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CHAPTER ONE

I felt overdressed the second I stepped off the plane My siray suit jacket, and its ray pencil skirt, had seemed wholly appropriate when I’d boarded the plane But one second of breathingThis was a business trip, so I hadn’t even packed anything appropriate for the paradise oflike that any

It wasn’t even a particularly hot day A cool breeze wafted across ed out ofan almost indecent ae didn’t feel wrong here I was now in a place where my typical wardrobe was usually a very tiny bikini Had I even packed one of those?

I had resolved to set up s as soon as I arrived here, and so had dressed accordingly, but entle Maui breeze I took deep breaths, loving the smell of the island air, which was divine, even mixed with jet fumes

A car was already waiting for gage I towered over hih, I would have towered over hi flats “Ms Middleton, hoas your flight?” he asked

I smiled at the familiar driver He worked for my fa well, Thomas How is island life these days?”

He flashed a grin at ht build and a quick sood Bet you ave me a syh to leave this paradise behind for the mainland

I sighed heavily “You have no idea,” I told him My voice betrayed far more of my sorrow than I had intended Ia downer at his crestfallen look

He opened the car door forlook “Sorry I do miss it here, but it’s not as bad as that”

He was behind the wheel before he asked, “To the hotel, Ms Middleton?”

I started to say yes, but my heart took my mouth over suddenly “To the Kalua shops”

He looked a little startled, but just nodded and started to drive

The shops really weren’t far from the hotel, I reassured myself And I could pick up some island necessities for myself

I rolled the n as we drove The wind quickly messed up my braid, and I pulled loosetoall the way to my butt, with some streaks bleached nearly white by the sun My skin was alrohen I left paradise, and I looked it nowadays Years off my beloved rock had taken their toll

Thomas dropped me off at the Kalua shops with soe taken to my room at the hotel I reassured him that I would call him if I needed a ride I knew that I wouldn’t One of the Kaluas would give me a ride; I was sure They were my second family I spoke to Tutu and Mari every week, in one form or another

I had a death grip onas I entered the surf shop I wasn’t brave enough to venture into the bar or the café just yet I was still taking in the changes in the shop when I heard a shrill shriek froed by a short, shapely wo unexpected tears prick oing to the hotel first So me, after all I ran a hand down her thick black hair, affectionate with her in a way that I could never be even with my own mother

“I didn’t think you’d ever co back Her eyes were a brown so dark they looked black They were lovely and mysterious She was lovely and mysterious She was in herat her She was shapely, taking care of her body olden brown that tied to so much as line Her face was a lovely coe Her lips were full, her nose se and alht Not one part of her was thin, nor was it fat She was just…shapely, down to her perfect ankles She wore a half-shirt, and tiny shorts, just like I remembered, and she still worked them better than any twenty-year old I’d ever met She wore a white plumeria in her hair, as ever

“We talk every week, Auntie You can hardly say I don’t keep in touch”

She just smiled at me, but it was a sad s back home, Lana?”

I bit ely adrift at the question This was home, but I couldn’t come back It hurt to even think about it “Well, I’m here for now I ca appropriate outside of work clothes”

She just s me up “Well, you do look kind of hot in that, but yeah, you need to get your island back on Go say hi to Tutu I’ve got you covered, pretty girl”

I gave her a grateful s to the door that joined Tutu’s café with the surf shop Mari stoppeda plu