Chapter 5 #2
Kimo stripped out of her clothing, turned on the tub faucet and adjusted the temperature. When it was warm enough, she stepped over the rim of the tub, keeping her injured calf outside the shower curtain. Though it was an awkward stance, she managed to duck beneath the spray.
She quickly rubbed shampoo into her hair and over her body, washing away the crusty feeling of dried salt on her skin.
All the while, her thoughts poured over the events of the previous night, finding the shipping container and its grisly contents, watching helplessly as Alana had been abducted and crashing into Rex’s arms as she’d flung herself from the back of the ambulance.
So much had happened. The one thing in all of it that had kept her grounded was the tall, broad-shouldered former Delta Force soldier who’d come to protect her.
She’d learned to count on herself after her parents had died in a plane crash when she’d still been in college.
An only child, she’d had no family to fall back on.
Though her friends had helped her through her grief, Kimo prided herself on her independence.
She normally refused help, preferring to manage situations under her own steam.
But she had to admit, this situation was different. The stakes were higher. Secrets were deadly, and people had died. Whoever was responsible was going to great lengths to keep those secrets. They obviously had the personnel, equipment and connections to make it happen.
As the only person raising a red flag that something horrible had happened, Kimo couldn’t—no, wouldn’t—stop striving for justice for Alana and the people who had drowned in the shipping container. Those responsible had erased the evidence; now all they had to do was remove the only other witness.
Her.
Though she’d been resistant at first to having a bodyguard, the gravity of her predicament was becoming clear. She needed someone to have her back, especially if she planned to go after the camera and start her own search for Alana.
It didn’t hurt that her bodyguard was strong and attractive in that ruggedly sexy way.
If she weren’t so worried about Alana, she would be tempted to explore that attraction.
Having lived on Maui all her life, Kimo knew most of the eligible men who called the island their home. She’d dated a few but hadn’t felt anything that made her want anything more than friendship.
For too long, she’d been looking for that spark—the mind-blowing “ah-ha” moment her parents had told her they’d experienced with their first kiss.
She’d watched her friends fall in love and realized it was different for everyone.
Her friend Kalea had gone from enemies to lovers when her father had saddled her with Hawk as a secret bodyguard.
She’d resented being shadowed until her shadow had saved her life.
Theirs had been a fiery discovery of their love.
Now, they couldn’t imagine life without each other and their baby only made them happier.
Hawk had settled with Kalea on the Big Island and set up a Brotherhood Protectors branch, recruiting former military to protect those who needed it.
Leilani, her beautiful friend she’d known since they were in grade school together, had found love with one of those men working for Hawk.
She’d literally fallen into his arms while giving a guided tour.
Their struggles through danger had brought them close, sparking a love so strong that Kimo could only imagine what that was like.
Then there was Kiana, a former model, now manager of a Maui resort. She’d fallen for one of Hawk’s men when he’d helped her find her missing sister on Oahu.
Kimo frowned. Was it her turn? Was she supposed to be like her friends and fall for her bodyguard?
She shook her head. Rex struck her as a man with intense focus on his mission. As well, now wasn’t the time to consider dating anyone.
Alana had been abducted. People had drowned trapped in a shipping container and Kimo’s home and life were under attack.
Who had time for such silliness as love?
She squared her shoulders, rinsed the soap from her hair and body and turned off the water, convinced her thoughts were on overdrive and out of control.
Like Rex, she needed to focus on finding that camera. To do that, she needed a boat and scuba gear.
After quickly drying herself, careful not to disturb the dressings on her leg, she pulled on a swimsuit and dragged jeans and a T-shirt over them.
Dressing was fast. Taming her long, wavy hair took twice as much time.
She’d inherited her mother’s Hawaiian genes with her thick black hair, dark eyes and short stature.
Though having long hair was a hassle for scuba diving, she hadn’t had the heart to cut it short.
It reminded her of her mother every time she looked in the mirror.
Once she’d pulled the tangles out, she wove the damp tresses into a single braid that hung down the middle of her back and secured it with a ponytail.
Then she brushed her teeth, grimaced at her makeup-less reflection and shrugged.
“What you see is what you get.” Finding Alana was more important than makeup.