Page 36 of Two Tickets to Paradise

Cora went back to stirring, looking at Kawehi and the happy smile on her face.

"What are you saying?"

Kawehi gave her a good natured smirk "She'd have to climb him like a coconut tree and I'm pretty sure Axl could stop her before that happened."

Cora nodded, agreeing with her. "True enough."

The oven dinged and Kawehi tensed up.

"I can keep stirring that."

Kawehi let out a relieved sigh. "Yes, please."

Cora, relieved that she could help out, took the edge of the bowl in her hand and drew it over to her on the table. "I've got this."

Kawehi moved over to the oven, putting mitts on her hands. As she opened the oven door, a plume of heat rolled out. Before she reached inside, she looked back at Cora. "It's good to have you here. Don't let us sour your time with your brother."

Cora shook her head. "You're not. Really," she looked over at Maile who was still tearing through the corn, "it's been a while since we've spent any real time together. This is a lot to absorb at one time, but I'm guessing that Cam is having a similar reaction to this change in our relationship."

Kawehi nodded as she turned a casserole pan around in the oven and closed it up again. "I can tell you that he could easily get in someone's face physically. He's one of the biggest guys on the team, but he's never been physically intimidating toward anyone in public."

Cora looked over at Maile and saw the way she was mumbling under her breath. "And Maile? It seems like she'd be up for kicking Cameron in the shins if he looked at her wrong."

"Well, I think they've gotten under each other's skin." Kawehi gave her a look that spoke volumes. Leaning in, she lowered her voice and whispered into Cora's ear. "If you ask me, they argue and argue but while they want to tear each other's hair out, I think... it's more a matter of a line, a very thin line, if you ask me, between-"

"Love and hate?" Cora turned and shared a smile with Kawehi. "Oh... this is going to be fun."

Kawehi nodded. "That's what I think, too."

The sliding door slid open and all three of the women looked up. Cameron stood there, half-glaring, half-snarling at the room. "You got that corn ready?"

A half-shucked ear of corn flew through the air and zoomed past Cameron's head.

He didn't move.

He didn't flinch.

"I'll let you know when I'm done, Axl Foley."

Cora leaned back at the dig, her gaze flying back to her brother's face.

For a moment she held her breath, seeing the seething anger in his eyes, but then something happened.

She saw it.

A sparkle! A crazy little sparkle in his eyes that made her suck in another breath.

His lips curled up at one corner into something that might just look like a smile.

And Maile?

She looked like she might be gearing up to grab a knife and throw it at his head, but she just stood there, hands on her hips, glaring at him as if she could flay his skin off with a look alone.

Boy they were really ready to tear into each other one way or another.

Cora looked over at Kawehi and the other woman nodded almost imperceptibly.

"Well?" Maile lifted her chin like she was pointing it out at the lake. "I'll let you know when it's safe to come back in here for the stupid corn!"

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