AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“I always have time for emergencies,” Kiana said. “And a date qualifies—especially after a long dry spell.”
“It’s not a date,” Leilani insisted as she hurried out the door of her suite.
“Keep telling yourself that,” Kiana’s voice dripped with sarcasm. “You might believe it. I don’t.”
Minutes later, after practically running across the sprawling resort, Leilani stood in the far corner of a large storage room full of supplies. Clothes hung on several racks pushed up against the back wall, along with half a dozen large boxes filled with clothes, beach toys, hats and sunglasses.
Kiana stood with her arms crossed over her chest, shaking her head. “I should’ve thought about it sooner. I’m sure there are things all of our Lahaina guests could use. I’ll send out a notice for them to come take a look. But first, let’s get you dressed for your date.”
“It’s not a date,” Leilani murmured as she riffled through expensive suits and beautiful dresses guests had forgotten in their hurry to return home from vacation.
Life had become surreal since the fires had destroyed all her belongings. She’d taken pride in her independence and ability to provide for herself. Now, she and so many others relied on handouts to get by. Even if they could afford to pay for things, sometimes, scarcity made it impossible to get them.
Leilani thought she was done crying over all they’d lost in the fire, but she found her eyes welling with tears.
She tried to brush them away before Kiana saw them, but her friend was too observant.
“Hey.” Kiana pulled Leilani into her arms. “It’s okay. You’ll get through this. We’ll all get through this.”
Leilani leaned into Kiana’s arms. For the past months since the fire had destroyed so much, Leilani had put on a brave face with an attitude of “fake it until you feel it.”
“I don’t know what’s wrong with me,” she admitted.
“Nothing’s wrong with you,” Kiana leaned back and brushed the hair from Leilani’s face. “I’d think something was wrong with you if you didn’t fall apart even a little after all you’ve been through.” She smiled down at her friend. “Now, come on. I believe that if you look good, you feel good. Let’s find something that makes you look great.”
In the process of losing things, Leilani had gained a better understanding of what was truly important in her life.
People.
CHAPTER5
Angel paced outsidethe entrance to the Kea Hana Restaurant, tugging at the necktie Reid had helped him tie earlier.
Like the others, Angel had come with everything he owned in a suitcase and a duffle bag. After leaving the military and working as a contract mercenary, he’d learned he didn’t need a lot of things. Having an apartment hadn’t made sense if he was never home or even in the States for any length of time.
When he’d left the Navy, he’d sold or donated all his furniture and household goods. The clothes he’d kept were just enough to get him to the next laundry facility.
The suit was new. He figured he might need one in case he had to provide security for a wealthy client. Reid had been the one to suggest that they invest in a suit, nice trousers and a couple of classy shirts. He’d even helped the guys shop for them in Oahu before they’d taken the hop to Maui.
Though the suit fit him perfectly, it was still a suit. Angel was most comfortable in a T-shirt, cargo pants and combat boots.
On his fifth lap in the hall, he did an about-face and stopped dead in his tracks, the air sucked from his lungs.
Leilani approached, wearing a white halter dress that hugged her figure down to just below her knees. The front plunged low, emphasizing the fullness of her breasts.
She’d left her hair hanging around her shoulders, pulled back on one side with a white flower above her ear.
“Wow,” he said, incapable of forming a more fitting compliment for such beauty.
She gave him a tremulous smile. “Wow, yourself.”
He grinned, remembered his manners and offered her his arm. “Sorry. You’re so beautiful you took my breath and my words away.”
“Nice recovery,” she said, her dark cheeks flushing a soft red.
“Shall we?” He ushered her into the restaurant, where they were seated near a window overlooking the water. The sun was well on its way down, turning the scattered clouds incredible shades from pale pink to brilliant orange. But Angel had eyes only for the woman seated across from him.
She had him so tied in knots he forgot his excuse for getting her to join him for dinner.
