Page 63 of Stone
“Nah, you won’t, boss.”
“Captain Jack?” I asked. “Catchy.”
“Dani, meet Kekoa. He works with me. Maybe not for much longer if he continues to annoy me.” Stone was determined to ignore the comment.
Kekoa immediately headed in my direction, his huge arm extended. “I’ve heard a lot about you. You’re even prettier than the boss said you were.” He threw a look over his shouldertoward his boss, winking when he did. “He’s proud of the name. Don’t let him fool you.”
“That’s it,” Stone tossed in. “You’re fired.”
“You couldn’t live a day without me and you know it,” Kekoa told him.
Laughing, I shook his hand, the firm shake followed by a wicked smile crossing the man’s face.
“Oh, I never allow Stone to throw me. I can always tell when he’s fibbing. Thanks for letting me in on the secret. I certainly hope Stone didn’t let you in on all mine since they might be a tad bit dirty.”
“Nah. He just said you were beautiful.” Kekoa was practically beaming.
Brows drawn together, Stone shook his head, his exaggerated sigh followed by a grumble under his breath. “I was just telling my partner I had other things to do today.”
“Partner? Since when?” Kekoa asked. “I thought I was fired. I was planning on spending the afternoon kicked back with a banana daiquiri.”
I didn’t buy the excuse, at least not completely. The two of them had been up to something.
“Since if you get the hell out of here and take the tour. No daiquiris.” Stone slapped his hands on his hips.
Kekoa grinned and threw up his hands. “Such a slave driver, but I love tourists, boss. Happy to help. Enjoy your day off. I think you might have your hands full.”
Stone waved him off almost as if the man was a nuisance.
I remained where I was as Stone sauntered forward. With his eyes hidden behind his blue tinted shades, I had no clue what he was thinking or planning, yet I could tell by the way his dimples were more highlighted than before he had something more mischievous on his mind.
“You didn’t need to do that,” I told him. “You had a group waiting for an appearance of the Captain Extraordinaire.”
“You’re as much a comedian as Kekoa. Maybe you should take the tour.”
“I’d love to, but you won’t allow me out of your sight.”
He suddenly turned serious, even kicking his flip-flop on the sandy soil. “You’re not a prisoner here, but I’ve treated you as one. That’s not fair. Let’s grab some drinks and a couple towels and we’ll head to my favorite cove. Perhaps you’ll discover some inspiration.”
“My goodness. You’ll allow me near the water?”
The way he lifted his sunglasses, giving me a stern look created another wave of tingles. Then he pointed his finger at me and I acted as if I was going to bite it off. “No swimming. You can take your suit, but no getting in the water. If you do, you’ll have hell to pay.”
“Promises. Promises.”
He dropped his head quickly, shaking it while snorting. At least he’d taken another mood swing. I’d thought so much about what he’d told me about the mother and her children. I couldn’t imagine the damage their deaths had inflicted on his soul and psyche.
“So, do you mind if I take my sketch pad?”
“I was kind of hoping you’d say that.” He sauntered closer, close enough I was able to gather a whiff of his aftershave. Fresh yet masculine, a captivating scent that lingered in the air with a touch of danger, seduction, and the promise of something more. He fiddled with my hair, allowing his long fingers to tangle in the strands for a few seconds before brushing them over my naked shoulder.
His touch was breathtaking.
“I can’t wait to see more of the island. I understand why you love it so much. I could see myself living here and that’s saying a lot. Paris is very special.”
“Maybe you’ll need to tell me why.”
“Maybe I will.”
