Page 54 of Try Easy

“She can’t just forget her life in Seattle to come out here and marry Bones,” Lou said. “It’s ridiculous.”

Keoni stared at her. The fire cast shadows over his face. He wore a stony expression that Lou couldn’t read. “Why not?” he asked.

“Because it’s ridiculous.”

“Yeah, you said that already.”

“I didn’t come here to have vacation fling,” she blurted.

“We weren’t talking about us,” he said.

“You kissed me,” she said.

“You kissed me,” he corrected her, his voice softening.

Lou knew from Keoni’s tone of voice that he was thinking about that kiss, and now so was she. She wanted to kiss Keoni again, even though she was angry and confused. She wanted to press her body to his and feel the hard ripple of his muscles under her fingertips.

Keoni wet his lips, and Lou watched the pink tip of his tongue find the groove of the cut on his lip. She remembered the metallic taste of his blood on her tongue, and suppressed a shudder of desire.

“Cold?” Keoni asked.

“A little,” she admitted.

Keoni broke some twigs in half and fed them to the fire. Sparks danced into the sky.

“I don’t know why I’m so angry,” Lou said, feeling her frustration fizzle as she stared at the flames. “I’m sorry I yelled at you.”

Keoni shrugged. “Me, too,” he said, even though he hadn’t done any yelling.

He threw another branch on the fire and sipped his beer, seeming lost in thought. He had that look on his face again—the pained expression that Lou had referred to earlier. Lou wished she knew Keoni well enough to ask him what he was thinking about when he retreated into his own little world.

She studied his profile, appreciating the strong lines of his face. He had a straight, proud nose, full lips, and a square jawline under the scruff of his beard. He was so handsome, it was hard to believe he didn’t have a girl.

“Why don’t you have a girlfriend?” Lou asked.

“Who says I don’t?”

Lou smiled. “If you had a girlfriend, you wouldn’t be spending all your time with me.”

“Maybe I like you.”

Maybe she liked him, too.She said, “Answer the question.”

Keoni took a long pull from his beer, and then glanced down at her. “I never met the right girl,” he said, looking into her eyes. “I want somebody special.” His throat worked as he swallowed. “I want somebody who isn’t afraid to show how she feels. Somebody brave, who can face her fears. Somebody kind, who looks out for her best friend.” Keoni reached up and brushed a strand of hair behind Lou’s ear. His fingers curled around her neck. “I want somebody whose laugh lights up my world.”

Lou shivered, but it wasn’t because she was cold. The heat from Keoni’s body was warmer than the fire. They were so close that she could feel his breath on her cheek.

“Why don’t you date tourists?” she asked.

“I fell in love with one,” he admitted.

“What happened?”

“She broke my heart.”

“Is that what makes you so sad sometimes?”

He dropped his hand and turned to look at the fire. “No,” he said.

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