Page 67 of The Wrong Fiancée

She turned her face into my hand, and I held my breath. Was she giving me a chance? Or just leaning in during a difficult time? I didn't give a shit. I took advantage of her weakness and pulled her into my arms.

For the first time in four years, she was this close to me, and I sank into her, letting her perfume and touch permeate me.

I watched Dad walk up to us, his eyes shielded by shades. He tipped his Fedora at me, making me smile.

Elika raised her head from my chest and smiled. "Thank you. We should go back."

"How about we go do something else?" I suggested.

"Like what?"

I smiled widely. I'd done my research on things to do on the island since my father had won the fair maiden with Hanapepe. Well, round two was mine!

"I love to snorkel," Elika exclaimed. "Do you know how long it's been since I did this?"

I could only imagine.

We'd driven to Po?ipu Beach, where the sand was golden and soft, leading into the clearest water I'd ever seen. It was postcard perfect: pure, unfiltered beauty.

Dad had wandered off. He'd commented about not wanting to deal with tight wetsuits and told uskidsto have a good time. That was fine by me. I was looking forward to some time alone with Elika.

I glanced over at Elika, watching her pull her hair back and tie it into a loose knot, prepping for the snorkeling gear. She seemed lighter today—like the tension she carried had loosened up a bit since this morning at Ka Pono. I wasn't sure if it was the beach, the sun, or the fact that we were here and not dealing with any drama, but she was smiling, and I liked that. Hell, I liked seeing her like this, free from the burdens that usually weighed her down.

I handed her one of the snorkels and pulled mine on, adjusting the mask over my face. I snorkeled and went scuba diving every chance I got, and I looked forward to experiencing the waters with Elika.

"You good?" I asked, tugging at the straps of my mask.

She gave me a small smile, adjusting her mask. "Better than good. Thank you for this, Dean."

"It's entirely my pleasure." And it was. I loved seeing her happy—it made my heart full. Duncan had once told me that he didn't understand what love meant, but he assumed it was how when Elsa, his wife, smiled because of something he did, he felt like he'd won an award. I could now relate.

We waded into the water, the coolness of it hitting my legs first, then rising to my waist. It was that perfect kind of temperature—cool enough to refresh but not so cold that it shocked you. I dipped under for a second to get used to the mask, the water rushing over me like silk. When I came back up, Elika was already a few feet ahead of me, floating on the surface like she belonged there. She was born and raised on the islands—water was as much a part of her as the air she breathed, a constant presence that shaped her life and spirit.

I followed her lead, kicking off the sand and floating into the blue.

The second I put my head under, it was like entering a different world. The water was clear, so clear you could see every detail beneath the surface—schools of fish darting in and out of the coral, bright flashes of yellow and blue weaving through the shadows. The reef was alive with color, from deep purples and reds to the vibrant greens of the seaweed swaying with the current. Everything moved in rhythm with the ocean, like the entire world had slowed down just for us.

I caught up to Elika, and we swam side by side, drifting along with the gentle push of the water. A sea turtle—huge, ancient-looking—glided below us, its fins moving slowly and purposefully like it had all the time in the world. I nudged Elika, pointing down, and she looked, her eyes wide behind her mask. She gave me a thumbs-up.

We kept going, exploring the reef, taking it all in. Parrotfish nibbled at the coral, their bright colors flashing in the sunlight filtering down through the water. Small triggerfish darted around us, curious but cautious. The coral formations were like underwater cities, built up over time, their intricate structures teeming with life. It was quiet down here, just the sound of my breathing through the snorkel and the occasional bubble escaping to the surface.

Now and then, I'd look over at Elika, watching how effortlessly she moved in the water. There was something peaceful about her here, something grounded. This wasn’t the Elika Iknew from the resort or the one burdened by her family’s expectations. This was someone else—lighter, more at ease, like she belonged in a place like this. I had given her that, and Duncan was right—I did feel like I’d won an award.

I didn't know if Elika and I would have a relationship that could thrive—we didn't know each other well. Still, I was intensely attracted to her, not just physically but emotionally as well. I wanted us to have a chance to explore what we could be. We were in love with each other, but as my mother always said,loving someone and living and growing with that someone are two different things.

Could Elika and I grow together? Could we get past all the drama, some I created, some Felicity did?

We swam further out, stopping when we came across a deeper part of the reef, where the water turned a darker blue. Below us, the coral dropped off, revealing an underwater canyon. The depth was dizzying, but the sight of it was breathtaking. Schools of butterflyfish circled in the deeper waters, their yellow bodies flickering like candles against the dark backdrop. It felt like we were floating on the edge of something vast and ancient, something that stretched far beyond us.

After what felt like hours, but in reality it was probably forty five or so minutes, I surfaced, pulling off my mask and taking in the view of the shoreline. The beach was still quiet, with a few tourists lounging on towels and kids splashing in the shallow water. But out here, we had it all to ourselves.

Elika surfaced next to me, her mask pushed up on her head, her hair wet and slicked back. She grinned at me, water dripping down her face. "That was amazing."

"Yeah." I wiped the water off my face. "Not a bad way to spend an afternoon."

We floated for a moment, letting the gentle current push us back toward shore.

I watched Elika, focused on her, forgetting everything else. The resort, the drama, Felicity—all of it was miles away, physically and emotionally. Out here, it was just us. Just this.

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