Page 23 of Keeping Kama

Derek and Tyson were opposites. Tyson wanted investment deals that were fast. Get in and get out was Tyson’s motto. Derek, on the other hand, took his time studying the potential investments out at every angle. Their different approaches served to balance each other out. Tyson was all risk. Derek was all caution. Then together they were magic. A combination which made them successful in the growth of their investment company.

Tipping her head in his direction, Leia asked, “Do you need to get that?” Her gaze skidded to his buzzing pocket then back to the road. “I don’t mind you answering it.”

Pulling his arm back into the safety of the truck, Derek pressed the window up button. Rolling it back up, he stopped it an inch from the top. “I’m okay. I know who it is.” He shifted his shoulders toward her. “And I’m in no hurry to answer it.”

“How can you know who it is? I haven’t seen you check your phone once, and it’s buzzed probably twenty times in the last few minutes.” Leia double checked the rear-view mirror then over her shoulder before exiting the two-lane highway. “Whoever it is, they certainly seem impatient to touch base with you.”

Derek sighed, making his chest heave. “It’s got to be Tyson, my business partner.” Tension crept back into his neck and shoulders. “Onlyhewould text me a bazillion times in a row.”

Raising her perfectly plucked eyebrows, Leia asked, “Are you sure it’s not that ex-girlfriend of yours?” Derek paused, and when he didn’t reply, Leia continued, “Maybe she’s come to her senses and realized the error of her ways. Maybe she’s come crawling back.” She pursed her lips together.

Rolling his eyes, Derek shook his head. “Nah, it’s not her. Promise.” His pocket buzzed again. “She was very clear she was done with me.”

“Check it.” Leia pulled into the parking lot of the pancake house. “The suspense is driving me batty.” She parked, turning off the engine.

Reluctantly, Derek slipped his phone out of the pocket of his board shorts. With a tap of his finger, the screen lit up. Unbuckling his seat belt, Derek scanned the extensive list of messages from none other than Tyson. As he suspected, Tyson had texted him multiple times asking for an update on the potential farm investment. Before Derek left for Hawaii, Tyson had voiced his hesitation to invest in the farm. Tyson didn’t believe it was worth their time when the potential investment would take years to recoup. Derek had started to move forward on the initial meeting without Tyson’s full support, because he believed the farm could be profitable again.

Tyson wanted Derek’s final decision, and Derek didn’t have one. Not yet. Derek shot Tyson a quick text letting him know he’d call him later with an update. Immediately, Tyson texted back, giving him a time by which he needed a report.

His jaw clenched as he slid his phone back into his pocket. Derek said, “Sorry about that.” He cranked his neck back and forth, to rid it of tension. Unbuckling his seatbelt, Derek reached for the door. “Are you ready to eat? I’m starving.”

“Me too,” replied Leia.

Leia unbuckled her seatbelt, climbing out of the truck. Derek exited and went around the front of the truck to join Leia. Once together, they wandered to the front of the pancake house. Derek held the door open for Leia, the wafting smell of bacon and pancakes came tumbling out. His stomach growled.

Leia pointed at his stomach and said, “I heard that,” she laughed.

They walked to the end of the line of people waiting to order.

Placing a hand over his abdomen, Derek rubbed it. “I guess I worked up an appetite.” He smirked, then bumped his shoulder against hers. “I was trying to keep up with a beautiful surfer I know.”

Leia shuffled her feet, peering down at them for a second. Red splashed her cheeks, making Derek’s pulse gallop.

Leia stammered, “I— I—” She twisted her hair around one of her fingers.

A voice from behind them, interrupted Leia. “Hey, are you two lovebirds in line or what?” The woman encroached on their space, breathing down their necks.

Derek flinched. With a swift peek over his shoulder, he caught the glare of the disgruntled person. Derek smiled. “We’re in line. Sorry, we’ll move up. We didn’t notice it had moved.” Derek exchanged a conspiratorial look with Leia.

Leia’s lips curled up at the corners into a half smile. They shuffled forward up the line.

Once properly in the correct spot in line, Leia pointed up at the menu on the wall behind the cash registers. “I always order the banana macadamia nut pancakes.” Leia then looped her thumb around one of her empty belt loops.

Rubbing his jaw, Derek scanned the menu. “Banana macadamia nut pancakes, you say? I can’t say that I’ve ever had them before.”

As Leia leaned a bit closer to him, he felt Leia’s breath on his neck. It sent a shot of adrenaline down his spine. “I think you’ll like them,” said Leia. “Unless you don’t like banana,” Leia paused then added, “then you’ll probably hate them.”

He tried to peruse the menu some more but found himself distracted by Leia’s nearness. Derek spoke slowly, “I don’t mind banana.” Derek couldn’t decide.

“Everything here is good.” Leia gestured toward the menu. “I don’t want you feeling like youhaveto get the banana pancakes, just because I suggested it. I know people can have strong opinions when it comes to banana.” Leia nibbled on a fingernail.

Was Derek picking up on some nervous energy from Leia? Leia always came across super confident. Derek loved seeing her a bit vulnerable. The line moved again. They shuffled forward.

Because he couldn’t resist, Derek wrapped an arm around Leia’s shoulders, giving her a squeeze. “I’ll get the same as you. You’ve been here before, I trust your opinion,” said Derek.

Her face lit up. “I think you won’t be disappointed.” Leia swiped at her forehead with the back of her wrist.

Forcing his arm away from her shoulders, Derek stepped forward. Soon, they arrived at the front of the line. Derek ordered them both banana macadamia nut pancakes and two drinks. Afterwards, they found an empty two-top table in the small, crowded restaurant. They sat down across from one another.

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