Chief Distraction by Stella Kelly Read Free Book Online Page B

bill and they stood to leave.
Again he pulled out her chair, a gentlemanly gesture she couldn’t overlook.
Perhaps the curse had changed his wicked ways? Mellowed him over the years. But
then again, wasn’t that the natural progression of maturation? Judging him on
his actions from twenty years ago was down right petty. Still, once a player,
always a player as they say.
    As he walked through the restaurant, Blythe
noticed women at other tables checking him out. Again, she was struck by how
attractive he was, how physically dominant compared to other men around him.
Realistically, if one followed Darwin’s theory, this guy was the very
definition of ‘survival of the fittest’. If anything, she expected he would be
beating women off with a stick, or at least married to a supermodel with a couple
of perfect kids by now – if it weren’t for the curse . Local women, especially
native Hawaiian women, take superstition with great seriousness. He didn’t
stand a chance.
    The Chief shook her hand, holding it a little
longer than she expected as they said their goodbyes. She agreed to meet him on
Saturday at the peer, knowing full well she could always back out at the last
minute if Lou bailed on her again. If he did, she’d kill him.
    Back in her car, Blythe waved and honked as the chiseled
Fire Chief pulled away, a billow of dust rising up behind his SUV’s tires.
Before starting the ignition, she sat for a moment thinking about their
meeting. It would be a long week waiting for a chance to spend time with him
again, but surprisingly she was very much looking forward to it. His energy was
downright addictive.
    Blythe’s thoughts were interrupted by a gentle
knock at the window. She’d been so caught up in a daydream about Makaio Kalani
that she hadn’t noticed anyone approach. Standing beside her car was a woman,
around her age, nicely dressed and squinting in the bright sunshine. Blythe put
her window down.
    “Hi there,” the woman said, leaning down so they
were eye to eye. “I don’t mean to be rude or presumptuous, but were you here
with Chief Kalani romantically?”
    “Um, no. Why do you ask?” Blythe knew exactly
what was coming.
    “It’s just that you don’t look like you’re from
around here, and, well, I just wanted to warn you about him.”
    “Oh?” Blythe couldn’t wait to hear the woman’s
interpretation of the sorted details.
    “How do I say this,” she leaned in even closer.
“He’s cursed. But since you’re not interested in him that way, I suppose it’s
irrelevant.”
    Blythe smirked, her annoyance heightening over
the woman’s unnecessary meddling. “Oh, I’m fully aware of the curse. And, now
that you’ve so graciously given me your advice, I think I will pursue him
romantically. I like playing with fire. Thanks!” Blythe smiled a giant smile as
she raised her window. She started the car as the woman took a few steps back,
mouth gaping. Blythe laughed as she pulled away, feeling defiant and triumphant
all at once.

 
                      <><><>

 
    Mak
turned out of the parking lot and hit the open highway, passing pineapple
fields to his left and palm trees to his right. He lost himself in thoughts of
the feisty reporter. Why couldn’t Blythe be like the other women on the island
and avoid him at all costs? It would certainly make things easier. She seemed
to pop up everywhere in his life. Except for this lunch – which he’d calculated
thoroughly – and their interview on Kahoolawe. He knew he was playing
with fire. Perhaps subconsciously he enjoyed orchestrating his own rejection.
After all, it was inevitable. If she already knew about the curse, she was a
damn good actress. If she didn’t, it wouldn’t take her long to vanish like all
the others. Why did she have to be so drop-dead gorgeous? And smell so damn
good, and have insightful intelligent things to say? He’d met his match and he
knew it. He could feel it deep down, all the way to his