Rolling in the Deep: Hawaiian Heroes, Book 2 by Cathryn Cade Read Free Book Online

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    “But when I grow up I want to be a business woman like Bella,” Claire said. Bella was twining a strand of her hair between her fingers, something she only did when she was nervous or upset.
    “Yes,” Melia chimed in loyally. “She’s opening up a division office on Maui for her sporting goods company. Next month, isn’t it?”
    Bella nodded. “Everything’s on track to open the new office the fifteenth.”
    Tina Ho’omalu smiled at them. “How fortunate the three of you are—such loyal friends.”
    The waiter appeared and described several fish dishes, which all sounded pretty exotic to Claire. Melia ordered the catch of the day. “I’ll have that too,” Claire said with relief. When it came to food, Melia knew her stuff. Daniel ordered something called ahi pūlehu .
    “Melia tells us David is quite an artist,” Grace said over salads topped with fresh blossoms. “Does such talent run in your family?”
    “There have been various interests,” Tina answered. “I myself enjoy working with fabric, quilting in the Hawaiian style. My husband farms—his mangoes and other fruits are the finest on the island. His cousin, Daro, is a musician. We are a diverse family, as are most.”
    Grace moved sharply, and her water glass fell over with a tinkle. “Oh, dear,” she muttered, blushing. “So sorry. Watch out, it’s running your way, Bella.” The next few moments were occupied mopping up. Their waiter joined in with aplomb, and soon their table was restored to order.
    “Your cousin, you said?” Grace asked, stabbing at her salad with her fork.
    “Yes. Daro is a noted ukulele player. He travels now with one of our most famous Hawaiian musicians, Jason Mamaloa. You may have heard of him?”
    Grace hmmed noncommittally.
    “Jason’s singing at our wedding.” Melia’s eyes widened with excitement. “I couldn’t believe it when David told me he’s a friend of the family. He has the most beautiful voice. He sings in Hawaiian,” she told them. “You have to hear him to believe how romantic it is.”
    “Can’t wait,” Claire murmured, her eyes on Grace, who had abandoned her salad and was sucking at her drink as if it were medicinal. Claire raised her eyebrows in silent question to Bella, who shook her head slightly, watching her mother.
    “What about you, Daniel?” Claire asked to change the subject. “What do you do?” Then her cheeks burned as the Ho’omalus all turned to look at her. Maybe he wasn’t artistic at all, and was embarrassed by it.
    “Daniel does many things,” Tina said, her eyes on her son.
    “Of course he spends as much time in the water as out of it,” added his father with a smile. “He is a creature of the sea—one of Kanaloa’s.”
    “Who is Kana-Kana-whozit?” Claire stopped with her forkful of salad in midair, turning to Daniel. He set his fork down to pick up his beer glass.
    “Kanaloa is the patron of our Hawaiian seas—the protector of all who dwell there.”
    “You mean like a saint?” Claire asked doubtfully, remembering the Sunday school teachings of her youth.
    He shrugged massively. “If you wish.”
    “Kanaloa has great power,” David put in, his eyes twinkling at her. “It is said that when a beautiful person of either sex enters his world, they may see him beckoning.”
    Claire shivered as if a masculine hand had brushed over her bare skin.
    “Your, um, Kanaloa sounds kind of…seductive for a patron saint,” she murmured to Daniel.
    She supposed the tropical seas were pretty sexual, with all the surf crashing in and warm waves lapping. And with Daniel in them, holy aloha. She gazed at him, having no trouble picturing him cruising through the blue depths, his powerful arms and legs propelling him along.
    He scowled, his heavy brows drawing together, jaw tightening under his short beard. Then he shot her a taunting look from under his heavy lashes. “Perhaps you should stay out of his sea, then.”
    She bristled, stabbing at