Page 36 of His Hawaiian Heart
“Thank you for this,” I said as I looked at him across the table.
“Thank you for joining me.” The smile she gave at my statement warmed me as no meal could ever do. “I’m afraid they don’t have cookies, but their dessert menu offers a nice variety of choices.”
“Hmmm,” I hummed as I used the toe of my stiletto to run up his shin. The flare of his nostrils had me pretty sure there could be a wet spot on the chair when I stood. “Speaking of choices, I do believe I’m ready to make mine.”
The fact he didn’t even bother to pass the leather-bound dessert menu didn’t go unnoticed. He’d been nothing but focused on my every possible need from the moment I’d watched him pull his car off the road. This sudden lapse had me intent on returning the favor and focusing on his needs.
“How about instead of eating any one of what I’m sure are delicious confectionaries here, we go someplace else to share dessert?”
“Seeing as how you’ve told me you’ve never been to Kauai before, just tell me what you fancy, and I’ll do my best to find it for you.”
I leaned forward and turned my hand he’d covered with his over in order to entwine our fingers. “I don’t believe we’ll need a map. I already know exactly what I want. Take me home, Sam.”
His smile slipped a bit and I almost drew my foot back to kick myself. Instead, I shook my head. “Rewind. What I meant to say was take me toyourhome, Sam. I want to strip off my dress, kick off my heels and enjoy my dessert… on my knees.”
His eyes widened and his fingers tightened on mine as his free hand reached to cup my cheek. “Your wish is my command, and you can strip off your clothes, but, babygirl, those heels? Those stay on.”
It was my turn to clench though it wasn’t my fingers but my core as he drew his thumb across my slightly parted lips.
“Is that understood?”
“Sir, yes, Sir,” I said, my breath wafting over his thumb.
I was pretty sure I was the only one who heard his growl, but I didn’t care if everyone in the restaurant heard. All I cared about was the man who stood, threw a wad of cash onto the table, then drew me up and out of my chair. I’m pretty sure I walked out of the restaurant on my own two feet, but I wouldn’t swear to it in a court of law. All I knew was that before the night was over, I was going to fly.
The drive didn’t take us down to the beach or even along the coastline. It took us up, giving me alternating views of both lush forests and the expanse of the ocean as we wound higher and higher. The air wafting through the windows was soft and got slightly chilly as the elevation rose.
“Do you live on top of the mountain?” I asked as we took another curve.
“Pretty much,” he said, surprising me.
“Seriously?”
He glanced over and grinned before turning his attention back to the road. “I can’t take any credit for the choice of location. That honor belongs to my great-great-great grandfather. It was pure luck that put me in the family line.”
I shook my head. “Funny, as I don’t see you as a playboy… well, not in the common definition of the word. I mean, if you aren’t a boy who enjoys play, then I’ve not only misplaced the bases, I’m not even in the stadium. What I mean is, you don’t strike me as a man who is content to do nothing more than loll around sucking off the family teat.” His bark of laughter was genuine and had me smiling. “Are you saying I’m wrong?”
“Depends, on what part you’re talking about. If it’s the part about baseball, I assure you you’re not only inside the stadium, you’re sitting in a box seat behind home plate. I do indeed enjoy playing and unless I totally failed anatomy, I’m pretty damn sure I’m a boy.”
I laughed. “Though I’ve not yet seen actual proof of that, I’m willing to state you didn’t fail unless all that twitching behind your zipper is some gerbil attempting to get free.”
This time, I didn’t smile when he laughed, I laughed right along with him. It took a few minutes before he reached up and wiped his eye. “God, you’re not afraid to say what you want, are you?”
“Nope,” I said, wiping my own eyes. “I find I have more in common with your Grammy than just being rather fond of you. We both believe life is too short to waste beating around the bush.”
He shot me another grin. “I agree. Now back to your question about being wrong on the second part of your assessment, I’d say it’s pretty much a split decision. Do I enjoy lolling around doing nothing? Absolutely not. But do I enjoy sucking? I’d saythat depends on what teat we’re talking about. If it belongs to a gorgeous, flame-haired, smartass doctor, then I believe you’ll find me guilty as charged.”
Pleasure flooded through me at the thought of his lips around my nipple.
“Exactly how tall is this mountain of yours, Mr. Blackwell?”
“The highest peak is over five thousand feet, but we won’t go that high. Cattle don’t have a problem with water but when it rains on them every day, they tend to get a bit antsy.”
“You have cows?”
He chuckled. “The ranch is home to several hundred head of cattle, yes.”
“Wait, you own a ranch?”
