Page 14 of Knot Your Sunshine
Chapter five
Mia
Hawaiian heat envelops me in its warm embrace the moment we step outside the airport, while a refreshing breeze drifts past, carrying traces of salt and plumeria.
Josh walks beside me toward the helicopter, and I keep stealing glances at him and his beautiful wavy blond hair, trying to be subtle and probably failing. There's something about him that's been pulling at me since the moment he said my name in the airport. Something that makes my pulse quicken every time he adjusts those glasses.
I don't think it's his height, though he's easily six feet and I do love me a tall alpha. No, it's something else... His scent, maybe? I can't quite capture it fully, but… there's something about it that makes my omega take notice and—
"So, uh, what's your favorite color?"
The question comes out of nowhere, and I glance at him sideways. His hands are shoved deep in his pockets, shoulders slightly hunched like he's thirteen and asking someone to the school dance.
"Violet," I say, unable to stop the smile spreading across my face. "Like my eyes."
"That's... that's a beautiful color." He pushes his glasses up his nose, and I notice his fingers are long, elegant. "I mean, on you. Your eyes. They're beautiful."
Heat blooms across my cheeks, and I breathe in deeper, desperate to catch more of that elusive scent. It's like it's wrapped in cotton, muffled somehow, but what gets through makes me want to lean closer.
Behind us, Elena makes a soft sound, definitely a suppressed laugh, and I shoot her a look over my shoulder. She's grinning, eyes sparkling with mischief.
We round a corner, and there it is, the helicopter, sleek and modern, all glossy black and chrome. My stomach does a little flip. I've never been in a helicopter before.
The pilot, a beta woman with short-cropped hair and aviator sunglasses, greets us with a professional smile. "Welcome. I'm Captain Torres. We'll be taking a scenic route today: twenty minutes of the best views Hawaii has to offer on the way to the Oceana Deluxe Resort." She hands us each a headset. "These are for communication and will block out the engine noise while letting you hear each other clearly. The sides are open for optimal viewing, but please keep your seatbelts fastened and all body parts inside the aircraft. Now, please make yourselves comfortable and enjoy the ride."
I slide into the plush leather seat, ending up between Elena and Cole. Josh settles across from us, his knees almost touching mine in the confined space. Even with the gap between us, I swear I can feel his warmth, catch whispers of that maddening scent every time the air shifts.
The helicopter lifts, and my stomach drops. The ground falls away and the open sides let warm Hawaiian wind rush past us, tugging at my hair.
"Oh my god," I breathe, gripping Elena's hand. "Look at that."
The ocean spreads below in shades of blue I didn't know existed, turquoise near the shore deepening to sapphire, then navy where the seafloor drops away. Waves crash against black volcanic cliffs, sending spray high into the air where it catches the sunlight like diamonds.
"That's incredible," Elena says through the headset, squeezing my hand back.
Josh leans forward, and his whiskey-brown eyes are bright with enthusiasm. "See those valleys?" He points to our left where emerald green cuts deep into the mountains. "Those are the Ko'olau Mountains. They're actually the remnants of a massive shield volcano."
"When did it last erupt?" Elena asks, and I love her for encouraging him because his whole face lights up when he talks.
"The Ko'olau volcano has been dormant for about two million years," Josh says, and god, the way he gets excited about geology shouldn't be this attractive. "But the volcanic soil is what makes everything so lush. Those waterfalls you see?"
I follow his pointing finger to silver ribbons tumbling into hidden pools far below.
"Some of them are over a thousand feet high. And that plantation on the slope—" He indicates terraced hillsides dotted with neat rows of green. "That's a coffee plantation. The combination of altitude, volcanic soil, and climate creates beans with notes of chocolate and cherry. It's actually fascinating how the mineral content—"
He catches himself, color rising in his cheeks. "Sorry, I'm probably boring you."
"Not at all," I say quickly, maybe too quickly. "I love hearing about it."
Our eyes meet, and the view around us fades away.
After what seems like it could be one second or one hour, Cole clears his throat. "Is that the resort?" His voice snaps me back to reality, and I blink, suddenly aware that I've been completely lost in Josh's gaze.
Did I really just zone out staring at him for that long?
When I look around, slightly dazed, I catch Elena watching me with an amused smile.
The helicopter banks toward a secluded cove, and buildings emerge from the coastline like they grew there naturally. All warm wood and glass, with infinity pools that seem to spill directly into the ocean.
