Chapter 10

10

The moon hung low over Hana Bay; its silvery glow caught the edges of waves as they rolled in. After the intensity of the long day, Keone suggested a walk on the beach to clear our heads. The beach was deserted at this hour, the song of the gentle waves and breeze in the palms and ironwoods the only sounds.

We parked and set off barefoot over the sand, holding hands.

“Look!” I pointed toward the water. A blue-green glow rippled through the darkness, bioluminescent organisms lighting up the sea like underwater glitter. Then I saw what had disturbed them: sleek bodies cutting through the water, leaving trails of glowing light in their wake.

“ Nai’a ,” Keone said softly. “Spinner dolphins.”

We watched as the pod moved through the bay, their movements painting patterns of light in the dark water. The sight was magical, otherworldly . . . the kind of moment that makes you believe anything was possible.

“Let’s go in,” I said impulsively, already pulling my shirt over my head.

Keone laughed. “What, now?”

“Why not? There’s no one here.” I stepped out of my shorts, my heart racing with the wildness of the moment. The night air kissed my skin and raised goosebumps.

“Why not.” I heard the rustle of Keone’s clothes hitting the sand. “Last one in’s a rotten papaya!”

We sprinted and dove into the water together, gasping at the initial shock of cool water. Every movement we made created swirls of bioluminescence, as if we were swimming through liquid starlight.

“This is amazing!” I exclaimed. Being caught between moonlight and bioluminescence was somehow like swimming through space.

Keone’s hand found mine under the water, pulling me closer as we returned to standing depth. His skin was slick and warm. When his lips met mine, they tasted of salt and possibilities. When we finally broke apart, his forehead rested against mine as we shared breath in the Hawaiian way.

The dolphins were long gone, but bioluminescence still sparkled around us with every small movement.

“Kat, I . . .” he began, his voice husky. There was something in his tone that made my heart skip. But then he pulled back slightly, and I saw his familiar grin in the moonlight. “I hope you’re ready for work tomorrow, because after this late-night swim, morning’s going to come way too early.”

I splashed him, creating another burst of blue-green light. “Way to ruin the moment, Mr. K.”

But as we swam back to shore, I couldn’t help wondering what he’d been about to say. There had been something in his voice, something in the way he’d held me, that suggested unspoken tension hanging between us.

We dressed quickly, clothes clinging to damp skin, and walked back along the beach. The moon was higher now, turning the wet sand to silver beneath our feet. Neither of us spoke but our hands found each other’s again. Fingers intertwined, we held onto the magic of the moment for just a little longer.

“Monday’s coming,” Keone teased as he kissed me goodbye through Sharkey’s open window. “Maybe we haven’t figured out where the ornament is, but we’ve learned a lot more about it.”

“Sure have. And I see my next step as going to talk to Opal and Artie about why they didn’t return the ornament to the Museum as their family had agreed to do.”

“I don’t envy you that conversation.” He patted my arm where it rested on the edge of the sill. “I’ve got flights tomorrow, so let’s check in at the end of the day when we’re both off work and see if we’ve got any new clues.”

I groaned. “Meanwhile, the clock is ticking. The fundraiser is on Christmas Eve, in two days!”

“Get some rest. We’re both going to need it.” He gave me a quick kiss on the nose. “And don’t forget the holiday luau at our house on Christmas Day. It’s going to be epic.”

“Isn’t it always?” I started Sharkey’s engine. “I can’t wait.”