May (Calendar Girl #5) by Audrey Carlan Read Free Book Online Page A

from your last mistake,” he grumbled, his voice now concerned, holding judgment. Obviously, something had happened in the past that his father did not want Tai to repeat.
    “Mia is not my girlfriend, Tama . Just a close friend. She’s only on the island for the month. Then she will take her leave.”
    That seemed to perk the grump right up. He slapped a hand onto Tai’s shoulder and squeezed. “Well good, good. Then she should eat and talk with the family. Learn of the Samoan culture while she can.” Tai smiled wide and proud.
    “My thoughts exactly.”
    I met Tai’s brothers, all massive, all good looking, and with different variations of parts of the tattoo that I’d seen on Tai. The sun burst on the ball of Tai’s shoulder was the same as his father’s with the rays of light reaching down his arm and out onto his chest. On Tao, Tai’s older brother, I saw the same turtle tattoo. Another couple of his brothers shared similar black bands of ink around the forearm, and leg. There were a variety of patterns I hadn’t had a chance to evaluate in our rush to get dressed and out of the house.
    Once I’d been razzed and hit on by each of Tai’s three brothers, he led me through the house back toward the kitchen. I was on number two of the Niko family’s special beverage they called Lilikoi’s Passion, which Tai told me roughly meant ‘passionate for passion fruit’ or something equally silly. All I knew is that it was yummy and made my belly feel warm and my mind feel free. The last time I drank, I ended up in bed with my client, Mason Murphy, in my skivvies. Which didn’t end well for his girlfriend, though nothing happened. Mace was like a brother to me. And like all good alcoholic beverages, random thoughts of all the people I needed to reconnect with popped into my head, friends like Hector and Tony, Mace and Rachel, and Jennifer, the director’s wife back in Malibu. She should be a few months pregnant by now. And of course… Wes. We texted and for now, that was enough. Seeing the picture of him and Gina supposedly dating front and center on the cover of my favorite smut mag didn’t help my thoughts on reaching out. Nope. I was in Hawaii to work and have a good time. Work started in a couple days and the fun part was already happening. In the warm, sculpted arms of my own personal version of ‘The Rock’.
    Tai stopped in front of a tiny speck of a woman. Her black hair was long and braided intricately. Her forearms appeared strong as she stirred something in a pot.
    “ Tina ,” Tai said loud enough for her to hear. Again, he lowered his eyes, which I’d learned was out of respect. I noticed while talking with the brothers that every elder was treated with the same respect. I didn’t know if that was a Samoan thing or just a Niko family gesture, but either way, it bespoke an extreme veneration of their elders, which likely meant they had earned such a gift.
    The small woman spun around on bare feet. She wore a bursting bright orange island wrap skirt that hit her ankles, a matching tank, and a sheer white overlay, which I suspected was to give a level of modesty. The young women in the family had no such problem showing skin and a lot of it. All of them were built well and wore bikinis while standing around chatting up their relatives. Of everyone, I probably seemed overdressed in a pair of white shorts and a green tank top. At least my hair had a natural wave due to the humidity, adding body and shine. I was definitely made for the tropical climates. My hair rocked, and I didn’t have to do anything to make it so.
    “My boy, my sweet, pure heart,” she petted him over the heart, pulled his neck so he’d bend his large frame down to meet hers, and kissed each of his cheeks and then his forehead.
    Her brown eyes were identical to Tai’s and filled with a mother’s love. I couldn’t remember the last time I saw that look from my own mother… if ever. “ Tina , this is Mia Saunders, my friend