until February. That was why it was so important to him to enjoy this last weekend together. Even though he had another week before he had to get back, there was no way that he could survive without the internet and checking in on his company. He wouldn’t put Selena through that. He didn’t want to get her in trouble, but more important, she didn’t deserve to have all of her good cooking and companionship go to waste by a surly bastard whose life couldn’t begin with her until this car was either pronounced dead or they showed it at the February expo. In a lot of ways, it felt how she was with her Cordon Bleu dream.
“Now that you don’t have Anton Koslov as a monkey on your back anymore, are you still going to Cordon Bleu?”
“It is a lot of money,” she said. “I’m still thinking about it. It’s been my plan for so long, doing anything else right now would feel rushed. I still have my contract for the next six months and that will give me some more time to think about it. Maybe I’ll re-up my contract with Diamonte.”
Blaine’s hand clenched hers a little too hard.
“Ow, what was that for?”
“Sorry. I was hoping that after your contract, if you weren’t going to Cordon Bleu, you might want to come to Detroit.”
“Yeah, it’s possible. But that’s also six months away. I’m willing to try, and I want this to work. But I don’t want to move my whole life from Florida to Michigan if it’s not long term.”
“I get it. I don’t like it, but I understand.”
“This week has been easy.”
“Easy? You’ve got a weird idea of easy.”
“I mean to fall in love.”
He brought her fingers up to his lips and kissed them. “Is that what this is?”
“It feels like it. But it’s also hard to have a fight or a major disagreement or see the ugly side of things, when you’re in paradise.” She gestured with her hand at the pristine foliage outside the window.
“We have fun together,” Blaine said. “We could have fun anywhere. It just happens to be prettier here than Detroit right now.”
“I don’t have anything against Detroit. I’ve never been there. I actually like snow. One of my favorite times as the chef was at a ski resort in Vail.”
“Michigan isn’t Vail,” Blaine said. “There are a lot of things I think you’d like there. Museums, the Lions and the Tigers.”
“No bears?”
“That’s Chicago.” He bumped her shoulder with his and stole another kiss.
“You forgot the most important thing that would be there. You.”
He smiled. “Good answer.”
When they got to the zip-lining company, the guides spent about an hour going through the safety regulations and explaining the course and what was expected of them. Blaine felt a little dorky in his helmet and harness, but he would never go without the safety equipment. The first zip line they went on was one of the shorter ones. They would get increasingly longer and faster, as they followed the trails. He loved the feeling of flying through the jungle. It was another thrill ride for his adrenaline-junkie personality. It was quick and fun, and he was hooting with laughter. Selena was screaming and laughing, as well. When they got off the line, they hugged and kissed.
“I love to see honeymooners,” one of the guides said.
Blaine didn’t bother to correct her, and it warmed his heart that neither did Selena. They walked to the next zip-line site. Blaine felt that twinge in his leg again and his chest felt tight, but he took a few deep breaths and he didn’t think much of it. The next zip line had them careening over a large canyon and for a moment he did have one of those thoughts of what would happen if the rope broke.
It was a long way down. The thought made him think of the crash again. He could see his car hitting the third turn too fast and going airborne, rolling over, and over, and over again. He worked two long years on the car. He was there when they built it with sleek fenders. He designed the chassis, and had watched them paint it.
When they spray painted the logo on the hood, Blaine finally thought all his hard work was going to pay off. He had thought it was embarrassing when the video of the car had run over all the obstacles. It was beyond mortifying when the actual car failed in its first test run around the track. It should have never gotten up to the speeds that Paul had pushed it to.
Paul liked to show off. Paul didn’t want to take things slow. Blaine was an impatient man. Paul made him look like the tortoise to his hare. Paul wanted to do everything in one test. Any scientist could tell you that couldn’t be done. Any engineer would’ve known that can’t be done. Paul should’ve known better. Again, his company, his car and his life’s work were being jeopardized by Paul Miller’s stupidity.
“Blaine, are you all right?” Selena said, holding on to his arm.
“Yeah, I’m fine.” He realized he was still dangling from his harness on the zip line.
She helped him to unhook and they walked down the path to where the four-wheeler was waiting to take them to the next zip line.
“Sorry, I must’ve been daydreaming.” His head was pounding. He slung his backpack and dug around for his water bottle. He took a long drink.
“Here, wipe your brow. You’re sweating,” Selena said, handing him a bandanna.
“Thanks. It’s hot out here.” He took a step forward and stumbled. “I’m all right,” he said. “I’m just a little unsteady on my feet.”
“Let’s sit down for minute,” Selena said.
“I’ll sit on the four-wheeler,” Blaine said and then gave her a wink and reached out to hold her hand. He barely made it to the four-wheeler. His breath was coming in short pants. He felt just like when he was about to pass out in Detroit. It wasn’t a heart attack, then. It wasn’t one now. He repeated it, trying to stop himself from panicking.
“Selena,” he started to say, and then as he stood up from the four-wheeler, his knees gave out under him and everything went black.
* * *
When Blaine came to, it hurt to open his eyes. He was lying on a cot in an air-conditioned room. He felt a pinch in his arm and saw he was hooked up to an IV. He must be at some type of infirmary. He hoped he hadn’t banged his head. It didn’t hurt anymore, but he was really tired. Selena was sitting in the chair and after a few minutes of listening, he realized with horror she was talking to his mother.
“He was doing really well, but then some idiot showed him the video of the car and it really set him back.” Selena looked up and caught his eye.
He shook his head and put a finger to his lips.
“Blaine just woke up. I’ll let you speak with him while I get the nurse.” She handed him her phone and left the room.
Making a face at Selena, Blaine said with forced cheerfulness, “Hi, Mom, how did Selena get your number?”
“You used her phone to call your brother and she tracked him down and your brother gave me her number.”
“I’m fine.”
“I know exactly how you are. Selena and I had a nice chat with your doctor. You’re having stress related attacks. The whole reason we sent you to Maui was so you wouldn’t have another incident.”
“I didn’t punch anyone,” he said weakly.
“Not funny, Blaine.”
“I’m working on it. Did Selena tell you I did yoga and too ukulele lessons? I’m trying.” Blaine leaned his head back into the pillow.
His mother made a hmph sound. “I like her. You work fast.”
“Mom.” Blaine closed his eyes.
“She sent me some pictures of you. You look like you’re having fun. She
also showed me some pictures of the two of you. She’s very pretty.”
“Mom. I’m literally lying in a hospital bed.”
“No, you’re in the ranch’s clinic in Makawao. You’ve got a saline drip in your arm, but they’ll probably be in there shortly to take it out. Once you sign some papers promising you won’t sue the pants off them, they’ll probably let you go.”
“I’m coming home Monday.”
“That’s a stupid idea.”
“I can’t stay here while Paul and Mitchell destroy everything I’ve worked for.”
“It’s a setback. Don’t be a drama queen.”
“Mom.” Blaine just couldn’t deal with her right now.
“You have another week in paradise before coming back to the mess. Enjoy it. Get to know your girlfriend better. Enjoy that she’s cooking you three meals a day because once you’re married that’s going to stop.”
“Mom.” He sounded like a record skipping a beat.
“She’s treating you right and there are people who care about your health. Please stay there another week. If not for you, do it to spend some more time with Selena.”
Selena walked in with the doctor. “I’ve got to go, Mom. I’ll see you soon.”
They were out of there in a half hour. The zip-lining company had an employee drive them back in their car so Blaine could recline the seat back.
“I’m sorry I screwed up our day,” he said.
“You scared me.”
“I’m sorry,” he said.
Running her fingers through his hair, she leaned forward and kissed his forehead. “Promise me that you’ll take it easy. Nothing but meditation and hot tubs for the next few days.”
“You got it.” He was feeling sleepy, so he drifted off feeling her soft touch on his head.
When they got to the wellness center, she put her arm around him and helped him to the elevator.
“What if Titus sees?” he asked.
“I don’t care,” she said.
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