Page 19 of Resorting to Romance

Noah drops his voice to an almost conspiratorial level. “I want to learn how to surf.”

“You do, huh? Did your mom say yes to this?”

Kai looks over at me. I nod again. “Yes. If he takes lessons with someone I trust.”

“In other words, not Ben or Bodhi?” Kai laughs.

“They’re fine. I know they are both great surfers … and good teachers …”

“Well, I wouldn’t let anyone teach you but me,” Kai says, beaming at Noah. “I wouldn’t want to miss the first time you pop up on a wave.”

Noah’s smile fills his face. “Can we start today?”

Kai looks over at me. As usual, he reads my expression without me having to say anything.

Then he tells Noah, “I’m honored to teach you to surf, boss man. I think a school day might be pushing it. How about we go out next weekend?”

“Yes!” Noah’s hand shoots up into the air in a fist pump and I wonder when my baby started looking like he’s only a few years shy of adolescence.

“I better clean my room now,” Noah announces. “Just so Mom doesn’t change her mind.”

Kai chuckles as Noah hops off his stool and dashes into the main room and down the hall toward his bedroom.

I put the salad I prepped back into the fridge and then I wipe my hands on my apron.

“So, I have to ask …” I say, settling on one of the stools across from Kai.

“Hmm?”

“Were you really at home when I called last night?”

“Yeah. Why?”

“Chloe said she thought you were out dancing at Club Descanso. I would hate to think I interrupted a date to have you come crawl around under my sink in the middle of the night.”

“Chloe? How would she know if I went out dancing?”

“Marbella. You know how people talk.”

“Hmm. Right. Well, I was out with Ben and Summer earlier last night. Not on a date. But I ended it early. By the time you called I had been home for a while.”

“Good. … I mean, good I didn’t interrupt a date.”

“Not a chance, since I’m not dating anyone right now.”

A silence settles between us for a few seconds. Then I hear the front door of the inn open, so I step out into the main room in case it’s my guests or a delivery. Kai doesn’t follow behind me immediately, probably taking a moment to double check the plumbing.

When I look across the room toward the front doors, I nearly faint. My knees go weak and my mouth goes dry.

“Brad?”

“Mila.”

“Whaa … what are you doing here?”

I hate that my voice quavered. After all these years, I never thought I’d see Brad again. On a rare occasion, I’d imagine running into him when I was on the mainland. Those fantasies always involved me coming off pulled-together and very confident. Stammering wasn’t in the picture. As it is, I’m lucky my knees are holding me upright. I’m possibly three seconds away from collapsing into a puddle of embarrassment.

“I came to see you because I’m pretty sure you wouldn’t take a call. From me, that is. And that’s understandable. I’m just … I want to … talk.”

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