Page 13 of Pallas & Kawehi

She sat back in her chair and gave him a look that made him want to wrap his arms around her and pull her close, but for now, he’d have to content himself with just being there for her. And he would, because he knew from the moment he saw her that Kawehi was going to be someone important in his life.

He could wait for her as long as it took. He could be a very patient man.

KAWEHI

Kawehi wasn’t sure how awkward it was going to be after she told him that she was married.

Separated.

Very, very separated.

So separated that when he’d walked in, her heart had pounded in her chest like it wanted to burst out of her chest.

To say that she was attracted to him was an understatement, but even though she didn’t wear her wedding ring, she’d felt it weighing on her ring finger like lead.

When he helped her get rid of those guys earlier, it felt good.

She hadn’t had someone stand up for her like that in a long time. Her family? Of course they did, but outside of that? Not so much. That’s why she was so shocked when he’d come up to help her.

And after her really awkward admission, he hadn’t run for the hills, or mountains as it was on the Windward side of the island.

Eating with him had been fun after that, too. She told him about growing up in the area and living the life that she’d enjoyed until…

And then she’d asked him about his life and learned about why he was so great with chopsticks.

“Dad was stationed all over and for a time we were in Okinawa. It was called Camp Courtney and we were in Uruma City in Okinawa. Our next door neighbor was from Hawaii actually. So between going over to their place with my mom, I had a lot of exposure to chopsticks.”

“You’re good at it.” Kawehi smiled. “You might be better than me.”

He shook his head.

“I’m sorry that I didn’t ask you what you wanted for utensils instead of assuming.”

He laughed. “I don’t blame you. You’re used to either locals who know what they’re doing or tourists who don’t. I can tell that you weren’t expecting me.”

“No,” she shook her head, “I certainly wasn’t expecting you.”

“That makes both of us.” He smiled. “I can tell I’m going to like it here.”

“Here?” She coughed a little, tapping her knuckles against her breastbone to calm herself.

He gestured at the building around them. “I like to bowl.”

“You… you like to bowl?”

“You look surprised.” He certainly seemed to smile at the idea.

“Well, yeah. I don’t think I’ve ever seen someone who looks like you, bowling.”

“I think I’m going to spend a lot of time surprising you, Kawehi.”

“You’re already doing a great job of it.”

“This is just the beginning.”

Just the beginning.

Whoa boy.

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