Getting Lei'd by Ann Omasta Read Free Book Online Page B

the room. I grab the soup container once more and try to send him along with a simple, “Thank you very much for bringing this by. Please add the charges to our room bill.”
    He frowns slightly at that, but his eyes have already been drawn to the easel. I strain to my full height in a futile attempt to block his line of sight, but he is tall enough to look right over my shoulder. “Is that what you’ve been working on today?” he asks, opening the door wider and strolling inside.
    I sense the second he recognizes the scene. He pauses. “Is that . . .” His voice trails off, leaving the rest of the question unasked. When he turns to me his face is bright crimson, and I’m sure mine is a matching shade.
    I can’t stand the embarrassment, so I start rambling. “Yes, I stumbled upon that waterfall during a hike, and it was so serene and lovely that I wanted to recreate it on canvas.” He’s looking at me now, and I can tell that he knows I saw him. The tension is unbearable, so I fill the void with more chatter. “The figure there”—I actually point at the man in the water—“is a figment of my imagination,” I lie. Unable to stop myself, I add, “The pool was completely empty when I saw it.”
    He’s giving me an odd look, as if he can’t decide what to say. I cannot believe I spied on him then lied about it, then to make it even more ridiculous and unbelievable, restated the lie. I wonder if he is going to call me out on it. He has to know that he is the figure in the painting. Why didn’t I just fess up about it?
    We stay silent for a while, just looking at each other. I am beyond embarrassed, but am determined to keep my mouth shut, so I don’t dig myself any deeper into this hole. Finally, he gestures at the soup container and plastic spoon. “Enjoy your soup,” he says simply, turning to leave.
    I feel both relieved that he didn’t call me out on my lies and humiliated that I got myself into this situation in the first place. When he stops and turns to look at me, I am convinced that he is going to shame me for my indiscretions. “You know,” he starts, and I suck in a deep breath, dreading what I know is coming, “it seems to me that imaginary man in your painting needs a sexy lady to join him in the water.” With that, he beams a dazzling, reassuring grin my way and closes the door behind him.
    After he’s gone, I plop down on the couch. He had to have known that my running of the mouth was all lies, but he had been gentleman enough not to point it out. I test the soup, and it is delicious. Gorgeous, thoughtful, kind-hearted, and a gentleman—Kai is the total package. I hope Leilani realizes how lucky she and her baby are .
    Baggy interrupts my rumination by bursting into the room and setting down a plethora of bags. “What a day,” she announces before joining me on the sofa. She sounds completely enamored as she tells me all about her adventures with Mr. Bond. Jim Bond.
    I can’t believe she is falling for his hokey fake-spy ploy. Of course, I have no room to talk. I spent the day painting and just got caught daydreaming about a man who has someone else knocked up and spends his time bartending to cover for the drug or other trafficking operation he runs behind the counter.
    We sure have chosen some winners , I think to myself while Baggy and I get ready for bed. Maybe there is something in this Hawaiian air that makes otherwise logical women make poor choices when it comes to men. Not that anyone would ever accuse Baggy of being logical, of course.
    Ruthie returns to the room much later. She giggles to herself while putting on her jammies and visiting the bathroom. I hear her take a deep, satisfied sigh before rolling over and going to sleep.
    I smile at the ceiling, glad that she and Baggy are happy. They both deserve it. This trip is turning out to be anything but boring, I decide, rolling over and wondering what new adventures tomorrow will bring.

Chapter 14
    I wake up early