Chapter Ten

The next morning Cynthia sat at Chris’s kitchen table reading over the latest texts from Anna, a cup of Kona coffee at her elbow. Chris was at the stove cooking pancakes he insisted on making her.

Anna: I take everything back. You shouldn’t be independent. Come back to Georgia.

Cynthia : What happened?

Anna: These people don’t bake like you. Also, I might have called you a traitor a few times last night when I was complaining to EF.

Cynthia rolled her eyes. Ex-fiancé or EF was Max’s nickname when they texted.

Cynthia: Be nice. It takes them awhile. Remember my first week? I burned myself several times a day.

“So, what are your plans?”

She looked over at him and smiled. Wearing a pair of khaki shorts and an unbuttoned red Hawaiian shirt, he was a sight to watch as he worked around his kitchen. Last night had been beyond anything she could have imagined. He hadn’t been satisfied with one bout, or two, she thought as she curled her toes against the cool tiled floor. Each time had been special. Sex with Chris was so different than what she’d experienced with her former lovers. She wasn’t exactly sure why. It just was. She’d never felt so…in tune with a man before. It was odd since she had known Max most of her life. Here was a man she’d only met weeks earlier, but she sensed she knew him better than any man she’d been with. She may not be able to tell someone his favorite color, but she felt an intimacy with Chris she’d never achieved with Max.

“Cynthia?”

She shook her head and moved her attention back to his face. His smile told her that he understood exactly what she had been thinking. And still, she couldn’t stop the blush that flushed her face.

“My plans? For today?”

He poured some batter on the griddle and nodded. “And beyond.”

“Today, I need to go to my grandmother’s house and start getting it in order. Then I thought I might just take a week or two and play tourist.”

“Then back to Georgia?”

She shrugged, still worried he would take her decision the wrong way.

“How much time did you take off from work?”

“I quit.”

He flipped one pancake over before doing the same with the second. “I thought you liked that job.”

“I did, but I needed time to think, to sort things out. A lot of things happened in the last few weeks. I couldn’t give Anna a definite date when I would be able to return.”

He plated the food and set it on the table.

She frowned at the stack of pancakes in front of her knowing there was no way she would ever finish them. Before she could say anything, Chris said, “I’m cooking and you’re my guest. Eat.”

Chris poured more batter then refilled his coffee cup. “What kind of things happened?”

Cynthia didn’t explain at first. It was more out of habit than anything else. So many years of not sharing family business was a hard trait to break. Chris glanced at her, a strange mixture of concern and hurt shading his expression. She didn’t want him to think she was holding back.

“Family things.” She picked up the syrup and poured a generous amount over her plate. Even with Max, she’d rarely discussed family matters. Odd, seeing as he probably knew more about her life than anyone else outside of the Myers’ household. It had been drilled into her from birth not to share secrets, tell of their problems.

After cutting off a portion of pancake, she shoved it in her mouth. As she chewed, she watched Chris work the other pancakes, filling a second plate for himself. Strong, capable, and unbelievably interested in her. Cynthia was sure those were the things that drew her to him, but there was more. Understanding, not pity, in his manner, in his expression made it easier to talk to him.

She cleaned off the remnants of the syrup from her mouth and drew in a cleansing breath. “There seemed to be a part of my grandmother’s will that my father neglected to tell me about.”

And so she told him. Over coffee and pancakes, the whole sordid story gushed out of her. From finding out about her father’s financial problems, to the news that he had planned on stealing from her to the final nasty confrontation with her mother the night before she drove to Atlanta. Instead of being disgusted with her because of her family, he was incensed on her behalf.

“Did you go to the police about it?”

She sighed. “No. Truthfully, he hadn’t actually committed a crime. I could have set him up, allowed him to take over and then have him arrested. In fact, my lawyer wanted to do just that. He was most insistent that I do.”

“I’d like to buy him a drink.”

Smiling, she watched as he poured her another cup of coffee. “I just wanted it over. If there had been a trial—because I know my father would never admit to anything—I would have been stuck in Georgia for who knows how long. It’s better this way.”

“Better that you’re here with me even if I would like to beat your father to a pulp.”

He said it with such a calm tone that she laughed. “I think my grandmother would have liked you.”

“Really? I’ve never been a man grandmas liked. Well, except my own.”

“My grandmother was a bit of a progressive, especially for coming from such an old Southern family. She believed in free love, and she definitely believed in following your heart. I know, although my parents tried to hide it from me, that she was living with her boyfriend when she died.”

“Nothing wrong with that.”

“No, but then, he was half Hawaiian and half black. Not the thing to do, according to my father. Besides, she hated my father.”

“Then I think I would have very much liked your grandmother.” He reached across the table, took her hand in his, tangling their fingers. “Feel better?”

“Yes.” The weight she had been bearing seemed to be lifting. She wasn’t used to having someone to share her worries with. “Thanks for listening.”

“No problem. So, back to your visit.” He caressed the delicate skin between her thumb and index finger, his concentration on their joined hands. The intensity of his gaze caused her heartbeat to accelerate.

“I’m not visiting.”

He paused and looked at her. “What are you saying?”

She drew in a deep breath and said, “I’m seriously thinking about moving here.”

Chris studied her for a couple of seconds, his expression completely blank. His lips curved. “I like that idea.” He stood, tugging her up out of her chair. “How about I show you how much I like it?”

Chris settled against the pillows in his bed while he watched Cynthia pull on her pants. He sighed with regret when her red panties disappeared from view. It was a shame he was still naked, ready for another bout of lovemaking, and she was getting dressed.

“I thought if some of my crew actually showed up not sick today, we could go out tonight.”

She glanced at him and smiled. The sight of it hit him right in the chest, his heart flip-flopping. He couldn’t believe she was here.

“I think that’s a great idea. I have to head on over to my grandmother’s house, get the things taken care of. I need to check to see if any mail has arrived and make sure they start delivering to the house.”

She tugged her shirt over her head, then ran her hand through her hair. The sleek bob she’d had when he met her was now a mass of golden curls. The changes in her appearance and in her demeanor were amazing. The reserve she’d used to shield herself was still there, but beneath the surface he sensed her acceptance that she was someone other than that buttoned-down, unhappy woman.

“How about I take you out on the town, show you Waikiki and Honolulu nightlife?”

“I’d like that a lot.”

She placed her hands on the bed and leaned close, her lips brushing over his. It was barely a touch, not much of a kiss, but the sweet, hot taste of her had his blood humming and his cock stirring. Not able to resist, he slipped his hand up over her shoulder to the base of her neck. He tangled his fingers in her silky mane, adding pressure to the back of her head, urging her to deepen the kiss. When she complied, he groaned and yanked her down on top of him, then rolled over, reversing their positions.

By the time he pulled back from the kiss they were both breathing heavily, and a pretty flush of heat colored her chest and face.

“Chris, I need to get some things done today.”

He loved the way she talked, especially when she was aroused. Southern hospitality with a douse of sin warmed that chilly Junior League tone.

“But just one more little meal will keep the beast at bay for a few hours.”

She opened her mouth to argue, and he leaned down to kiss her again, stopping any opposition. As usual, she returned his ardor, causing another pulse of lust to shoot through his blood.

He dipped down, nipping and licking her jaw, then throat. Through the fabric of her shirt, he kissed each breast but continued his descent to his target. It didn’t take much to convince her to take off her pants and panties. The lips of her pussy were already dewy with desire. Chris drew in a deep breath, taking in the musky scent of her passion, enjoying that he could make her this hot this fast.

Wanting—no needing —a taste, he slipped his tongue into her slit and moaned. Soon, she was coming, her body bowed with her orgasm. Chris slid up her body and drove into a warm, wet, cunt. As he moved, he felt her building to another peak, and this time he wanted to be with her. Moments later, they came, her fingernails digging into his shoulders as he shouted her name.

He collapsed on top of her, and when she grunted from the blow of his weight, he rolled to his side. His breath caught at the sight of her pleasure. Her eyes were closed, her skin flushed, and she wore a cat-ate-the-canary smile. The hair she had been trying to tame earlier was in disarray again.

Chris didn’t think he’d ever get enough of her. Did she know how she affected him? How with each little sigh she was killing him by inches? The need to tell her of his feelings, to tell her he loved her, almost overwhelmed him, but he knew she wasn’t ready. If he proclaimed it now, she wouldn’t believe him, and worse, she would run. He couldn’t have that.

Chris leaned down to kiss her temple and smiled as she snuggled closer to him. He just hoped it wouldn’t take much more to convince her of it because he didn’t know how long he could hold back the words.

Cynthia juggled the load of mail she’d picked up at the PO as she tried to get her front door unlocked. She almost dropped all of it when her cell phone played Beethoven’s Fifth, heralding a call from Max. It took a couple more tries before she got the key in the lock. When she pushed the door open, she stumbled across the threshold, her mail falling from her arms, scattering across the wooden floor. The cell had quit ringing but just as she figured it would, it started up again. Max never could wait for voice mail.

She pulled the phone out of her pocket and clicked it on.

“I just left yesterday,” she said without greeting him hello.

“Maybe I miss you.”

She snorted and bent to pick up the letters. “Yeah, right. What do you want?”

“Anna wanted me to check and make sure you’re getting settled in.”

She paused in her retrieval of a credit card bill. “What happened?”

“What do you mean?”

“Max, Anna wouldn’t tell you to call, she’d call herself. Something else happened.”

He sighed, the sound of it filled with regret. “Georgia Bureau of Investigation announced that your father is under investigation.”

She sat on the arm of an overstuffed sofa, her mind going blank. When it started working again, she asked, “What for?”

Max didn’t say anything for a second or two. Knowing her father, it could be anything.

“Bribery of a state official. It has something to do with a project for the University of Georgia.”

She closed her eyes as regret and pain lanced through her. Her father was a horrible parent, but she didn’t want something like this to happen to him. “Seriously, Max, do you think they have anything?”

Again, he paused, and worry morphed into panic. “You know your father.”

“Yeah, so it’s a definite possibility.” She tossed the envelopes onto the coffee table and rubbed her temple, trying to ease away the headache threatening to explode. “Do you think this is why he was trying to steal my money?”

Maybe he had been worried about his defense, of going to jail. It was almost understandable in a sick kind of way. Of course, Max broke through those illusions.

“No. I have a feeling your father had no idea this was coming. The investigation has been kept under wraps. Stealing your money was just more convenient than having to live up to the fact that he is, or pretty close to, bankrupt.” When she didn’t say anything, he continued. “Your father has some heavy mortgages on almost all his properties.”

“I know.” She hated the way her voice sounded, like a little girl unsure of what to do. She hated that her damn family was ruining her first full day in Hawaii. Truly, it was petty of her to think of herself considering what the rest of the family was going through, but, dammit, she hadn’t been the one who bribed an official.

“I don’t want you feeling guilty about this.”

She smiled. “How did you know?”

“I heard it in your voice, and I know you well enough to know you would. You have no reason to feel that way. Your father has been getting away with a lot for a long time. And you will not send him money.”

She ignored the last comment completely. “If you don’t want me to feel guilty, why did you call to tell me?”

“I figured you would find out soon enough, and I wanted you to hear it from a friend.”

Her heart warmed. It had been a long few months since their breakup, as she faced the disapproval of her family and pity from her acquaintances, but she had gotten two very precious friends out of the bargain. In her mind, it had made it worth it.

“Thanks, Max.”

He cleared his throat the way he always did when he was embarrassed. “So, how is everything there? Have you been out yet?”

Cynthia chuckled, knowing exactly what Max was asking. “Everything is fine. I just got in from the post office. I stopped there after seeing Chris.”

“So, you went out to see him this morning?”

She laughed at that. “You don’t play subtle when you act like my big brother.”

“Cynthia…”

“Listen, what I do with and to Chris is my own business. He’s one of your best friends, and I can’t see why you would have objections to it, but if you do, too bad.”

“There are things about Chris you don’t know.”

“I doubt that. But if you are talking about certain aspects of his personal life, well, again, none of your business. For the record, I already know about that.”

“Cynthia—”

“Let it go. I’m a big girl and I can take care of myself.”

“All right. I’ll let it go, but remember, Anna and I are here for you.”

“Thanks,” she said with feeling.

Again, he cleared his throat. “Now, tell me about your plans.”

“Not sure what I plan on doing. Chris wants to take me out tonight, show me Waikiki. I need food in my house to survive, plus I need to go through a lot of this mail here.”

“Are you going to look for a job?”

Cynthia snorted. “Anna told you to ask me, didn’t she?”

He chuckled. “Well, you know that she’s worried you won’t ever come back.”

Cynthia rose and walked through the small kitchen and out the back door to the lanai. The house wasn’t huge, but the views were stunning. It was hard not to have one in Hawaii, especially on the North Shore. The salt clean scent of the ocean drifted over the air and she sighed.

“What was that?” Max asked.

“There is just something about this place that makes me happy. Those times I came here to see my grandmother were glorious. I thought it was just the exuberance of youth, you know? Everything is prettier at a distance.”

There was a long beat of silence.

“I’ve never heard you talk like that.”

“Yeah, well, you scared the hell out of me, and I have spent thirty years suppressing all those feelings. The only time I was allowed to run wild was here in Hawaii. I didn’t realize that I would feel this connected to it.”

“You sound lighter.”

She smiled as she sat down on the top step that led to the small garden. “I agree.”

“I’m really happy for you. Sad for me.”

“Why you?”

“Anna’s gonna throw a fit when she realizes you aren’t coming back.”

Cynthia laughed. “I’m sure you can handle it.”

“Take care of yourself and tell Chris I will beat the shit out of him if he hurts you.”

“I will, although, I might just beat the shit out of him.”

“Cynthia Myers, tsk tsk, cussing. What has become of you?”

“Goodbye, Maxwell.”

She hung up on his laughter and set her phone down. Instead of running in to deal with the mail, she decided to sit and enjoy the fact that she was back to where she was happy. The rest of life could wait a few minutes.