Page 27 of One Night in Hawaii

Penelope got up, showing off her perfect figure in the sparkling blue bikini she was wearing. I noticed Ryder noticing. Penelope obviously noticed as well. She pulled on her dress and put her big hat back on. “Lead the way.”

Kona Brewing was the perfect way to unwind after a busy day of snorkeling and exploration. As we entered the vibrant restaurant, I felt a sense of relaxation wash over me. The pleasant aroma of delicious food filled the air, and the cheerful chatter of other diners created a lively atmosphere.

Archer, Ryder, Penelope, and I found a cozy table by the window, and I couldn’t help but notice how Ryder had managed to get Penelope to relax and warm up to him. My best friend had always been a smooth talker but this was a new level for him. I felt like we should high-five.

“I can’t believe you convinced her to come,” I whispered to Ryder, teasingly nudging him.

He grinned mischievously. “Oh, you know me. I’ve got a way with words,” he replied, winking at me.

“I think it’s more about you know how to wear someone down until they give in.”

He chuckled. “Same thing.”

As we settled in, the waiter came over to take our orders. We decided to try some of the famous craft beers. The conversation flowed easily, with jokes and laughter punctuating the moments of silence. We reminisced about our adventures earlier in the day and talked about some of the other reefs they might want to check out.

Throughout the evening, I found myself stealing glances at Archer. His relaxed demeanor and the way his eyes sparkled when he laughed warmed my heart. There was something special about the way we connected, as if we were two pieces of a puzzle that fit perfectly together. How in the world did I finally find a man I was truly interested in, but he was so out of my league? Life could be so unfair.

At one point, I didn’t know what I was thinking, but my foot brushed against Archer’s leg. His eyes met mine. They were full of heat and promise. I quickly pulled my foot back, like I had been burned. He hooked his foot around my ankle and pulled it back toward him. I almost forgot we were in a busy restaurant with two other people at our table.

“I’ll be right back,” Penelope said as she got up from the table.

I didn’t bother offering to go with her. She was a big girl. Ryder excused himself to go to the restroom, leaving Archer and me alone for a moment. I took a deep breath, summoning the courage to speak my mind.

“I had a lot of fun today,” I said to Archer, my cheeks flushing slightly.

He smiled warmly, reaching across the table to hold my hand. “Me too. Today has been amazing. I hope to do it again.”

I felt my heart swell with affection, and I squeezed his hand gently. “We can. Anything you want to do.”

Archer’s gaze softened, and he leaned closer, his voice barely above a whisper. “Anything?”

Before I could respond, Ryder returned to the table, breaking the momentary intimacy. I jerked my hand back and grabbed the beer. Ryder saw. He flashed me a mischievous grin and I just knew he was up to something.

“Hey, did you think about that party?” he asked casually. “You have to come.”

“Party?” Penelope asked and took her seat again.

“Yeah, there’s this big party in two days. I’m trying to get Shiloh to go, but she’s hesitating.”

“I’ll go!” Penelope blurted out. “Which means you have to go, Shiloh. I need a friend. I don’t want to be a lonely tourist amongst the locals.”

I looked at Archer. “Would you like to come along?”

“Sounds like a plan to me.”

“Then it’s settled!” Ryder exclaimed. “You guys are going to have the time of your lives.”

11

ARCHER

Ihoped Shiloh wasn’t mad at me for canceling our plans yesterday. The meeting I had was unavoidable, and I felt terrible for having to bail on her. She had been so excited about spending the day together, and I didn’t want to disappoint her, but duty called. I had been so close to skipping the meeting but that little part of me that was still all about schedules and life plans wouldn’t let me do it.

After the meeting, I was pretty sure I had made the wrong choice. My day would have been a million times better if I could have spent it with her. She wanted to take me on her boat, which was like she was inviting me over to her place. There was usually only one reason a woman invited a man over.

And I fucked it up. I was debating whether or not I should text her or wait for her to text me. I didn’t want to foist myself on her. I knew she had things to do and acting as my personal tour guide wasn’t likely to be high on her list of things to do. My disappointment was compounded by the fact that Penelope did get to go with her. She got back late and only said she had a great time and I really missed out.

I made myself coffee and went to sit on the deck and enjoy the morning breeze. The sound of the waves rolling in and out with the occasional squawk from a bird flying overhead was very relaxing. Since I left New York, I felt my typical stress level drop dramatically. This was why people took vacations. I never really gave myself the chance to truly unwind. Mostly because it gave me time to think. I didn’t want to think about shit. That only served to stress me out further.

---