LITMIR.BIZ

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taste, and even if there weren’t, the waves were too big for a pleasant swim or any other water activity that interested him.

      A few people rode surfboards and kept safely to the left of the swimmers and kids using boogie boards. He and Mia mutually decided to move on.

      Makapuu was the next beach, different than Sandy in that it was a bay surrounded by rocky cliffs that kept it somewhat hidden. Again, the main drawback was the number of people, mostly bodysurfers testing their skills against the powerful waves, or the spectators sunning themselves.

      “Let’s stop for a while,” Mia suggested just as he was about to pull onto the highway again.

      Although David preferred going elsewhere, he cut the engine. “No swimming here. The way the waves break in the middle of the bay makes it too dangerous. That’s why there are only bodysurfers in the water.”

      “I do want to swim, but I’d like to have a better look at the bay and those two islands out there. Wish we had binoculars.”

      He squinted at the pair of barren islands not too far from the coast. “Not much to see. One of them is called Rabbit Island. No rabbits left, though. It’s a seabird sanctuary now.”

      She grinned at him. “You’re just a fountain of information. Did you get any sleep at all last night?”

      “Not much,” he muttered, as he watched her get out of the car, the hem of her shorts riding up high enough that he caught a glimpse of her peach-colored swimsuit. Grudgingly he climbed out behind her. “I’m thirsty. Supposedly there’s a small town about ten minutes from here.”

      She smiled over her shoulder at him. “I just want a quick peek. I doubt I’ll ever make it out here again.”

      He stood alongside her, their shoulders almost touching. “You mean to this side of the island?”

      “No, Hawaii.”

      “Too many other places on your list?”

      “I wish. More like too much work and no time for anything else. Not to mention no money,” she added ruefully. “This is kind of a last hurrah.”

      “Ah, the business Shelby mentioned.” After he’d returned to his room last night, he’d belatedly wished he’d asked questions during dinner with Shelby as a buffer. Find out if their new venture would be a further complication for him. “I understand now why you felt you had to leave us,” he said casually. “With the hours you worked, starting up a business would have been nearly impossible.”

      “Nearly?” She chuckled. “Not a chance I could have done both effectively.”

      “I didn’t catch what kind of business it is.”

      “Sort of a concierge service.”

      He waited for her to elaborate, and when she didn’t he said, “Good thing you have a PR person.”

      “Look at you being all funny.” Mia gave him a wry smile. “If I thought I could nab Pearson and Stern as a customer, I’d be all over it. We’re going to rent out everything from power tools for that small one-time do-it-yourself project to designer handbags in case you want to impress your future in-laws.”

      “I’ll keep that in mind.”

      “Or if you need a wife for the day, we’ll provide that, too.”

      He choked out a laugh. “Pardon me?”

      Mia’s teasing grin made her eyes sparkle. “To do errands or plan or help host a party, that sort of thing. Our sorority held a fundraiser when I was in college, and Shelby, Lindsey and I rented ourselves out for a day. That’s how we came up with the idea. But we never had the seed money until now.”

      “Should I even ask what service you rendered?”

      “Oh, just use your imagination.”

      “Right.” That could get him in trouble. “So I assume the new firm you’re going to work for is smaller and won’t swallow up your time.”

      She looked startled. But when she said, “I don’t want to talk about work or anything related,” he understood. She looped an arm through his and leaned her head on his shoulder. “This week will go by fast enough.”

      Briefly closing his eyes, he deeply inhaled the exotic scent of her spicy shampoo. His initial instinct had been right. Maybe it was wrong to tell her about the offer now and ruin her vacation.

      This was insane. He’d never in his life been this indecisive. Or cowardly.

      No, business would wait. For once, he was putting himself and Mia first.

      “Come on. Let’s get out of here.”

      MIA HAD DONE THE RIGHT THING. She’d spent enough sleepless nights expounding on the pros and cons of quitting the firm. If her decision disappointed David, then too bad. No “if” about it. A third-generation lawyer like him wouldn’t understand that she simply didn’t want to practice law. Neither would her family and her former coworkers. That’s why she’d withheld that small detail. She couldn’t help it if everyone assumed the new business was a sideline. Eventually she’d have to tell her parents and siblings, but she figured the shock would be easier to overcome once Anything Goes was a success.

      She finished off the last of her ice-cold strawberry slushy just as they found Bellows Beach Park. Unlike the other beaches, there were trees. Lots of them, providing both shade and privacy. Fortunately, there weren’t many people there: a small group of surfers, a few teenagers who probably should’ve been in school. But that was it, and the white sand seemed to go on forever, which meant they weren’t likely to be bothered by newcomers.

      They easily found a secluded spot where someone had recently been camping, if the charred remains of a small cook fire were any indication. Nearby, palm fronds had been used to erect a makeshift shelter. The lean-to wasn’t much, probably helped to block the breeze, but it also provided privacy. Privacy she had no intention of wasting.

      She glanced over at David, who’d just cut the engine, and found him watching her. Was he thinking the same thing? “I wish I had thought to bring a beach towel from the hotel,” she said, “or picked up a couple of those straw mats I saw people using.”

      He gave her an amused smile.

      “What?”

      “Did you enjoy that slushy?”

      “I did. You can’t say I didn’t offer—Oh, crap.” With a swipe of her tongue, she’d figured out why he was still smiling and pulled down the visor. In the mirror, she regarded her clownish reflection with a sigh. “You could’ve said something earlier.”

      “I shouldn’t have said anything at all. It’ll fade soon enough.” The way his voice dropped told her he had the same idea about how to use their lucky spot.

      She dabbed ineffectively at the red stain that made her lips look as if they were twice as big as they were. “How did I manage to do this?”

      “Fortunately I love strawberry.” He leaned over and kissed her briefly before sweeping his tongue across her lower lip. “Hmm, very good.”

      “I dare you to do that again.”

      “Plan on it.” He winked and opened his door. She really wished they’d done more kissing before he got out, but she quickly changed her mind when he stepped out of the car, removed his sunglasses and yanked up the hem of his shirt. After exposing his flat belly, he paused to unfasten another button at his neck before pulling his shirt off altogether.

      Mia blatantly stared. It was rude. Definitely embarrassing because she couldn’t quite close her mouth. And she didn’t give a damn. He had a gorgeous chest, tanned and lightly muscled. But how? He worked all the time.

      “I’m not stripping,” he said. “Not here. No matter how much you beg.”

      “Even if I get on all fours?”

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