“Yeah, I do. His girlfriend is Sloane, right?”
Kai nods, his smile still bold and bright. “We should go over there today and see if they’re hiring. If not, there are a ton of other places. I mean, if you don’t already have a job.” He adds this, his head cocked to the side, waiting for me to answer.
“I don’t. I took a couple of weeks to just get settled here, but I’m certainly going to need one,” I tell him, thoroughly enjoying this conversation with him. “But I would hate to impose or make anyone think I’m looking for a handout.”
“Ah, fuck that, you’re ohana here. We help family,” Kai says so casually that I almost believe he wants to help me. “And if you can’t find a job, I’d be happy to come by daily and let you rub me down.”
And there it is. That flirty nature he’s prone to, and even though I’d normally be annoyed by a comment like this, there’s something just so endearing and sweet about him.
“And what do you do, Kai?”
“I make surfboards,” he says, and I can’t help the laugh that falls from my lips so quickly. “What?”
“It’s just so fitting. The whole chill surfer thing you’ve got going. And now you tell me you make surfboards for a living.”
“Family business. Didn’t really have any other option.” He shrugs casually. “I’ve been doing it since I was a kid. My grandpa opened the business, and when he retired, my dad took over, and now Miles and I will do the same when my dad decides to be done.”
“That’s really cool. I’d love to see some of your boards. I bet you’re very talented.” The words leave my mouth before I can stop them, and they aren’t just said out of kindness. I really would love to see what he does because it’s such a big part of the culture here.
“And maybe I can convince you to try one out.” He hits me with a signature wink, making my heart flutter wildly.
“Maybe.”
“So what do you say we head over to Orchid Bay? Let’s get you a job.”
Quinn stands in the kitchen looking at me. She pulled on a pair of shorts when she disappeared earlier, and if I had to guess, she also put on a bra. Pity, because I was very much enjoying the view when she first opened the front door.
“I’m not sure I can just walk in and ask if they have any jobs,” she says, blowing out a breath before she sits down.
“Yeah, you can,” I tell her. “So much about getting a job is who you know these days, especially here. If you know someone or you have an in, it definitely helps.”
She takes a sip of her coffee, tilting her head to the side as she asks, “And do I have an in?”
Chuckling, I nod. “Yeah, you have an in,” I say, jerking a thumb at my chest. “Me.”
She rolls her eyes, but she’s smiling as she says, “You, huh?”
“Yep, me,” I confirm. “Come on, Quinn, it’s seriously fine. I promise.”
She takes another sip of coffee as she watches me, and I can tell she’s thinking about it. “Okay, fine,” she eventually says. “But let me get changed first. I don’t want to show up looking like I just rolled out of bed.”
I laugh. “No worries,” I tell her as she stands from the table. “Although for the record, the just-rolled-out-of-bed look suits you.”
Quinn blushes as she turns to head back to her bedroom.
Thirty minutes later, we are pulling into the staff parking area at The Orchid Bay, having managed to convince Quinn to come with me in my car.
“You ready?” I ask, glancing over at her.
She’s fiddling with her resume, her hands smoothing down her skirt and a nervous look on her face as she shakes her head. “I’m not sure about this, Kai.”
“Why not?”
She looks over at me. “I mean, they haven’t even advertised for a masseuse, right? How can I just walk in there and ask them?”
I turn in my seat so I’m facing her as I reach for her hand, taking it in mine. “You can,” I tell her. “This is Owen’s family’s place, Quinn. This is what we do here. We look out for each other.”
She’s shaking her head before I’ve even finished speaking. “It just feels weird. Like you barely even know me, so how can you even vouch for me in there?”
