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He leaned back and stared into her eyes. “Will you read us a story?”
Leilani sighed. “I’m sorry, Noa. I have to go somewhere.” She kissed his cheek and set him back on his feet. “Maybe Mamo will read to you.”
“I like it when you read.” Noa looked past Leilani to Angel and frowned. “Who is that man?”
Leilani had to hide a smile at the suspicious glance Noa gave Angel. “This is my friend Angelo.” She hooked Angel’s arm and drew him forward. “Angel, this is Noa.”
Angel knelt on one knee in front of the little boy and held out his hand. “Hi, Noa. It’s nice to meet you.”
Noa took his hand, his frown deepening. “Are you going to marry my Lani?”
“I don’t know,” Angel said. “She’s a princess, but I’m not a prince. Is it allowed?”
Noa tilted his head. “If the princess loves you with her whole heart, I think it’s okay.” He looked to Leilani. “Do you love him with your whole heart?”
Heat burned in Leilani’s cheeks. “I don’t know, Noa. We only met yesterday.”
He looked from Leilani back to Angel. “If you want her to fall in love with you, she likes flowers.”
Angel nodded, his face serious. “Thank you for the tip.”
Noa leaned toward Angel and cupped his hand around the man’s ear. “Even more than flowers, she likes paintbrushes.”
Though the boy whispered, Leilani heard what he said, and her heart melted. Noa might be a little guy, but he paid attention to the people around him, especially the ones he loved.
“I’ll keep that in mind,” Angel said, holding his fist.
Noa bumped his fist against Angel’s. “Nice to meet you, Mr. Angelo.” The boy looked at Leilani once more and then ducked past his mother’s legs into the suite.
Olina grinned. “I never know what’s going to come out of that boy’s mouth.” She glanced over her shoulder into the room behind her and then back at Leilani. “He’s got a big heart and loves his Lani.”
“I love him, too,” Leilani said.
Olina’s smile slipped away. “I heard what happened on your tour today. “I’m glad no one was hurt badly. It blows my mind that someone would purposely ram into your boat.”
“Blows my mind, too.”
“Be careful, Lani,” Olina said. “We love you.”
Leilani hugged her friend. “I love you, too. I’ll be all right. I’ve got to go, or I’ll be late.”
Angel guided her to his car and held the door while she settled in the passenger seat.
Once he got in, she gave him directions to the Bridal Boutique from Alyssa’s texted invitation. Alyssa had given their sizes to the boutique and had the staff order matching dresses in pastel peach to compliment the colors that would be in Alyssa’s bridal bouquet. They were to meet at the boutique to try on the dresses and have them fitted by a seamstress.
They drove from the resort across the island to Kahului, arriving at the boutique five minutes before five o’clock, the time Alyssa had reserved.
Leilani frowned and glanced down at her phone, pulling up Alyssa’s last text with the date, time and location of the fitting.
“Are you sure this is the place?” Angel asked.
She held out her phone. “It’s what she texted to me two weeks ago.”
He looked at the text and at the building. “The sign on the door reads CLOSED.”
Leilani called Alyssa’s number. The phone rang six times before her voicemail picked up.
“Alyssa, it’s Leilani. I’m at the boutique you listed in your text message, and no one is here. Was the time, date or location changed? Call me when you get this message.” She ended the call and dialed her cousin.
