Seal of Honor by Dahlia Rose Read Free Book Online

hand on the window. “Let’s go, Commander. I’m all excited now.”
    He laughed as he pulled away. Jordyn hummed along to the Christmas music playing on the radio as they drove and talked about Marianne showing off for the Sonogram pictures. The sun was shining and the water off the sea was a sparkling sapphire. By now, it would be as cold as heck in New York and she would have been bundled up in double or triple layers of clothes. Here, she was wearing a white cotton maternity top and Capri pants. I could definitely get used to this. Somehow, this was turning out to the best holiday season of her life.
     
    * * * *
    The drumbeat made her heart beat faster. What was it about the ancient rhythm that made excitement build in your chest and made you watch with fascination for something to happen? The sound of the conch shell made her jump and she giggled as the Samoan master called the dancers out between the lighted torches. The ambience of the event was amazing. There were lush flowers in shades of reds, yellows and whites against dark green palm fronds. The island version of Christmas was in every flowered lei around the necks of dancers and the audience. White string lights were strung in the trees. The music in the background was Christmas songs blended with the traditional Hawaiian island music. Everyone quieted as the warriors took the floor.
    The dancers used flames and daring moves to entice the audience while Zack and Jordyn fed each other bits of roasted meats and rice and fruit. Their day of shopping was fun and the furniture they had picked out for the baby’s room was scheduled to be delivered in the next few days. The rest of the things like clothes and diapers were packed in the back of his Nissan Armada. She took a sip of her virgin piña colada and sighed happily. It was a perfect night. The stars blanketed the sky, the air was cool but not cold, the music was upbeat and fun and she had an amazing man by her side. They were sitting in a low-to-the-ground lounge chair that was big enough for the both of them to share. Zack had planned everything down to the last detail because the plush pillows at her back kept her upright but comfortable as she moved her bare feet to the music.
    Jordyn was enraptured by the sensual moves of the women dancers and sighed. “I wish I could get up there and dance with them. I love to dance.”
    “Why don’t you? They usually do get people from the audience to join in,” Zack said. He bit into a piece of kiwi and fed her the other piece.
    Jordyn licked the juice from her lips. “Look at them and all the other women here and then look at me. I’m as big as a house.”
    “You look gorgeous and sexy as hell to me,” Zack said. He waved his hand over to one of the dancers.
    “Zack, what are you doing?” She gasped.
    “Getting my beautiful wife up to dance. Do you know that Hawaiian culture reveres pregnant women and fertility?” He kissed her as two dancers came over with friendly smiles. “Go dance, my darling.”
    The dancers helped her up carefully from the lounge chair and put a white flowered lei around her neck before escorting her to the stage with them. As people in the audience began clapping, she watched the dancers carefully and imitated their movements. Soon, with all the other members of the audience who were chosen to come on stage, she was dancing and enjoying just being up and moving. The moves actually loosened the tight muscles of her back and hips. Zack was on his feet clapping and whistling when they were done and she came over to their lounge seat and was embraced in his warm arms.
    “You were amazing,” he said huskily.
    “Your wife is beautiful and this is for her and the new life you are bringing into the world.” The host came over to them and gave them the conch shell he blew earlier. “So the child will always know his or her way home to the island by the sea.”
    Jordyn was so moved that she burst into tears. “Thank you,” she managed