Page 123 of Reel Love

There’s a knock at my door. I’m not expecting anyone, and it’s far too soon for Kai to be back here. Shaka barks a few times, then he stands staring at the door with his tail wagging. Definitely not a guard dog.

I open it and Alana’s standing on my porch. She’s not Hollywood Alana right now. She’s my Alana—the Marbella Island version of herself. Her hair is down, curling around her face. Her makeup is barely there. And she’s wearing jeans shorts and a whitetank top with these heels that don’t exactly match the casual vibe of the rest of her outfit.

“Um, hi.” She smiles and bats her eyelashes at me and sticks one leg out toward me, pointing her toe. “I was wondering if you—or maybe any of your neighbors—happened to know a guy who is proficient at removing sandals.”

“Hi.” I stare into her eyes like I’m looking at a mirage. “I think I know a guy. And I’m pretty sure he wants to be the only man taking sandals off your feet. So please, come in and stop this door-to-door insanity.”

“He wants to be the only one, huh?” She’s playing, but I feel the need beneath her question.

“He’s most definitely the only one. And he’s not really interested in taking on any other sandal removal jobs at the time. He’s pretty single-minded in his devotion to your sandals.”

“Is that so?” She smiles.

I pull her toward me. Shaka runs through my legs, between us and then behind Alana, rubbing against us the whole time.

“You got a dog?”

Alana’s still in my arms, but her head is pulled back so I can see her face. I bend down and kiss her. Then I brush the tip of my nose against the tip of hers and lean in so our foreheads are resting against one another.

“I did not get a dog. I’m dog sitting. Kalaine and Bodhi are in labor. Well, Kalaine is. Anyway, they’re having their baby. And Kai is with them, so I’m temporarily caring for Shaka.”

“Shaka, is it?” Alana releases me and squats low, rubbing Shaka behind the ears. “Aren’t you a cutie? Yes, you are.”

Shaka’s tail wags furiously.

Alana looks up at me. “Actually, I came to ask you if you’d consider having dinner at my place.”

“I’d love to, but …”

“No. Yeah. I get it,” she hedges.

“You get it?”

“After what happened at the gala, you might need to take some space.”

“Alana, you apologized for that. I’m trying to put it behind us. I was going to say, ‘I’m dog sitting.’ He’s a little clingy right now. I think he senses that Kalaine’s in labor, and he’s never been over here. He’s a bit insecure right now. I don’t want to leave him here alone.”

“You could bring him.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes. I’m sure. I want to see you. And I want to make up for that horrible introduction to my mother and Rex.”

“The scoreboard is wiped clean. We’re good,” I assure her. “That situation was as much my fault as yours. Actually, it wasn’t really anyone’s fault. Wires were crossed. We were blindsided. It’s done.”

“Okay.” She nods as if she’s accepting my explanation and is finally letting go. “I still want to have a meal with you. I may have a delivery arriving in an hour.”

“A delivery?”

“Of tacos.”

“Ahhhh … Mitzi’s?”

“Yes. I got your favorite. And chips and guacamole.”

“Well, you drive a hard bargain, Graves. Let me get Shaka on a leash and we’ll go have some tacos.”

Alana had a driver drop her off when she came over. Apparently, she was that sure she was going to talk me into coming back with her. I’m glad she feels that confident in my commitment to her. After I text Kai to ask if Shaka can come with us to Alana’s, we take my golf cart to her house, putting Shaka between us on the front bench.

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