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“No, thank you.” Leilani smiled at the memory of the big Goldendoodle lying across the floor of Celeste’s clothing store, soaking up the sun. “Though I love him, he’s happiest with you.”
“Hey, did your cousin and his fiancée ever get married?” Celeste asked.
“Not yet,” Leilani said. “They found a new venue and set the date for a month from now.”
“How’s he doing since the fire?” Celeste asked.
“Good. He’s living at the resort where he works.”
“Are he and his fiancée still surfing competitively?”
“I think they’re working up to it again. They had to order new boards since their competition boards were in the house they were renovating. They lost everything they owned.”
“Didn’t we all?” Celeste said softly. “I hope you find out what’s going on soon. If you need a place to stay, I have a spare bedroom. Winston would love having you around. He misses you. Hell, I miss you.”
“I miss you, too, Celeste. Let’s talk soon.” As Leilani ended the call, Angel was pulling into a parking space.
He shifted into park and turned off the engine.
Leilani sat for a moment longer, digesting her conversation. “Celeste owned the store next to mine. She’s getting calls from brokers, but no attacks.”
“It’s just you, then?”
“I still need to call Larry Fenton. He owned the souvenir shop on the other end of my building.”
“Do it,” Angel said. “Call him.”
“I need to get a shower and get ready to go to a dress fitting with my future sister-in-law’s bridesmaids.”
“Then make it a quick call,” Angel said.
Leilani looked up Larry’s number and called.
“This is Larry,” he answered.
Five minutes later, she ended the call, shaking her head. “Larry is getting calls, but no attacks.” She pushed the car door open and got out.
Angel came around the front of the vehicle and walked with her toward her section of the resort. “Is your building larger than Celeste’s or Larry’s?”
Leilani nodded. “I had three shops, each equal in size to Celeste’s and Larry’s. And I had parking behind mine.”
Angel’s eyes narrowed. “Could it be whoever is harassing you is trying to get you to sell first, with the idea that once you do, the others will fall in line?”
“It’s possible,” Leilani said. “Celeste and Larry aren’t native Hawaiians. They don’t feel as rooted in Maui as I do. My family has been here for centuries. Celeste came to Maui twenty years ago to visit and never left. Larry’s father retired from the military on Oahu. Larry moved to Maui when he got tired of the traffic in Honolulu.” She shrugged. “It just seems like a lot of effort to get me to sell. Plus, what big corporation would risk getting caught sabotaging a small business?”
Angel tipped his head toward her, his lips twisting. “A corporation with a lot of money and a team of attorneys who could get them out of anything.”
Leilani sighed. “I guess it could happen.” She stopped in front of her door and faced Angel. “Will I see you later?” How was that for being ballsy? She held her breath, afraid she was being too pushy. But, boy, she wanted to see him again.
He grasped both of her hands. “Where you go, I go. If I’m to protect you, I need to be with you.”
Her heart fluttered. “I thought you were protecting my business.”
He shook his head. “You are your business. You were guiding the tour yesterday when they slashed your tires. You were on the boat that was hit today. Were you on the boat they poured diesel into?”
Leilani thought back, her brow twisting, “Yes, I was.”
“Seems to me they’re targeting your business and maybe more specifically you.”
