“Honestly?” He looked her up and down. “I’m not sure. I’ve got twice as much muscle as you, but that’s like a bull trying to keep up with a gazelle.”
“So quick to admit defeat.”
“I’ll give it my best shot.”
“Will you drive?”
“Sure. Give me a minute.”
Kekoa put his tools away with care, oiling the metal before hanging them in a storage cabinet. Rust was a ravenous beast in Hawaii, especially so close to the coast.
When everything was finally set to rights, they hopped into his truck and drove up to Hilo, where they parked on a quiet street and started up the trail.
They hiked up the uneven dirt path, then jogged up the smooth pavement of the access road. It was a slight but steady incline, and they ran in comfortable silence until they reached the shade of the eucalyptus grove.
Laurie breathed deep, relishing the fresh smell of the air. The tall trees swayed in the breeze, and sunlight danced across the dark earth at their feet.
They were both dripping with sweat from their run and themidday heat, but that didn’t put Kekoa off in the slightest. He kept stealing touches and kisses on the narrow trail.
As they worked their way down to the river, he took every opportunity to offer her a hand down or put his huge hands on her waist to steady her – any excuse to get closer. And when he did, he would press a kiss to the back of her hand or the base of her neck before moving away.
Laurie didn’t hate it.
Not so long ago, the thought of being touched by a man would have made her body freeze up in fear. And Kekoa was a huge man, strong enough to throw her over his shoulder and run uphill. But with him, she felt completely safe.
Instead of taxing her nervous system, his touch soothed her.
His kisses ignited a fire in her belly that she had thought herself no longer capable of feeling.
Every hour that she spent in his company felt deeply healing.
When they finally reached the river, Laurie dove right in. The cold water was a shock to her system, making her feel fully awake after the hazy heat of the day.
She felt a splash just behind her. When she surfaced, Kekoa’s face was a few inches away from hers. He pulled her close, one hand firm on the small of her back. The other glided up her arm and her neck, coming to rest at the edge of her jaw.
He kissed her slowly, freeing her from all thought.
They stayed for an hour, swimming in the cold water and basking like lizards on the hot rocks above. Then, reluctantly, they started back. Laurie needed to pick Mia up from school, and then she was due to relieve Zoe at the bookshop.
Strolling back down the mountain hand in hand with Kekoa, Laurie felt reborn. There was no need for words. Even her ever-busy mind was clear of them.
Some magic in his presence allowed her to be fully present herself.
“We’re cutting it close,” she said when they climbed into the hot interior of the truck cab. “What time is ‘Iolani done with school?”
“Same time as Mia,” he replied.
“Really?” She tilted her head in confusion. “I thought the public school got out earlier than your sister’s co-op.”
“He finally agreed to give Pualena Playschool a try.”
“Oh.” Laurie had always wondered why Kekoa’s son didn’t attend the co-op along with his cousins, but she hadn’t wanted to pry. She would have guessed that it was Kekoa’s decision. What kid would choose rows of desks over the freedom that the homeschool co-op offered?
“His best friend moved to the mainland,” Kekoa explained. “He wanted to stay with his buddies. That’s the main reason he went to the local elementary school. But he’s tight with his cousins these days. And Pete’s his age, so that helped, having another boy at the co-op. He agreed at the last minute to give it a go, so he just started.”
“‘Olena does a fantastic job.”
“Yeah, she’s alright,” he said with a grin.