Page 3 of Keeping Kama

His towel now firmly around his waist, he walked two steps closer to her. The distance between them was cut in half. She shifted uncomfortably, because Leia had suddenly become much too aware of his rugged handsomeness. “I’m Derek.” Derek placed a hand over his chest, while he held his free hand out to her. “And what’s your name—woman who saved my life?”

Leia had no choice but to take a step closer. She quickly shook his hand. “Leia,” she said a bit brashly. All business, she took a step back and surveyed his remaining stuff. “So, now that we have the introductions out of the way, Derek, are you ready to go? The path back up to your car is rocky. I don’t need you slipping and becoming unconscious.” Leia closed his stuffed beach bag, throwing it over her shoulder.

His wet towel unwrapped from around his waist, Derek snatched it before it hit the ground and flung it over his shoulder. He clutched his wetsuit then said, “Aye, Aye, Captain, you lead the way.” He smiled, revealing blinding white teeth.

Leia wondered if he was one of those vain guys who whitened their teeth or if he simply hit the genetic lottery. Either way, it made her uneasy. The sooner she left Shark’s Cove and him, the better.

With an eye roll, Leia turned toward the path and muttered under her breath, “I’ve got it. You’re Mister funny guy. Perfect.” With a huff, she walked to the bottom of the rocky path. He moved at a slower pace, and Leia was forced to wait for Derek to catch up with her. Once he arrived, Leia held out a hand to help him up and onto the first rock step. “I’ll follow you. You go first.”

Without protest, Derek slipped his hand into hers, passing by her onto the rock ahead of them. “Thanks, Leia.” Derek paused, dropping her hand. An odd tension bubbled up between them. His crystal blue eyes bore into hers. She might have swooned a tad. Then with a voice full of sincerity, Derek said, “Thanks for saving my life.”

The icy block in her heart thawed. “Anytime, Derek.” With a tremor in her hand, Leia motioned toward the road. “Just drive slower on this road up here. You almost hit me while I was running, too.”

Derek cringed. “I did?” Slowly, his cheeks reddened. “I’m sorry,” he said, with a voice full of remorse. “I didn’t realize how fast I was driving. The rental car I have, the speedometer is broken.” He held up his hand. “I know, no excuse, but I apologize.”

“It might help too if you don’t drive with your windows down and blasting your music at an excruciating volume at five-thirty in the morning.” Leia shrugged. “I’d start there. I’d think it would help, especially if you were driving around with zero ability to know your speed.”

Derek took another step up the rocks. “The air conditioning in my rental car is broken too. I rolled down the windows to keep myself from melting. I’ll never trust a buddy to hook me up with a gooddealever again. It’s been more like I was scammed big time.”

“I’m sorry to hear it.” Leia stepped onto the rock next to him. The path was wider and could fit them side by side. “But come on,” Leia tsked, “Tom Petty?” She cocked an eyebrow.

“Noo.” Derek groaned and placed a hand over his heart like he had been stabbed. “Tom Petty is a legend. I don’t even know how to unwrap that. I’ll pretend you didn’t just insult a total musical icon. I mean ‘Free Falling’ alone is enough to debunk your opinion.”

“But you’re in Hawaii for crying out loud.” Leia scoffed. Her patience wore thin, and she made zero attempt to disguise it. “Listen to Hawaiian music. Nobody will care if you have that blasting out of your car, but Tom Petty …” She climbed up onto the next rock, holding out a hand to him.

Derek took her hand and moved onto the rock next to her. “Message received. I’ll save Tom Petty for when I’m back in California.” Climbing onto the next rock on his own, Leia followed behind him. “My late dad was a huge Tom Petty fan. I listen to it when I want to remember him. Last time I came to Hawaii was with him and my mom.” He shrugged. “I guess I wanted to feel him close to me.”

“When did your dad pass?” asked Leia.

They took the few remaining steps up to where the ground evened out, Derek stopped at the top until Leia joined him. Then he replied, “My dad has been gone so long, sometimes I forget he was ever even here.” His voice faded away. “My mom is gone too. A few years now.”

Leia’s throat grew tight. “I’m sorry,” she offered. “I’m sure it’s nice to have some wonderful memories of them here in Hawaii.”

They walked the flat path to the car, stopping in front of the side door. “Yeah …” Derek ran his free hand over his blond hair. “But I’m in Hawaii now, and I promise the next time I want to blast music; I’ll make sure it’s Hawaiian.”

Tilting her head to the side, Leia observed Derek’s movements. “Much appreciated on behalf of us Hawaiians.” A beat of silence followed. Leia took that as her cue their exchange of pleasantries was over. She held his beach bag out to him, and Derek took it from her. “You do seem okay. How are you feeling? Any lightheadedness? Confusion?”

Derek dug into the bottom of his beach bag, pulling out his keys. “Nope, I’m fit as a fiddle.”

Leia forced a laugh. “Are you sure? Do you want me to call an ambulance for you?”

Off came the towel slung over his shoulder and Derek replied, “No, I’m fine.” He walked to the back of his trunk and opened it, hurling his wetsuit and towel into the back.

Leia bit her bottom lip and studied him for a few more seconds. “If you say you’re feeling normal, then I’ll have to trust you. If anything feels off later today, you should take yourself to the ER to get checked out.” Taking a few steps away from him, Leia continued, “I need to go.” She waved a hand between them. “This whole thing has put me behind schedule, but I hope you enjoy the rest of your stay in Oahu.”

After the beach bag landed in the trunk with a swift toss, Derek shut it. The keys jangled in his hands as he fidgeted with them. Derek said, “Hey, let me give you a ride.”

A backpedal, Leia shook her head. “Sorry, no way.” She held up a single finger. “The first rule of being a woman is you don’t take rides from strangers. Ever.”

“But you saved my life,” Derek emphasized. “So, we’re not strangers, not anymore.”

“It doesn’t matter. I get you’re trying to be a nice guy, but I’m not getting into your car.” Leia took another step away from him. “I would say I’ll see you around, but I won’t, so, Derek from Los Angeles, I’m glad you didn’t die.”

Immediately, Derek busted up laughing again.Maybe Derek did hit his head?Tears streamed down his cheeks. He swiped at them with the back of his palms. Leia lingered. Her gaze roamed over him, reassessing if he did indeed need an ambulance.

Finally, he regained his composure and appeared completely normal. Derek leaned up against his car, crossing his arms. “Okay, Leia from—” shaking his head, “sorry, I didn’t get where you were from.”

“Oahu,” said Leia.

---