Reunion With the Doc (Destination: Forever Book 1)

Chapter One

Nimita Chaudhary ignored the drop of sweat crawling down her back and gave herself over to the coolness afforded by the marble entryway in the open layout of the chic Hawaiian hotel.

She straightened her shoulders and put a smile on her face so she looked like the elite Wanderlust flight attendant she had been until a few hours ago.

She still wore the navy pencil skirt and iconic blouse and cap, after all.

She would have to ignore that the heel of one of her navy pumps had broken at the last hotel.

She limped with as much dignity as she could muster.

She was going to have to charm her way into a room. The last four places were all full, and she suspected that would be the case here. Maui in January was a tourism hotspot. But she needed a place to stay since her flight back home wasn’t for day and a half.

She loved this island, but she needed to get out of here. She had a lot to do back home, and none of it was going to be pretty.

She walked with purpose to the check-in desk, her roller bag behind her. “Hi.” She beamed and took in the name tag. “Leilani. How’s it going today?” She used her conspiratorial voice, so Leilani would notice they were both at the mercy of the hospitality industry.

Leilani smiled. “Oh.” She gave a tiny eye roll as she leaned toward Nimita. “You know how it can be—tourists from all over.”

Nimita nodded in commiseration. “Absolutely.” She sighed.

“I just got dropped off with no notice, and my next shift isn’t for a bit, and I desperately need to get out of these heels, you know what I mean?

Please tell me you have a small corner reserved for Wanderlust.” Her stomach decided that right now was the moment to growl loud enough so that not only Leilani but the two men checking in next to her could hear it.

However completely mortifying it was, the rumble was in line with what her past fifteen hours had looked like. She kept the smile frozen to her face, as if she hadn’t heard it.

Leilani grinned. The two men did a double-take.

“It’s been a long day,” Nimita said in Leilani’s direction. “Haven’t had a chance to find a snack yet.”

How could she when, upon landing in Hawaii, Nimita was informed that her behavior on the flight was unacceptable.

Now she was no longer employed by Wanderlust, and all over a spilled drink. One that happened to have landed on the lap of the daughter of a Wanderlust bigwig. Who was also quite literally the rudest person on the planet, and Nimita hadn’t been able to hold herself back from saying so.

“I’ll take whatever room you have, Wanderlust block or not,” she continued.

Leilani typed, and Nimita stole a glance at the men checking in. They looked vaguely familiar.

“I’m sorry.” Leilani looked up from her computer, tucking her dark wavy hair behind her ear. “We are completely booked.”

“No,” Nimita blurted out without thinking. She regained composure. “I mean. There has to be something. I mean I know you usually keep a few rooms—”

“I’m so sorry. We really do try to help out the airline staff, but those rooms are full—”

“Then I’ll take another room.” Nimita fought the desperation in her voice. She was hungry, hot and exhausted. The flight had landed at 6:00 a.m., after she had worked the red-eye. She was literally operating on fumes. “It doesn’t have to be for staff.”

“Nimita?” one of the men checking in asked.

Perfect. Why wouldn’t she be recognized right now? She considered ignoring him and instantly realized that was impossible as Leilani was looking between her and the man who had said her name. She turned.

“Hi,” he said. “Karan Thakkar.” He pointed at his taller friend. “And Vishal Goswami.” He pointed to himself. “From high school? You used to tutor our friend, Roshan? Roshan Dave?”

She hadn’t heard that name in years. Possibly since the last time she had spoken with him.

High school graduation. Her body tensed, and she was sure her face showed some anger.

That was why they looked familiar. They had been Roshan’s best friends, always chomping at the bit, waiting for him to finish his sessions with her so they could hang out.

“Right.” She said, aware that her voice was uninviting. “It’s been a long time.” She turned back to Leilani.

She noticed the taller one—Karan?—nudging the one who had spoken to her, showing him something on his phone. No! It couldn’t already be out there, could it?

Vishal tapped her shoulder and motioned for her to move away from the desk.

She held up one finger to Leilani and stepped back.

“Um…is this you?” Vishal asked.

Nimita glanced at the phone. She knew what it was without even really looking. “Yes. But there are two sides—”

“You need a room?” His features had softened in concern.

Nimita turned back to the counter. “I’m sure that Leilani can find something.”

“We have two rooms.” Vishal seemed undeterred. “I mean, we have adjoining rooms for the week. Roshan is joining us tonight. His flight was delayed. But we’re happy to let you have one of them for however long you need.” He chuckled and looked at Karan. “Roshan doesn’t really need his own room.”

“Thank you.” She found herself unable to feign friendliness with them. She really was working on fumes. “As much as I appreciate the offer, I couldn’t do that. The three of you in one room is crowded.”

Vishal grinned. “We’ve been friends since we were four. We’ve slept in the same bed. It’s all good. And the rooms aren’t small. They’re suites.”

Even if she wanted it, she couldn’t afford that.

“Roshan just gets his own room so he can work,” Karan said with a boyish eye roll. “On our sacred guys’ trip.” He nudged Vishal. “See? It’s a sign that he shouldn’t work.”

Vishal nodded sagely.

Nimita pressed her lips together. That checked out with her memory of the boy she used to tutor. Intense. Focused. Rude.

“Take it,” Leilani said softly, her dark brown eyes wide. “We really have nothing.”

The last thing Nimita wanted was to take anything from the likes of Roshan Dave. She had all but wiped him from her brain. He was just another horrible part of high school that she’d put behind her after graduation. She opened her mouth to say no, and her stomach growled again.

She looked at the two men. Vishal and Karan had always been nice enough. They weren’t the rude, self-important jerks that Roshan was.

With a pop, the one heel she still had, the one she’d had all her weight on, gave way, too, and she stumbled. That was literally the last straw.

“Fine.” She sighed and then found a smile. “Thank you. Just transfer the room to my name.” She would put it on her card and figure out how to pay for what must be an expensive suite later. Hopefully, her credit card could at least take the charge.

“If I do that, the system might kick you out. Better to leave it as is,” Leilani said. “Under their name.”

“It’s fine.” Karan handed her a key card. “All yours until you head back.”

“Shouldn’t be more than a couple nights. My flight is in a day and a half.” Nimita interjected.

Vishal nodded. “Sounds good. Let us know when you check out, and we’ll get new keys.”

“I’ll just add my card to the reservation.” She was sure she couldn’t afford it, but that was a problem for another day.

Vishal waved his hand. “Don’t. Not just yet.” He glanced at Karan. “I, uh… I overheard you saying that you are a flight attendant?”

Nimita squirmed. Was. “Okay.”

“So, you probably know the island pretty well? Stuff to do, places to eat, all that?” Vishal looked hopeful.

“Which one of you was in charge of activities and food?” She narrowed her eyes to hide her grin, catching on.

Karan nodded at Vishal.

Vishal inhaled. “I just want to be sure I got the highlights.”

Nimita raised an eyebrow.

“Okay, fine. I had two huge cases and a—whatever. I have no plan.” Vishal glanced at Karan, and then back at Nimita. “How about you give us an itinerary, and we give you the room for free?”

She studied both men. They seemed desperate.

She sighed. She was also desperate, and not having to pay for a fancy hotel room really would help her.

She remembered them being kind to her the few times their paths had crossed.

“Fine. I’ll have one ready for you by breakfast.” Hard to believe that Roshan Dave had such nice friends.

“You are the absolute best!” Vishal grinned from ear to ear. He smacked Karan on the chest with the back of his hand. “I told you it would work out. It always does.”

“You got lucky,” Karan said.

Vishal ignored the comment, turning to Nimita. “We’re going to grab some lunch if you want to join.” He nodded toward the hotel restaurant. “Don’t worry. We won’t ask you to hang out once the Grump arrives.”

“The Grump?” She raised her eyebrows at them.

“Come on. You must have noticed how grumpy he was in high school.”

“I did. But I had other names for him.” She cocked a half smile.

Karan grinned. “Oh yeah? Like what?”

She smirked. “Too horrible to repeat.”

Vishal grinned. “That sounds interesting. But he is definitely a grump.”

Karan chuckled. “It got worse when—” Vishal bumped his elbow, and he stammered, “It just got worse over time.”

“Thanks for the invite, but I’m exhausted,” Nimita said with a smile. These two were sweet.

“See you around then,” Karan said.

“Thanks.” Nimita really meant it. She was grateful. “For the room.”

He shrugged. “Of course. Looking forward to that itinerary.”

Nimita found the room. She was correct. It was a gorgeous suite that must cost a fortune, with a king-size bed, a small sitting area with a sofa and chairs, and a balcony with a full view of the ocean.

A junior suite but out of her price range, nonetheless.

Whatever. A couple nights, and she was gone.

She was too tired to do much more than eat a piece of fruit from the basket on the table and hop in the luxurious rainfall shower before falling dead asleep.