Heating Up Hawaii Read Online Free Page A

system. She squared her shoulders and clasped her hand on the opened car door as she looked at Darren walking up to them. In addition to designer jeans and a muscle shirt, he wore a frown on his face. The way he puffed his chest hinted he wasn’t happy seeing her with another man. Even after six months…
    “Who is this?” Luc asked firmly.
    “Luc Leoni, meet Darren Dawn. My ex-fiancé.” She couldn’t stop from looking at the two. They assessed each other without a handshake. While Darren’s eyes held a measure of instant contempt, Luc’s displayed a blend of inconvenience and…curiosity.
    “Dawn?” Luc caught on to the last name.
    “Charles Dawn is his father.” Penny turned to Darren, “Luc just hired me for an assignment and we are going to a dinner meeting. This isn’t a good time.”
    “I was just checking in on you, Penny.” Next to Luc, Darren seemed less stocky and certainly not as tall. “You didn’t return any of my calls.”
    “I’ve been busy.” Penny pressed her lips together in an effort to keep from saying what she really wanted. I can’t be friends with you right now. Guilt took a stab at her. With his recent consistent attendance to the AA meetings, she couldn’t take that chance.
    Maybe soon he will see things more clearly and realize we were never meant to be.
    Luc’s eyes drilled into hers, like he was trying to unveil the lies she’d just told. Did he sense how uncomfortable Darren made her these days?
    Why wouldn’t Darren make her feel like an awkward mess? He was the living proof of the mistake she’d almost made. Almost? A voice inside her laughed.
    “Busy with this guy, I see.” Darren said between his teeth. She didn’t have to touch her cheeks to feel their heat.
    “Whom she’s busy with is no longer your concern,” A hint of impatience laced Luc’s voice. He moved to her side, although she didn’t need the shield of his protection. “We have reservations, so I suggest you leave, Daniel.”
    “It’s Darren, and I’m not leaving.”
    Blood pounded hot and thick in her temples. She knew Darren wasn’t the easiest person, but she had never seen the look of hatred in his blue eyes, the flush on his cheeks, the way he pushed his blond hair back, almost violently, to prevent his hands from landing somewhere else, like Luc’s jaw.
    Luc on the other hand remained assertive and in control, not a hair out of place, no passionate fury in his eyes. “Then by all means, stay.” He touched her elbow, and gently nudged her to get inside the limousine.
    She mumbled a goodbye to Darren and ducked to get inside the limo, her emotions battling a mix of relief and apprehension. Certainly not the best way to keep Luc from knowing even more about my personal life. At least she’d been able to literally step away from the discomfort of the situation.
    A thumping noise pulled her from her thoughts, and she glanced over her shoulder before she could sit down in the plush vehicle. Darren must have swung at Luc, like he probably had been itching to since seeing them together, though Darren didn’t count on Luc’s quick reflex skills.
    She gasped and Luc quickly bent down before Darren could throw another punch. Or try to, anyway. He swiftly stood up and grabbed Darren by his collar, slamming him against the limousine. The sound of his body hitting the metal echoed in her head. The driver got out of the vehicle but Luc gestured for him to go away.
    “Luc, let him go.”
    He held Darren by his collar with one hand as if he was weightless, while the other closed into a hard fist.
    “Enough of the testosterone contest.” She raised her voice and smacked her hands against his arms. “Luc, put him down.”
    Luc cocked his head. Though Darren mumbled something inaudible under his breath, she noticed a glimmer of fear in his eyes. Luc loosened his hold slowly, not moving an inch or breaking eye contact with the man.
    “Darren, please go now,” she pleaded. “We’ll talk