Chapter Fifteen
Everett walked into the luau, overwhelmed by the colorful chaos that hit from all corners.
Drums rolled across the night like thunder over water. Torches spit fire into the descending shadows of sunset. A roasted pig smoked under banana leaves, and the scents of salt and spice filled his nostrils. People dressed in vivid floral patterns gathered in various groups.
He spotted a circle of kids and adults weaving fronds and fresh flowers.
Cocktails of fruity punch were offered by servers, some spiked with rum and some nonalcoholic.
Temporary tattoos were being bestowed by two young men with massive bare chests.
Women with grass skirts and flowered bras lectured tour groups on the history of the luau and the food they’d sample at the feast.
Kelsey bounced from station to station, sipping her punch and clutching Rowan’s hand. Everett followed with amusement. He enjoyed watching them together, but he needed to have a serious conversation with Rowan and make sure she wasn’t overstepping boundaries.
He wished she didn’t look so beautiful tonight.
The soft green sundress made her skin look like burnished gold.
The bodice was tight, cupping her small breasts, flaring out over her hips, and spilling to the ground.
With each movement, the fabric clung and teased, showing off her extraordinary body.
She’d worn her hair loose, tumbling over her bare shoulders with a wildness that stole his breath.
Gold hoops flashed from her ears. Stacks of bracelets accented her long arms. Her green eyes popped with color, gleaming like jewels against the green dress.
He wanted to stare deeper to explore every flicker of hidden emotion.
Intimately.
Her lips were painted a lush cherry red. Her joyous laughter rang in his ears as she chattered with Kelsey and pointed out different activities to try. Had he once thought she was plain and uninteresting? When had his viewpoint changed?
“Dad! Come get tats with us!”
Rowan shot him an amused look. “Not sure your dad wants to mark that perfect skin.”
His brow shot up. “I dressed casually. I can let loose.”
Kelsey exploded into giggles, which made him grin. “Dad, you’re still wearing a suit!”
“It’s linen. And my shirt is pink. I’m completely chillin’.”
That made his daughter groan, but he was used to being poked fun at.
It was Rowan’s reaction that intrigued him: the softening of her features; the parting of her lips; the interest flaring in her eyes before quickly being masked.
Did she feel it, too? The awareness between them threw him off.
She wasn’t his type, yet when she was around, his head went a bit foggy.
The line moved. Kelsey craned her head to see her choices.
“Do you have any tats?” he asked.
Rowan nodded. “I have one on my hip and another on my chest.”
His blood heated at the thought of her showing him. His pants tightened and he shifted his weight. “What are they?”
She patted her right hip. “Niho mano. A shark tooth in the shape of a wave’s curl.”
They moved another step. His gaze dropped, imagining the design under her dress. “What does it mean?”
“A shark represents strength and protection in Polynesian culture. It reminds me to swim with the current, not against it.”
The wind lifted her hair, then settled. He caught the scent of coconut and flowers. He wondered if it was her skin or hair. Or both. “What about your chest?”
Pain flashed in her eyes, then calmed. Her fingers lifted to trace the top of her left breast, hidden by her neckline. “For my father.”
“Rowan, which one are you getting? I think I like the flower.”
She refocused her attention on Kelsey, leaving him to wonder what the tat was. He imagined untying that sexy dress and pulling down her bodice to see for himself. He’d trace the tat with his fingers, relishing the smoothness of her skin, the color of her hard nipples. Then his lips would—
Everett shook his head hard to clear the image. He had to get his shit together.
Kelsey picked the flower to match the one in her hair. Rowan got a chicken on her lower arm, delighting his daughter. He stepped up to the stand and nodded to the half-naked man. “These are the choices,” the guy said brightly.
Immediately, Everett pointed to the simple tribal band. “That one.”
“Great choice. Where do you want it?”
He offered his arm and the guy rolled the stamp in ink, carefully transferring it to his upper arm to wrap around. Everett studied it with satisfaction. It looked cool. He took out a twenty-dollar bill and offered it over, but the guy stepped back with his hands up. “No, man, it’s free! Enjoy!”
Kelsey groaned. “Dad! Ugh!”
Everett shrugged and stepped away. “I didn’t know. Figured they worked on tips.”
Rowan laughed. “Come on, Suit. The dinner’s going to start soon.”
Somehow, her mocking nickname sounded more like flirting now. Unless it was his imagination.
He hoped it wasn’t.
They had a front row seat next to the stage. He ordered punches for Kelsey and Rowan and a whiskey for himself. Long white tables were laid out, and after a speaker blessed the meal, heaping platters of food were placed amid them.
The moment Everett tried the kalua pig, he closed his eyes in appreciation. The woodsmoke, salt, and fat created a robust flavor paired with a juicy tenderness. Kelsey forked up a piece and immediately agreed. “This is so good!”
“Five stars,” Everett said, immediately craving more. But he wanted to try it all, so he held back.
Kelsey pointed to a bowl that looked like mashed potatoes but was a pale purple. “What’s that stuff?”
“Poi,” Rowan said. “It’s mashed taro root. Many say it’s an acquired taste.”
Everett scooped some for him and Kels. “Let’s try it.”
The taste was slightly tangy and not the most pleasant. He tried not to make a face, but Kelsey immediately grabbed her punch to drown out the flavor. “Gross,” she said.
“Kels.”
“Sorry!”
Rowan laughed. “No, it’s okay, most tourists don’t like it. I’ve been eating it all my life, so it’s like eating potatoes for me. A staple.”
She pointed out the other dishes, which were more to his liking. There was laulau, a salty fish wrapped in taro leaves that was flaky and light. Macaroni salad and sticky white rice offered carb options that Kelsey happily devoured.
Everett found the Hawaiian rolls almost criminal—buttery, soft, with a touch of sweetness. He had two and forced himself not to eat a third. He didn’t want his expensive suits to become too tight.
Dessert was the haupia Rowan had talked about—a creamy coconut milk pudding. He watched her finish it in record time, a smile on her face. Kelsey asked for seconds, so Everett gave her his, too full from the bread to indulge.
“It’s starting,” Kelsey whispered as the lights dimmed and the tiki torches flickered.
The dancers came out in a rush. Bare chests, skirts of leaves, and painted arms flashed under the lights.
The choreography was visually arresting and fast-paced.
They whirled together, parted, and created a display that left everyone breathless.
Kelsey’s face was full of wonder. Everett relaxed into the moment, enjoying for once being part of something so much bigger than work.
A roar from the crowd rose as a name was chanted. He frowned and looked around.
Then a man stepped into the circle.
He was enormous. Muscled like he’d been carved from koa wood, brown skin slick with oil, tribal tattoos sweeping across his chest and down one arm.
Long dark hair fell down his back. His grin was wicked.
His hips snapped in rhythm to the drums, and when the fire knife hit the air, the crowd went feral.
Kelsey clapped so hard her lei slipped off. “Oh my God, he’s like Maui from Moana!”
Rowan’s laugh came low and warm. “That’s Howie. Told you he was the best.”
Everett leaned over, voice dry. “Your cousin puts on quite a show.”
She blinked, then grinned, slow and dangerous. “Cousin?”
“You said—”
“I said ‘Cousin Howie.’ It’s what locals call each other when we grew up together. Not blood.”
Something sharp slid through his chest. He tried to ignore it. “Good to know.”
“Rowan, is he your boyfriend? He’s so . . .” Kelsey trailed off, gaze pinned to the mostly naked dancer who owned the stage.
Irritation ruffled his nerve endings. “Isn’t this a little indecent for children to see?”
Amusement sparkled in Rowan’s dark eyes. “You jealous, Suit?”
He stared straight ahead. “Of a man dancing in a grass skirt?”
“He’s not wearing grass.”
He gave a snort. “Even worse.”
The man morphed into another incredible dance, bending his body, showing off tree-trunk thighs.
The flaming knives were thrown into the air and whirled in a rush.
The grace and expertise seemed almost impossible.
Everett shifted in his seat and tried not to mentally judge.
He closed million-dollar deals. He bet Cousin Howie couldn’t sell a pack of gum.
When the dance ended, the crowd erupted. “That was amazing,” Kelsey whispered. She reached out and grabbed his hand, and suddenly, he would’ve watched a thousand Cousin Howies to stay in this moment a little longer.
“It was,” he agreed.
When he looked over, he caught Rowan staring at them. Longing etched out her graceful features. Everett stilled and tried to memorize how she looked in the gleaming lights, all soft and warm and open. He wanted to take her in his arms and—
“Rowan!”
A deep voice cut through the humid air. Howie jogged toward them, still glowing from firelight and sweat, wrapping Rowan in a bear hug that lifted her off her feet. Rowan giggled and hung on, hands gripping his shoulders.
Everett’s jaw locked.
Finally, he put her down. “Howie, this is Everett Hale and his daughter, Kelsey. They’re new to island life and here for the summer.”
Howie’s grin was pure charm. “Welcome, braddah. You surviving?”
He acted like a grown-up and shook the man’s hand, which swallowed his own. “I’m managing.”
“That’s what we all do,” Howie said, clapping him on the shoulder hard enough to move him an inch. “Next step is thriving.” Then, to Rowan: “Still keeping the tourists in line?”
“Trying,” she said, smiling up at him.
Everett hated how her smile looked different around this man. Looser. Younger.
“Stick around for me to finish up,” Howie said. “Few of the dancers are gonna meet at the tiki bar for some coconut beer. Fresh coconut juice for you,” he said to Kelsey.
Kelsey was already bouncing. “Dad, can we? Please?”
He nodded automatically.
“You were amazing,” Kelsey said with hero worship. “The best dancer there.”
“Thanks, sis. You enjoying summer in Waikiki?”
“Yes! Rowan is giving me surf lessons and I love it.”
Howie blinked, then rotated his head toward Rowan. Was she blushing? Were they sleeping together? Everett studied their body language, ears pricked to their dialogue.
Howie’s voice softened with intimacy. “Ro, you got back on the board? Did Lea finally break you down or was it something else?”
Rowan looked uncomfortable. “Just helping out Kels. The ocean spoke to her.”
Howie smiled at Kelsey with pride. “Got ya, huh? It’s a blessing, sis. Once the ocean takes you, she ain’t never letting you go. Rowan is the best I’ve ever seen. Watching her surf competitions steals your breath—she doesn’t just ride the wave, she owns it.”
The words stirred something within Everett and he wanted more. Of her story. Of her presence. Of her . . . heart.
What the hell was happening to him?
The phone buzzed again. He ignored it without a second thought.
Kelsey sighed. “I wish I could have seen it. She’s the best teacher and I’m getting better every day.”
“Let’s talk about it. I’ll meet you all at the bar.”
Howie walked back to the dancers. Servers descended on the tables for cleanup. The sound of a ukulele drifted in the air. Plates clattered.
Rowan moved and her hand brushed his shoulder. Heat burned through him at the contact. Kelsey ran ahead to grab a coconut drink.
“You all right?” she asked.
“Fine.”
“You sure? You look like you’re trying to analyze a spreadsheet.”
He huffed out a laugh. If only she knew what he was trying to deal with. The masculine part of him roared to simply step in and kiss her. Then take the consequences. “Just adjusting. This isn’t my usual scene.”
“No one’s grading you, Suit.”
“Not even your friend Howie?”
She tilted her head, obviously amused. “Everybody loves Howie.”
Everett nodded and considered her answer. “You two together?”
“Romantically?”
“That’s the ‘together’ I meant.”
Rowan stopped and crossed her arms. The fabric pulled taut across her breasts, emphasizing her tight nipples. Of course she wasn’t wearing a bra. Of course he kept thinking about that hidden tat and if Howie had seen it. He was officially losing his mind. “Why would it matter?”
He expected her to snap back, but the question came out breathlessly, as if there were other questions hidden behind it. Because he wasn’t a liar, Everett simply told the truth. “I don’t know. But it does.”
She gave a little gasp of breath that hit his dick like a hot lick of fire. Her red lips parted and she wet her bottom lip with her tongue. He almost groaned in agony.
“You can’t say stuff like that.”
A smile tugged at his mouth. She’d battle him to the very end. “Sure I can. I won’t lie to you, Rowan. Never that. But I make no other promises here.”
Her eyes widened. Her body swayed and closed the distance between them. His hands ached to bury themselves in those wild waves of hair and hold her still for his kiss.
“Dad, Rowan, come on!”
The spell broke at Kelsey’s voice. He caught the relief on Rowan’s face and let her run ahead.
He needed a minute to get his shit together.