Scott looked up right before she reached for the door handle. She opened the door and climbed in, and by the time she was settled, Scott still hadn’t said anything. Wondering what was wrong, Elodie looked over at him. “What?”
“I just…you look nice. Pretty. I like that color on you.”
Elodie knew she was blushing. The color of the dress was bold, dark purple with large white flowers all over it, interspersed with hot pink smaller petals. “Thanks.”
They stared at each other for a long moment…then Scott shocked the shit out of her by slowly leaning closer.
Elodie’s belly flipped, but she couldn’t deny she wanted this. Wanted him.
Scott’s hand touched her first, lifting her chin, putting her in direct alignment with his mouth. She wondered if she was being crazy, letting him kiss her this soon.
But then his lips were on hers, and she couldn’t think about anything but him.
His beard was soft instead of scratchy, and the feel of it against her skin was something she’d never experienced before. He was tentative at first, lightly brushing his lips against hers, as if testing, making sure she was truly okay with what they were doing.
Elodie’s hand moved to the back of his neck and squeezed.
As if all he’d been waiting on was a sign from her that she wanted more, Scott moved. His head tilted to get a better angle, then his tongue was running along her lips, seeking entry. She opened for him, closing her eyes and inhaling his unique scent into her lungs.
She could feel her nipples hardening under her flimsy bra and her heart raced as she finally got a taste of the man she hadn’t been able to get out of her mind for months. The slight taste of peppermint lingered from when he’d brushed his teeth earlier. His tongue playfully dueled with her own as they kissed. He retreated, and she followed, loving their give and take.
He was the one to finally pull back. His hand was still on her chin, and his thumb caressed her cheek lightly. “Should I apologize for that?” he asked huskily.
“Only if you’re sorry,” she told him.
“Hell no, I’m not sorry,” he said. “I’ve wanted to do that for months. Regretted not being able to do it back on the ship.”
Something inside Elodie settled. She’d felt the same way, but understood he’d been there on official business and it wouldn’t have been right to ask for a kiss when he was in SEAL mode.
“You’re under my skin,” he admitted. “I’ve been watching my phone for months waiting to hear from you.”
“I’m so sorry,” she told him. “I wanted to get in touch. Then I thought maybe I’d get lucky and run into you if I was here. I even went to Pearl Harbor one day because I knew that was near the Naval base, but when I got there it was obvious it wasn’t a place you’d be.”
“Yeah, it’s a bit touristy. Our offices aren’t anywhere near there. I couldn’t believe it when I saw you on that boat today. What are the odds?”
“Slim to none,” Elodie said softly.
“Exactly. I want to know everything about you, Elodie. Your likes and dislikes. Where you came from, your family, how you got into your profession…being a chef, not a charter fishing boat employee…where you grew up, how you got that job on the Asaka Express, what happened after I was gone…everything.”
“Same,” she said as she stared into Scott’s eyes. This was too fast, but it felt right. She felt a connection to Scott like she’d never known before. As if they were truly meant to be together.
Elodie knew she was opening herself up for heartbreak. Something this intense couldn’t last…but she couldn’t make herself slow down. Didn’t want to slow down. She wanted to experience passion like she’d only read about in books and saw in movies. Maybe they’d fizzle out after finding out how different they were, but oh, how she wanted to feel something other than fear and suspicion for a while. Friendship and lust would do.
And maybe, if she was really lucky, love.
“There’s so much going on behind those eyes of yours,” Scott said softly. “I can’t wait to find out what makes you tick. And for the record, this isn’t normal for me. I’m usually the guy who wants to go slow. Wants to take a woman out on several dates before moving in for that first kiss. Who thinks sleeping together before six months is too fast. But right now, all I can think about is what you’re wearing—or not wearing—under that dress. It’s crude, and rude, and I feel like a dick even admitting it. But there’s just something about you that makes me act in ways I normally wouldn’t.”
Elodie felt her face flush and she squeezed her thighs together tightly. Good Lord, this man was lethal. But she had to admit that she liked knowing he was as discomfited as she was.
Her eyes dropped down to Scott’s lap, and she quickly brought them back up to his face.
He smiled. “Yeah, the second I saw you in that dress, I got hard. It seems to have a mind of its own, but don’t worry, you’re safe with me. I swear.”
“I know,” Elodie said. And she did. This man wouldn’t hurt her, wouldn’t try to take anything she wasn’t willing to give. And it was taking everything she had not to invite him to go back into her room right that second.
But her stomach had other ideas. It growled again. Loudly and insistently.
Scott chuckled. “Yeah, okay, I need to get you fed.” His thumb caressed her cheek one last time before he leaned forward, gave her a quick peck on the lips and sat back. “Buckle up, El. I’ll give you the two-cent tour as we head into town. I’m not an expert on the history of this area, but I’ll share what I know.”
Elodie put on her seat belt and sat happily in the seat next to Scott as he drove them toward Helena’s. At some point, he reached over and took her hand in his. Their clasped hands rested on his thigh as he drove. He pointed out landmarks and explained that the traffic wasn’t all that bad right now, but in an hour and a half it’d be at a standstill.
It was hard to believe she was actually here with Scott, and he was holding her hand. Or was she holding his? It didn’t matter. She was so thankful to be here, she didn’t even care what they were doing. She’d come to Oahu in the hopes of running into the man she couldn’t get off her mind, and it was a miracle she’d done just that.
Elodie was happier than she could remember being in a very long time. She clung to that feeling and prayed with all her might that Paul Columbus had given up on finding her, and she could live her life free and without worry.
Chapter Nine
Mustang looked over at Elodie and smiled. He’d ordered them kalua pig and pipikaula short ribs with rice instead of poi, then couldn’t resist stopping to get some malasadas for dessert on the way to Barbers Point. It had taken longer than he’d wanted, and he hated that Elodie was obviously hungry and had to wait to eat.
They’d found a spot near the beach, away from the tourists who hadn’t left yet, and he’d loved how she hadn’t hesitated to dive right into the food. They sat next to each other on a volcanic rock wall and watched the waves crash against the beach as they concentrated on their meals.
As Mustang ate, he couldn’t stop replaying the kiss they’d shared. He hadn’t meant to do it, but the second he saw her walking toward his truck in that cute-as-hell Hawaiian-print dress, he was a goner. He’d been attracted to her when she’d been wearing boots and cargo pants on the ship, and he’d definitely taken more interest on the boat dock. But with her damp hair making it all too clear she’d just gotten out of the shower, and in that pretty dress, he’d lost his mind.