Chapter 8 #2
“They’re excited that you’re here. Not as happy as I am, but close.
So they planned a barbeque on the beach to welcome you to town.
Aleck’s condo complex has a great private beach and grills we can use.
And Elodie agreed to cook for us, not that it was hard to convince her.
It’s gonna be this weekend instead, on Saturday afternoon.
Is that okay? If not, we can reschedule.
I told them you’d have to check in with your bosses here and see what your schedule is like. ”
Lexie’s mind was spinning. “Um…wow. Okay.”
“What’s wrong? Is it too much? The guys can be a bit…enthusiastic sometimes. And we tend to come up with any excuse to get together during our downtime. If you don’t want to—”
“I do,” she reassured him quickly. “It’s just that I’ve never had a welcome party before.”
Midas smiled down at her. “I’m glad I can be your first.”
Shit, that sounded so dirty coming from his mouth, but Lexie merely smirked.
“Ha. Sorry. That sounded perverted,” he said as they approached the baggage carousel. He let go of her suitcase and pulled her into him again. Lexie landed against his chest with a small oof. He grinned. “I can’t believe you’re here.”
“Me either,” she said as she rested her hands on his chest.
His grin faded as he got serious. “I’m so damn thankful though.
This isn’t casual for me. I know it’s fast, but I haven’t been able to stop thinking about you since I left that ship.
I’ve loved every conversation we’ve had, and I’ve lived for your messages and emails.
You’re different, Lexie. I don’t know why, but you are. ”
She swallowed hard. How he knew she needed reassuring, she had no idea.
But then again, maybe he didn’t, and was just as nervous as she was about this.
But she appreciated him not beating around the bush and saying exactly what he was thinking.
It was refreshing, and she hoped it boded well for their relationship.
“Same for me. I was nervous about what I was going to do after Somalia. Without you and the lady from Food For All, who basically held my hand as far as telling me what would happen next and helping me with the media, I’m not sure what I would’ve done.”
“You would’ve figured it out, I have no doubt,” Midas told her. “And the few interviews you did were perfect. You did an amazing job in condemning the kidnappers, while still bringing to light the plight of the less fortunate around the world. Your organization should be very proud of you.”
Lexie shrugged self-consciously. “You were there. You saw how desperately the people want to provide for their families and live a life without constantly having to worry about corruption, where their next meal is coming from or having a roof over their heads. I don’t agree with kidnapping for profit, but I understand it. ”
“Well, there will be no kidnappings here in paradise,” Midas said firmly.
“Good,” Lexie said.
They stood there staring at each other for a long moment, ignoring the hubbub of people chattering around them.
“Mustang was right,” Midas said after a moment.
“About what?”
“He said if things were going to work out, they’d work out.”
Lexie scrunched her nose. “Um…that sounds like a vague saying people put inside fortune cookies.”
Midas laughed, and Lexie could only stare up at him. He was so damn good-looking, even more when he laughed. And she was in his arms. Damn, she felt like the luckiest woman in the world.
“That’s basically what I told him. But, here you are.”
She could’ve said something about how there was no guarantee things would work out between them.
Relationships were hard work, and they might find out that they weren’t as compatible as they’d hoped.
While she loved talking to Midas and they seemed to click, in a few months, things could be very different.
But she’d never regret taking a chance and coming to Hawaii.
If a relationship with Midas didn’t work out, it would gut her, but she’d be okay.
She was in Hawaii, she was doing a job she loved, and she didn’t need a man to be happy, she’d already proven that.
But she couldn’t deny that having Midas by her side felt pretty damn good.
The suitcases began to appear on the conveyor belt, and Midas turned her in his arms so her back was against his chest, his hands draped around her waist. She pointed out her suitcase and he hefted it off the belt without even a grunt.
Lexie was impressed; she knew firsthand how heavy that sucker was.
She’d had to pay a fee in Germany because it was overweight.
She grabbed the handle of her carry-on as Midas pulled the heavy suitcase toward the exit. He once again took her hand in his and smiled down at her before heading out the door.
Lexie inhaled deeply, loving the smell of the tropical air.
She couldn’t believe she was really here.
In Hawaii. Yes, she’d picked this assignment because Midas lived here, but she couldn’t deny she was excited to experience everything the island of Oahu had to offer.
Hiking, swimming, boogie boarding, snorkeling, sightseeing, going to a luau… she wanted to do it all.
“You look happy,” Midas remarked as they approached his vehicle.
Lexie simply stared at the Ford Mustang convertible Midas was putting her suitcase into.
“Is this yours?” she asked.
“Nope. I just decided it looked cool and wondered if your suitcase would fit in the back seat,” he said with a straight face.
Lexie turned her startled gaze to him.
He laughed. “Yes, of course it’s mine. I know it’s a little over the top, but when I first arrived here, I couldn’t imagine not having a convertible. Got a good deal on this since it’s a few years old.”
“It’s…holy shit, Midas, it’s perfect.”
His grin widened. “I take it you like it.”
“Like it? I love it!”
He took her carry-on from her and added it to the suitcase in the back. “You got something to tie your hair with? I love your hair when it’s all out of control, but I’m thinking you might not be as happy when we get to your place and you have to try to get a brush through it.”
Lexie nodded. She usually had a hair tie handy. She dug in her crossbody purse and came out with an old fashioned fabric scrunchie. She knew it was so ’80s, but she didn’t care. They worked best with her hair since it was so thick.
She quickly twisted her locks into a messy bun at the nape of her neck and wrapped the material around it. “Ready,” she declared happily.
“Come on, let me show you my island,” he said, opening the passenger door.
“Your island?” Lexie teased as she sat down. “I didn’t know you owned the whole thing.”
He chuckled as he headed around to the driver’s side. He got in and put an arm on the back of the seat behind her. “Lex?”
“Yeah?” she asked.
“I’m gonna do everything I can to make sure you don’t regret coming here.” He looked completely serious.
“I’m not going to regret it, no matter what,” she said.
“I’m so damn happy you’re here,” he said, before leaning toward her.
Once again, Lexie met him halfway. She could get used to kissing this man whenever she wanted.
This time, their kiss was long, slow, and deep. Lexie was breathing hard when Midas pulled back. He lifted his hand and ran his thumb over her bottom lip sensually, smiling at her gently before reaching for the ignition.
As they navigated the parking garage and headed toward the interstate, Lexie tried to figure out what was so different about Midas than anyone else she’d dated.
Maybe it was the way he was totally keyed into her when they were together.
He wasn’t looking around to see who else was nearby.
He wasn’t lost in his head, thinking about something or someone else.
He was focused on her, and what she was saying and doing.
It was a little intimidating, but extremely flattering at the same time.
Maybe that was because he was larger than life.
Not only tall, but muscular and obviously able to deal with anyone who might want to say or do anything rude.
Maybe it was because she’d known him as a teenager and they had that as a base for what they were feeling now.
Maybe it was simply a matter of intense chemistry and sexual attraction.
Whatever it was that connected them, Lexie wasn’t going to question it.
She couldn’t stop smiling as they headed toward downtown Honolulu. The wind whipped around her head and face, the sun beat down on them, and even though she was tired from traveling, Lexie felt buzzed.
Together, they figured out how to get to the building where her small studio apartment was located downtown. It wasn’t anything special to look at, and the area around the building wasn’t the best part of town, but Lexie had lived in worse. Much worse. Nothing could disappoint her right now.
They checked in with the building manager and, after he’d looked at her identification and she signed some paperwork, he gave her a key to her new place.
Midas came up with her to check it out. She was on the twentieth floor and luckily not too near the elevator.
Lexie eagerly unlocked the door and stepped inside.
The décor was probably from the seventies, and there was a slight mildew smell in the air, but she wasn’t too concerned.
The kitchen was to the immediate left when they walked in.
There was a small sink, a microwave, a two-burner stove top and what looked like a tiny oven.
A small refrigerator was against the wall and a bar long enough to seat two people comfortably separated the kitchen area from the rest of the small space.
There was what looked like a double-size bed in the middle of the living area, a small dresser against the far wall, a tiny desk, and that was about it.
But Lexie didn’t care about any of that. She immediately went to the window and threw back the curtains, eager to see the view.