“Please don’t tell Lili,” I say to him.
“Oh, I won’t. Alessa explained everything to me. Mums the word. We saw your brother head out this morning before you guys came down for breakfast. Alessa and I congratulated him. He’s a nice guy. Alessa told them we got engaged and his wife hugged her,” he says.
“That sounds like Poppy. She’s really nice.”
“I can see Lili kind of freezing up but we both think she likes you, which is huge,” he shares.
“Thanks.” His words give me confidence that maybe this won’t just be a vacation fling.
“I’m going to shut up now, but I will give you one piece of advice,” he says, and I wait. “Persistence.”
I cock a brow. “What?”
“Those sisters are stubborn. Lili’s had a tough go but if you like her—be persistent, and if you do get in her good graces then make sure you like a big family because they’re all going to be up in your business,” he laughs.
I don’t reply because I don’t think he was looking for a response from me.
“Thanks for the advice.” I nod. A big family doesn’t sound all that bad. Right now, I’ve got Declan and Poppy. I would say my mom too, but she is really not into being a family. I see how warm and loving Lili and Alessa are and a whole clan of them sounds good. Great even.
The guy working the counter passes Nigel a set of keys and tells him the lot number to pick up his car. We head out and find the electric-blue Jeep. Alessa sits up front with Nigel and Lili and I sit in the back seat. The Jeep is a convertible so as Nigel pulls off the lot, a warm wind blows through the car. I watch Lili and look at her leaning over. Alessa is playing some music so I don’t worry they can hear me.
“Don’t pull away, gorgeous. We’re just having fun,” I remind her.
Her lip quivers. I’m not sure what’s causing her hesitation, but I sense it’s still there.
“Whatever is eating at you, leave it for today. Let’s just have fun. Look at this place. Have you ever seen anything more beautiful?” I ask as we drive along the coast. The ocean is spectacular and just watching the large waves is a sight to see.
“I honestly haven’t,” she replies. “You’re right, let’s have fun today,” she says, her voice sounding lighter as she reaches out and takes my hand. I take it as a win, even though I know she hasn’t fought her demons, but at least she’s sidelined them for a while.
The hour drive flies by and after a small trek through a tropical paradise, we reach a place called Waimea Falls.
“Oh wow, this is like a dream,” Alessa says as we all stare out at the spectacular falls. Along the way we stopped to photograph tropical flowers. I got a snapshot of Lili beside some exotic red flower. When I checked the photo, my heart skipped a beat.
“We have to go for a swim,” Lili says.
“I’m willing,” I agree.
We all take off our clothes and I go to hide behind a tree to get my board shorts on. Then we head into the water.
“Shit, it’s cold,” Lili says since she is the first one in. Alessa follows her in.
“I don’t know if I want to get in. I hate cold water,” I protest.
Lili walks over to me and splashes me. “You did not just do that.”
“Oh, I did,” she goads, grinning mischievously.
I head in quickly and dunk underwater, which sucks with how cold it is. Then I swim to Lili and throw her over my shoulder.
“Put me down.” She kicks out.
“I say you keep her there,” Alessa laughs.
“You traitor,” Lili whines.
Nigel swims over to Alessa and they kiss.
I decide to torment Lili a little longer.
“Logan, come on.” She stops struggling.
I pull her over my shoulder and place her back in the water so we are face-to-face. I lean in and kiss her and when I pull away, her dark orbs look heated.
“This place is busy. No X-rated thoughts now,” she says, and damn, I was thinking all kinds of dirty thoughts.
“Maybe we can find a secluded place in the forest,” I say, waggling my brows.
“Do you always have sex on your mind?” she asks like it’s a bad thing.
“Not until you, Lili,” I admit.
She stills and watches me. Maybe she’s searching me for truth.
“That’s a lie. Every guy is always thinking about sex,” she accuses.
“I told you, until very recently I wasn’t consumed with sex, but now since I know how good it can be with. . .”
She lifts her hand up. “Don’t say it, Logan. This is a fling. You need to remember that.” The way she says it makes it feel like she is convincing herself more than me.
I blow out a breath. “I’ll race you to the falls.”
I begin to swim and hear Lili shout, “That’s unfair, you got a head start.”
I’m also in impeccable shape.
I slow down and let her catch up and then we are all under the falls, enjoying the feeling of the cool water raining down on us.
After we leave the water and dry off in the sun. Lili slips on her shorts but walks around in her bikini top, and I can’t seem to take my eyes off her. We pass thousands of different plant species and take in the different types of birds. We also take pictures of the archaeological remains and native structures that give a hint as to what the island must have looked like hundreds of years ago.
By the time we reach the end of the park, we are all famished and so we head to a barbecue on the beach one of the tourists recommended.
As the sun sets, we dig into the hearty meal of barbecue ribs and chicken. I like that Lili eats and doesn’t mind getting her fingers dirty. She also jokes around and seems so much lighter than she did this morning. Maybe she took my advice. This is a fling that will end. But what if I don’t want it to? What if I want more of Lili and her sassy personality?
When we reach the hotel, it’s dark outside.
“I can’t believe it’s our last night here,” Alessa says. She looks at Nigel.
Lili turns to me. “Would you mind if I crashed in your room tonight? I want to give these lovebirds some privacy.”
“You can crash.” I nod and swallow. Another night of sex and Lili’s naked body between my sheets seems like a dream come true.
She turns to Alessa. “I’ll come up and grab some more things.”
Alessa nods.
Lili heads over to the elevator just as I see Wolfe, Rebel, and little Liam.
I pass Lili my room key card and tell her I’m just going to say hi to my friends.
Lili heads up the elevator with Nigel and Alessa and I stay to talk to my friends.
I give Wolfe a fist bump.
“What’s up?” I ask them. They both look exhausted.
“We went to the aquarium and then out for dinner,” Rebel explains and yawns. “Is it crazy I want to go to sleep at eight?”
I laugh.
Little Liam is passed out in his stroller.
“I’m pretty tired too,” I admit. “Spent the day on the North Shore. It’s really nice out there.”
“Things are going good with the girl?” Wolfe says.
“They are,” I reply, and I can’t help the smile spreading my lips.