Page 3 of Island Love

The boarding call echoes through the terminal. I stand, ready to walk among my customers and employees.

The crew welcomes me aboard, faces lighting up when they see who I am.

“I’m putting your service to the test today,” I tease.

“Yes sir, Mr. Lee. It’s our pleasure.”

This is my favorite part of the job - experience my airline as a regular customer.

3

Hawa

In strides the most gorgeous man I’ve ever laid eyes on. Tall, with broad shoulders and muscular arms that stretch his shirt in all the right places. Skin the color of roasted chestnuts. Full lips turned up in a slight smile as he glances around the first class cabin. And he has a dimple! When those dark bedroom eyes land on me, it’s like an electric current zaps through my entire body.

I can’t tear my gaze away as he saunters down the aisle with the lazy prowl of a jungle cat. My heart kicks into overdrive when he pauses next to my row, lips curving into a full grin that reveals a flash of straight white teeth.

“Hi.” His voice is a smooth baritone that does dangerous things to my insides.

I swallow hard, hoping I don’t look as flustered as I feel. “H… hi.”

He slides into the seat next to mine, and I catch a whiff of his cologne - something woodsy and masculine. I have to resist the urge to lean and breathe him in.

“Name’s Kai,” he rumbles, extending a giant hand.

I take it, savoring the warmth of his large palm against mine. “Hawa. Nice to meet you.”

“Likewise.” He holds my gaze a beat too long before letting go.

As the flight attendants begin their safety demo, I sneak sideways glances at Kai’s chiseled profile. With that bone structure he could be on the cover of GQ. But it’s more than his ridiculous good looks that have me so intrigued. There’s an easy confidence about him - he carries himself like a man who’s used to being in charge.

I wonder what he does for a living. Businessman? Athlete? Model? My imagination is in overdrive dreaming up possibilities for the gorgeous stranger at my side. One thing’s for sure - this plane ride just got a whole lot more interesting.

I try to focus on the flight attendant’s safety instructions, but my eyes keep drifting back to Kai. When he catches me staring, he flashes a blinding grin that makes my stomach do somersaults.

“First time in Hawaii?” he asks with a rumble of his low voice.

I shake my head. “Yeah, I spent the week here with friends.”

“I’m jealous. Don’t think I’ve ever taken a full week off work.”

“What do you do?” I ask, angling my body toward him.

“Business.” He waves a hand vaguely. “Mostly real estate and hospitality.”

“Ooh, so you run hotels and stuff?”

He chuckles. “Something like that.”

I get the sense there’s more, but I don’t push it. “That sounds exciting.”

“It has its perks,” he says with a wink.

And just like that, I’m all flustered again. Get it together, Hawa. He’s just a guy, not Adonis himself. But the way his eyes crinkle at the corners when he smiles tells me he knows exactly the effect he’s having on me. This man is trouble. Delicious, tempting trouble. And I can’t wait to let him cause some.

Our playful banter continues as the plane levels off, each exchange more charged than the last. And when his knee brushes mine, I don’t pull away.

“You got any fun vacation stories to share?” Kai asks. “Any wild nights out with the girls?”

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