Burning up the Rain (Hawaiian Heroes) Read Online Free Page B

Choy said curtly.
    Jack’s hackles rose at being spoken to as if he was a cabana boy, but he hid it behind his professional face. Walking around to the cooler, he chose another beer for himself, opened it and then grabbed two bottles of water. Beer in hand, he walked back around the loungers, set his beer down, handed one of the bottles of water to Suzy Kai. He tossed the other to Choy, who looked startled but caught it.
    Jack walked back toward his own chair. As he glanced up the lawn, he saw a group of people in the driveway at the back of the house. Claire, blonde hair shining in the sun, was beaming as Daniel exchanged handshakes with a tall, weathered man and hugged a woman, both with faded blond hair. Her parents, he guessed. Melia was supervising while David hefted a big box from the trunk of her SUV.
    And near at hand, Lalei Kai strolled down the lawn like a Hawaiian princess. Clad in a gauzy white cover-up, the outline of a swimsuit visible underneath, her hair bundled up on her head with a big clip, she gave him that snooty little smirk through the palms.
    The opposite of his kind of woman. So why did he once again have the beginnings of a major woody? Time for another swim.
     
     
    Huh. Jack had seen her coming and turned tail and run. Absurd to feel hurt by that, but Lalei couldn’t help it. Well, fine, she could ignore him too. As the big blond mainlander swam out toward the reef, Lalei dropped her cover-up on one of the loungers.
    She held herself proudly, refusing to cringe as Benton’s gaze crawled over her. Her cocoa-and-white flowered tankini was the most modest swimsuit she owned—she’d chosen it purposely to wear around him. Even so, the legs were cut high on her hips, and only a thin spaghetti strap held up the halter top.
    “The snorkeling is great here,” she said quickly, gesturing toward the gear hung neatly under the thatched roof that shaded most of the dock. “Would you like to try it, Benton?” At least in the water, he wouldn’t be able to talk.
    He smiled indulgently. “No, thank you. I’ll take you on a dive from my boat. So much more to see that way.”
    “Oh, that sounds lovely,” Suzy approved. “Lalei will enjoy that.”
    Lalei preferred to snorkel. Most of the colorful fishes lived right on the reefs in shallow water. One was more likely to see sharks while diving, and it was the way to watch the manta rays feed at night, but the last place Lalei wanted to be was alone with Benton on his yacht.
    He would expect…things. Things that made her skin crawl. She was a normal, healthy female with her share of cravings. But the thought of assuaging them with Benton made her hurry into the water. She’d head out for the reef and sit for a while.
    She swam out under her mother’s and Benton’s watchful gazes, holding her head up to keep her hair dry. She would have liked to don a snorkel mask and fins to view the reef. But that would take too much time away from her mother’s scheme for Lalei to enchant Benton. Besides, she would have to blow her hair dry again.
    She pulled herself up on the smooth rocks that stair-stepped up onto the reef. Jack had splashed away toward the far end of the bay. But another swimmer stroked through the opening in the reef, wet black hair gleaming in the sun, long arms flashing rhythmically. He lifted his head as he neared her perch.
    “Hey, Lalei,” he said, grinning at her. “Howzit?” He tossed his head, flipping his wet hair back out of his eyes.
    “Zane.” Delight replacing her nerves, she smiled back at her younger cousin. “I wasn’t sure you’d make it.”
    He grimaced in mock horror, his dark eyes widening. “No can miss Big D’s wedding.”
    She laughed, lapsing into pidgin with him. “No ways.” Her Ho’omalu cousins loved their family celebrations.
    Zane pulled himself up on the rocks beside her, water streaming off his lean frame. He wore a pair of bright yellow-and-red swim trunks. He swiped a hand over his wet face.